The Town Hall Meeting

The Elders of the Utari people which comprise Edunero clan, the Ibokele clan and the Yorinle clan, summons an emergency meeting of all the Elders, active youths, natives and other important personalities among the people to discuss the way forward for the Utari people of Akogah land.

The special meeting was scheduled for the main hall of Are-Ile-Owo Secondary School, Edunero community. And Papa Aideienten the Osasetin of Ibokele clan presided over the meeting.

Now everyone was quietly seated and the Mic-man stood up to introduce the chairman of the occasion to all present. The Mic-Man was Mr. Osarietinomwan while the chairman of the exceptional meeting was Papa Aidienten.

My people you are all welcome to this great decision making meeting of the Utari people. When I first heard about the plan of our Arere brothers to remove us from the existence in this land, I immediately communicated the information to our children abroad to give them clue of what we are now facing in the hand of our own brothers, in the land of our own birth. They advised me to summon a town hall meeting where our people will be consulted and the decision on the next step to take, be reached. And after the meeting, I should reach back to them what our resolves are.

Hence I have summoned this Great Brain Cracking Meeting today, so that we should plan together how we want our future to be. We will now call on Elder Adechukwu to open this program with prayer.

Now that we have handed over this gathering to our ancestors and our creator, I am calling on our daughter Mabel to tell us what she experience in the hand of our new Head of Akogah empire.

Mabel stood up and said “my fathers, my elders, our husbands, our clansmen and everyone here present, the great and wonderful youth of Akogah-land! I am once again privilege to speak in the mist of great and prosperous people like you. Similar to what I said earlier before the tyrant head of Akogah nation, I want to repeat it once again before my people.

In the presentation after they order me out of the darkroom they call prison, I asked Mr. Abdul-karin why he has made the lifestyle of the people of Utari as they called us miserable, laborious and short-lived? By means of Abdul-karin system of ruler ship, he has removed from the minds and hearts of Utari people happiness and leisure. He has succeeded in making our lives misery and Laborious which automatically turn us into their slaves; their working tools.

What Akogah has faced this recent time in the hand of Abdul-karin is nothing more than utter chaos and disorder, serious struggle with massive insecurity and the killing of innocent citizens by the Arere people, weak political structure, dilapidating policies, empty promises, misuse of the nations treasury and increased corruption.

The Akogah’s are heading for a journey, a new way of life. They are going to be experiencing a condition they have never experienced before. A first class suffering, but I assure you! In a very short period of time, an escape route may be made available. But only those with insight will recognize it. That period of grace for anyone with discernment shall come and it will wear a very beautiful suit. As clean as has never been known by anyone in this empire. It will be dressed as a groom ready to take a bride. There will be lot of food drinks and other related gift to dish out to all that attended that occasion. Immediately after the program, if possible, even the Bride and Groom will go into hiding because, they need to pay back money borrowed for the occasion. That is exactly what will be faced in this Akogah land in the shortest possible time and it will be in this tattered government of Abdul-karin. In this government, there’s going to be the highest bloodshed in this da-da-sa continent which Akogah is a high breed country. The highest percentage of innocent youths, children and women will be killed; the highest number of death in the Akogah cabinet will recorded and the worst corruption situation in history will happen”.

I told our dictator leader to his very face; I assured him that revolution is the answer; rebellion is the solution to our problems. That is the only way we can remove ourselves from the deadly claws of these enemies that call themselves our brother unless they make the law of the land to take charge of every activities happening in Akogah. Nevertheless we should rise up now! And it should be Today!! We should go straight to our brother, our own blood!!! The only Utari son the Arere people never allow a peaceful stay in the throne of Akogah Empire and plead with him to forgive us of all the atrocities we committed against him, and request that he help us retrieve our heritage from the Arere people.

They have battered me, bullied me, and threatened me. They even threw me into their dark room where you cannot even see your own finger for just telling them the truth. As for the Yorinle people, Yes! The Yorinle people must tell us the side they belong because from all available records, we have been emphatically informed that they are the traitors that have sold us to the Arere’s. Now they are still with us. My recommendation is that they must let us know were they belong. They must swear to an oath that they will not reveal our secrete to the Arere’s anymore. They must reach a covenant with us that if they betray us this time their generation will gradually wear away! I thank you my father, Papa Aidienten for giving me the opportunity to tell you how Abdul-karin treated me.

Thank you my daughter Mabel, with your enumeration, a direction has been originated. I hereby appoint Mrs. Alero as the Moderator of this gathering.

Thank you our father. I appreciate everyone present in this meeting. You know as a coordinated people, we don’t talk rowdily. If you have anything to say, just raise your hand and I will appoint you the privilege to speak, please if you start a comment without being called, your speech will be halted and hindered. I have already seen some hands raised up. But let me remind you that your suggestions and comments should be centered on the matter at stake. As I sit down! I want to call on the youth chairman to speak.

I specifically great you papa Aidienten, the Osasetin of Ibokele Clan, I greet my tireless and zealous elders Pa. Osifo, Uwaila, Osaro, and Yemi. I greet other elders who have been pumping strength into us. I greet the wonderful and ever ready youths of this land especially Mabel the most honest of Utari women, the woman of dignity and value, I thank you all for your good work in trying to make the Utari people relevant again. But I weep for my nation as I’m short of word to classify a society made up of intelligent people but does everything without proper planning.

Oh! Akogah, it is in you that the true quality of truth has been flogged to death, while decent buildings were built for hatred, disloyalty, back-biting, idolatry etc. I have toured Akogah territories; I have known so many tricks being implemented by those that force themselves to the seat of leadership in this empire. We the Edunero’s, Ibokele’s and yorinle’s, what do we know best now? What the Arere people have make us know now is acute hunger, they make us sleep on bare floor, why they sleep in cushion bed they make us drink mud water gathered along our road path while they drink pipe-borne water. They send us to the field to labour and produce the food they need, they take over our resources, process it and return back the shaft to us why they take the finely process products for themselves. Utari people! Do you deserve these? Why do they treat us so wickedly?

Do you know my kinsmen that I was once an active tool in the hand of these people? I was so foolish then, so unreasonable and greedy that I succumb so low to greedily allow them to use me to edge my brother away form the seat of headship of Akogah Empire. You will remember that I once told you my elders that our people have be fooled for long and that if we don’t utilize this opportunity available to us right now, we won’t get our inheritance back.

My fathers, I have said it before that they used me as an instrument to vandalize the cabinet of my own brother. Although I latter realize my errors but it was too late. Having realized my mistakes, I pleaded with the elders present here today to please lead me to my brother, my father, the former head of Akogah, Mr. Nickfallow Decki. So that I’ll plead with him to forgive me of all I did to him in the past. I stop so far. Thank you for this great opportunity my fathers.

Hmmm my brother Omene, you spoke so well. Yes! Pa. Uwaila Speak!

My people, what a bright day for us all? A day to make the most exclusive decision in this great Akogah Empire. A time to create a positive milestone in history. This is a memorable occasion for all Utari people. I tell you! It’s because the lion has been incapacitated that goats and sheep are celebrating their get together in its parlour, using the most cherished diamond plate of the lion and even eating in its fine dinning table.

Oh! What a sorrow for the one who takes an action before making decision? Even if the sea gets dry, the memory that sea was once there lingers on.

My people, I am not here to castigate anyone but to join other brain teasers to proffer solution for the problem we the Utari people are facing in this Akogah land. Most of you here still remember how I stopped Abu-Bakr from calling our children wild animals in one of the Elders meeting. You may also remembers that I cut in to second an idea that my sister brought, that instead of bullying our children, we should bring them close to ourselves and let them feel the parental warmness, maybe that will calm their rising temper down which Abdul-karin and his cohorts rejected .

In several forums my people, I have always wished to play the game of love, peace and good spirit of togetherness but it’s like the Arere people are already bent on removing us from existence. We have already learnt that its only fools that goes on to sleep with their roof on fire. To quench this growing trend of hatred and oppression, I suggest we go right away and beg him for forgiveness. Because Omene and some others have being a traitor to him (Nickfallow Decki) all these while. Then make him join us in this fight. I also join others present here to thank you our father Pa. Uwaifo for a very good presentation you’ve just offered.

O.K. Chukwuma, I can see your hand up, Please speak.

I feel honored to be among great men and women of Akogah nation. Mostly the Utari People, as you know, I am from the Ibokele Clan. Utari people have been well established that despite the gift of creation given to us by the Almighty, those Arere, killers of good vision intended to killed our zeal and dampened our eagerness to make this empire one that cannot be compared with. A nation without a rival. But what de we see? A tyrant leader who does not have respect for the lives of the humans around him

Sorry to say that our leader is a carbon copy of a rodent who is neither here nor there and once you are able to see it stationed somewhere, it has already done Havoc to our properties, so visible and crystal clear; we must change this inhuman character being displayed by Abdul-karin and his cronies. And to achieve success herewith, I recommend that we immediately meet with our former head of Akogah and sort his advice.

We thank you so much our brother Chukwuma for that wise talk. Your views are noted. Seeing that no hand is up I wish to hand over the mic to our father Papa Aidienten: the Osasetin of Ibokele clan. A round of applause for our father again.

My children, we have heard you. Thank you all for your patience, we also appreciate your love and cooperation. Infact, we the elders of our people applaud you, we have heard your grievances and pains from the discussion today we have been able to isolate the reason why you, our children are has not been happy with the Arere people. But I assure you there’s a way out. We will make sure these problems are solved without wasting any human blood.

The primary agreement in this meeting is that we should meet our brother, son and clansman, the former head of Akogah Empire Mr. Nickfallow Decki, this resolution is going to be implemented immediately. Other resolutions will be forwarded to our children and brothers abroad to make the necessary move to address them amicably.

Some people among us, including my humble self are going to embark on an unscheduled visit to our son, our brother Nickfallow Decki.

Oshiomhole The Man With Assistance and Favour. Edo People Rescuer

We have resolved in Agbonlahor and Sons Ventures, The Writer for All Cooperative Farmers Association, Edo State. Regardless of the fact that farmers are not given the required attention to strive in the state, we deem it necessary never to publish any edition of our write-up without mentioning one good thing done by an Edo indigene.

In this Edition, we want to tell the Talk – And – Do governor of the state THANK YOU for all the good works he has been doing for the plus of Edo State citizens and the nation in general.

We want to remind ourselves once again of some basic development projects Edo State Executive governor has embarked on in the shortest possible time,  both the ones he has completed and some other he is still working on. We are very pleases to say here that;

1.   Most primary school which were neglected by previous government, many roads which were considered write off by preceding governments has been re-constructed while many more are in line for reconstruction or re-activation.

2.   We, the good people of Edo State for the first time are enjoying air-conditioned and computerized busses as an intra and inter transport services.

3.   Edo people who never knew that The state can accommodate street light has for the first time see the beauty one derive if he/she is driving at night with street lights every where, at this point we want to inform the reader of this book that the fact that this book is not prepared to promote a particular person or party for selfish gains, wish to state categorically here that there is need to appreciate the effort of anyone who have the motivation to make The people of Edo State honorable and dignified.

Dear reader, have you ever seen anywhere in Edo state before now, where such qualities material as is being used today to construct our drained were ever used by any government before? Or have you noticed our drained permanently secured to enhance durability? As the Comrade governor is doing? We believe in the power of truth, hence we wish to say the truth at all times. Therefore, other truths we still have in our anthology are:

1.               Edo State under the government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has constructed the Highest waterfall in Nigeria.

2.               Edo state is working towards being the best state with the best learning environment in Nigeria under the government of comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

3.               Ogbe Stadium in Edo state started to host international football matches. First time in the history of the state under the leadership of the peoples governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

4.               First time in history of Edo state for peasant farmers (real/original farmers) to benefit justly from any government incentives for them. Under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

5.               What about the Hospital that was neglected for so long, did anyone ever thought that is can ever wear such good look as it’s wearing today, even when it has not been completed? All these life poignant projects were conducted by the un-comparable genius from Edo land, our only comrade governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Time will fail us/me if us/I want to enumerate all the good, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has facilitated for the people of Edo and the county in general. However, we won’t forget to say here that the Governor has shown that his mission to mankind is to defend humiliated people, no wonder he explained that the problems of the state particularly in the areas of flood and erosion required proper planning and that it would be suicidal to commence work on them without tackling the problems holistically. He said he would not be rushed into taking decisions that would lead him into doing a bad job (BAD THING). He insisted that he should be given enough time to plan before rolling out bulldozers in the streets. Besides, he said that if his challengers had planted flowers during their time as leaders in the state, he would have used the fund for something else. But our good Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole lamented that the successive governments has ruined the state during the period they were in power. The most interesting message we, the Edo Farmers has ever received from the governor was when recently, Governor Adams Oshiomhole declared that “agriculture is a credible factor that can be used to address unemployment and to transform the state. He continued by saying that what has been causing delay in identifying and assisting this sector, was the rot in the civil service especially in the agricultural sector. But now he (The Governor) is willing to address the inhumanity faced in that sector”. This assurance was given in the retreat which was held in AGENEBODE and attended by the governor. It has as its theme “Sustaining reforms, Expletive from a Development partner” 

BUT WHO IS THIS ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE?

Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole was born on April 4, 1952 in Iyamoh, near Auchi in today's Edo State. He was born into the humble family of Alhaji Aliyu Oshiomhole of blessed memory and Alhaja Aishetu Oshiomhole. After his secondary education, Adams Oshiomhole proceeded to the Ruskin College, Oxford where he majored in economics and industrial relations. He was also an alumnus of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

In 1969 before his tertiary education, he had taken up appointment with the Arewa Textiles Company. He was also inspired to play an active role in the union because he was not satisfied with the quality of the union's leadership. Oshiomhole's other colleagues in the textile factory elected him as the union secretary after a shop-floor revolution, which he helped to organize. He became a full time trade organizer in 1975.

In 1982, Adams Oshiomhole was appointed by the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria as their General Secretary; a union with over 75,000 workers. As General Secretary of the union, he became a major actor and catalyst in the Nigerian Labour Congress and the wider radical movement in Nigeria. With the restoration of democracy to Nigeria in 1999, Oshiomhole became the 4th president of the NLC. He led the NLC and the rest of the Nigerian people to resist arbitrary increases in the prices of petroleum products. He personally led the strikes, demonstrations and protests, which decisively helped to moderate the Obasanjo Administration on its harsh fuel pricing policy and other social and economic policies, which would have endangered the welfare of the people. In 2006, the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma awarded him a honorary doctorate of law degree. At the International level, Oshiomhole's services has been in high demand. He represented African workers for two terms on the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

He served on the powerful committee on Freedom of Association of the ILO, which is the only international tribunal on workers' rights issues. He had been on the Executive Board of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the Executive Board of the African Regional Organization of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.

In April 2007, he was overwhelmingly elected Governor of Edo State under the Action Congress Party, with which Oshiomhole's Labour Party had entered a strategic alliance. However, he was robbed of victory by the Peoples Democratic Party, which installed its candidate, Edo State and the rest of Nigeria were rightly outraged by this robbery and rose in unison to protest. Oshiomhole led the people to defend their votes and this struggle was rewarded first by the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal. He was re-affirmed and restored on November 11, 2008 by the Court of Appeal. On November 12, 2008, he was formally sworn in as the Governor of Edo State. Adams Oshiomhole is married to another comrade; Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole and they have five children. Two medical doctors, an Accountant and two Undergraduates.

Adams Oshiomhole and Edo State Farmers

Support ACFA Farmers

When the result that brought the former governor to power was read, Comrade Governor came out roaring it was obvious to every body that he was the winner of the election. As a matter of fact it was easy for him to acclimatize to the system because majority of the people of the state were already tired of the domineering nature of the previous leaders of the state particularly when it was clear that these leaders don’t have good vision for the people of the state.

During his electionary campaign, Comrade Oshiomhole promised a lot to the people of the state and in particular, he vowed to end the politics of godfatherism rampant in the state. Because there was nothing on ground in the first six months of his administration apart from the stoppage of illegal levies in the markets, people were apprehensive. His opponents in the state were quick to describe him as a failure and said that his attitude at that time meant that he was never prepared to actualize his promises for the people. Some, among his opponents in a rally, said the Governor had achieved nothing in his first year in office instead embarked on the planting of flowers at Ring Road

However, the Governor came to defend his action, explaining that the problems of the state particularly in the areas of flood and erosion required proper planning and that it would be suicidal to commence work on them without tackling the problems holistically. He said he would not be rushed into taking decisions that would lead him into doing a bad job. He insisted to be given enough time to plan before rolling out bulldozers in the streets. Besides, he said that if his challengers had planted flowers during their time as leaders in the state, he would have used the funds for something else. Governor Adams Oshiomhole lamented that the successive governments has ruined the state in the past ten years they were in power.

However, there is no doubt that as the Oshiomhole’s administration clocks about three years now, Benin City that was once famed as an ancient city, has been modernized. True to his words,

Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole Governor commenced dualization and construction of roads in all three senatorial districts of the state shortly after the design for the new city was released. The roads in the cities were equipped with street lights, walkways and waste disposal centers. He also commenced the electrification projects in communities that did not have electricity in the three senatorial districts. And recently, he imported city buses popularly known as Comrade City Bus. The truth of the matter is that the State has not seen such a transformation since the second republic when Prof. Ambrose Alli was governor.

Apart from the road projects he embarked upon in the three senatorial district, he also commenced water projects in Edo Central. The problem of water in the area had been an age long thing and the Governor had to import water drilling machines and specifically declared that they will commence in Uromi, home town of Chief Tony Anenih. Oshiomhole has also exhibited so much passion and zeal in his efforts. Indeed, there have been occasions when the Governor’s security operatives went in search of the Governor. On those occasions, he drove himself out of Government House to inspect projects to the chagrin of the security operatives. On those occasions he would he would also use the opportunity to feel the pulse of the people on different issues in markets and bars.

Recently, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has declared that agriculture is a credible factor that can be used to address unemployment and to transform the state. In his speech, the governor said what has been causing delay in identifying this sector, was the rot in civil service especially in the agricultural sector. But now he (The Governor) is willing to address the inhumanity faced in that sector. This assurance was given in the retreat which has as its theme “Sustaining reforms, Expletive from a Development Partner” held in AGANE-BODE.

Where will farmers easily access fund to promote or support their businesses?

ACFA loan support scheme has been structured in such a way that members and non members alike are trained on how to develop their savings ability. This step becomes necessary because it has been observed that the reason most co-operators depend solely on external loan is their inability to save money. Therefore, the proposal is; money to be loan to members shall be contributed by the beneficiaries themselves.

As an ACFA member, active in the field, you are guaranteed to receive cash-back benefits from the Association for a work well done. You can even qualify to receive an Award or other remunerations. You will continue to enjoy these benefits as far as you remain active. These gains are expected to assist you in taking good care of your family. I.e. give your children good education, take your family to recreation centers, to acquire properties and to cruise yourselves.

This financial expansion has been design specially to help balance the lifestyle of all members of ACFA, in the state and beyond. In our bid to encourage members and beneficiaries of this scheme,

WHERE WILL ACFA GENERATE ITS FUND?

The income generating system of ACFA has been designed in a way that the money to be loan out to members will be income generated for that purpose by people who are willing to get easy loans from ACFATALO.

On why beneficiaries need to build up to a particular amount before given loan, is a way to strengthen the members’ commitment to the program. This is to ensure that he/she understand that the money about to be given out to him/her is not Government or bank’s money, rather the regular contribution/savings made by co-farmers. We believe this development will strengthen the borrowers resolve to repay the money without stressing the contributors.

To Support this program; please call +234-8171-7490-29 or +234-522-908-21 or reach us on our email; mycassavavillage@gmail.com