Inadvisability Of Using Ovbe-Iká Moniker To Marginalize Igbanke People -By Emualosi Ogboin John

Whenever the former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s names are mentioned in Igbanke, even the unborn foetus will literarily kick in its mother’s womb in such a way that the reminiscence of a thunder-strike would come to mind as it would be excitedly eager to witness the laudable achievements of the leader that was in his time as governor being referred as the “Comrade-Governor”.

The reason for the foregoing cannot be farfetched as those who really seek the truth will concur that he did so well for Igbanke in his first tenure in office. Other notable leaders that did well for the community are Justice Joe Olubor whose name remains indelible and the late former governor of defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia.

While Adam Oshiomhole’s contribution to Igbanke in the area of road and schools development only lasted in the first tenure, we are yet to witness any tangible government’s presence in Igbanke since Mr. Godwin Obaseki took over as the governor of Edo State in 2016 as governor of the state.

In his first phase of list of numerous road published to be awarded and/or constructed in various local government areas in the state, none was for listed for Igbanke. With the foregoing it is very obvious that Igbanke has been under marginalization. Without doubt, the administration of Obaseki is fast coming to an end, and campaign for the next election is on, and he has surprisingly not shown deem it fit to factor Igbanke into Edo political equation. The most annoying is that we are derogatorily been referred to as ‘Ovbi Ika’ .

Ovbi Ika (people from Ika land), the alias of Igbanke by the Binis, should not be wrongly interpreted to be used as springboard to marginalize Igbanke and its indigenes but should be seen more as a name to foster unity among us. We are supposed to be one. Just because we are seen as Ika people by virtue of linguistic affiliation and geographical proximity, many have assumed, time without number, that we are marginalized any time a core Benin man is on the helms of affairs as governor of Edo State.

Though this assertion may or may not be true, but as they say, action speaks louder than voice and we do hope Governor Obaseki and any other aspirant who emerges as governor proves those who are of this school of thought wrong.

In one of my articles – “Is Igbanke no Longer in Orhionmwon?”, released when road to be awarded in Edo state was published by governor Obaseki, I clearly stated without favour that it seems that we are not only being marginalized but negatively set aside since none of the roads in Igbanke was listed among those to be rehabilitated. We were told to wait, yes in humbleness, we are waiting but we cannot continue to be onlookers. We shall continue with our pen and key board, the way we can; “like my people will say: “égédi bieké mkpú, udele ekunruén” (when an old woman wastes so much time in the public pit toilet, she encounters a vulture).

Ovbi Ika as a sobriquet should not be a marginalization-inducer. Igbanke might be “ovbi Ika” as claimed by the language users, but they should not be “oguómádiá” (slave) in their own state.

A visit to Igbanke today evokes tears as there are glaring evidences that it is suffering from abject neglect.

Since Obaseki became the governor of Edo State no meaningful development in Igbanke can be attributed to efforts made in his administration despite the promises he made during his campaign in 2016. It is now very clear to us that he made his promises merely to gain our votes at the polls.

Worse still, the collective state of the once enviable Igbanke Grammar School and Igbanke Mixed Secondary School has remained ignoble.

Pitiably, what has continued to trigger palpable bitterness in the minds of all indigenes of Igbanke; both at home and in diaspora is the deplorable condition of the entire schools that are established in all the communities that made up Igbanke.

Against the foregoing backdrop, I am through this medium calling on the governor or any aspirant that would emerge leader come the next political dispensation not to forget the people of Igbanke, and that irrespective of their unique tribe and tongue that they are Edolites.

Emualosi Ogboin John is a public affairs commentator, and an indigene of Igbanke. He writes from Igbanke, Orhionmwon LGA, Edo State.