BNC chastise BORBDA over neglect, marginalization of Benins for 42 years  

By David Lawani, Abuja

The Benin National Congress (BNC )has chastised the management of Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA), over an alleged marginalisation of the Benins for over 42 years.

In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, the Congress drew the attention of the current BORBDA Managing Director, Engr. Saliu O. Ahmed, to how the organization has swayed from the official gazette bordering on its appointments.

The statement noted that while appointment of the Managing Director should be from the then Bendel State, appointments of the Board Chairman shall be from old Ondo State.

BNC however noted that little or no regards have been given to the official agreement over the years as only the pioneer Managing Director and one other person who only lasted for a few months were privileged to achieve such a feat since establishment.

Addressing the Managing Director, the aggrieved Benins said; “Benin National Congress hereby wishes to draw your attention to the above subject matter in line with the marginalization of the Benins’ in your establishment for the past forty-two (42 years, with a view to putting an end to this unbearable act.

“Sir, you will recall that the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority was

officially gazetted such that the appointment of the Managing Director shall be from the then BENDEL STATE (now EDO – DELTA), while the appointments of the BOARD CHAIRMAN shall be from ONDO STATE. However, these appointments have been truncated over the years, thereby undermining the spirit and letters of the official

gazette – (the law).

“Arising from this gazette, a Benin man in the name of PRINCE I. A. Eweka (deceased) was appointed as the First General Manager from 1977 to 1982. “Thereafter, subsequent

appointments made from the Presidency, were as follows:

MR. AHMED TUKUR: GENERAL MANAGER: 1982-1984

CHIEF J. F.O. JEGEDE: GENERAL MANAGER: 1985-1986

MR. E. C. OLUMESE: GENERAL MANAGER: 1986-1989

ENGR. C. O. ADEGBILERO: SOLE ADMINISTRATOR: 1989-1990

DR. G. E. OTEZE: GENERAL MANAGER: 1990-1999

DR. I. R. EMEFIENE: GENERAL MANAGER: 1999-2005

ENGR. A. L. IJASAN: GENERAL MANAGER: 2005-2009

MR. C. I. OKPALEKE: ACTING MANAGING DIRECTOR: 2009-2010

MR. A. A. OSULA: MANAGING DIRECTOR: JAN-MAY 2011

ENGR. A. L. IJASAN: MANAGING DIRECTOR: JUNE 2011-2013

REV. E. O. MAFAYEYOMI: MANAGING DIRECTOR: 20132016

ENGR. SALIU O. AHMED: MANAGING DIRECTOR: 2017 – TILL DATE”

Judging from the above analysis, the group noted that “it is obvious that after the First Benin Man was appointed as

the General Manager between 1977 to 1982, it took another 29 years for a Benin man to be appointed as Managing Director between January 2011 – May 2011 (just for a period of 5 months only).

“Between 1989-1990, a sole Administrator was appointed and perhaps, that was during the military regime. Meanwhile, from the year 2005-2009, the gazette was no longer complied with, and an EKITI man in the name of ENGR. A. L. IJASAN was appointed as Managing Director.

“Between 2011-2013, an EKITI man again in the person of ENGR. A. L. IJASAN was appointed as Managing Director for the second time, while between 2013-2016, an

ONDO man in the person of REV. E. D. MAFAYEYOMI was appointed as Managing Director.”

The group expressed displeasure on how Benins are being relegated despite their qualifications and capacity, especially under the current administration.

“It became so sad, absurd and provocative that since the administration of this present

management of B.O.R.B.D.A. in 2017 under (Engr. Saliu Osifuemhe Ahmed) leadership, a Benin person has never been found worthy of being appointed nor represented in the management team, despite the fact that they are eminently and exceedingly qualified.

“We have been viewing the unprovoked attack on the psyche of all Benins’, our brother from Edo North Senatorial District (ENGR. SALIU OSIFUEMHE AHMED) whose appointment was well received by all Benins since January 2017-till date, is allegedly orchestrating loopholes of frustration and ruining the careers of the civil servants of Benin extraction in B.O.R.B.D.A.

“These staff who have the potentials to rise to Management positions for just no reason have been relegated, to the point of an inevitable self help. (A case study is that of ENGR. OGIEVA and others) all in the Establishment.

“Whereas, the Managing Director had averred times without number that his Secretary, Driver, Senior Clerk and Inter-alia are all Benins and were never Marginalized nor victimized.”

It added that the National Industrial Court had given a Ruling On the preliminary objections raised by the Management of B.O.R.B.D.A. over the unjustifiable failure and act of victimization meted on a Benin man in the 2021 promotion exercise to the position of a Deputy Director.

“Not only that, to further elaborate on the Marginalization of the Benins, we are reliably informed that in line with the Anonymous Reporting System (ARS), His Lordship of the National Industrial Court has Ordered in the said Ruling, the promotion of the Benins’ but this Order has been flagrantly disobeyed or not adhered to, by the Management of

B.O.R.B.D.A. thereby resulting in contempt of Court against the Management of B.O.R.B.D.A.

“ We urge you to institute a methodology to redress this plethora of unprovoked affronts on our people, in order to promote peace and tranquility within the great institute. No Marginalization, victimization on earth can be worse off than for a Superior Officer to be reporting/taking instructions from his/her subordinate even despite the Court Order.

“Finally, we want to place on record, and emphatically that, despite the marginalization and the perceived ruining of the Benin extraction career by the present administration under your leadership, there are qualified Benin’s in the establishment already in the

Directorate Cadre, who are capable of handling the position of a Managing Director and other Management positions pending when the positions are available.

It is our prayer, that as your tenure gradually winds down, God Almighty and our ancestors will appropriately direct and guide you to restore sanity, peace and unity in the establishment.”