By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—THE Benin National Congress, BNC, a socio-cultural organization in Edo State, has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing the management of Benin Owena River Basin Authority, BORBDA, of marginalizing the Binis in appointments and promotions. It alleged that the management is favouring Yorubas despite the fact that BORBDA is located in their soil.

In the petition to the President by Dr. David Ekomwenrenren, its Director of Publicity, the BNC claimed that but for the coronation of the Oba of Benin, a grand protest by Edo youths and women carrying mock coffins would have been staged yesterday to express their resentments.

The group described as corrupt, crass chauvinism, alarming violation of the Civil Service rules, unbridled disregard for federal character by the current management.

The letter listed some of the alleged illegalities against the Binis by the management to include, alleged “perpetuation in office after due retirement date of August 2016, and after 35 years of service by the Managing Director. Illegal recruitment of senior staff, four of whom are from his Okitipupa clan in Ondo State.

“Yorubanization of three out of the four departments against the spirit and letters of federal character, amounting also to an unprovoked attack on the sensibilities of Edo intelligentsia, who are host to the Federal agency. Yorubanization of the BORBDA management Committee. It is an incontrovertible fact that of the 10 members of the committee, eight are Yorubas, and Yoruba language has been adopted as the BORBDA lingua franca, with the endorsement of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, who seems to be aiding and abetting the management.

“In the light of the above groundswell negations of civil service rules, indigenous employment quota, and etiquette of public administration, we humbly demand the immediate and unconditional sack of the Managing Director of BORBDA; the appointment of an Edo man or woman in his stead; the resuscitation of a sense of harmonious relations between the interventionist agency and Edo communities who have been systemically annihilated by a federal civil service cabal from Ondo State.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/binis-allege-marginalization-benin-owena-river-basin-authority-2/

We've been too nice to our Yoruba visitors, can they do this in the north?