The family of late Esogban of Benin, and Odinwere of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, and the Castle of Legends Initiatives (COLI) have called on all the governorship candidates of the 13 political parties participating in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo, to make the people the focus of their of the programmes.
They made this call in Benin City while unveiling the activities to mark the one-year memorial of the late Esogban of Benin, who died July 20th, 2023 at the age of 93.
Speaking to journalists in his residence, the first son of the late elder statesman, Rev. Collins Edebiri, said the First David Uyunmwun Edebiri Memorial Lecture with the theme: Government of the People by the People for the People” would be held, there would be a slant to Edo as it is preparing to go into an election to install the next governor of the state.
According to him, there would be no guest lecturer, but ‘the family will present a paper, COLI will present a paper and we have invited all the governorship candidates to come and speak to this topic especially as it affects Edo state; what they will do for Edo State themselves. So, it is going to be a potpourri of ideas.”
“The choice to establish a memorial lecture targeted at the politics and development of society is quite significant, because all his life, the late Esogban played active roles in the political development of Nigeria.
“At the age of 19, he was already in politics. At one point, he will be campaigning in one place while his father will be on the other side leading the campaign; both of them in two different camps, and before he was 25, he had made his mark as a politician of note.
“For a man who lived a life of great impact, we are hard pressed to do things that are befitting of his attainment and status.” He reiterated.
A statement by Edebiri and Prince Julius Akanoba, the president of COLI, said a mausoleum would be opened in his memory.
“There will be the official launch of The David Uyunmwun Edebiri Art Gallery. This gallery shall house creative works of art, including carvings, sculptured works, and books of deep cultural values. Not to be confused with a museum, the art gallery will be a research center for the teaching of significant events in the history of the Bini and for the revival of old Bini traditional activities.
“For example, the center will revive the art of storytelling through the Ibota conclave etc. Tge art gallery shall be a membership club and we shall begin with a take-off of 100 persons.”
