Theme:
IGUEBEN YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW (THE FUTURE).

As Delivered By:
HON FIDELIS EHIZUWA PASCAL OGBEJIELE (FPAM) JP.

My humble greetings to His Royal Majesty: Zaiki Ehizogie Eluojerior (1) JP, The Onogie of Igueben Kingdom. My humble greetings to all Palace Chiefs, Chairman of the occasion, Special Guest of Honour, Executive and Members of Igueben Progressive Union (IPU), the Representative of cooperate organizations, Political leaders and Party Chieftains, Businessmen and women, sons and daughters of our great Igueben kingdom, Members of the first estate of the realm, Ladies and Gentlemen. All other Protocols respectfully observed.

We are gathered today as a people with common ancestry, on this joyous occasion to celebrate the year 2021 Annual Igueben Day. This ceremony has provided us with the opportunity to examine our journey so far in history, to appreciate our achievements so far as of today, and to prepare ourselves for a greater future as Igueben people. Hence the theme of this lecture as captured above.
History has it that we the Igueben people migrated from the ancient City of Benin, during the reign of Oba Esigie 1504-1550. It is in record that arising from the crisis that degenerated into war between Benin Kingdom and the Attah of Igala Kingdom who was then based in Idah around the Niger River Bank. This said war broke out around the year 1515 to 1516. The Oba Esigie's troop was under the commandership and supervision of a highly loyal, dedicated, and committed traditional army officer named EBEN. As the war lasted, Commander Eben and his troops stopped over in several places to rest and got refreshed before continuing with their war plans. After the successful prosecution of the war, that was about a year later, as they were returning back to Benin, they discovered that one of the spots where they earlier camped, rested, and ate yam meal, had now became a flourishing yam farm even when it was not actually cultivated. This development amazed the troop members who now desired to settle there, to continue to enjoy the benefits of its fertility. To this end, Commander Eben had to send a powerful delegation to Oba Esigie in Benin to seek the permission of the Oba to allow settle in the newly discovered fertile farm land, for onward farming activities. This permission they sought was graciously granted by the Oba. 
That was how this fertile land was named after the troop Commander Eben (IGUEBEN). For the purpose of clarity: "Igue" means either a Village or a Camp. Which now properly makes this fertile land and kingdom of ours to be known and call IGUEBEN in the Bini dialect (the village of EBEN) since about the year 1516- 1517.  
As more persons began to join Eben in the new settlement, their traditional occupations became predominantly as follows:
Farming
Blacksmithing
Herbal Medical Practice
Hunting and Games, and
Traditional Woodworks.
Since thereafter, all of us here can attest to the fact that we the IGUEBEN people have been a very peaceful and hospitable people to ourselves, to our visitors alike, and have maintained cordial relationship with our neighbouring communities of
Ebelle,
Ogwa,
Ewohimi,
Udo,
Uromi,
Ebadin, and
Ugbegun-nouwa.

As it is typical with most traditionally organized African communities, Igueben had a system of administration, with the Onogie as the political and judicial head, ably assisted by the palace chiefs and village heads, the Edionweres' with a firm belief system that recognises and worship the existence of a Supreme Being known as OSANOBUA (the AlmightyGod) who they served through deities. There was no formal education. Yet, Law and order was seriously and cohesively observed. With high moral standard that promoted respect for the tradition, customs and culture of the land. A child of one was regarded as the child of all, communal living was unique, love and harmony co-existed, one can leave his children with his neighbors without fear, this was the order until the advent of certain Western influences such as:
                     1
Colonial rule with the introduction of Western religion along with Western education.
                   2.
Gradual shift from trade by barter as a system of buying and selling of goods and services to the modern system of using currencies and other legal tenders in running the commercial activities.
                    3.
Acquisition of Western Education, the desire for greener pastures, and consequent emergence of paid jobs particularly in the teaching sector.
                    4.
Establishment of Primary and Secondary Schools, Teachers Training, Military Training Barracks, Advance College and College of Education.
                    5.
The creation in 1996 of IGUEBEN Local Government Area, out of Esan Central Local Government Area: with many thanks for eternal gratitude to our illustrious brother, leader and a distinguished son of the soil, (Arc.) Tom Ikimi for using his opportunity in government to attach permanent advantage to Igueben Kingdom and it's neighborhood from the contrite of "Esan B" as we were ridiculously referred to, by some of the leaders in the defunct old Agbazilo and Okpebho Local Governments Area. We will remain grateful to High Chief Tom Ikimi for that gesture and the rapid development attracted to Igueben Kingdom and environs.
                    6.
Establishment of Health facilities, Maternity (Agbenakamien), Dispensary and General Hospital.
                    7.
Improvement of the general wellbeing of our people such as:
The construction of major roads,
electricity supply, and
the creation of Igueben Local Government Area with Igueben Town as the Administrative Headquarters, and
the reopening of the closed State College of Education after about twenty five (25) years of its closure.
All these have brought about tremendous improvement on the pace of Economic, Social, and infrastructural Developments of Igueben.

However, things appear to be falling apart, as the desperate pursuits for money and power are now taking the center stage in the minds of some of our people today, thereby giving rise to endemic corruption across all the sectors and facets of life.
Our value and reward systems have deteriorated and degenerated into praise singing to the high heavens of anyone who holds the slightest public office and to those of the political class where I happens to belong. Those of us who are suppose to be public servants and thus accountable to the people are now being regarded as superheroes and supreme masters by the same electorates who gave us the mandates to be in office. We clap for those in Government without appraising their performance and evaluating their achievements with regards to their campaign promises. Today, anybody in any government position is quickly addressed as "HONORABLE". Even those who contested elections they never won are equally being addressed eulogized too as the "occupier" of that office, depending on the office they contested for such as:
"My President: Your Excellency",
"Your Excellency: the Governor",
"Rt Honorable",
"My able Chairman",
"The Honorable Councilor"!!, etc.
All these praises and eulogies are being sung, just to get peanuts the person to whom they are directed.

In all honesty, I do not think that this ugly trend is good enough for a healthy democratic system. We celebrate people for attempting to do the job they are under moral and legal duty to do, and for which they are being paid handsomely with the taxpayers money to do. Just last week on the IPU Whatsapp Forum, it was posted that a bill to established a Federal University of Education scales through second reading at the National Assembly. Suddenly the forum became rowdy with chorus of praises to our elected Representatives. Though it is not a bad idea to make commendation for a job done. But the question now is, at what point are commendations necessary? 
We voted people to bring the dividends of democracy to our Constituencies, must they be praised for doing the job for which they were elected to do? The answer is No! This type of praises makes us feel we are doing great when we are not doing up to expectation at all.
Today we know, tomorrow is pregnant. Our collective desire for tomorrow as Igueben people is to make Igueben Kingdom land a safe heaven for peace, progress, and accelerated all round development in the nearest future. We can only achieve this great vision by genuine cooperation, unity of purpose, working and walking together with our traditional rulers and those in positions of authority both in politics and in the civil service.
The youths of today are said to be leaders of tomorrow, we don't only need to let them Know and understand that nothing good comes easy, we as elders and leaders in our respective positions of influence must show good example to our youths by practicing what we preach.

There can never be greatness without hard work. Politics is good, but how we play the game and what we do with the opportunities that politics has provided us with is what matters most. We are all living beneficiaries of what Chief Tom Ikimi was able to bring home to Igueben, as a political office holder in Government. Although we cannot continue to remain over dependent on politics. This is because, that alone cannot lead us as a people to the dreams of our tomorrow. Some of our people sees politics as "madness of many: but benefits of few". Therefore, we must look inwards towards harnessing other comparative advantages that are abound in Igueben kingdom. 

Our youths must take their studies and their respective vocations seriously. Those who cannot go to school must learn a trade or acquire vocational skills and be dedicated to it. If these are done, we shall get to the zenith of our dreams, which is a better, brighter and greater Igueben of tomorrow.  

I wish everyone of us a merry Christmas and Prosperous New year in Advance, as the yuletide enjoyments continues.

IGUEBEN oyeh: oyeeeeeeeeeeh!!!!!

Long live Igueben Kingdom!
Long live Edo State!!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!