Benin youths, women, elders protest alleged marginalisation of Edo South in BORBDA

Hundreds of Benin youths on Monday, 10th of February, 2025, staged a peaceful protest against alleged marginalisation of Edo South Senatorial zone from the Board of Management of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority [BORBDA].

THE CONCLAVE reports that the youths obstructed vehicular movements of staff members from accessing the office, thereby causing congestion on the road leading to the BORBDA’s Headquarters in Obayantor, Edo State.

The host communities are Obayantor, Owanoba, Ekosa and Agbonwonba.

The grievance of the protesters is that for 42 years, no Edo South indigene had been appointed into the position of Managing Director of the Authority.

THE CONCLAVE reports that an Auchi man [Edo North Senatorial zone] Engineer Saliu Osifuemhe Ahmed had just finished his two-term tenure of eight years from January 2017 to January, 2025.

However, it was learnt that the position is on a rotational basis among the catchment states of Edo, Ekiti, Delta North Senatorial Zone and Ondo States.

The Benin youths, women and elders are not happy about the development as they feel marginalised despite being the host communities.

The protest, as gathered, was to draw the attention of the member states to the claim of marginalisation by Edo South zone in Edo State and also for their voices to be heard and recognised at the Federal level.

Specifically, the overall control of the BORBDA flows from the Federal Government of Nigeria through the direct supervision of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.