THE
NIGERIAN
21
FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013
Discourse Creation Of Midwest Region Of Nigeria And Life Times Of Senator Dalhton Ogieva Asemota O.B.E. By NOWAMAJBE A. OMOIGUI Contd from last two weeks
AS a well-known Merchant and public official from Benin, Senator Dahlton Ogieva Asemota was appointed officer of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s 1962 New Year Honours. The insignia (ribbon) was sent from the United Kingdom and presented in Nigeria on the Queen’s behald. As announced on page 44 (fourth supplement) of the London Gazette of 29th December, 1961, the award was given “In recognition of service as a Senator in the Nigerians Western region Federal Upper House.” Historically, since 1689 various British classes and orders of chivalry have existed. Currently, in order of seniority, the six British orders of chivalry are, the most Noble order of the Garter, the most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, The Royal Victorian Order, and The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The Order of the British Empire (which Dahlton was awarded), was originally instituted on June 4th, 1917 during the First World War by King George V. Beginning in 1981 and subsequently, Military and Civil Divisions were established. As noted, it is the most junior of the orders of chivalry intended to reward valuable services to the State in war or peacetime, the motto of the Orders is ‘For God and the Empire”. Within the Order, there are five classes of members, Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight of Dame Commander (KBE/DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE). Among those who were simultaneously recognized along with the Senator Dahlton Asemota (OBE) were then Lt. Col. (later Major General) JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi (MBE) who would later become Nigeria’s Head of State in 1966), and Jacob Egharevba, Esq (MBE) former Curator of the Benin Museum. DAHLTON ASEMOTA, THE MIDWEST MOVEMENT, AND LEGISLATIVE INITIARIVE As previously noted, in addition to being the Chairman of the Midwest Advisory Council (beginning in 1958), Senator Asemota was the first Chairman Midwest United Front Committee (UFC) and the first Chairman Midwest Planning Committee (MPC). He played a crucial role (among others) in the behind the scenes legislative maneuvering for unity in the creation of the Midwest. A detail that must be emphasized is that in addition to other crucial dynamics, without the tacit cooperation of certain elements within the ruling Action Group party in the western region, the creation of the Midwest may well have been impossible. A determined efforts was, therefore, necessary to de-emphasized party politics in what strategists like Senator Dahlton Asemota (OBE) aptly called a “national dream” irrespective of party affiliation. Although he was a member of the Action Group party, for example, no amount of party inducement would make him turn his people. The MPC comprised elements of the core Midwest movement, the NCNC, along with other parties like the AG and UPP. In fact the next scheduled meeting of the MPC (pre-empted by the sudden death of Dahlton) had planned to discuss the structure of the Midwest interim administration. MEMBERS OF THE MIDWEST PLANNING COMMITTEE (SPECIAL COMMITTEE) MARCH 1963 UNDER DAHLTON ASEMOTA Hon. Senator Dahlton Asemota (Chairman) Chief Hon. FS Okotie-Eboh Chief Hon. DC Osadebe Chief JIG Onyia Chief TEA Salubi Mr. EB. Edun Fregene Apostle J. Edokpolo Alhaji Chief Ja Isuman Chief AO Obasuyi
Dr. C. Okojie Chief JO Odiete Mr. JAP Oki Mr. GM Boyo Chief Hon. SJ Mariere (JP) Chief AY Eke Hon. Kessington SY Momoh The main legislative events were as follows: 1961 First Midwest motion 1962 Second Midwest motion Referendum Bill Midwest Parliamentary Bill In order to do justice to this account, I shall now quote extensively from a previous paper I delivered eleven years ago (on Friday, December 20, 2002) at the Oba Akenzua 11 Cultural Complex, Airport Road, Benin City on occasion of the fifth Late Chief (Dr.) Jacob Uwadiae Egharevba (MBE) Memorial Lecture and Award Ceremony. http//www. Waado.org/nigerdelta/ethnichistories/ egharevbalectures/fifth-omoigui.htm)
West to succeed Awolowo as the Premier. The 1960 constitution specified that for a referendum to take place seeking to establish support for a new region, twothirds majority must approve it in the Federal House of Representatives and Senate, followed by majority approval in two-thirds of regions. Recognizing the key role which the governing party in the federal government in Lagos would have in initiating any legislative move toward the creation of the Midwest, Festus Okotie-Eboh and his mentor, Humphrey Omo-Osagie, were busy lobbying got northern leaders. Eventually Festus Okotie-Eboh almost single handedly got Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello of the NPC to agree in principle to make an exception for the Midwest based on its unique history, knowing they were generally opposed to states creation. Without this crucial achievement on the part of chief Okotie-Eboh, the creation of the Midwest would have been dead in the water. It was in recognition of this strategic feat that Festus Okotie-Eboh was given a chieftaincy title in Benin, the Elaba of Uselu. Chief Humphrey Omo-Osagie, the indefatigable fighter with whom Oba Akenzua 11 had his ups and downs but whose firm resolve and loyalty to his people had
“A detail that must be emphasized is that in addition to other crucial dynamics, without the tacit cooperation of certain elements within the ruling Action Group party in the western region, the creation of the Midwest may well have been impossible. A determined efforts was, therefore, necessary to de-emphasized party politics in what strategists like Senator Dahlton Asemota (OBE) aptly called a “national dream” irrespective of party affiliation.” 1960 As was the case in previous years, 1060 was full of action, for and against the creation of the Midwest, including false and real hopes and intrigue. Isuman JU. Facts about the Midwest state. Amalgamated press. On July 7th, the Oni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, became the Governor of the western region while the Alake of Abeokuta became the President of the House of Chiefs. Chief Omo-Osagie wasted no time in making a public statement about the development. Oba Akenzua 11, who had been generally snubbed and cut off from many day to day decisions in the ministry of Midwest Affairs except his approval was important to some Machiavellian scheme of the other, finally had enough. Independence was approaching and the Midwest region had still not been created. The post-independence federal government was going to be formed by the NCNC and the NPC. The vast majority of the federal legislators from Midwest belonged to the NCNC, Therefore, the Oba decided to abandon the Action group, resigning his position as a Minister without portfolio. By so doing, he realigned the traditional establishment with the “new elite” for the final push to secure the Midwest. But shortly after he did so, the action group won 15 of 30 seats from the Midwest in the Western House elections of August 8, 1960, even barely beating an Out-Edo candidate in Benin as well as Prince Shaka Momodu in Irrua, in what was regarded as an upset, perhaps influenced by manipulation of the 1959 voter’s register. This outcome emboldened creation of the Midwest until after the 1964 federal elections when they would be in power at the center-although they kept up pressure for creation of the Calabar-Ogoja-Rivers and Middle Belt States in other region, meanwhile, Barrister S.O Ighodaro had taken over the Ministry of Midwest Affairs from Anthony Enahoro, when the latter elected to go federal, having lost out to SLA Akintola who returned to the
stood the test of time, was conferred with the title of Iyase of Benin. (Egharevba, Op Cit.). The Action Group Western region government, however, refused to confirm both titles until 1962 when there was an emergency administration in office at Ibadan. Nevertheless, the Akintola government in Ibadan moved quickly to consolidate its gains. It appointed many Midwesterners to ministerial position, created a Midwest minority area and advisory council, and reorganized its administrative structure to create six new regional conference, as if in tacit recognition of the six regions it was canvassing for the country. Chief Anthony Enahoro became the Chairman of the Midwest regional executive. Which did not include AkokoEdo district and Warri division. Dalton Ogieva Asemota, a well known independent, distinguished retired from the United African Company (UAC), personal friend of Oba Akenzua 11 and first Chairman of the Midwest Advisory Council, become appointed by the Western region as the first post-independence Senator from Benin Province in Lagos, while Senator M.G. Ejaife, a householed name in Urhoboland, was appointed to represent the Delta. Dennis Osadebay, leader of the Midwest State movement, left Ibadan for Lagos to take up his new position as Senate President, to replace Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who had become the Governor-General. Chief Festus Okotie- Eboh Became the Federal Minister of Finance and leader of the parliamentary party. The straight shooting Michael Opara replaced Nnamdi Azikiwe as Premier of the Eastern region region and leader of the NCNC. Alhaji Tafawa Balewa of the NPC became the Prime Minister. Alhaji Ahmadu Belo held fort in the Northern region. DAHLTON OGIEVA ASEMOTA APPOINTED OFFICER OF THE CIVIL DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT To be contd.