PROTOCOLS

Let me heartily congratulate Mr President on behalf of Asaba community for assumption of office as President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for steering the ship of state of the country so diligently and assiduously to the admiration of all and sundry.

May I also appreciate Mr. President for identifying with the passage of the 13th Asagba of Asaba (my predecessor in office) for being ably represented by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, H.E. Senator George Akume. Your action has greatly endeared you to the people of Asaba.

Mr. President, I was coronated on the 5th of October and received the Staff of Office on the 28th November, 2024. By the unanimous choice of Asaba people, the mantle of leadership as the monarch and custodian of the customs and traditions of my people fell upon me. I have since hit the ground running; determined to make a difference in the lives of Asaba people.

Mr. President, Asaba is a land rich in history and tradition. Asaba sits at the bank of the River Niger and this exposed our people to early contact with Western influences and civilization. Asaba became the Headquarters of Nigeria in the days of the Royal Niger Company. Today, Asaba is one of the most peaceful state capitals and easily the fastest growing city, not just in Nigeria, but in Africa, South of the Sahara.

Mr. President, an Asaba son, Chief Dennis Osadebay, was the first and only Premier of Midwestern Region. He was also, at a time, President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Regrettably, our illustrious son has never been acknowledged or recognized by the Federal Government just like his peers and counterparts. We appeal to Mr President to kindly right this wrong and recognize this great son of Nigeria by naming a federal institution after him.

Mr. President, Asaba today is the only state capital without a federal university. All efforts to draw attention to this anomaly has proved futile. We appeal to your Excellency to use your prerogative and issue an executive fiat to grant Asaba equal status as other state capitals by citing a federal university on our land.

Mr. President, we must not fail to acknowledge and appreciate the recent federal government approval for construction of access roads to the Second Niger bridge. This is surely going to open up Asaba to investment and development. Equally acknowledged is the gas pipeline to run through Ughelli, Ajaokuta and extended through Alifikede and Asaba to Awka with the aim of opening up the routes to economic exploration. We thank Mr President for these gestures and urge that the rail line for the Coastal areas be extended to pass through Asaba. In the same vein, we plead that the Benin-Asaba Expressway be rehabilitated for smooth and safe traffic flow on the road. Likewise, may I humbly draw your attention to the road which is a major gateway from Asaba to Abuja and that is the road running from Asaba through Illah, Ebu, Ubiaja and then to Uromi. Presently work is ongoing at the Ubiaja axis. Our prayer, Mr President, is that the Asaba, Illah and Ebu axis be added to the construction process. This will undoubtedly reduce, to a large extent, the time of traveling from Asaba to Abuja.

Mr President, a visit from Asaba will never be complete if we don’t draw your attention to the enduring pain we bear as a result of the massacre of over 1000 Asaba men, women and children on 7th October, 1967. The wounds have refused to heal because no attempt has been made in the last 58 years to officially bring a closure to the dastardly event. We are optimistic that Mr President, as a listening and caring leader, can talk to Asaba people and persuade them to put the whole event behind them.

Permit me, Mr President, to urge that Federal Institutions be cited on our land. We beg for more federal presence on our land. In the same vein, we plead for the dredging of the River Niger especially for transportation of goods and for enhanced commercial activities for towns by the bank of the River Niger.

Your Excellency, I cannot end my speech without soliciting your support for a role for traditional rulers under the constitution. My experience on the throne have revealed the significant importance of the traditional Institutions in the affairs of this country. A constitutional imprimatur will go a long way in motivating traditional leaders to make more meaningful contribution for peaceful coexistence of their subjects and others domiciled in their territory. Time also have come to seriously place a pride of place on the traditional administration of justice as a means of settlement of disputes in our land. May I urge that a Committee be set up to review the relationship between the received laws in our legal system and the indigenous method of dispute resolution.

Mr President, I bring you good tidings from the peace loving, hospitable and accommodating people of Asaba. We note that Mr President was not able to visit Asaba, the last time you visited Delta State. We hope that Mr President will factor in a trip to Asaba in any of your visits to South South so you can experience the legendary hospitality of Asaba people.

We wish you the very best as you pilot the ship of state of our dear country. Our prayer is that God will bless and keep you, give you the wisdom to lead this country to the promised land.

Long live Mr President

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria

HRM, Asagba Prof Epiphany C.Azinge SAN, OON, FNIALS, FCIMC, LLD(HC), KSJI, KSG

Asagba of Asaba.