Friday, February 20, 2009

Edo State Budget 2009

Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State governor, Monday, presented a budget of N75.54 billion to the state House of Assembly for approval.Presenting the budget, christened “budget of new beginning”, the governor said it would kick-start the integrated, accelerated, sustainable and people driven development in the state.



He said the vision of the budget was to transform the state qualitatively through empowerment of the people with the resources; infrastructure, institutions and all-inclusive policies to enable the people live more productive and secure lives.

Oshiomhole, who stated that the state like the rest of the states in the country was confronted with a drastic decline in revenue arising largely from the persistent fall in allocations from the federation accounts, noted that the situation was even made worse by the meager internally generated revenue of an average of N350 million.He said in spite of the misfortune of the past governments, the challenges of his administration was to provide a more imaginative and purposeful leadership, to re-order his priorities, eliminate wastages and manage available scarce resources prudently, in order to meet the high expectations of the people by looking inwards to tap available sources of revenue and block all leakages.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Edo People

Historical accounts are vague as to when and if the Bini (Edo), migrated from the Nile valley. What is not in doubt is that the earliest rulers of Benin were called Ogisos.

Thirty-one Ogisos in all ruled the kingdom of Benin between 900 - 1200 AD, which is the earliest period so far accounted for in Benin history.

The Bini monarchy demonstrates strong affinity with ancient Egyptian gods and Pharaohs, with which it shares identical authority, grandeur and a great deal of reverence from their subjects.

In fact, the hair style of Bini chiefs is similar to Pharaoh Ramses II's famous helmet, while the small circles on the helmet appear also on many Bini bronzes. Bini Queens wear identical hairstyles to that of Pharaoh Mycerinus (Fourth-Dynasty), and Pharaoh Sesostris I (Twelfth Dynasty). The kings (Ogies) of Benin (Bini) also adopt grand Osirian titles of the 'Open Eye,' signifying omniscience and omnipotence.