Development has a multi-dimensional character. It encompasses not only the financial and material side of people’s life but also the re-organization and restructuring of the entire social and economic system so as to create a better life for the present and future generations. Society’s evolution dictates that man must seek for progress and change – change for the better, not for the worse.
Therefore, development is always optimistic ignoring the past and the present and holding on to the future in order to produce a state which succeeds it. We must bear in mind that as various states have various histories, so do their economic history and path to development vary.
Benin is the cradle of black civilization, the only town that had the status of a city when the Portuguese fought their way into the Bini Kingdom in the 17th century. Then the Oba decided to entertain them with wrestling in the evening at the present-day Ring Road. The wrestlers were children of the great farmers, with a well-built body system. According to Walter Rodney, one of the white men stood up and shouted, “THIS IS A CITY!”
In his book ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’, Rodney said Bini Kingdom and Belgium were at the same developmental level. Benin was called the shining glass of Africa. As other towns in Nigeria grew to attain the level of a city, the whites called Benin the Ancient City. However today, Benin City is as old as the oldest thing in the world – no facelift. Drive round Benin City, not even a single flyover or pedestrian bridge. Benin City needs road infrastructural development, twenty or more flyovers and pedestrian bridges in different locations of the city. Ihihiminhi-Wire Road needs a bridge to connect Ikpoba Hill through Obaseki Street by Ramat Park. Also ihihiminhi by Queen Ede Grammar School to first upstairs, Agbor Road, Behind Federal Housing Estate, in another large community Uwogban to connect the bridge through Okhoro. These will create access for economic and social development in these landlocked zones of the city.
In addition, the city metropolis has several junctions – the ever-busy new Lagos Road by Mission Road Junction (New Benin Market), Third East Circular by Ikpoba Slope, Sapele Road by Muritala Mohammed-Ikpopan to GRA, long high bridge from Sem Edo by Army barracks straight across the river before Ewa Road Junction, to mention a few.
Consequently, the moats dug round the city about the 12th Century can serve as underground train services in this developmental plan. Invite the Chinese who are experts in train technology to use the moats as underground train services.
I watched a documentary on train usage in China. Train in China is like danfo buses in Nigeria – short, long running in-between houses conveying passengers on schedule.
Everything happens for a good purpose. The Oba who dug moats round Benin must have been full of developmental spirit. We should not allow his dream and strength to be in vain. Benin has space for train development and usage. The project requires a lot of attention and money, local and international builders. It is a project that will gulp billions of dollars. Let us not be despondent concerning this issue; we can do it.
Our sons and daughters in diaspora should campaign strongly to those in authority/ies in the country/ies they are. Our home-based brothers and sisters, politicians, businessmen and women, the issue of “I am not a core Bini person shouldn’t come in. No. We have one state capital, Benin City.
I give kudos to our father of blessed memory, Brig-Gen Samuel Ogbemudia, who gave Benin City a facelift over 40 years ago. Let’s unite. We can do it.
Eriaye writes from Lagos
