Communities surrounding the Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA) have staged a protest against the appointment of Femi Adekanbi as the agency’s new Managing Director.
Residents from Obayantor II, Ekosa, Agbomwoba, and Awanoba took to the streets, barricading the office entrance and hindering access for employees and visitors.
The demonstrators demanded the installation of a Benin individual in the Managing Director position, while expressing their discontent with Adekanbi’s appointment.
Mr. Nosa Aigbogho, spokesperson for the protesters, claimed that host communities have been excluded from leadership roles at the agency for 42 years, with no indigenous candidates promoted to senior management positions despite their qualifications.
“Our protest at the BORBDA headquarters was to demand that the Oba’s recommendations for the appointment of someone from the host communities be respected by the appointing authorities,” Aigbogho stated. He further emphasized that the protest became necessary when appeals to federal authorities for a local candidate were disregarded.
The protesters also highlighted concerns over BORBDA’s lack of corporate social responsibility, asserting that the communities have received minimal benefits since the agency’s inception. They urged a reevaluation of the agency’s engagement with its host areas.
Aigbogho appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to address the ongoing marginalization by appointing a qualified candidate from the Benin lineage as Managing Director, in accordance with the Federal Character principles and the recommendations of Oba Ewuare II of Benin.
The protesting communities have vowed to persist with their demonstrations until their demands are met, underscoring the importance of representation in the agency’s leadership.
