In this part of the world, people and organizations don’t take kindly to criticism and being critiqued. But this should not and cannot stop critics from doing what they have to do. Also, get it clear from the outset before you get it twisted, I am not doing this because I am remotely involved but I am doing it because it is the right thing to do and you as readers have the right to know!
First, I commend the Weyinmi Agbateyiniro-led faction of INYC for what it has done thus far including the recent awards the organization gave out to some Itsekiris. It is the right of Agbateyiniro and his group to do this. So, I am not critiquing the idea but the outcome. I am of the opinion that the body should have engaged the services of experts in the field of organizing events like awards. For instance, the best awards ever are done through jury and not open voting! Also, the body should have been honest to itself and Itsekiris in terms of the modus operandi for giving out such awards.
Some of the award recipients like Okerenkpele (Mr. Alfred Omagbemi), Okotie-Eboh, Awaritse Nigeria Ltd and a few others truly deserve the awards. I am happy they gave it to Okerenkpelebe, whom I reminded one of the awards committee members to add as one of the nominees. However, and sadly so too, the award given to Robinson Ariyo (Best Activist) and other categories like Best Itsekiricentric Print Media, Best Itsekiricentric Film Producer and a few others are nothing but fraud and indeed insult on the sensibilities of INYC members and Itsekiris generally. I will not even dwell on the choice between Warri Mirror and Fresh Angle or Alex Eyengho and Cyril Egbejule in the Best Print Media and Best Film Producer categories respectively. It is like comparing apples and oranges. But hey, they gave it to Fresh Angle and Cyril Egbejule! It is their awards. Na their thing! But the nominations are very insulting in the first instance. The recipients themselves know this!
Back to Robinson Ariyo. I think he should immediately return the awards if he has any shred of honour and integrity. The rules/guidelines set by INYC (the organizers) itself says members of the body particularly executives should not be part of nominees in any of the categories. But, Robinson Ariyo is not just a member of the INYC but a trustee! He is one of the four registered trustees of the Itsekiri Natives Youth Council (INYC) aka Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC). It is like giving yourself an award! This is what Robinson Ariyo did, albeit deceiving Itsekiris with a pseudo nominations and voting process! I repeat, he should return the award and same should be given to Young Piero or any other person. In fact, I make bold to say that the likes of Cyril and the Fresh Angle people always hanging around Ariyo. On the flip side, there are documentary evidence to show that Ariyo sees Alex Eyengho as an enemy that must be crushed by all means possible! So, you now know how and why the INYC awards went the way it did. Aja mo kin aghan!
