Dear All,

My hat off to the members of the UNIC Club of Canada for staging such a brilliant and superb convention. For once in a very long time, the Ivbi Edo N'Oba Ye in Canada made me proud to be called an Edo. Mr. Franklin Erhumwunse Omoruna and his cohorts once again demonstrated for all to see that when Edos are properly motivated, they can perform over and above what their duties entail. In 3 short days, Mr. Omoruna and his comrades were able to demonstrate that given the right " stimuli ", Edos can respond positively and massively; can go somewhere; can debunk long held myths about their organizational skills and can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

The jury is still out to ascertain what " deals " Mr. Omoruna cut with the members of his association to elicit such a strong showing of support and cooperation in making the Toronto Convention a model worthy of emulation. We would hope that when the dust finally settles ( if there was ever such a deal ), Mr. Omoruna would be kind enough to share it with the members of these fora to assist in staging further Edo conventions. The formula worked so well that henceforth, I am inclined to obligate every prospective convention chairman to strive to replicate it.

In the San Francisco and Dallas Edo conventions, I watched with utmost disgust as Barrister Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Secretary to the Edo State Government mounted the podium to regurgitate the much embellished and tooted accomplishments of the Lucky Igbinedion administration in Edo State without any serious challenge about the veracity of the facts by members of the audience. For too long, I have heard this same speech read over and and over again that it was beginning to have the effect of searing my soul and making me want to take a puke.

The organizers of the Toronto Convention would not have any of that praise and worship service any more. They decided to do something about it. They enlisted the services of the polished Rev/Dr. Stephen Aghahowa who is very adept in the art of slaying the dragon. True to his reputation, Rev/Dr. Stephen Aghahowa did not let any of us down.

In deliberate but measured tones, he enumerated and elaborated on the pigheadedness and errors in the ways of the Lucky Igbinedion Administration since 1999 in the governance of Edo State. As the good Reverend spoke, I could see Mr. Osagie Iye-Iyamu fidgeting and completely enveloped in a caldron of shame but for the quick intervention of Lucky Imasuen who sat by him and kept murmuring some words into his ears to enable him have a soft landing. Gosh! That was a scene to behold.

After this humiliating and bruising tongue-lashing by Rev/Dr. Aghahowa, I'll be very surprised to see Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu again accept any further speaking engagements on behalf of the first son of the "Esama of the universe".

The biggest disappointment I felt was the failure of the organizing committee to give Dr. Kienuwa Obaseki enough time to make his presentation on the " Agricultural & Industrial Road Map For Edo State ". Just as Brother Kienuwa was about to commence bringing out facts and figures to assist in emancipating our people from decades of agricultural and industrial doldrums, the moderator told him his time was up. I felt very terrible.

From his body language and the words that were emanating from his mouth, one could easily deduce that Brother Kienuwa had done his homework. He had all his ducks in a row. He was ready to educate all of us. Time constraints prevented us from enjoying his presentation and drawing from his years of devoted research in those fields. My hope is that somehow, Brother Kienuwa would find a way to make that presentation available to every conventioneer free of charge. Posting it to Edo-Nation and Edo-Community would be a good begining. I wish the time alloted to Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu had been given to Kienuwa Obaseki. Edo State of Nigeria would have been better for it.

I would hope that in the subsequent Edo conventions, the number of prime time presenters can be substantially cut to afford key note presenters adequate time to do what they do best. There were too many fringe presenters at the Toronto Convention. Consequently, it eroded on the time key presenters like Kienuwa Obaseki would have had to do justice to their topics.

I would also propose that the next time the governor of Edo State of Nigeria is scheduled to speak at the Edo convention and he fails to personally come and deliver his own speech, the convention organizers should deny his representative the opportunity to speak on his behalf. Moreso, as happened in the Dallas Convention, the Edo State governor was in the vicinity of the venue where the convention was taking place, yet he did not have the political courage or chutzpah to show his face or come and give a detailed account of his political stewardship before his people in the diaspora.

Since the unfortunate incident of September 2nd, 2006, at the Toronto Renaissance Airport Hotel, hardly has a day ever passed that I did not say a prayer for the members of the Dave Imalele family of Canada. My hope is that everyone reading this writeup would continue to say a prayer for them daily. They need our prayers. The good Lord has promised to wipe away the tears of Mr. and Mrs. Imalele. With my faith, I shall continue to hold on to this promise until joy and happiness come back into their lives again. I respectfully and humbly ask all of you to join me in this endeavor.

Bravo to every member of the UNIC Club of Canada.

Isaac I. Asemota.