THE first remembrance and memorial lecture for late Barr. Anthony O. Iyalekhue who was assassinated in Benin City on 30th July 2009 was held at the council hall, Iguobazuwa the administrative Headquarters of Ovia South West Local Government Area.

The lecture which attracted various dignitaries from all works of life featured two guest speakers Mr. John N Ekhator of the College of political Aparthied and its implications for societal emancipation and Barrister O.V Otamere who discussed on the imperatives of legal empowerment of the poor.

Mr. Ekhator in his presentation said he dotted his cap to late Barrister Anthony Lkuomoise Iyalekhue whose political sagacity and fearless indignation endeared him to the teaming youths in Edo state and beyond but later attracted the venom of political hawks and vampires who believed that they alone are entitled to blaze the political terrain.

He noted that we are not here to lament the death of this political colossus that happen twelve months ago but to try and look at the implications of this apartheid political policy that is sweeping across the political landscape in Nigeria. Mr. Ekhator said friends and foe kill for political and economic reasons and even friends, close relations including parents are involved in political and economic kidnappings adding that it one was looking for economic empowerment, the first thing was the empowerment of the mind. HE stressed that what the society needs now was attitudinal change that would stear people away from crimes and criminalities that will dampen people’s enthusiasm for hard work and creativity.

The guest lectures concluded that any political empowerment must be aimed at holistic human and societal emancipation stating that not until we are able to discard fear or conquer fear there can be no political and economic emancipation and that we need to banish political apartheid from our polity.