Egbema ljaws Warn Bini Youths over unguided statements against Agadagba-Elect
....... Demands open apology, caution Bini's to desist from drumming for war, says peace is priceless
Warri____ Egbema Focus Group (EFG), the social cultural organization of Egbema kingdom, Our attention have been drawn to the sacrilegious act of the Benin Group called coalition of Benin socio cultural organization, violating extant laws of the Edo state Government, and against the most ancient tradition of southern Nigeria, Egbema kingdom, The Agadagba, The Bini Pere, their act is considered a taboo in Egbema culture, The Bini Pere, The Agadagba of Egbema kingdom. This sacrilegious characterization is a result of lack of education, and shows the little knowledge of those jobless cultists having little or no respect for the revered Egbema ancient throne, the Kiri nana-abou, The Ibe-nana-owei, The Idaji.
Recent times, there has been an arrest and detention of persons who headed a group in Benin, alleged to have published false and misleading information against the Edo state Ijaws, and the thrones, the most highest throne in southern Nigeria, The Bini Pere, Agadagba of Egbema kingdom, a Throne even recognized by late Obas of Bini Kingdom.
Firstly, a group called Bini Solidarity Movement (BSM), a socio-cultural and some individuals who committed same sacrilege were arrested, subsequently prominent leaders pleaded, and for the prompt intervention of the Governor of Edo state Mr. Godwin Obaseki in connection to the publication relating to the Edo state Ijaws, the hoodlums were freed some years ago.
Since then, they have changed their name in continuation of nefarious publication and press conferences.
Understandably, those persons arrested attracted scrutiny. while meaningful Bini sons condemned what they see as highhandedness on the part of their low backgrounds, uncultured living and developing hatred their forefathers displayed before they were born,
some have argued that the right to freedom of speech comes with a responsibility to keep within the law and that anyone who fails to keep within accepted boundaries must be subjected to the law.
Egbema Focus Group is through this medium calling on the executive Governor of Edo state His Excellency Mr. Godwin Obaseki to immediately caution, bring the culprit to book to avoid another lingering crisis between Egbema Ijaws and coalition of Benin socio-cultural organization. We are peace loving people, we are ready to maintain the already existing peace between the Ijaws and the Bini's but we cannot be pushed to the wall.
For the record , Egbema kingdom is an ancient Kingdom in Southern Nigeria. As aborigines, Egbema people transported the Bini's to and from the Ovia River when they migrated from lle Ife. Egbema Kingdom was a part and parcel of Bendel State before Bendel was split into present Edo and Delta states,the owner of the land, before the Binis migrate from Yoruba land. This is a fact even the Bini speaking people will not be able to eliminate from history books. If the Ijaws calls the Bini's settlers, it would be better than the Bini's settlers calling Ijaw aboriginals tenants.
We were peacefully living as Southerners in Nigeria, Edo state was formed on August 27, 1991 when Bendel State was split into Edo and Delta States. The northern portion of Bendel state, as present Edo state the traditional headquarters of Egbema kingdom Ajakurama town, Ofunama, Abere, Gbeoba, Jamagie 1&2, Gbolukanga town, in Ovia south west LGA were balkanized into Edo state, while the southern Bendel that is Egbema Kingdom was also balkanized into Delta state, example of Egbema Kingdom southern Bendel communities in the present day Delta state are; Opuama/Polobubou, Abadigbene, Ogbudugbudu, Ogbinbiri, Itagnene, Awanba, and Asigborodor communities in Warri North local Government Area of Delta state. Prior to this, in 1963, the citizens of the territory had voted to separate from what was then the Western region, and the Mid-West region was created. This became Mid-Western state following the federal reorganization in 1967; from a second reorganization in 1976 until its division in 1991, it was named Bendel state.
The major first languages spoken in the state are Edo, Etsako, Esan and Owan, Akoko Edo,Okpameri language and Ijaw. Edo State is home to several ethnicities, among them the Bini, Esan, Afemai, Emai, and Ijaw. The ethnic groups in Edo state, virtually all the groups traced their origin to Edo state, hence their language of the ethnic groups vary with their distance from Benin city, the Benin speaking people most occupied the center of the state, this do not automatically make them to have lordship over other ethnic nationalities, the land now known as Edo state with Benin city as its capital has a long history of civilization.
Egbema Focus Group revealed that
Benin Kingdom in Edo state is a Yoruba expansion, said they remained part of the expansive Yoruba race which is a fact known by reasonable and notable Bini sons.
The group made the comment in reaction to a statement credited to the coalition of Benin socio cultural organization, challenging the claim by the group that the Oba of Benin remains the paramount king of Edo state, and environs.
Egbema Focus Group via a statement by his Director of Public Affairs, Tamara-Ebi Idaji, made available to EgbemaVoice News said that, they were not interested in any supremacy battle with anyone but that he would continue to put the records straight and avoid distortion of history from any quarters.
The social cultural organization, Egbema Focus Group, said going by historical evidence detailing the Oduduwa lineage, Benin Kingdom remained part and parcel of Oduduwa House, they are Tennant of Egbema Ijaws who paddled and continually crossed them to and fro Udo via Ovia River.
“We the ancient Edo Ijaws have always seen and regarded the Benin kingdom as part and parcel of Oduduwa children. They are brothers and sisters, coupled with historical facts to back up this position,” EFG said,
“The statement credited to the coalition of Benin socio cultural organization, did not emanate from oba of Benin palace, but the reality is that as a highly experienced and well informed social cultural organization EFG, we are bonafide descendant of Egbema Kingdom, we can't be silent over the childish and malicious statement that misleads the general public.
“Let me emphasize for the umpteenth time that the Agadagba of Egbema kingdom is less concerned over any supremacy hullabaloo. His only interest for now in how the sacred throne of Egbema kingdom can explore measures through which the collective interest and genuine unity among Ijaws and other tribes within the different ethnic nationalities in Edo and Delta states can be enhanced.
However, the Egbema focus group resolved to build bridges of harmony among Ijaws and other tribes in Edo state, Egbema kingdom is resolutely committed to how Niger Delta ethnic group can restore its glory and pride of position among other ethnic inclinations in Nigeria and don’t want to be dragged into supremacy contest or join issues with anybody.”
Egbema Focus Group, said they recalled that about thirty two (32) years ago, attempt was made by some people and tribes to upturn history and enacting bylaws with influence of some bias and sentimental Government officials relating to Kingship supremacy by way of misunderstanding in creation of local Government Areas, whereby the three local Government areas where Ijaws resides in Edo state, namely; Ovia south, Ovia North East, Ikpoba Okha local Government Areas were hijacked by Edo speaking people. This lingering issues led to supremacy of thrones, the then mid-west region Government compromised and conspired to sideline Egbema kingdom throne, in order to make Egbema king under the lordship of Edo land.
They added that, “We still acknowledge the Binis and their kinsmen, regardless of the attempt to change the course of history. They are from south west and Yoruba , so be it.
The Egbema Focus Group on the installation of the new Agadagba of Egbema kingdom, at Ajakurama town, the traditional headquarters of Egbema kingdom, Ovia south west local Government Area of Edo state, on 13th of November 2022, still rated the Agadagba of Egbema, The Bini Pere, The IV, His Royal Majesty Meshach Ubabiri as the number one monarch in Ijaw Nation .
In their rating, The Bini Pere, The Agadagba of Egbema kingdom, was number one paramount ruler of the principal traditional rulers in Ijaw nation,
But in a swift reaction on Saturday publication of the coalition of Benin socio cultural organization of Benin Kingdom, Tamara-Ebi Idaji rejected the claim and their ranking, saying which partly quote "Let it be categorically stated and known to all men that there is no such place as Egbema kingdom in Edo state and there is only one king and throne in Benin kingdom known to our laws, customs and tradition. It is the throne of the Omo N'Oba N'Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo,the Oba of Benin kingdom ,The occupant of that throne today is the well read, unrivalled ,most revered and universally acclaimed king,Oba Ewuare 11, the Ogidigan, the Oba of Benin Kingdom seated on the throne of his fore-fathers long established before the Whites or Westerners ever had contacts with the black race, His domain and dominion of Benin empire stretched beyond most of Southern Nigeria of today before the British invaded Benin Kingdom" This claim to the Egbema Focus Group (EFG) is the highest height of immaturity, stupidity, recklessness, ignorance, and ignition of crisis where there is none. The referendum that created the mid-west state championed by the great Oba Akenzua 11, the grand-father of the present Oba of Benin was the people speaking freely with one voice.
Egbema Focus Group said, “We wanted to discard this report as something that was not necessary at all. We do not see how the Benin groups suddenly woke up to think that the Ijaws are nowhere to be found in Edo state, and compared the most ancient throne of southern Nigeria, with oba of Benin throne.
“There is no basis for such comparison; Oba of Benin has nothing to do with the Ijaw kingship. It is simply unnecessary, unless they simply want to stir up an unnecessary controversy and instigating further crisis.
“We are not part of Benin kingdom, we have never been a part of the Benin empire, we had direct contact with the Portuguese and British during the slave trade and the then oil protectorate, binidodogha port in Egbema is an affirmation. We are Ijaw people, most ancient and First ethnic nationality in Niger Delta region, To be frank, it is because many of them are not willing to come up with the truth.
The title Oba is alien to even the Yoruba monarchy; it is not part of their title from time immemorial.
To put the record straight, Oba of Benin is a recently title, Bini kingdom we have the Ogiso which from Ijaw tribes, for instance, the Oba of Lagos, these are recent adaptations. In the 50s, there was no Oba of Lagos, what we had was the Eleko of Eko. That is the title of the King then. In Ibadan, you have the Olu Ibadan. You come to Abeokuta, you have the Alake of Egba land. You come to Oyo, you have the Alaafin of Oyo. In Ilesha, you have the Owa-Obokun of IIesha. After the pro-yoruba force came to the Benin kingdom and then mid-west region leadership, As expansion of the kingdoms and modernization and Western Education was welcome by southern Nigeria, kingdom gave birth to kingdom, migration and assimilation, then the title came into existence.
When the Western Regional *conference* of traditional rulers took place in Benin City in 1942, we know the monarchs that attended the conference, the Agadagba of Egbema kingdom was in attendance of the conference, including then Oba of Benin.
“So it is an unnecessary excursion, an unnecessary attempt to turn history upside down by the Benin groups by classifying the Oba of Benin as the lordship of Edo state, whereby the Governor of the state is the Hierarchy office of the state, we are not operating monarchical system of Government, every ethnic nationalities in Nigeria are custodial of their culture, this provocative and uncultured group should stop misleading and instigating crisis between Ijaw and Binis, the Ijaws are peaceful people who believe in communal living, but the most important thing is that Ijaw Nation has never been defeated not even by the Portuguese nor the British nor by indigenous ethnicities nationwide, we are not afraid of anyone. Egbema people are well dangerous warriors when pushed to the wall bounce back. A word is enough for the wise.
