Fellow Kogi Central constituents, it is wisdom to know that the greatest disaster that can befall a man or a society in general, is lost of identity and lack of respect or true patriotism for their cultural heritage. It is true that the world has changed and is still changing; civilization and democracy seems to have taken over the cultural heritage and values of a people but as rational beings, we should be careful enough not to allow an alien culture to intrude and sweep the values of our own cultural identity, and render the efforts of our past heroes and ancestors useless.
Down the memory lane, history has it that, Itaazi (the father of the Ebiras) in his struggles to give his children an identity of recognition, really suffered a lot of embarrassment and challenges from friends, neighbours and foreigners. In the quest to ensure that someday, a name called “Ebira” will exist and be popular in the world’s map, Itaazi accepted the blocks of embarrassment and challenges to fashion and build what we all know as Ebiraland today.
History has it that, in 1680 AD, Itaazi along with the fathers of Idomas and Igalas migrated out of Wukari over a chieftaincy dispute, which made the Ebiras to split into various groups and settled in different locations between 1680 and 1750 AD.
Itaazi first lived and fellowshipped peacefully with the Igalas at Idah before he later crossed the River Niger and settled at Ebira Opete located in the vicinity of Upake in Ajoakuta LGA of Kogi state.
In the quest to explore and expand his new founded hometown, Itaazi gave birth to five (5) sons who all later scattered across Ebira Opete and became the founders of the various districts in Ebiraland. The children and the districts they founded are Adaviruku/Ohizi (Adavi), Ododo (Okehi), Obaji (Eyika), Uga (Okengwe) and Ochuga/Onotu (Ihima).
Itaazi’s daughter named Ohunene settled in Eganyi district. It becomes crystal clear that all members of the various clans in Ebiraland are descendants of the children of Itaazi.
Itaazi during his days was known to be a man of peace, a man of love, a man of good character that values unity and progress; those traits of his was what gave birth to the name ‘Ebira’ which means ‘good character’. It is very unfortunate that, his descendants in their infinite “wisdom” under the umbrella of civilization and democracy, has imbibed a foreign culture that is ridiculing the labour of the gentle and innocent hero.
It is disheartening to see that the Ebiras of the 1960s has become something else. Back then, during evening folk tales, our elders use to tell us as children that whenever we want to travel either by road, ship or air and we did not find any Ebira person in the company of those travelling, we should not go. This was because the Ebiras are known to be people that are naturally blessed with divine protection and fortune. This was proven to be true when other tribes, especially drivers from other places always want an Ebira person to always be in their company so as to be guaranteed of their safety.
But today, the story has change; even among the descendants of Itaazi, love has disappeared, unity has been adulterated by democracy, progress has been distorted by politics. Families have now become foreigners to each other, livelihood is not base on brotherhood anymore, bloodline has become each other’s prey, Ebira identity has been sold for oddity; why?
If truly the blood that flows in the veins of the Ebiras is that of Itaazi (the father of the Ebiras), then why is the demonstration of the sudden culture of hatred and disunity? Severally, it has been said by elders that, blood is thicker than water but with the exhibition of the foreign attitudes that are found amongst the Ebiras today, can we still say that blood is thicker than water?
Ataazi, Ohizi, Ododo, Obaji, Uga, Ochuga and Ohunene have done their bests, they gave us Adavi, Okene, Okehi, Ajaokuta and Ogori-magongo as our home of identity and united us with several annual indigenous cultural festivals such as the Echane, Eche Ori and Ekuechi. Their efforts also gave us a chief priest and a paramount ruler called the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.
They also segmented the Pre-Colonial Ebira community into five principal clans among which includes: Okengwe, Eika, Okehi, Adavi, and Ihima. The respective priests (heads) of these clans were known as Ohindase, Adeika, Ohiomahi, Asema and Obonbanyi. All these they have achieved during their days through unity, peace, love and combined efforts, and they are forever remembered for it.
Although, it is certain that in every human society, especially among political elites, disagreement is inevitable but as rational beings, it can be managed. This reminds me of the time our father and mother use to quarrel; as children then, we know the truth but who are we to pass judgment and settle both of them? But being aware that 70% of whatever happens during the quarrel will surely bounce back on our mother, which will definitely affect us, we then summoned courage and stylishly call our mother to order, consoling her that when two elephants fight, it is the grass there that gets trampled; and that settles it.
However, in politics the case is different, civilization and democracy has taken over cultural values. We are now in a democratic dispensation where individuals, even husband and wife have the alienable right to vote and even contest for the same political position either in the same party or in different parties; this is what is believed and accepted but who am I to say, as descendants and bloodline of Itaazi, political positions should not be fought for among ourselves but we should support one another and queue strongly behind the one that is political incline as an edge of victory over our neigbours.
The idea of democracy is good but not in this part of the world, because the way it is being practice here many a time leads to destruction, hatred and disunity among people. But for the sake of the future; let’s all remember that a good name is better than riches. Let us not allow the devil’s flat (foreign culture) in us to take over and ruin the city (Ebiraland) that accepted us as her children.
As we talk about and make reference to Ebira traditional rulers, political and religious personalities vis-à-vis: Itaazi, Ohizi, Ododo, Obaji, Uga, Ochuga, Ohunene, Atta Omadivi Abonika, Ovanesi, Zainab Ejinovo Iyebe, Attah Ibrahim, Sanni Omolori, Abdul Kokori, Joe Ohikere, George Ohiani, Shaykh Ahmad Rufai, Onubedo Eganyi, Sadiku Ipaku, Ogeere Ogaminana, HRH Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, Ohindase Okengwe, Late Alhaji A.T Ahmed, Late Chief Jeremiah Akaava (Obobanyi of Ohionwa), Philip Salawu and the likes, posterity will one day remember us. But the question is, what will they say about us? Will the memory we would leave behind for them to make reference to, be positive or negative? As friends, families, relatives, neigbours, the time we spent together is not what really matters but the memory we left in each other’s heart. After this generation, will the next generation be happy and be united through our laid down legacies?
It’s sad but it’s true that politics of nowadays is becoming a complex interest; garnish with hatred, threat, disunity, bitterness and unforeseen pressure to a people, all in the name of representing that same people.
Though the constitution of our dear nation provided that as citizens, we all have the right to vote and be voted for but for the sake of the future and avoidance of the unexpected, who am I to call a Barrister (Natasha Akpoti) to order and console her that where two big elephants display their abilities and strength on an open field, it is the grasses there that get trampled. A word for the wise!
Going by the popular African proverb, “Antagonism is not good for fowls, and it is not good for goats; worse still, it is not good for human being.” Thus, we must all learn to forgive and be united because; anger against a brother is felt on the flesh not in the bone.
My dear Barr. Natasha Akpoti, if you must achieve your dream of representing the people then, you must know that at the bottom of patience is where one finds heaven. Like a mother-hen whose aim is to protect the interest of the chicks by all means, you must be aware that “He who will swallow ‘udala’ seed must consider the size of his stomach”. Some of your previous actions show that you posses the quality of a true leader but those qualities will not be proven right if you fail to consider and have a second thought about the fate and future of your followers before taking any decision.
Fellow constituents, Ebiraland has come a long way; a proverb says “If you want to walk fast, walk alone but if you want to walk far, walk with others”. If we must achieve progress as people of like minds, then, we must not fail to trend on the legacy of peace, unity and progress that our forefathers and leaders have laid down for us. The greatest investment we can leave behind as a valuable asset for the future generation to enjoy is when we forget about the past, reconcile as a family and bind ourselves together with the rope of unity. You may say it doesn’t concern you but remember that, a canoe does not know who is king; when it turns over, everyone gets wet. Posterity will not forgive us if we act otherwise; be reminded that if we give room for foreign culture that is embedded in civilization and democracy, whatever happens, Itaazi is not to be blame!
– Onipe Ozovehe Moses
400 level Mass Communication, KSU
