@Physics MHD, or Physics whatevr

1)I dont understand the valid points posted by Exothief because none is tangible enough to make an impression to me.I will therefore not consider the noise from that chatterbox with any seriousness.The reason why the Omu title was created was  not because they love the Iyoba rather it was created to strenghten the Obiship institution in the same manner the Iyoba had assisted her son during the wars with Idah.I am up to the task in this cultural section.The woman was assaulted ( using Ziks language ) and it led to the mass movement of the natives of Benin. Prior to educating you guys on this story you went on telling the world that Chime was an Igbo man ! You should thank me for educating you on that.

2)1/8 of Edo resources untapped ? Lol, let me name them rubber, timber  etc and these were the resources the Edo section of the old Bendel state used in infrastructural development and human capital development prior to the division in 1991.I asked one question and this has been channeled to you as well, Just list 10 mega infrastructural projects initiated by  Edo state since the split in 1991 ? I am waiting. The fact is that everywhere has resources including Edo, Anioma or what is at present defined as Delta State. But to label Anioma dry from a native of Edo is ridiculous because when such yard sticks are made Edo is apparently drier than Anioma and this is why I am still waiting for the list reflecting the massive development.

3)While the Iyoba title may have "inspired" the creation of the Omu title amongst Anioma people, both titles are completely different in concept. I will not fall into the temptation to start expalining what the Omu is all about in full details.


4)On the Yoruba word for Breadfruit "Afon", This does not translate that it was used as food in Yorubaland(because I have never seen it as a food crop in Yorbaland).I will also like to have the names of the local pear and the pepperfruit in Yoruba.

5)On the Human development Index, The issue here is not about making comparisons between Edo and Delta states rather the comparison is between the Anioma section of Delta State and Edo State.The so called higher index of Edo state(as regards Education) derives from the fact that the residents of Edo is more cosmopolitan and urbanized and of course residents in this definition does not refer only to people of Edo origin.On a broader picture the drawback we have in Delta State is not from the Anioma axis.

6)The Anioma people are liberal minded and this is reflected from our heterogenous origin a people of Eastern Igbo, Igala, Edo, Yoruba, Isoko, Ijaw and Yoruba origin and the cultures of these areas are represented in Aniomaland though we have managed to create a distinct civilization.On the role by women, the Omu is more powerful in the administration of state than the Iyoba ; for instance she can she can break kolanuts in her own name and unlike the Iyoba title derived from her association with the Oba , the Omu attains that title independently of the Obi and this is why we often use the word "queen" to define her not just a kings consort who attained the role of a "queen mother". We have always had great roles for women inour communities.In Ubulu Uku for instance the Umu Ozim descendants of the sister of the second king of the town usually coronates the king. In Onitsha and many Anioma towns it is usually the "Ada" or the oldest woman in the community who ritually purifies whoevr is to become the king.Some of these practises were there even before the Omu title was created in the 16th century.
There are countless instances where people of assimilated stock from wherever attained important roles in Anioma communities including people who were refugees or ex-slaves.In Aboh clan for instance no distinction is made between the Umudei(royals) and Ndiche(non royals many of whom were of slave origin).The clan "Agbor" is derived from an Edo word "Agbon" ( one reason I will challenge your gambit on Oza Nogogo) meaning the world because it has always seen herself as the centre of the world and had always accepted settlers irrespective of origin.
Chief Jereton Marierie was installed the Onise( in Benin Oliha) of Aboh kingdom he is just an Urhobo like Chief Igbe but the difference here is that whereas Chief Igbe is an assimilated Edo of Urhobo origin(I am doubtful of this claim and I challenge you to prove it) Chief Marierie need not be a native (assimilated or not) of Aboh kingdom as a sign of appreciation for his identification with the Delta Igbos( remembered he represent Agbor for a while)
7)On the liberalism of Oba Akenzua11 it was an issue of mutual interests.The Oba wanted a Midwest Region to save him from the humiliation he had endured from the Western Region while the Easten Region wanted to consolidate the grip of the NCNC in the Midwest beyond the Igbo speaking areas.Igbos are not ingrates like many Nigerians and this was demonstrated by  Chief Amaechi .The simple question is have the Benin via whatever representation done likewise to appreciate the kind of support the proposed Midwest Region had from the Eastern Region before the region was created ?

I dont think that there is much of an interval 1978( VC of  UNIJOS) and 1980(VC of UNN) nothing much.But the fact is that there is nothing to compare in prestige between UNIJOS Aand UNN and this is fact. The more prestigious the University , the more competive for academicians to cling the top administrative position.This was apparently why it has been difficult for the Benins to produce the VC  of UNIBEN because it is more prestigious than UNIJOS just as in the same manner UNN is more prestigious than UNIBEN.Because of the greater interest and competition in the more prestigious institutions , it would become such an embarrasment to the pride of an Edo man that none of her stock could produce the VC of the institution.Hence the only strategy available to these Edos is to resort to tribal drum beats wherever the position of VC of UniBEN  is declared vacant.
Having gone through your  response to my points , it would seem that you digressed to check  my  supposed attempt to compare the fields of  Physical Chemistry of Prof Emovon and Nuclear Physics of Prof Ndili by listing Edo academicians some of whom were in involved in "rare" and "abstract" fields of study (Prof Emovon is an achiever and I will not do such a thing) I will not want to start listing names because when I start it is the likes of you tht will say they will not be involved in name listing yet gives a list of Edo academicians.
I am unconvinced on your claims that Prof Osagie is a more prolific academician than Prof Nwanze because I insist that you are not privy to whatever their academic achievements are.But one fact I will remind you is that both academicians went through rigours of examinations to test their administrative and academic skills prior to when the appointment was made and Prof Nwanze was the leader of the pack.His appointment was therefore based more on merit than whatever story you have cleverly cooked up.
I merely included Prof  Onwuachi because he is an academician , and the Institute of International Affairs is an educational institution not the Society of Nigerian Engineers whose head need not be a Phd holder talkless of a professor.

9)I only tried to remind you that St Thomas Ibusa is a secondary school because you tried to pretend that there was none of the status of a "Govt College" prior to Edo College founded in 1937 in Aniomaland.The point is that when Edo College was created in 1937 they have no where else to get her first principal within the old Benin province than to seek the skills of Mr Moloku who from the name is clearly of Anioma stock( which you replaced  as Igbo).Dont be surprised that Mr Molokwu would have gone through that college in Ibusa which you have attempted vainly to bring down.
The so called Skills Acquisition Centre metamorphosized into Bendel State College of Agriculture and thereafter became the Asaba campus of Delsu.Call it whatever, the institution have had a long history spanning over a century.The question is where is the Benin equivalent of the "Skill Acquisition Centre by 1898 ? I need answers because the first primary schools were only established in Benin City in 1900.

10)I will advice you carry out more research on Agbor kingdom because this community is very ancient and have had two dynasties like Benin.The Dein dynasty was created in the 15th century( though many Agbor historians support an earlier claim) and prior to this dynasty is the Ogele dynasty which is legendary and whose foundation have always been a matter of dispute.Notable historians like Onwuejeogwu and Iduwe(a native of Agbor) believe that the earliest settlers of the kingdom or Ominije(the ancient name for Agbor) were of Eastern Igbo origin and aspects of the Ika dialect seems to support that in addition to that  point the Ika dialect contained archaic Igbo features such as nasalisation and aspiration(Williamson 1968) and this is reflected in such vocabulary for land "Ali" which Abagworo rightfully identifies as one of the oldest variants of the Igbo language.It could have been these ancient dwellers of Ominije that the early Benin moats to the East were dug.Because Agbor history records that many areas which have now evolved  into Benin areas were parts of this ancient kingdom. I will also advice you to go to FB to read abt Oza language series.You will get a clearer picture of Oza community and not the one posted by Blessing Otabor which you have used to support your foundationless points and justification to claim Igbanke community.

@Vicenzo, Leave that Exothief alone.Let me tell you a little secret abt Edo girls , They are the cheapest in the South of Nigeria and you know what; just parade that you are a returnee from Europe or that your brother resides in Europe, she don open leg for you ! No need to pay one kobo.That is how they are cheap.Today the likes of that baby Exothief as he calls himself will tell you they "earn dollars" in the Euro Zone , that one na story.It is just in few instances, Most of them dey jonz. Some deported from Europe have relocated to Bonny Island where they form the largest percentage  of the whores in that place, I have seen them in that place personally yet they lie to their folks that they are earning "dollars", lol
Thks for educating that baby on Igbanke.When the time comes everyone will answer his father's name no matter how some imperialists/expansionists will want to oppress it.
They are just being envious of Igbos and their achievements and they think the South of Nigeria will be liberated when they continue to antagonise the best amongst them.That will not work.They have to study the example of South Sudan where the Southern peoples followed the leadership of the Dinka and now that country will in a couple of days be a sovereign state.Petty jealousies and envy will never give Southeners that break they all aspire for.

@Exothief,
Because I told you the truth you think it is an insult abi ? No need to to be pained , the feature is just too common in Benin.I personally never intended it as an insult.
1)I am surprised for someone to even open mouth and  say he comes from Usen, that bush renowned fro diabolism ? That glorified secondary school no go change anything ooooohhhh, That is why the village is virtually empty many like yourself don pack come Benin because of lack of amenities there.Na since when Usen get light ? Maybe recently because I know a couple of Usen friends who swear nothing will take them to that community if not for their renowned act of diabolism it is the complete lack of infrastructure including roads.As far as I am concerned you are just using this medium to announce that Usen has just gotten electricity.

2)The problem of power failure or mosquito bites is not peculiar to Asaba.We all experience these things in Nigeria.And mind you theer is a difference between Asaba and Asaba metropolitan area.If you are to make such comparisons I will suggest you compare Benin City bordered by the moats which is geographically smaller than Asaba urban .Now if you want to define Benin City as Benin metropolitan area then I will group along with Asaba urban , the towns of Ibusa(6 miles to Asaba urban), Okpanam(5 miles to Asaba urban), Okwe(5 miles to Asaba urban and now practically a suburb of Asaba), Ugbolu(5 miles from Asaba urban) ,  Oko(10 miles from Asaba urban) and even Ogwashi Uku(15 miles from Asaba urban).Talking about bush , even parts of places grouped as Benin City is thick jungle, Just ask yourself where Airport road ends, It is at the ogba river I think and beyond the river are  backward rural communities and guess what in Oredo LGA !

3)Does Asaba deserve to be Capital ? The issue is that do the Anioma people really belong to Delta  State ? We dont belong to a Delta State and the capital being in Asaba is more or less like a price to pay for being in that state in the first instance.Our prayer really as Anioma people is to get our state and has never been whether the capital ought to be in Warri or Asaba.Besides the folks in Warri were at each other's neck and we therefore have nothing to be guilty about the capital being in Asaba.
Her name was Maryam Babangida and not Mariam Okogwu(her maiden name).She was therefore a married woman and not just a night stand.IBB is a military man and need not fall for Maryam's "pussy" to forget what he is doing. Military people are never infatuated with a single "pussy" even if it belongs to their wives.I think in this aspect Vicenzo has given you a very good response.

4)On Anioma towns being empty, lol.What do you expect for Anioma people a section of the Igbo people to remain in their villages considering their adventurous and enterprising nature ? The Igbo man is ambitious and the other day I was watching a documentary on the Nigerian Community in Sao Tome and behold all of them( including some being of Anioma stock) were Igbos.I also find it funny when you say that Anioma people dont look towards the East for anything including opportunities.Anioma people form perhaps the largest non-Eastern Igbo community in the South East.You may not know because many speak Eastern Igbo dialects.There is a very large Anioma community in Enugu and at one time a member of the Anioma community Pastor Olisa Jideonwo was the president of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce.

5)On the claim that it was an "Esan" man Ikhimen that made Anioma people "civilised".I find that claim very funny.Ikhimen was not an Esan though the name is now commonly borne by Esans.There are enough evidence that  the Benin and Esan dialects were far closer then(16th century) than the situation today.On the claim that it was the assimilated Anioma hero "Eze Chime" that brought civilization to Anioma , I find that funny. Apart from the Omu title there was really no innovation they brought into Anioma land. Even their principal deity "Mkpitime" was borrowed from neighbouring Anioma communities.We have always had our traditions  for over 1,000 years before the arrival of Eze Chime.

@Physica MHD
1) Is this the lenghty reply you have been bragging about ?  Hahaha, Look this lenghty post of yours is just empty. The first is to claim "Ali" is not Igbo.In Agbor kingdom many communities follow the prefix such as Alibudo, Alihame, Aliagwai, Alisimie and so on. And in the Ozarra cluster we have Alilehan and Alisor which though speak the Ozara dialect (principally derived from Edo) also have that prefix indicating that this cluster one of the several that constitute the Agbor kingdom have been assimilated. Alibudo also within this cluster does not even speak the Ozara dialect.
Going through the names of the villages of the Oza Nogogo community, it will be discovered that they are just as named as other vilages in Agbor.Take the prefix "Idumu" it is equally used in Agbor even up to Asaba.In Agbor there is an Idumuoza community.In Igbodo there are Idumuobior and Idumuozei villages.In Asaba clan is an Idumugbe village.There is nothing unique about Benin in that word IDUMU though it is most likely that it was borrowed from the Edo language.The point is that Ozara does not have peculiarity with tht prefix.There are villages like Ihogbe, Ihaikpen(Ehaikpen), Ogbe Iwase(Ewaise) and so on in Agbor town ! Yet these communities according to you are core Ika(Igbo) communities.In Ikaland we donot make such distinctions especially as it relates with the place names we adopted from Benin.This is a weak arguement.As usual you have been corrected with the word "Ali"
Different parts of Igboland have their names for land
Ala is mainly Southern Igbo(Imo and Abia States)
Ani(is mainly Northern Igbo Anambra and most parts of Anioma and Enugu state)
Ana is mainly used in the Awka area
Ali is mainly used in parts of Rivers and Delta States
Eli is used by a few Ikwerre communities
They all mean the same thing.
On the use of the name "OHEN" as priests in Ozara, these are as well the names used in the whole of Aniomaland as priests.In my hometown Igbodo, we call the priest of our deity "Mkpitime" Ohene Mkpitime, in Ibusa they call the priestess of the Oboshi river "Ohene Oboshi" , as you move westwards the word Ohene is reduced to Ohen giving it a Benin like word which you have used as yardstick of your baseless arguements.

Nobody says a few Ozara people feel disgruntled with the imperial power at Ime Obi Agbor even other villages like Emuhu, Oki  and Ekuku Agbor also share these sentiments and they are insisting that power should be devolved into these outlying districts of the kingdom.It is therefore not peculiar to Ozara.While it is fine for these citizens of Oza Nogogo to make complains some of which are genuine I insist that these sentiments is not the position of most Ozara natives.Those who wrote whatevr on the net were at least sincere enough to note that Ozara HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF AGBOR KINGDOM.The inclusion of Ozara in Agbor is not a creation of the colonialists , it has always been there becase they were granted those lands by the Obi of Agbor who conferred on their leader the Ogisi title or else you are saying tht Ozara was founded at the threshold of the colonial period which of course cant be true.
It was those who crossed the Orhiomwon river and moved into Benin like Ozanisi that can be convenient be group as subjects of the Oba and the Agbor people have never laid claims to those communties eventhough they migrated from a part of Agbor kingdom.I doubt if you ahve been to Ozara.Along the Ossiomo river are ancient Egbo trees(called Ikhimwin in Edo) making the boundaries between Agbor and Benin and these trees extend up to Alifekede(an Agbor village) to Ogan(a Benin village) forming a continous chain and this has been the case for centuries.If Ozara and Ozanisi had been one commnuity then there wont be the presence of those trees since both are supposed to be kith and kin.If those disgruntled elements want to cross the Ossiomo river like those kith and kin that did several centuries ago to share the privelege of being directly under the Oba , they are free.Nobody will stop them.
I use Ozara rather than Oza Nogogo for the sake of convenience both of them refers to the same community.There is no discrimination of names in Agbor kingdom.
Now on those of Ika backgrounds which to your thoughts are "reasonable" in declaring that Ozara is Benin are more or less the purifists in Ikaland.Try and check the background of those and you will discover that they are not even from Agbor kingdom.Ikaland has many clans and many of us bearly know much about the history and orientation of others.No Agbor man (because this Ozara issue has been in court severally) would say Ozara is not a part of Agbor.If the claim of this Ozara seperatists is anything to take seriously why then did they say Awo recommended that Ozarra be considered a distinct clan ? When was that the case? Because it is a complete fabrication.Awo had all the power to grant Ozara a status of a clan of such a claim if it ever existed since he was the all powerful Premier of the Western Region.
My position is that Igbanke prior to colonial rule was not even a part of Benin kingdom.I earlier asked one simple question, If indeed Igbanke had always been a part of Benin kingdom why then did the Oba create so many Enogie titles in one town ? I challenge you to name just one community in Benin kingdom with such a feature.I also noted that I dont have any problems with Ozara merging with their kith and kin as part of a "final deal" (If I should be a purifist like those "reasonable'' Ikas) under one condition that not only should Igbanke be merged to her kith and kin but other Ika settlements founded on Benin lands( just as Ozara was founded on Agbor land) like Iru, Igbogiri, Owa Iriuzor(styled Evbo Obanosa), and several others, then I have no problem with that.Ultimately it will be the Benins that will loose more territory.

2)"Esan people are still claiming Ekpon" So what is the big deal with this ? I know that too well but the issue is not Ekpon people claiming to be Esan which should be a more sensible post.In the same manner these Esan groups claim Inyelen eventhough nothing like "ny" exists in the Esan dialect ! Like I always say Igbodo and Ekpon share boundaries and I think I am in the best position to define where Ekpon actually belongs.In the past it could be debatable  not anymore.I have been to Ekpon cultural festivals , I have seen their dances and other socio-political events, And I can categorically tell you Ekpon is an Ika clan.Most people are just ignorant of this(including the Esan groups who are themselves not Ekpon people).I am aware that Ekpon and Igbanke people have severally informed the Anioma people to be involved in their(ie our) cultural week which climaxes every Easter.We were not the people who intiated this.
On the said Idemudia, I have seen what was written, That is an Ekpon man for you ! Nobody from Ekpon who trully knows his background will call himself an Esan man.He even wrote something in the Ekpon variant of the Ika dialect.I would have done something similar in Igbodo variant and you will see the similarity.On the name "Idemudia", Like I said the Anioma bear a lot of Edo names just like the Nsukka people bear many Igala names.These are features you will usually find along cultural boundaries.Ekpon is not peculiar in that regard.Except you were  biased tou should have seen the title of the present Obi of Owa (himself of Nri origin) is it  not Efeizomor ? Was his predecessors not bearing names identical with titles borne by previous Obas ? So what is the big deal.Were you not here when I noted that Iyeke was the title borne by the Obis of Igbodo ? Or you never saw that post by me ? Please when you make your arguements be a little more objective.The position of Idemudia settles any debate on the status of Ekpon.
The ethnographic boundaries of Rivers people is well defined.The Ikwerre, Ekpeye, Ogba, Ndoni(an Anioma people), Etche and Obigbo(Ndoki) are clearly Igboid and no Igbo organisation has ever claimed beyond these areas.Since you have read Talbot so well and have even educated me on his family including his wife, I would believe that his publication which was authority for you when you declared that the claim of human sacrifice in Benin was "over blown" yet you did not deem it fit to be sincere to admit that in the same book the writer with compeling reasons clearly group these communities as part of Igboland.I do understand that political units loose territories if you loose a war.Then with that understanding I will agree that these communities for POLITICAL not ETHNOGRAPHICAL reasons should be as "non-Igbo". I am not aware that Igbos have ever laid claims to other peoples in the present Rivers State.Evn Port Harcourt once claimed to be "Ijaw" , the creation of Bayelsa State exposed the lies associated with such irresponsible claims.Of the present Port Harcourt LGA, there are 17 wards with only two given to the large Okirika and Kalabari people at the Water fronts.I am not making any reference to the larger Obio-Akpor LGA or the suburbs such as Igwuruta and Aluu(Ikwerre), Umuebele(Etche) or Obigbo.Ever wonder what Rumu means ? It means children and in Central Igbo we call it Umu.Besides the interior Ikwerre( derogatively called Azu Mba) call it Umu just like other Igbos.This is what you dont know.Igbos can never claim Okirika, Kalabari, Ogoni, Ibani or Bonny (which is actually Igbo speaking), Abua or Andoni lands because they are not Igbos despite the large percentage of people claiming Igbo ancestry in those places.Let me give a notable example the present Harry family of Harry's town in Kalabari say they are of Igbo origin and in Kalabari customs they coronate all Amanyanabos of Kalabari kingdom.

3)
a)There are no Benins in Gelegele(actually called Giligili by the Ijaws)  rather the supposed Benins ae those who are from the neighbouring village of Ughoton , a community which acted as a seaport and a station for the worship of Olokun deity and this was why in the said court cases involving the Benins and Ijaws it was deemed as Ughoton(Benin) vs Gelegele(Ijaw) over Gelegele land.I will not dwell much on this Gelegele issue because the land (just like the Ozara in Agbor) has been won and lost in the courts though most Ijaws believe it was controversial ( the Obaseki factor as they see it) What I will accept is that the present Oduna ward is shared between the Ijaws and Benins whose villages are constituted into this ward.
b)Personally I think Okomu was founded on Benin territory this is my personal opinion since the said Okomu is not too aquatic for Ijaws to have a strong and unchallenged foothold in the area.I also donot think just one settlement would constitutte a clan in the Ijaw area considering the dispersed anture of their settlements.
c)On the Egbema claim, I think it is valid if it is seen from the ecological perspective.The Oba is the ruler of the lands just as the Pere is the ruler of the waters.Nobody has equated the priest king of the Egbema to the Omonoba in this regard.The Oba ranks higher than any ruler in the Midwest including the various Obis of Anioma land.But ranking of monarchs does not amount to tiltle to land.These are different issues.You cannot say because the Oba is ranked higher than say Abavo kingdom in Ikaland then this community should be considered as tenants or as a part of Benin kingdom.There are obvious ecological differences.The Benins are not known to found permanent settlements in swampy terrain being principally a land dwelling people.This explains why there are no Benin settlements in the Egbema area nor are there any court cases which has defined the area as Benin land.Also, look at the map, you will see that the Egbema territory is contiguous  is Arogbo Ijaw territory who are also victims of claim by their neighbours.However unlike the issue between the Benin and Egbema people, there own issue have been decided in the courts with the Arogbo emrging victorious using this same ecological differences as the foundation of their arguements in court.

d) So Uyiekpen Akenzua is the Enogie of "Obayantor" tnks any way for the correction.I thought it was Edun.I will not want to dwell much on wht you think is the history of Ikoro because your account is based more or less on speculation.I have always noted tht the most important authority in unwritten history is the genealogical records of the area.If this was the criteria used by the prominent Ijwa historian it would most possibly be the case.The claim of an "Obayantor Dukedom" even over territories not proven in the courts as Benin's is expansionist.

e)For Furupagha(Siluko area) these Ijaw people occupy the territory to the North of the Egbema and Arogbo and occupy the river in both the Edo and Ondo axis.I am not aware that they are claiming Siluko which is nonetheless a majority Ijaw settlement.Because if they are they would have insisted that Siluko not Jide should have been hqtrs.Unlike the case in Benin secion of Furupagha, the Ondo section has been settled and no one in that axis has been making any allegation of deprivation or marginalization.

f)The Ijaws of Ovia South West are in three electoral wards I therefore think the list of communities listed is far from being inconclusive.

g)I agree that there ae even more untapped oil resources in territories in the Benin areas but the untapped resources in the Ijaw areas is far from being fully attained.

4)Your thesis on the Ado name is revealing and I am convinced that it could have been of a more ancient origin than the 15th century I had earlier thought considering the fact that Benin have had a long history with the Yorubas and both should have had names for themselves.What I will not however accept is to ascribe a pre-Ogiso claim to the Urhobo name "Aka" Why ? Because genealogy of the Urhobo clans dodnot seem to suggest the oldest Urhobo-Isoko clans ie Abraka and Erohwa to be earlier than the 14th century in which Ogbeka was the Oba.

5)I the claim with particular reference to the Ekhor moats being dug in the 8th century is divisionary.There was no specification to this section of the moats nor was it specified that the moats which were dug in the western axis were first dug to wade off invaders from Udo.Like you noted these moats dates from the 8th century, it could have been that extentions in the outlying districts were made after those kingdoms had been founded.I also donot share your claim that the Benins were unaware that these kingdoms ie Agbor and Ubulu Uku were in existence in the 10th century.Let me also make this point there are countless records suggesting that around Agbor is an aboriginal Igbo community which had been in existence for thousands of years.I will suggest you make further reseaarch on this point before you "poison" us further with your arranged claims.


@Exothief,
1)Oh I insulted your dad, sorry but that is the usual insult rendered by ill trained Benin children which you are obviously one of them.Like I say I know my lineage and I can trace it to one of the founders of our community and  members of  my family  are always the recipient of the Isama title of my community(and Iyase at the sub clan level).Na which one be your own ? You dont even have a background.I am sure that you are one of those descendants of slaves assimilated into the Benin kingdom.Go make more research on your background.
Another question , how many men did your mum have issues for ? It is a common phenomenon in Benin for women to have children for multiple partners and since you lack home training you could have been a victim of this .How pathetic !

2)I dont reside in Benin but for a while  I was a resident and that is quite a long time and once in a while I visit some friends some of whom are responsible Benins( unlike you). How can I compare Usen to Asaba ? I don tire ! Is it that town you are proud of ? Damn, that town is backward with that glorified secondary school called "polytechnic" which Lucky used in playing politics.Usen has nothing except it is renowned for witchcraft. Nothing more. Na Usen you take dey make mouth ? I dey laugh, that bush ? Usen is not even up to a sub clan in Igbodo talkless of Asaba.I was not suprise that you are defining the expanse and growth of Benin City.Of course you cant list such bushes like Urhonigbe and Iguosodin-Nigbemaba.At least I have been to these places.Urhonigbe and perhaps Abudu ought to be the largest settlements outside of Benin City, What is the physical condition of those places ? Enough bush and red sand. Every town especially the state capital are expanding rapidly, Benin is no exception in this but ask yourself, considering the fact that Benin was a regional capital since 1963 , it ought to be far developed than the situation at present and you dey here they make mouth, How many factories are in Benin, A town of that size that wholly relies on civil service and remittances sent from overseas.

3)Igbos know their history very well and this reflects in the names of their towns many of which begin with the prefix "Umu'' Every member of the community is supposed to trace his ancestry to who evr was the ancestor the town was named after.It has nothing to do with "Oyibo man", Ok.  History is not just about praise singing the actions and inactions of your Oba,

4)Best private university in Nigeria and what was the yard stick used ? It is a matter which is highly debatable.But what is well known is that your Gov Lucky transferred funds meant for the development of the state to build what is in your eyes the best private university in Nigeria.Most of the best infrastructure in Edo was built during the Midwest/Bendel years when the bulk of the state resources was used in developing Benin at the expense of other communities.When Bendel was divided , the Edo portion seived most of the assets and we had no choice than to start from scratch.This is why after 20 years of separation , Edo can barely boast of  mega projects initiated after the spit in1991.I challenge you to list 10 just 10 of those projects you think can make Edo stand up to Delta initiated after 1991.I can start the list by refering to the Edo House in Abuja(this is not even within the borders of Edo state).You only need to give me 9 more of such remarkable projects.This is inspite of the fact tht the terrain in Edo eevn makes it easier to site these projects.I think you are still in school, Una Edo dey pay bursary ? Because I have heard that many Edos parade themselves as Deltans simply to enjoy what the Delta brand has wth it.

5)"Anioma dry part of Delta" Lol, If your concept of "wet" and "dry" has to do with oil and gas reserves I dont think it should an Edo that will remind an Anioman that his terr is dry. Edo is dry in that regard and the driest of all the oil producing states.What is even sustaining Edo is the human capital and infrastructure devloped during the Bendel years which nonetheless makes it pale when compared to the Anioma people and their land.Now going to the issue of oil and gas.Edo is claiming to be oil producing by merely producing 15,000 bopd of oil in a day compared to 37,000 bopd in the present Anioma axis of Delta State and 33,000 bopd in the Anioma axis of Rivers(Ndoni) giving a total of 70,000 bopd of oil from Anioma land.Now which is drier a state with a land area of 19,000km2 with just 15,000 bopd of oil or a territory spread across 3 states covering an area of 8000km2 producing 70,000 bopd of oil ? At present there is no multi national oil company in Edo apart from the NNPC( we have NAOC) and you are here talking about whose region in drier.For your information because you are so ignorant, Anioma is one of the areas sourced by the Bonny LNG plant for her gas and they will soon start paying derivation for gas.
On the perspective of the Anioma being dry in human capital , I find that laughable because I have said this and I will repeat again, there is not match to the Anioma in the entire Midwest Region in human capital.It is not our fault.We have always loved education and we have always been vey ambtious and this is why we keep producing prominent people in this country and beyond.Some of whom are even big stake holders in the economy.I just came to realise the other day that the only two Nigerian QCs in the United Kingdom Mr Oba Nsugbe and Prof Fidelis Oditah are both natives of Aniomaland and you are here talking about where is dry.If we have so dry we would not been insisting that we want to statnd on our own.
The information I got from some reliable sources is that the problem the Anioma faces as it relates this issue of state creation is from our present state Gov who as an Itsekiri would not want the Anioma who are the only people who can check the excesses of the Urhobo to just leave the state.You will therefore see tht apart from Anioma being more viable than Edo , her continued presence in Delta cannot be attributed to our own making.

6)The only person I need to be grateful to is to God firstly and my parents for giving sound eduaction in spite of the artificial and man made challenges  they faced in this country.I own nothing to Edo people and I will declare that those rants of yours have been returned to you.If there is any place that should show any gratitude , it ought to be the present Delta State for using her resources to sustain Edo for about 28 years and even to the Anioma people for using the superior representation in the civil service of the old Western region that give the Midwest region a solid footing when it was created in 1963.

@Negro_Ntns,
1)People can adjust history to suit whatever idealogy .In the past communism was hailed in Eastern Europe as being superior to the Capitalist idealogy in the west and what those people were fed during the period of communist rule has completely been adjusted especially as the European Union is being expanded eastwards.You/I talk about individuals, yes because the action and inactions of these individuals is as part of the history of those places from whatever perspective you are seeing it from.

2)The issue I am refering to refers to Nigerians themselves not about the World because even some of those combatants in the West are beginning to feel the pinch.Take Adichie's book that is clearly an indictment on the West , yet she was given awards in the same West countries on that same book.Ndigbo are too populated and intellectually sound to be pressured into believing that the war has nothing to do with ethnic cleansing.Not Nigeria or her collaborators in the West.
There is nothing eating Ndigbo here as you put it.As much as the war is seen as "Nigerian history" , It is more significant  as part of Igbo history because the Igbo nation is far older than Nigeria and they were singled out for ethnic cleansing without abundant evidence to prove it.It is not in human character to forget an unpleasnt and bitter past.People can forgive yes, But forget not possible and you implying that Ndigbo should just forget.That one no possible.The anthem of Quebec starts with "Je me Souviens" meaning I remember and you know what they were forcefully just like Ndigbo lumped to Canada by   the same  imperial Britain.If it is so easy to "forget" they would not have created such a verse.So why should the case of Ndigbo which is even more recent be different ? And to make matters worse , the Igbos were deliberately strangulated economically with the markets of Aba and Onitsha filled up at that time with traders of Yoruba origin because had little or no capital to start their businesses after the war.

3)I have read how rebellion the Yoruba were to the imperial and colonial power Britain.Yorubas need to be grateful to the British for establishing the first uiversity in Nigeria.So it was the British that advised the Yorubas from recruiting into the military ? Because this is largely done with one's decision and not an imposed one.I am refering you to the  American Library of Congress write up on Nigeria.You are therefore free to see those who are the stooge of the British and those with  that  foresight to take their needs elsewhere.I saw it in reference to the founding of UNN in contrast to other regional universities that still looked up to the British model.I therefore wonder who was more dependant.
The nature  Igbo man is that he is very receptive to new ideas and cultures and if he thinks there are new ideas which would be to advance his life , he easily adopts it . It is such dynamism that makes Igbos unique and very advanced because ultimately people are bound to change especially in this globalised world whether we like it or not.The nature of the Igbo man is further demonstrated with the fact that they sold more slaves than other peoples of Nigeria yet their culture did not make much impression in the new World thoughy caused by the fact tht the British who are the people involved with Ndigbo during the slave trade itself oppressed whatever cultural identity they would have carried from Africa unlike the Yoruba slaves  who were encouraged by their Portuguese and Spanish owners.

4)Those your biblical tale have nothing to do with human history because those points of your cannot be proven.I will advice you go do more research because genetically the Semites are different from Sub Sarahans with major exceptions being the Ethiopians and in Nigeria, the Hausas.

@Negro_Ntns, Proto-Semitic, lol, That cant be true because the genetic make up of Semites is different from the genetic make up of West Africans.The Y chromosone trait of West Africans is primarily Eb1b1 while that of the Semites is Eb1a1.I will advice you research more on history than just speculating.Your notes on Lagos was however informative.

@Exothief, Na your papa be be Ozuor, Or should I use the common Edo curse Ogun will do this or that, These are curse used by children of which you are one.Like I said earlier your words are are harmless to me.You started with Iguefi I ignored that because I know that your are a mischievous person. Since you have refused to refrain from that, you are be renamed "Exothief" and a pathetic crook for that matter.Go through your thread, what is the new information you have added to your miserable points ? None as far as I as concerned. But I think you are evn to young to understand anything.You must have been a very dull student in school.
I would not waste any valuable time to debate on anything with you because like I always say you are beneath me and a mis match for me in this kind of debate because you dont know anything and this is the problem with many of our youths in this country.Take for instance his claim that Igboland is "full of red sand and bushes", Yes there are red sand almost everywhere in Nigeria but I dont think a person of Benin descent should mock an Igbo over red sand and bushes because Benin leads this country in both.One more advice, Exothief, try and trace your lineage to who evr was the founder , I have done the genealogy of my lineage to one of the founders of my community.Let me give you a clue, You can count the number of the said IGIOGBE houses, lol

@Physics MHD,
1)I didnt get to your replies because of the spam box and I will be very happy if you send your response in bits so that I can get to read them and give my "propaganda" to it, At least that is your language and that is what you chose to believe.Like I always say human history is such that for certain reasons "history" which ought to be based on fact is often distorted to achieve some points often political in nature.Let me give an example, When Stalin was in power , history at least the one told in the Soviet Union is that he is a hero and defended the country against Nazi advance.But since the collapse of communist rule , what was history has been adjusted and Stalin is now defined as a tyrant by the Russian federation.That is history for you ! Nigeria today cannot without come out to tell the world her own history between 1966 to 1970 because there are a lot of contentious issues.So can I say lets stick to our versions, But the fact remains that the Igbo cannot be cowed down just like and have imposed on them what Nigeria thinks is history for the sake of "national unity", That one no go work.

2)The picture you sent is an interesting one, But the simple question was that occassion the only one Zik was present in Benin ? Because I know that he visited Benin so many times even up to the brink of the first coup in 1966.As such I dont understand what the said picture was supposed to have achieved.But it did reveal something else, the first principal of the Edo College Mr Moloku is an Anioma man and I just found it from the picture. Moloku (Molokwu ) is a name borne by Anioma people and relatives in Onitsha-Ogbaru.

3)Clap! Clap!! Clap!!! Prof Emovon was VC of UNIJOS, Good Prof Emovon is an accomplished man and a pride to the Benin people but we do have the likes of Prof Frank Ndili(VC UNN 1980-85) , I personally consider the attainment by Prof Ndili(Africa first Phd holder in Nuclear Physics) remarkable perhaps even more than Prof Emovon's because the UNN is a more prestigious instituion than UNIJOS and as such the position of the VC is usually a tougher one.Besides we also had Prof Chike Onwuachi the first Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.I need not remind anyone that beyond Aniomaland, Igbos have produced the likes of Prof Onwuka Dike the first indigenous VC of UNIBADAN and Prof Eni Njoku the first VC of UNILAG both Universities being in Yorubaland.
I am not privy to compare whatever publication by Prof Osagie and Prof Nwanze and make comparisons between them and I dont think you have either.I am therefore challenging you to provide the source of the claim that Prof Osagie is a more accomplished scholar.Perhaps he is outstanding to the Benin people considering the late entry to the British created educational arrangement( let me use your language).

4)The first primary school in Benin was founded in 1900; just a year older than the first primary school founded in Igbodo my home town(c. 1901).The claim that this school in Benin is unfounded and yet one of your lies I am exposing a usual.The first school of such if I should give it such a title was founded in Aboh in 1841 during the reign of Obi Ossai(c 1826-44).This was the year Christainity first came to Igboland and was introduced by Bishop Crowther and Silas Jonah(a native speaker of Igbo) both of them were ex slaves.It was following the death of Obi Ossai in 1844 that forced the Mission to relocate to Onitsha in 1856 where it survived.Unlike the Aboh mission that was unsustainable, the mission and schools in Onitsha expanded and schools were introduced in Asaba in 1875 first by the CMS mission and a year later by the Catholic Mission.Therefore we have had schools for a qtr of a century before it got to Benin.

5) So if the St Thomas College Ibusa was not a secondary School , What was it then ? Because the school still exists in the town and it is a secondary school(the teacher training facilities have been converted to the present Federal Girls College in the town).The Anioma people contributed a lot to propagate the Catholic faith and education in the Midwest region and beyond.I wont be suprised if the said Mr Molokwu did not pass via the college.The first indigenous Catholic Bishop within the Midwest Bishop Nwaezeapu of Warri a native of that town is an example of what the Anioma people gave back to the Mission.You cannot say that the Kings College in Lagos is older than CMS Bariga both are secondary schools except you want to interpret your understanding of secondary schools to mean Govt secondary schools which has never been the case.I will also like to add that the first skills acquisition centre in the Midwest was established in Asaba in 1898.This was the Rural training Institute which has metamorphosized into the present Asaba campus of DELSU(after many years as College of Agriculture).If I were as desparate like you to prove a point I would have I would have claimed that this institution was the oldest secondary school in the Midwest and I can back it up with reasonable points( or propaganda as you think) to back it up.

6)I wonder the fuss ver the flogging of the Iyoba, This is our own version of what happened.To you it sounds silly but to me it is a part of our history.After all , your Egharevba told the world in his controversial publication that the Obis of Agbor and Ubulu Uku were beheaded just to uphold the "glory" of the Benin empire eventhough such stories donot even exist amongst our people.Even the great Zik whose Edo ancestrythe Benin's are proud of (let me use your language) was more diplomatic in his account in his book My Odyssey published after the war.He said and quote me that the Kings mother ie the Iyoba was "assaulted" for trampling over the farmlands of Eze Chime.I will advice you go read the book.


@Andre Uweh, You are right , the name Delta Igbo refers to the Igbos of Delta State.I will call it the latest development of such descriptive names.The first was West Niger Igbo used as early as the 19th century.Then with the creation of the Western Region, the Igbo speaking district became Western Igbo with the creation of the Midwest, it became Midwest Igbo(Ndoni in Rivers state was then included), then transformed to Bendel Igbo and at present Delta Igbo.We prefer to call ourselves Anioma people though the designation considering its long history is also used by the Anioma people.The traditional names of our people however are the Enuani(the upland group from Agbor to Asaba) which the Edo call "Eka" and the Ukwuani(lowland people up to Ndoni) which the Edo people call "Ekuale".The Enuani and Ukwuani are of the same stock Talbot 1926.

@Exotik,
1)Hahahahaha, Cries and whines of a frustrated and hungry child. Are you saying you have never insulted me in this post ? Go back and read everything that was written by you ! You even call me "Iguefi" Na mumu you be, Grade one for that matter.You are not learned enough to engage me in any arguement.That I have reserved for Physics MHD.Perhaps those senseless insults of yours on me and on my people are nothing as far as you are concerned.The great Mahatma Gandhi said "words break no bones" especially words that come from a nonentity like you.You are no match to me on this new role you are taking, But dont think I will wake up suddenly to disrespcet myself to "argue" with a small boy like you.My arguements are based on facts and are verifiable, not on assumption or hearsay.Because Igbos have survived the near genocidal attempt on her by the Nigerian state , we should as the carriers of the once endangered identity be pleased with ourselves and our achievements no matter how modest any idiot would think it is.

2)It is only in Igboland you will find towns developed without any government patronage.The towns of Onitsha and Aba for instance are not state or federal capitals like Kano, Kaduna, Abuja or Lagos, Yet the industry of the Igbo man is what drives those places.Thise places attract what I will call the good(the industry of the Igbo man), the bad(the high rate of crime) and the ugly(the por infrastructure and federal neglect) of the South east.The civil service towns include Umuahia, Awka and Asaba( only capital since 1991), Owerri(capital since 1976) and Enugu the historic capital of the Southern provinces/entire Eastern region and hence is considered the national capital of the Igbo nation.It is funny to compare Benin a regional capital since 1963 to Asaba, Awka or even Owerri.Ask yourself has Benin really developed to match her status as capital for almost 50 years ? Benin City has over half of her houses built with mud with most given face lift with cement coatings.These are not the feature of Igbo towns.The only thing Benin City can claim over Asaba is size not planning or infrastructure or even quality of houses and this is fact.

3)The traditional title of the Oba of Lagos is the Olueko of Eko and this is what he is traditionally called. Because Lagos as name is foreign , it becomes convenient for all Oluekos to call themselves " Oba of Lagos " and this have never been an issue since all Yoruba kings are Obas despite the array of titles they bear displaying the uniqueness of their throne.The Alaafin for instance from what I was told means the Owner of the Palace(Afin).Before the arrival of the Edo settlers in Lagos there were already Awori(the Yoruba sub group of the Lagos area) in the area.It is the Edos that brought the monarchy to the settlement and this was why Akintoye claimed the throne because he has been supported by the Oba of Lagos.There were even Edo settlers in Ikorodu where they founded the Olisa(king makers) clan of the the town bu they as well met the Ijebus of Ikorodu there.

4)"Igbos" lobby African-Americans very funny, That is not possible, to achieve what ? the African Americans in the past had no clue abt their origins and in the past (as most Jamaicans) assumed that they are of Yoruba or Akan origin but the modern research of genetics has proven that most African Americans and Caribbeans are of Igbo stock, It has nothing to do with lobbying .This has always been the assumption of most researchers who believed that the British colonised territories of the Americans like the United States and the West Indies could have only be bought from the places the British had their strongest contacts during the slave trade era.orubaland only came into prominence in the 19th century when the Birtish had abolished slavery in her colonies and subsistuted it with trade in palm oil while the intra-Yoruba wars was a ready source of slaves to the Portuguese of Brazil (where slavery had not been abolished); this explains the strong Yoruba culture in that country.

5)Ogie " can honour" from your words the primary meaning of Ogie is the king and it was only when the contact with Yorubaland had been established that the Yoruba word for king Oba was borrowed and replaced the native Ogiso title.I believe that Oduduwa himself was of Edo stock and was Ekaladerhan but he refused to return to Benin because of the callousness of the natives of that town since he was almost a victim of human sacrifice( Benin was famous for that). He thus became assimilated as a Yoruba and sent his son instead who also could not settle in Benin and returned to Yorubaland not after he had named the town ILE IBINU.The title of the first Oba EWEKA was derived from Owomika because he could not talk on time.It was when his father had had sent to Benin( to his son) a special game and in the course of the dumb boy playing with it, his hand struck it and he exclaimed Owomika or my hand had struck it in Yoruba.This point was culled from the publication made during the coronation of this present Oba which is in father's library, the publication is covered in pink.
On the Iyoba being flogged, What makes you think it was deleted from the Benin account since it is abominable to say that the king' mother had been assaulted ? it is wrong to compare to an event that occured in the 16th century a period when there was no authentic records or writing with the British colonial experience of yesterday so to speak. But indications on what may have probably happened could well be explained by cultural practises.I have given an example, the Omu or Queen title of the Anioma people and her related Onitsha and Ogbaru people which was said to have been derived from the the first Iyoba herself ! Whether you believe or not is your business, It is our history just as you have yours.

6)The problem of development of Igboland is the Nigerian state, and her ever discriminatory policies.Take for instance in the revenue allocation formula land area was used as a criteria just to cheat the South especially the Igbo states while simultaneoulsy ensuring that Igboland dont receive govt attention via amenities and presence.Can anyone compare federal presence between the Hausa/Yoruba/Igbo areas and be sincere if the really match ? There are no comparisons in this regard at all a shame of the Nigeria state and as a reminder the world has ranked her as 14th in its index of failed states.If the Igbos and her states had been given the enabling environment to prosper like other areas I bet you they will do far better.

Igbos dont worship names and this is why nobody in Igboland would use the name of Zik , Okpara, Ibiam or Osadebay to campaign expecting to win votes unlike Yorubaland where people use Awo's name or the North where they use the name of the Saudana.Igbos being republicans dont worship names because no one is like more important than others and this is where the issue of Igbos "not being united" comes into the picture.We only acknowledge achievers in our midst not worship and we know many more will come in future.The acknowledgement of achievers of Igbo origin grew even more prominent after the war when 99 per cent of Igbos had nothing and without any affirmative action( which is the case elsewhere in the planet) we matched on with even more growth and development.
Those places you saw in the East , ask your parents if they were in those places after the war, they will tell you that the markets of Aba and Onitsha were dominated by Yoruba traders because Igbos were too poor to start businesses.Bt is that the case today ? No. All Igbos who survived the grand plan firstly to kill us as many as they can during the war and secondly improvished the survivors of the war have been put into shame by fate.Asaba once devoid of males now have males all over the place, God is indeed Great.

@Negro the beast,
1) On the issue of peaceful co existence, Your claim that Igbos do not coexist with their neighbours in peace is so funny.Where are the evidences ? Considering that well over half of the population of the Igbo nation dont even reside within Igboland, it has always been on the part of Igbos in the diaspora to live in peace with their hosts wherever they find themselves.How many inter-tribal wars involving Igbos and their neighbours have you ever witnessed except for the genocide organized by the Nigerian state and her western supporters to tame " the arrogant Igbo" If the supposed arrogance of the Igbo is what has become an issue of concern to equate it to non peaceful cocexistence then all I can blame it on would be on inferiority complex, And this is so sad.
So the Igbos troublesome as low lives like you would claim were probably the cause of the troubles all over the place perhaps the cause of the Jos crisis which have claimed over 10,000 lives since 2001.The instances of the victorious Nigerian peoples not finding peace amonst themselves is all over the place.Prior to the Jesse fire incident in 1998 I remembered the village village of Iguelaba was sacked by Jesse invaders over the claim on lands claimed to be rich in oil and gas, perhaps this conflict was caused by Igbo traders residing there.In the past just before and even aftr the war , it was a matter of convenience for the Nigerian state to brand Igbos as a rebelious people who wanted to destroy the profound unity of the nation.But that time has past, Every body has a sad case against the Nigerian state and thank God Igbos have been largely isolated from the bad leadership that has been the bane of the semi failed state , a basket case called Nigeria.They would have probably manufactured another story to start another round of killings just like they did in 1966.
But this have not stopped them to venture into such past time whwen it pleases them but Igbos know how to retaliate with style.In 1991 the Hausa/Fulani were floored right in the city of Kano and my cousins who reside in the city told me how people of Southern sock be Igbo, Edo, Yoruba , Ijaw or whatevr had to claim "Igbo" because of the pride and security it brought with it.Another was the cartoon riots at Maiduguri which was responded with retaliation in Onitsha where other Southern peoples were too cowardly to react.
Go to different African countries where there are subtantial Igbo communities, and see how they are appreciated.But this is not the case in Nigeria because of the divide and rule legacy bequeathed on us by the colonialists.
2)The sovereign in question was the President of Cyprus the highly respected Bishop Makarios who was then in the Eastern region(and not the Western Region) and this was proven during the Oputa panel and the parties who were involved in that crisis were all there at the Panel face to face.On Akintola being attacked by the mutineers, I begin to wonder if you really understand what is meant by a coup.In a coup, the coupists usually go after the sovereign and in the case of the Western region was Akintola and even after the coup most Yorubas saw it as good riddance to bad rubbish because Akintola himself had usurped the rightful man with thousands of people killed.Even the Itsekiris also saw Okotie-Eboh's death as a manifestation of the curse placed on him by Erejuwa 11 after the politician had orchestrated the dethronement of the highly respected monarch and subsequent banishment to Ogbesse.

@Exotik,
1)Everyone complains in Nigeria ; even the Northerners who have held power for much of our history complains ! So get that to your skull ! Most of the complains Igbos make are genuine, I believe you have lived in the South East, What can you say about federal presence and the level of infrastructural development in the area ? Why did it take Nigeia more than 50 years to make an Igbo SSG of the federation ? Why did it take Nigeria generations to make Igbos the IG of Police and Comptroller Genral of Customs ? Till date there have not been any Igbo as Chief Justice nor the MD of the NNPC or are they not qualified for those positions ? When Ihejirika was made Army Chief , it was headline news because since those who have governed Nigeria killed Ironsi no Igbo was considered near a position like that.They only projected Ike Nwachukwu because his mum is from Katsina, If not for these compalins perhaps nothing would have gotten to Igboland and I am beginning to see some disparity even with this Jonathan's administration.No approval has been made to site any of the refineries , petrochemical or fertilizer plants in Igboland, I mean that is unfair whereas other regions have been considered.
Apart from what I noted certain parts of Igboland were merged to other areas simply becaus eof Oil Politics, Egbema was lumped to Rivers from Imo, Obigbo(Ndoki) was lumped also to Rivers from Abia while Ndoni an Anioma town with vast gas reserves saw her way to the same Rivers just to reward them for supporting the "National Cause" during the war.Rivers already have vast reserves of these resources why transfering these communities to that state ? But God is Great, Ndoni-Egbema produced the past Rivers Gov Odili while Obigbo is the fastest developing suburb of the Port Harcourt Metropolitan area, And of course a time will come when the child will heed the call of his father.
Igbos too full of themselves, Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha, Why not !!!! I mean considering where we were after the war/the deliberate acts to undermine the progress of Igbos and our present condition now , I think we have to self-praise ourselves, It is not easy.the bulk of the capital used by Igbos are privately driven and owned unlike others whose funds are mainly derived from their connections with Govt, Let us be sincere with ourselves,
Come to think of it , every man has an element of greed, greed for money, wives, land, power, whatever , It is driven by driven based on what he considers as his priotity, If Benins are not greedy what can I say about the riches family in Benin Kingdom, ie the Igbinedion family and the money they lavishly spend on "birthdays" maybe Igbinedion's ancestors migrated originally from Aba or Nnewi, These guys wrecked Edo State and You know it, Acquiring properties everywhere as if you will sleep in 50 bedrooms all at once.

2)Indeed everyone is managing and our economy is bad, But there is what is known as collective achievement and I think and if you are sincere with yourself you'll admit it.Collectively Igbos do well be it in crime( and dont expect me to deny that), politics( if given the chance ) and business and there have numerous instances to prove it. I think personally what drives Igbos is their act of forgiveness , We have forgiven those who killed and hate us for no reason and the result we have grown in leaps and bounds, Of course other Nigerians have grown, the world is growing but it has been amongst Igbos that the growth been more dramatic.
On your recommendation on "my stories" as script for movies for Nollywood, I dont really feel offended by that.Because many films are acted based on what really happened, Of course if I should send and sponsor such a script to Nollywood , it will be the Nigeria Govt that will shoot it down for the sake of "National Unity and Intergration" a mantra we have heard for generations and from facts on ground does not really exists, But their own way are telling the world the story of what happened, Take Chimamanda Adichie's book , it is apparently the story of her family and the irresponsible act and connivance of the Western Govts to crush what is really a fight for self determination and unlike the black man simply for ethnic pride or just tribalism plain and simple, The whites did acknowledged their wrong doings and bestowed on her awards not really on her narrative style but the fact that she nailed the issue right on the head.

3)You dont need to join me in my "irrelevant" posts because intellectually you are a misfit, I am only engaging myself with Physics MHD and I need to challenge that lunatic that goes by the name of Negro_Ntns for displaying such irresponsibility and wickedness, Really I dont really have any time for him but to compare him to those who committed genocide in Rwanda, He is just like one of them, Hate us , Insult us , perhaps pray that we all die, But it is God which we call Chukwu and you call Osalobua that is the author of our fate and destiny, If it was destined that we will be defeated during the war with such draw back , Fine ! Nigeria won the War but did they win the peace ? Countries all over the world are known to have marched more progressively after such wars.Take the US for instance, within a generation they grew to become the most powerful nation on earth, But Nigeria after 41 years after a civil war( to me a near-genocide) the country is presently ranked a shameful 14th on the Failed State Index, People think that by pulling Igbos down politically the country will attain its full potentials, the God of Israel will never approve of that ! And we are seeing signs, I dey laugh people like una.

4)On the OBA title
The vocabulary for the king in Edo is Ogie and in Yoruba is Oba, And it was from the original Edo word the title of ancient Edo rulers Ogiso was derived.If Oba was so Benin why did it come with the coming of Oranmiyan to Benin, Perhaps Eweka(derived from Owomika) could as well be interpreted t have been derived from a native Edo word which is not the case.It is never the custom for people with centralized systems of administration to call their rulers "king" just like that.This is why in Yorubaland you will never hear of a king being called just "Oba".There is always a unique title(usually in form of a praise) associated with such kings eventhough they are Obas. In the Igala kingdom, the word for king is ONU but the paramuont ruler beas the title of ATTAH meaning "father or lord". Amongst the Anioma people the word for king is "Eze" but we prefer to call them Obi or Dei or Igwe.The title used by the rulers of Benin was borrowed just as the title of Owomika (transformed into Eweka) is also of Yoruba origin.Mind you dont think I wholly believe everything Egharevba wrote.I agree completely with the position of the present Oba of Benin when he said Ekaladerhan became Oduduwa.That is what I think happened but Ekaladerhan became assimilated as a Yoruba man because of the mean disposition of his native land, the same reason many towns of Edo origin within Anioma land became assimilated as Igbos. The full title of the Oba is I think Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpoplo, It is the "Oba" section of the full title that was borrowed from the Yoruba language.

5)I never said Igbos were the first people to embrace Western Education in Nigeria, And dont get me wrong.I was merely comparing the Anioma people(a section of Igbos) and Benins in response to Physics MHD fiery attacks and insults not just on Omonuan but to all the innocent people slaughtered by a "small group" in Benin during the liberation of the City in 1967.The oldest Secondary School in Igboland( correct me if I am wrong) is the Dennis Memorial Grammar School Onitsha founded in 1923.Now compare with the oldest Secondary School in the South South beng the Hope wedall Training Institute founded in 1895 and the CMS Grammer School Bariga Lagos founded in 1878.You can see the disparity with the dates between the three regions of the South.

6)Hahahaha, No Benin , No Zik,,,You are funny how can you compare an individual to an ethnic group, Yes Zik was a great man and he is no more but Benin , Yorubaland, Igboland and wherever are all there and could even produce more Ziks or whoever , It is not our custom in Igboland to worship names and old heroes, You can be who ever you want to be, Be focused and hardworking simple.
Benin I must note here was a great kingdom and had influences far and near with her art works unmatched in style, Her culture rich and inspiring.Anyone who reads me will get the message that I spent some years in Benin.The people indeed are more liberal now (compared to the 1960s)and I dont think the massacre of 1967 will re-occur.There will be many more Ziks/heroes to come , it has nothing to do with origin or ancestry.But going deeper , I learnt from a source that the Benins alledged Igbos were taking over their land simply because Zik said during a visit to the City that it is the "Land of his Ancestors", And invasion of the Midwest aroused suspicion that the Igbos were "annexing Benin lands " just as Zik had noted. You see the mis interpretation of points here ,

7)More on the IYOBA
I am not the author of that story.It is the version of the story of how our towns were founded.And it has always been documented even in the 19th century by the missionaries in Onitsha.It is therefore not a modern invention.It is a question of what you believe.
For you as an Edo man it is sacrilage to think of flogging the Kings mother but for us , it is that act that led to the establishment of 10 or so towns within Aniomaland as well as the creation of the Omu or Queen's title.

I wonder why my posts are not here, Hmm,
@Exotik, 1)Zik was a proud Igbo and in his book(My Odyssey) he asserted that his ancestry was Benin both paternally and maternally.This was why he also asserts that Benin was the land of his ancestors ; however he is of assimilated stock and every ethnic nationality of Nigeria has her own share of assimilated stock.In Benin the Agho-Obaseki family are of Anioma origin(Nsukwa kingdom) as well as the Abbey(Iweluani) family from Abbi in the Ndokwa axis yet these people are proud Benins.
Those of us in Delta state know our history and this is one of the reasons why we were bitter abt the killings in Benin.However not all Anioma people are of assimilated stock.Most were of Eastern Igbo origin and this group were the earliest to settle on the land(at Ubulu Uku c900 AD).Those who say that Ezechime was an Igbo man were basing their arguements with the name.Name change as people settle in newer territories to take leadership.Let me give more examples, the founder of Abbi clan in Ndokwa was one Amacha from Achalla near Awka but his nickname was Abbi the appelation used for the warriors who bear the Odogwu title.In Igbodois the sub clan of Ilabor which was founded by Kehue from Ukhun near Ekpoma; now the original name was Ojezua whixh is still borne in Esanland.The claim of those using names as a justification to say Ezechime was not from Benin is baseless no matter how well thought it is.

2)Onitsha is traditionally praised as Onitsha Ado N'Idu becaue Ezechime the father of the three founders of the town namely Oreze, Diei and Chimaevi was of Udo origin. Ado(our name for Udo) N' Idu simply means Udo of Benin kingdom.Mind you Onitsha has nine qts hence the title Onitsha Ebo Itenani(meaning Onitsha land of 9 communities) and many perhaps most of the natives of the town donot descend from the three founders of the town.Others came from different places.The three founders founded three out of the 9(at present 8 qtrs) qtrs of the town thus it is aslo wrong to assert that all Onitsha people came from Benin.Besides our traditions also states that they left after a generation or two after they settled in Obior(there is a monument in that town in Delta State) and they were already assimilated as Igbos before they founded the town.Let me give more elaboration on this; The ancestral masquerades of Onitsha speak the dialect of Obior where they came from and not the Edo language.Also in the town are the Ogbeolu, Obikporo and Umuikem villages who came from Igala whose masquerades differ in speaking the Igala language.Thus Onitsha is much more complex than just saying "they came from Benin".
Even amongst us in Delta State, the Ezechime clan is not homogenous in composition.The largest town here is Issele Uku and there are 8 quarters.The founder of the town was said to be the youngest son of Ezechime named Oligbo but on reaching the site of the town, he met people there,These people were of Nri origin.This is why all Obis of Issele Uku are installed by the rulers of Ogboli(the settlement founded by these Nri people).The sons of Oligbo founded Umuezeisei, Ogbeutu and Ogbofu qtrs of the town.More Nri people founded Idumuinei and Ogbe Owele qtrs while the village of Ukpai were later arrivals from Obior.From this description you will also see that Issele Uku is not completely of Edo ancestry.

3)On the issue of the Iyoba , that is our own version of events at that time and because it was not written everyone can claim whatever story he or she wants because it is the one that is most pleasing to him.But one thing I can say is that the title of Iyoba of Benin certainly inspired us to craete the Omu title used by our people.Of course a close encounter would have facilatated that.Whether you believe or not or because it hurts our pride as a Benin man is your cup of tea.

MORE ON BENIN TITLES BORNE IN IKA(and Aniomalands)
This was one point used by Physics MHD to justify why the Benins should hold on to Igbanke because in his thought the Ika kingdoms bear "Benin titles" and the fact that the Ogisi title of Ozanogogo(remarkably absent in Ozanisi which was founded on Benin territory and have never being disputed) being derived from the Obi of Agbor is no big deal.It is true that many of our titles were derived from the titles borne in Benin , but the fact is that there are a lot of features tht makes Anioma titles unique and cannot be claimed as just titles borrowed from Benin.Let me even start by saying that borrowing of titles between nationalities is no big deal.Afterall the Benin king's title OBA was apparently borrowed fromYorubaland as well as many of the deities of Edoland.
1)The Anioma titles borrowed from Benin always have an Anioma feature to it and this is why these titles have a dual naming system.The official name might be of Edo origin but the other title associated with it are of indidgeous origin and it is customary in Aniomalands for natives to take as family greetings the indigenous versions of those titles that are supposed to have been derived from Benin.Let me give some examples

1)Iyasere or Iyase( from Iyase) Onowu is the native name

2)Isama (from Esama) Akwue is the native name

3)Osume( from Osuma) Afah is the native name

4)Isagba(from Esogban ) Ajei is the native name

5)Daike or Ndanike( from Edaiken) Omodi is the native name.

6)Imague(from Imague) Ojiba is the native name

7)Uwolor(from Eholor) Ojogba or Agba is the native name

Ozoma or Ozomor(from Ezomor) Onya is the native name

9)Osodi( from Osodin) Odu is the native name

10)Oza( from Oza) Okita is the native name

These are just few examples and this applies to virtually all parts of Aniomalands.And because it has always being the custom of the Anioma to give a dual naming arrangement for our titles it became the feature even of titles that are exclusively of Anioma origin

1)Obi(Dei or Dein and Igwe)

2)Ike Obi(Akogwu)

3)Ogude(Onoli)

4)Odogwu(Abi)

5)Alanza(Odua)

6)Okwulegwe(Alum) etc.
It is that dual identity that reflects from the fact that the so-called Odionweries of Igbanke(the name they are also known in Agbor and Abavo) are also called Okparans or Diokpas or the Ojehs of Igbankes are also called Ezes or the chifs called Ohaime(in Edo) or Olinzele(in Igbo).The unique feature is that the so called Odioweries carry the lineage's OFO which is definitely not of Edo origin and they are often the coronation chiefs of their communities another unique Anioma trait within them.Besides all Ojehs of Igbanke follow the principle of primogeniture which is the case in Ikaland .Th Ogisi title of Oza does not fall under the category.

11)Many towns have unique titles that are peculiar to them.For instance the title of Ogisi does not exist in Igbodo nor do our unique title of Ayiwe existing in Agbor.The fact is that the Ogisi title binds Ozarra to Agbor , nobody has claimed Ozanisi because it is not in Agbor lands .Agbor and Abavo are other two Ika clans sharing boundaries with Benin and while it is true that those supposed Benin titles exist there, there are features that point to the fact that ultimately those titles were derived from a rather independent perspective.In Abavo the Nwagwue or Uwangue(or Ojiba ) is ranked higher than the Iyase.This is not the case in Benin.In Agbor are the following titles
a)UZAMAN(derived from Uzama) There are 10 members unlike the 7 members of Benin and some bear indigenous titles like Agbasogun and Nwadei-Ali(or what the Bein people call Edaiken)
b)IGHAIVO
c)the IDIBO DEIN who are the Palce Chiefs head by the Oweh of Agbor unlike the Uwangue in the case of Benin.No one who therefore wants to be enlightened should just draw up his conclusions and insist that Igabnke must remain "enslaved" in Benin.There is not even one evidence tht the Igbanke are on Beninlands which should have been the reason to jsutify why the Oba insists it is his territory.As far as the Anioma people are concerned, it is just politics since the Benins are desparate to take on take on the Esan and Afenmai as the majority group of the State and one way to achieve this is to have within their supposed area people of other ethnic natinalities like the Anioma and Ijaw.

The Ozarra people did not "adopt" any title from their neighbours ie the Ikas because the title itself is not of their own creation.Every Ogisi is installed by the Obi of Agbor , who created the title for the community .The Obi presents an Ofo staff to the Ogisi who in turn installs chiefs in his own mini cabinet.On Awo recommending that Ozarra be made a clan, I say this story is a fabrication, Where are the documents to prove this ? Because I know Awo and his Action Group were in charge up to 1963 so why did he create Oza clan if it truelly exists, Besides creating "Oza clan" is baseless since in Benin the political system and settlement pattern is based on the kingdom and not on clans which is the case in Aniomaland.

So ii indeed Igbanke is an Edo community when has it become the custom for the Oba to create 6 Enogie titles in one town? Let me emphasize tht as much as many of the morning greetings of the Igbanke people share some similarities( and this is the case in Agbor, Abavo and Owa) with Benin , these families cannot be traced to those with similar greetings in Benin.These greetings are just unique features of these 4 Western Ika clans.
ON EFEIZOMOR
I am learning here, Many Anioma people bear Benin names and the phenomenon is strongest in the Agbo area, It reduces as yu go further to the East, But one unique thing is that many Anioma rulers for reasons known to them bear titles that have meanings (somewhat in Edo).In my town Igbodo our kings before this present one had an Edo title IYEKE(meaning back).Now, when I made my investigation , it was said to have meant that the king is the backbone of the community hence the name.

@Negro_Nts, I dey laugh you.Now let us critically look at your points which really would come from a mind of a man who has failed woefully to carry out some reasearch and to just come here and write rubbish.Let me go through some of your points,

1)The Coup was an Igbo coup, This is what people say because of the outcome and it became an issue at the Oputa Panel.I personally followed the events at the panel and when the time came fro the people to justify why it should be called an Igbo coup, The only point they did was to point at the outcome of the coup and this is not enough eveidence to call it an Igbo coup.Apart from the fact that one of the actors(there are five of them) of the coup was not even an Igbo the reasons why the outcome turned out like that was clearly explained at the Panel which those who have called it Igbo Coup failed to contradict.In the North and West the coupists were met with fire war with the supposed "innocent" , Akintola himself was said to have been the one who was shooting personally until he ran out of ammunition.In military tactics, you only shoot when you are shot upon.This was the reason for the casualties.In the East we knew a sovereign was visiting the region , tht was enough to kill frusstrate any attempt to plot a bloody coup there.As for the Midwest, it was probably too small or young as a distinct region to be taken seriously.
Alex Madiebo was the guy who was supposed to have arrested Ironsi(both are Igbos) but he revealed the details of the coup to Ironsi who quickly mobilized his men and crushed the rebellion by Ifeajuna in Lagos.To say that no Igbo was killed in the January Coup is a sign of madness, I dont mean to be insultive.
In the North most of those who carried out the damage were of Northrn origin commanded by Nzeogwu.Even after the failed Coup Nzeogwu denied if their intention had any tribal colouration to it.It was an inconclusive coup and as such to brand it as an Igbo coup is just to rewrite what happened.It is just being promoted for the sake of "National Unity"
At no time were the coup plotters mandated by Igbo leaders who were the most prominent and disciplined of all the politicians of the first Republic to carry out any coup to overthrow a Govt which they were a major stakeholder.It is not possible.

2)When people talk of murder of Yoruba and Haussa leaders in "cold blood", Apart from Akintola who was the prominent Yoruba leader killed who were the others ? Or was he shot as an unarmed man ? While I note here that the killings were unfortunate , the fact remains that the Saudana was armed when he was killed and the method of operation used by Ifeajuna in Lagos was not the best and his unstabled character even led to his execution in the Biafran enclave.But at least there were still prominent leaders like Awo, Aminu Kano because I know they were not killed.
People like you would justify the killings in Rwanda in 1994 because the President(a Hutu) was brought down in a plane by suspected Tutsi rebels , justs as you are now saying that all Igbos who suffered and killed ( about 800,000 of them ) in the war was a justification of that supposed "Igbo coup".Were the Igbos responsible for the killing of Fajuyi ? Why was his killers never brought to justice ? Afterall those who did the Igbo coup Ifeajuna, Okafor, Nzeogwu and Anuforo were all killed , but the Yoruba(Ademoyega) amongst the "Igbo coup" plotters is alive and kicking.

3)"when you start a fight" This was the word used by this wicked man, Yes I used that word wicked , and perhaps evil.For attempting to rewrite history.I wonder if you have read the Aburi Accord.Did Gowon not sign it ? Did it say Nigeria should be disintegrated ? Or was Ojukwu who is being blamed for engaging Nigeria in a fight not a signatory as well ? The fight as far as I am concerned was a fight over economic resources which was vast in the East and if the confederal principles noted in the agreement had been it would have given the East an "unfair" economic advantage.It was Nigeria that disrespected the Accord because they have been assured by International groups led by Britain/Soviet Union of assistance(if it decides on war) in return for the same economic benefits.I am aware that the first shots of the war were shot at Gakem(in Cross River) and these were from the federal troops.On of the reasons which Nigeria fails to address is the reason for the declaration of Biafra, Would Igbos who were in the vanguard of an independent Nigeria suddenly wake up and say they want Biafra ? I doubt it is a reaction to the senseless killings of civilians, Over 30,000 unarmed people were killed just within 3 months for no reasons other than their ethnicity.Nobody has till today been brought to book for that.At least those who did the abominable "Igbo Coup" were all killed.
If such an irresponsible act had happened of recent many people including some of those who became our "leaders" in this country would have ended up in the Internaional Court.The reaso for the killings was that it would be a parting "gift" to Igbos since the North was no longer ready to remain in Nigeria.It was after the American and British High Commissioners had convinced them that the North was unviable as a country of its own that suddenly the slogan of "One Nigeria", "Unity in Diversity" and "Keeping Nigeria One is a Task That Must Be Done" became the mantra of these same people responsible for those organized killings which apparently is still the case till today.

4)Butcher innocent lives starting in Benin Up till Ore, So who were the innocent lives killed in Benin ? Because I have said it seveally without contradicting myself that in the initial thrust by Biafran forces into the Midwest not even one single civilian life was killed.I have challenege anyone to contradict this assertion but if you say that the soldiers killed during the invasion were innocent lives , I began to ask when has soldiers in acts of war being described as "innocent", It was when the federal troops responded that stories of people killed began to make news, It could have come from anywhere, federal or Biafran but I tell you that when Banjo(a Yoruba man not an Igbo ) led the Ore battle which was the turning point of the advance by Biafran forces he could not have ordered Biafran troops to kill his people within the few days he was stuck there and undecided.It was the same reason I noted earlier that could have led to the lost of civilian lives in Benin was just the same situation in Ore.It was when the Biafran forces had been pushed eastwards that the organized and selective killings of Anioma people occured in Benin , Sapele and Warri by what Physics MHD says it is by "a small group"
In Igbodo my hometown, a battle similar to what transpired in Ore took place and just like the case in Ore many civilians were killed.The son of the Chief Priest of the Kingdom at that time was not spared.Many more died when they fled into the bush without food for days.When the Biafran troops were pushed out the entire town was engulfed in stench of human remains and theese people were buried in mass graves.Even after that the federal troops rounded up my people and insisted that our Obi should kneel and beg for his people, Of course the safety of his subjects was most paramount and he had to do it not after they have already killed over 11 people including two brothers.This was after they moved to commit genocide at Isheagu and Asaba.
That of Asaba was dramatic.Unlike the Isheagu episode were they summoned the town and shot everyone including my pregnant aunt(my mum's elder sister was married in that town) at site, the Asaba men were asked to remain why the women were sent home .Thereafter those within their reach were shot dead.What of the killings in Aboh ? Simply because they tried to smuggle food to Biafra ? I can go on and on and see if those supposed killings of "innocent" people in Benin and Ore is a match for the genocide they committed in Igboland.

5)Igbos generally regard Ojukwu as a hero and history will be fair to him because he was not the one who disrespected the Aburi Accord.To this day devolution of power remains a hot topic in Nigeria and people are here trying to brand Ojukwu as a villain.That can be the case.Considering the atrocity of the pogrom of which not even one individual has been brought to book, I think Ojukwu to standing for Igbos in that time of trouble ought to be a hero, Many of those things he stood for still remains relevant to this day.In fact he is a visionary leader.

6)On Okpara sending the coup plotters, lol, very funny because I know Okpara lived up to the eighties and died a poor man because he lived for Ibos.But Okpara sponsoring the coup is rubbish because nothing was hidden during the war since Igbo leaders themselves at that tme were suspects.And if the Federal Govt had suspected Okpara we would have all known.I think this fellow is from the North ie Negro_Ntns because most Southern Nigerians as much as they see Okpara as an Igbo leader they would never suspect Okpara to have arranged for such a coup, In order to kill regional leaders , such an arguement is chiddish and just a ploy to brand the January Coup as Igbo coup.Let me complete the story, probably Okpara had silently planned the coup with Ironsi since both of them come from the same division in Abia State.The full arrangement would perhaps be that once Ironsi had taken over he would perhaps hand over to him Okpara, lol, I just remebered the statement by the fiery Yohanna Madaki of Kaduna South who noted that he would have even involved himself in the coup that claimed the Saudana because the Saudana for Norhtern Minorities represents nothing but imperialism.He also note that his people were used and dumped after the war.This was even the story of the Ijaw after they lost Isaac Boro, Col Madaki gave this position in response to his controversial retirement after he has deposed the corrupt Emir of Muri in the present Taraba State.

7)Selective promotion in military a complete nonsense and the claim of the coup being made to foster Igbo dominance oof the civil service, Another nonsense which should not be taken seriously.Igbos were dominant in the military and the Civil Service before the "Igbo Coup"


When you loose war, the victor is obliged to charge you reparations, this statement can only emanate from a wicked individual.Many family was paid 4 pounds not 20 pounds and we lost our property in Calabar.My father dont like to talk abt it because he saw it as an event that should just be forgotten, o him Karma will judge the guilty ones and compensate those who had been cheated.I thank God because the law of Karma has compensated my family.I am not being boastful.I am comfortable , all my siblings and their children are doing well and my children are doing well.Why should I not thank God ? If some people say that the mere 4 pounds was all my father was worth after the war because of "reparation" fine, I know how I suffered in my younger days , my parents are heroes , within very little resouces they fended fr us and gave us the best education.That is the legacy that lasts.Today without any contradiction Igbos especially from Imo, Anambra, Delta , Abia and Enugu states leads the other states in education at least this is what JAMB(accounting for over half of Nigerian graduates) has been saying for more than 30 years now.Those who are involved in Mercantile business are doing well playing such significant roles in all the nook and crannies of the continent.
My father gave me a description of his property on Marian road in Calabar, Even up to 2005 when I visited Calabar, the said property does not look like a house that fits into the kind of houses we have in this 21st century.At least I have the prosperity of the new occupants.
Like what one fellow said here, it is not in the custom of the Igbos to beg, It cannot be and they have demonstrated it just within one generation.Begging on the other is the way of life of those who were the victors of the war even after they got their "reparation", Sch a pity !


9)The Eastern Region was only jubilating, Just another unfounded account to justify the killings.I am not defending anybody here, At times we Igbos because we ahve been bestowed by the creator as achievers we tend to be "pushy" At least that is what the American Library of Congress thinks about about us and we tend to be boastful of our achievements, But why not ? Considering the fact that we are supposed to be "land locked" and cut off from Western Civilization and in the post Civil War era supposed to be silenced economically and politically, But the dogged nature of the Igbo man will alwas be there to keep him above water and why wont be boastful at times, Ok now to the issue were the Igbos really the only ones who jubilated ? Perhaps the Westerners mourned bitterly for so many days for their beloved Premier Akintola who had been accused of rigging and whose region the worst case of post election violence remains in this country.I will not want to go into an arguement with a fool or should I say a goat, Why ? Because these say people said it was one of Celestine Ukwu's song in which he was supposed to have branded Northerners as "goats" as the reason for the killings.I know the song and I can declare here that nothing of such were in those lyrics.But becaus eof complex and a motive to commit genocide they claimed it was just a reason for the killings, The reasons from an objective perspective is simple.The North felf hurt with the lose of some of their leaders and wanted to go their own way backed by such military officer like Murtala Mohammed who is being branded as a "nationalist" (just as the first coup is being branded as an Igbo coup).The killings for them was like a parting gift.It was when they were convinced and assured of support by the West led by Britain that they began to invent stories to justify the killings,

10)The warning to keep off Igbo hands from other people's blood has been heeded, lol.At least I dont think Igbos have been killing people in the name of fighting for religion as compared to the Region which principally fought to keep the "nation as one indivisable entity", The primary interest of an average Igbo is just to survive and be rich if possible and not power or blood letting as with the case of our detractors.Igbos are doing quite well now, Of course we have the lowest rate of poverty in this country and not for once have we lost our dignity as a people and that is the point.A word is enough for the wise.

@Physics MHD,

1)On a different court for Ozanogogo does not translate to a different clan nor transfer to Benin kingdom, I will therefore advice you read the remarks without any bias.One of the reasons given by the Ozas was language and distance and this was justified and even supported by many Agbor who simultaneously recommended that such courts should as well be established in the peripheral towns such as Oza, Emuhu and Oki.I was challenge you to provide one single document when all Oza people were together under one Akugbe native authority(not district) of Benin.It was never the case.Igbanke along with other Ika clans were even part of the old Benin district ( except you are saying that all Ika clans should be transferred back to Benin).Who ever gave that account does not even know what he is saying.
Now on the issue of Ikaworld.com, let me put it this way, The claim that the Ika(Anioma) market days are different from Edo market days is wrong and I think the author of that account got it all wrong.The Anioma and Edo people call the market days similarly and ascribe to them different purposes which as well shows some similarities.The author of that may not personally understand why Ozarra came to be where they are at present.Or I would say he would want Ika land to be described as a homogenous unit but this has never been the situation in Aniomaland.Our people are of diversed origin and in some other clans like Ebu and Ugbodu we still hear some other dialects such as Yoruba and Igala.What however unites us is our history , customs/civilization and identity.There are of course a few voices of dissent but I bet you if a referendum is conducted in Ozarra today, most would want to remain in Agbor and those who would want to join Benin will do so because they want to identify with their Oza Aibiokunla kith and kin and not because they see their lands as part of the domain of the Oba nor do they wholly identify themselves as mainstream Benin People.
If I should follow , your line of arguement then I will be like many Anioma people be willing to give up Ozarra in replacement of Igbanke, and other Ika communities in Beninlands like Iru, Igbogiri and Owa Iriuzor(renamed Evbo Obanosa).As far I am concerned this claim is no different from the baseless claims Benins are making on Ijaw teritories in the Ovia area which led to the faceoff by the Oba and the Alli administration in 1983.

2)On the issue of Idu , I only said that it is even a more ancient name for the Benins and it reflects in some names.Of course you agreed with me when you said that in an account Idu is seen as the name of the ancestor of the Benin , a reminder of its ancient origin.This name also attests to the antiquity of the earliest ancestors of Aniomalands.Because we have never had another name for the Benin people.For the Esan, we call them Ishan, a name which got stuck with the colonialists.It is also quite possible that the original meaning of IDU changed as the Edo nation began to acquire newer names like Edo which is now known today and the result is tht the definition of IDU only became wider.

3)Good, for correcting yourself on the history of the moats and I know it was done deliberately because you think the person you are debating with is a neophyte in matters like this, The moats from your diagram was done only in Benin City as an Edo man, you ought to know that Benin was not the only town in the Benin Kingdom tht had moats.Udo had moats, Ugo had moats as well.The reason I think for the western fortification of the city is apparently to defend the town from Udo and this could have been the reason Udo people did theirs.But what of the Ugo axis ? Or is that not in the Eastern section of Benin lands.The entire network of the Benin moats have been defined in many publications and in many of these accounts it was noted that it could (especially on those on the eastern periphery) as a result of Igbo Expasion towards the west ie Benin.There is even an account amongst Anioma people that the town of Urhonigbe was actually founded by Benin warriors stationed on the site by the Oba to keep the city safe from invaders from the East and this explains for its unusually large size for a Benin settlement.

On if the Benins knew of the Agbor and Ubulu Uku kingdoms, How did you know if they dont know abt the kingdoms ? Because there are evidences they knew than they didnot know.A good example is the distribution of food crops usually economic trees which are relatively unknown in Yorubaland but have always formed the diet of the Anioma/Igbo and the Edo people.Let me give an example, The African Breadfruit, In Yorubaland it is virtually unknown but in Edo and Anioma lands it is a staple food item.This is how you study history.Those Anioma kingdoms were powerful and your Egharevba in an attempt to uphold Benin pride decided to give an account that suites the prestige of Benin Imperial power.In Ubulu Uku for instance the Benins were defeated severally by a force made up of only Eight people and when the Benins assisted by the Esans attempted to push further, the result was that Isidahomen the Onojie of Opoji was killed and the new leader of the Benin forces , Agbogidi of Ugo( who was brought up at Ubulu Uku and knew a lot abt Ubulu Uku because he was brought up there) was captured and made to capitulate by joining the Ubulu army.It was when the Benins saw that , that they sued for peace because their strongest link had been captured.This is our own version because in Ubulu Uku today in Onije and Onicha Qtrs are descendants of the Agbogidi and captured Benin soldiers .The people there also agree with our own version on wht led to their sojourn in Ubulu Uku.It is because of the Benin pride tht the Egharevba's story was fabricated and the Benins themselves deny it.It is just the same way the Igalas deny that they were not conquered by the Benins.One of the periphernalia of the Attah Igala is a mask he usually wears as a necklace and this was captured from the Oba himself ! And this is their own account.Perhaps if not for the Portuguese that assisted the Benins with guns and get a little insight into the war, we could as well accepted that as "history".
Another reason could be that whereas Igala is seen as a large imperial power like Benin, the tendency is for writers to pay more attention there and secondly because it lies in a distinct geo cultural zone.

4)On the later actions on Ejoor ? Plz specify or is it the account of fleeing to Lagos on bicycle, ? Issues like compensation could be dismissed by you but for us it meant a lot.Lot was the fate of the Anioma born military personnels who survived slaughtering in the military purge that ultimately led to the war ? The simple fact is that the Anioma being a subtantial section of the Old Midwest ought to have her sentivities taken into account including those who were within the military.Rather it was the likes of Ejoor perhaps threatened by the Igboness of those who evn come from the same Midwest region that failed to win the hearts of the all the stakeholders especially in the military.You wont blame them at all.

5)On slave or servant, what ever you want to believe let it suit you ! All I know even from Bradbury's account is that there is a proper definition of lineages within Benin Kingdom , you , Bokohalal and Exotik should all know which you belong because it reflects in your morning greetings.It is only slaves tht are not allowed to share those priveleges, I begin to wonder how come a "noble servant" whose name was adopted for the kingdom could not be identified with an origin.

6)On HDI Report, please endeavour to go through the Index section of the report nad make comparisons between the LGAs because it was elaborately explained there.I am not from Ughelli and therefore I am surprised when Ughelli is being used as an example.I simply said we should make comaprisons between the Anioma LGAs and the Benin LGAs especially those within what I call the "jungle dominated" LGAs outside the Benin metropolitan LGAs.Since I dont have much time to write, I am suggesting you try and paste your findings for the forum to see.

7)More on the quotes and misquotes by yourself and those authors, As far as I am concerned you just choose whatever suits your case, In Talbots account for instance you stated that the spate of human sacrifice which Benin is famous was "exxergerated" Yet in his analysis of the 1921 census which was based on facts on ground that place the Benin as being smaller than the Esan and Afenmai you will forget if such an analysis even exists.Yet you went on to brand the Benin as the "majority" in Edo state.

@Omojie, hahaha, Why didnt you post more if you know so much abt Ika history ? If indeed you are from Agbor and you know much abt Agbor why didnt you explain the issue of Ozanogogo and why Physics MHD thinks Ika People are IGBO ? You see Omojie you are a confusionist and you are too insignificant to undermine wht Ika and Anioma stands for ! Even in the said Ndiowa page Omojie keep refering refering us to did not at any time deny whatever connection between the Ika and the Eastern Igbo and the Obi of Owa has always emphasized on that.The concept of Ika is recent just like the one he wants to reduce.He also comes to talk abt who is core Ika after he has failed to convince anyone in the forum, A case of desparation and misplaced arguements !!!!!

On Physics MHD

ON THE OZANOGOGO ISSUE
1)The Ozanogogo people are linear relatives of the the Ezechime group from Benin.I have seen some of your posts in which you tried to argue that the Umuezechime are of Igbo descent since the name of the founder of the clan Eze Chime is Igbo, Not true.Eze means a king absolutely correct, But Chime comes from Ikhimen an Edo name, It has always been customary for the Anioma to pronounce the Edo "kh" as "ch" and infact that tendency somewhat is creeping into the Esan area, I was at Amendokhian-Uromi not long ago and I noticed the natives call it "Amedochian", This was the case in Aniomaland centuries ago.In Onitsha town it is pronounced as Chima since the Westren Igbo "e" has been replaced with the Eastern Igbo "a'', A good example is the name "Egbune" ; In the Eastern Igbo area it would sound "Egbuna".There are enough eveidence that Ezechime came from Benin and I will give some examples
1)In the town of Ogume in Ndokwa East one of the founders of the Clan was said to be "Chime" and the group from Benin was led by "Izedogume" from which the name Ogume was derived from.Now it will be noticed that Chime one of the founders and the linear ancestor of one of the sub clans called Umuochime at present is also being claimed to have originated from Benin, Izedogume can easily be linked to "Izedomwen" which is still borne in Benin today.What is interesting here is that there are no ancestral linkages between the Umuezechime clan of the upland and the Umuochime clan of the Ndokwa area.

2)The title of Onitsha town in Anambra State is Ado N'Idu meaning Onitsha which originated from Udo in Benin Kingdom.Our people know our history and it is often customary for offshoot clans to make references to their places of origin.Thus we have AHABA NTEJE(Asaba from Nteje) , ATUMA IGA or Atuma clan from Igala , IBUSA ISUNAMBOGU meaning Ibusa from Isu and are notable warriors and so on.This trait was even noticed by NW THOMAS in his 1913 Anthropological Report on the Western Igbo in which he noted that unlike most clans in the East , the Western Igbo clans differ in elaborating on their origin including where they came from.

3) The Omu title is unique amongst the Anioma people and it simply translates as the Queen or Queen Mother.In the 1974 account by Zik he noted that his grand mother( he was born in 1904) told him that the Onitsha people came from Benin during the reign of Asije(apparently Oba Esigie) and made reference to Gbunwala or Iguala (derived from Arhuaran the brother of Oba Esigie and ruler of Udo where Ezechime came from).In Anioma account of course varying from one town to the other, GBUNWALA was seen a (a)warrior who fought with the Oba (b) the ruler of Udo the principal town of Benin in those days (c)the head of the Benin imperial army and (d) a giant so powerful that he dug most of the walls of Benin.Incidentally these some of these attributes fits into the description of Arhuaran.For the Anioma people Gbunwala soon became the title of a notable warrior since it was said that he gave the Oba a tough time.
Ezechime was one of those warriors of Udo who had fought against Esigie and never really accepted the imperial authority of the Oba even after the defeat.Following the war with Igala c.1516-17, the Oba's mother influence grew immensely.In one instance, she trampled upon Ezechime farmlands and ordered her slaves to harvest the crops without permission.She was opposed by Ezechime and his family who beat up the guards and flogged the Iyoba mercilessly(you wont see that in any Benin account).After the display of fury, was when they realised that this act could warrant a death penalty or banishment and this was why they fled and were received in Agbor by an Obi called Akina( some accounts Obi Adigwe which I doubt).Because they were strangers they were settled at the outskirts of the Agbor kingdom.Some settled in the present site of Alisimien while others settled in Ozanogogo.It was the Alisimien group that settled in Obior and the act of emigration from Agbor to Obior is dramatized in the Agbor royal feast of OSOEZI.
It was when they got to Obior that they created titles similar to the case in Benin.The Obi was clearly derived from the Oba and the Omu clearly derived from the IYOBA.It was from the Umuezechime clan that the Omu title diffused all over Aniomaland.

Some contemporary writers have tried to argue that the Ezechime came from Eastern Igbo because of the name but they failed to realise that the name itself originated from an Edo word which is mainly borne in the Esan axis to this day.

2)The name Ozanogogo is known in Agbor Kingdom is actually AGBOR-OZARRA(Ozarra shortened as Oza is the leader of the group that stayed behind) and they were granted rights to settle on Agbor lands and the leading family member was made the community head.Because of the peripheral nature of Ozarra they managed to reatin an archaic form of Edo which have been saturated by loan Igbo words.A few generations later some of them crossed the Ossiomo river to found Oza Aibiokunla which is on Benin terr.Incidentally Igbanke lies East of the Ossiomo river just like Agbor and Ozanogogo but Benins make baseless and unfounded claims on that community.

3)The clamour for seperation for Ozarra is mainly a recent development and it is just for economic reasons.In Oza are vast reserves of kaolin and other minerals and for generations the Obis of Agbor have always been paid royalties on those mines.The Ozarra simply wants to control these resources and the best opportunity came with the unfortunate and untimely death of Obi Ikenchukwu in 1979.Of course with the new Obi at just three years and sent overseas, it was the best opportunity for the seperatist to give whatever excuse they want to give as justification.Not just Ozarra other Agbor sub clans like Oki, Emuhu and Ekuku-Agbor joined the fray.They were all defaeted in the courts.In those judgemnets as it relates to Ozanogogo it was affirmed that Ozanogogo is part and parcel of Benin whether or not they speak a corrupt Edo or not.

4)From the account by Mr Otabor in the link you provided, I willadvise you read the stor on the other half.It will be noticed that even many Oza people bear Igbo names, At least I saw one name like "Agwuazia", That is definitely not Edo.Even the names of the villages of Oza some beginning with "Idumu" follows the Anioma pattern in contrast to the Edo "Idumwun".In Oza (unlike Benin) when kolanuts are broken , prayers are made in the name of the Obi of Agbor in whose domain they lie and not the Oba.Traditionally , the Agbor Agbor kingdom is divided into four provinces/military namely IME-OBI, IHU-OZOMOR, IHU-IYASE and EKUKU-AGBOR(derived from the other three).Traditionally these four units contribute men for the royal army and it includes Oza( which belongs to Ihu-Ozomor).Besides the unique Oza dialect is not only spoken in Oza there are other villages like Alilehan where it is spoken yet the prefix Ali- is an Igbo word meaning the "land of"

5)Odionwerie title of Igbanke, Very funny.In the western Ika clans of Agbor, Abavo, Owa and Igbanke(annexed by imperial Benin) , the title of Odionwerie is borne by the oldest male in the community and simultaneosly he is as well called the Okparan.I will advice to go to Ndiowa.com for reference.In the case of Igbanke, it is the Odionwerie ( better known as the Ogele) that installs all Ojehs (manipulated by the Benins to sound as Enogies) of Igbanke and this is the case in many Anioma towns such as Umunede and Igbodo.The Igbanke sub clan of Umuolua follows the normal Igbo naming pattern with the prefix Umu- meaning children of and has nothing to do with Edo culture.

6)The title of Ojisi is unique to Agbor and has nothing to do with even other Ika clans, in the study of titles be it in Edo or Aniomalands , there are authorities such titles are derived from and in the case of Oza the title of Ojisi is derived from the Obi of Agbor and he is a member of the Agbor Traditional Council.I am not aware that the Ojisi was an imposition because the Oza people relish the title with pride.On the contrary the Ojehs of Igbanke have never being derived fom the Obas of Benin.To start with, if Igbanke had always been part of Benin, they would not have been 6 Ojehs.In Anioma customs some towns have multiple of rulers , some ranked higher than the others nor would the Oba allow the Obi of Agbor to install the Ojeh of Ottah-Igbanke which is the custom.All Ojehs of Igbankes are called Ezes and all of them hold the Ofo(Ali) of their communities which is the most imporatnt symbol of authority in Igbanke.I understand you like to research a lot, In Prof Philip Igbafe's book on the colonial administration of Benin kingdom, he clearly stated that Igbanke is an Ika clan and not a a conquered terr by Benins nor is their lands ever being part of Benin kingdom.Infact all Ika clans as well as Oghara and Jesse were part of Benin district until the Ikas were placed in Asaba division in 1909-1910.Some Igbanke sub clans declined because of a bitter war/imperial tendencies of Agbor hence they decided to remain in Benin but those issues are irrelevat today.Besides Ottah, Oligie and Idumodin were only of recent lumped to Benin.
My dear Physics MHD if you think that Ozanogogo being included as a part of Agbor is one reason why the Igbanke should held by imperial Benin as justified, then think again.

1)On the claim that Ohaneze said 8,000 lives were lost in the Midwest, You are definitely not correct abt that figure.What Ohaneze said because I have read the document is that over 800 people were killed in Benin during the period of madness in 1967.The claim that over 40,000 Anioma lives were lost is genuine because as a member of the Izu Anioma, I am privy to accounts from all the towns that make up the Anioma area including the killings of that period.There are like I said before , about 100 Anioma towns.From our records and from the figures computed from the four periods of killings Asaba clan leads with between 2,500 to 3000 casualties followed by Ishiagu with 1500-2000 casualities.My town Igbodo had about 200 casualties yet you have some like Owa clan that had less than 100.Aboh and Ndoni each had over 500 casualties.This was based on fact and not speculation.Ishiagu was almost wiped out and the town still bears the scar of the genocide.I personally lost my aunt there.These figures like I noted earlier are based on the initial killings in the North of 1966 including the purge in the military, the killings in the non -Anioma area of the Midwest 1967, the killings in the Anioma area of the Midwest 1967 and the deaths of Anioma citizens stuck in Biafra and those who went voluntary to fight there.I therefore advise you not to insult the sensitivity of the Anioma people on this matter especially if you dont have any evidence to back it.

2)There is no way you can compare "ADO" used by the Yoruba to "IDUU" used by the Anioma which reflects in such names like Idumwonyi and Idubor.I have never heard the "Ado" version of these names.In addition I can attest based on our own history that Agbor and Ubulu kingdoms were powerful enough to compel the Benins to fortify the moats on its eastern axis.Ubulu Uku and Agbor as we know were powerful kingdoms and desendants of captured soldiers of Benin origin can still be found in those towns.These towns were also founded before the 11th century which falls within the 7th-14th century time frame of the moats.I do however disagree that the construction of the moats ended in the 14th century because records reveals that Oba Ewuare extend the moats within his period of reign c1440-1473 which falls within the 15th century.


3) I have read the case between the Ijaws of Gelegele and Benins of Ughoton on what is called Gelegele land in the courts.Where are the Benin occupiers of Gelegele ? Because it is clearly an Ijaw settlemnt and the issue in court was the ownership of the land on which the settlement was founded and not on those who reside there ? In the lower courts the Ijaws won until they got to the court of Appeal and Supreme Court when decision went in favour of the Benin.The Ijaws said that the decisions were manipulated because one of the judges (a native of Benin convinced his colleagues to make decision to favour his people).Yet dispite this victory, is Gelegele the only Ijaw town in Edo state ? Have the Benin gone to court to prove if those villages are actually theirs ? In a display of the expansionist nature of Benin traditional leadership, they got the area named OBAYANTOR and appointed Prince Edun Akenzua , the "Enogie of Obayantor" .The said Obayantor distinct from the one we know along Sapele road was extended to include all Ijaw villages besides Gelegele.These include Ofunama, Ikoro, Safarogbo, Ajakurama. Nikorogha, Jamagie, Okomu and several others covering 3 wards in Ova SW and Oduna ward In Ovia NE.Yet until recently , there were not even treated as natives of Edo State until recently.


4)Now, on the OZA NOGOGO issue, The people of Oza Nogogo are later settlers to Agbor clan and they were granted lands by the Obi of Agbor .According to our history, they were remnants of those who had followed Ezechime from Benin c.1530.Though they have managed to have integrated as part of Agbor, they still manage to speak a corrupt version of Edo with has a lot of Igbo loan words.The ruler of Oza Nogogo is the Ogisi and he is installed by the Obi of Agbor and a member of the Agbor traditional council.With time dispute arosed amongst Oza people and some of them crossed the Orhionmwon river(the boundary between Anioma and Edo lands in that axis) and founded such settlements like Ozanisi and Oza Aibiokunla.Anioma people donot claim those settlements  because their territory donot extend to the area.The title of Ogisi is derived from Agbor and not Benin.Where else do you hear this title other than the Agbor kingdom ? Because I know that the ruler of Agbor Nta bears the title of Ogisi as well.This claim of Benin was just invented because they have longed for so long for clan status .In addition this irresponsible claim of a few native of the sub clan have been dismissed in the courts.

1)I am beginning to like Physics MHD, He is a brilliant chap, First of all the absence from this post was unplanned.I was engaged with other issues.Good, for reading the UNDP report on the Niger Delta.I find it funny to make quotes from the publication, I made references to in the first instance, I have read it thoroughly, The primary reason for the response that Edo is poor is when you came up with the story of a "paradise" which is insultive to me and the entire Anioma people.I also hoped you saw from the statistics attested by the United Nations that the Human Development Index of Aniomaland is ahead of Beninland despite the fact that Benin has a larger urban population which should have been a justification for a better performance.I need to remind you that Delta was ranked first and Aniomaland lead the state in all parameters considered.

2)On the issue of slavery, You are just trying to be diplomatic abt that fact.Edo was a slave in the palace.There was nothing like servants like we have it today.OK, he was a servant , so what was his roots, to which family in Benin did he belong because every Edo man belongs to a family as reflected in their morning greetings, You belong to one.Which of these did the palace servant EDO hail from ? You have displayed much here and I am expecting an answer.Methinks , he was a slave , though for ethnic pride which is the feature of every Edo native has blinded you from seeing the fact.

3)Like I said earlier , I have roots in Esanland , we share boundaries , farm and inter marry and many Esan settlements were even founded by Anioma settlers.I donot hate Edo people, I cant.It is your insults to someone who is hurt by those sad events that was the reason for my attack.Perhaps we were all being emotional here.What I will not accept is to rewrite history, no matter how sad or bitter it is.Anioma people have forged ahead but cant forget what happened especially the kind of reaction from the Benin, Yes, it was wrong to have invaded the Midwest but it was inevitable , Why ? Because the Midwest region had a subtantial percentage of her citizens identified as Igbos.We were not spared in the North when the killings occured nor in the Military and Ejoor who took over from Osadebay did practically nothing to make us feel we have stake in the Midwest.I have records of his visit to my my home town.Our people complained bitterly that we were killed in the North and unlike the East which was more assertive to question the justification for the killings he was mute and nothing was even made to compensate those who left the North with their lives.
Because of the selective purge of the military class based on ethnicity, our soldiers were forced to identify themselves with their folks from the East.It is a question of survival.We have examples all over the world, The Rwanda conflict for instance involved the Congo because DRC had Tutsis and Hutus as well. or the Balkans war involving Croats, Serbs and Muslims, or Hitler annexation of Austria, It is always the case, The Midwest could not have been isolated.What was however remarkable was that in that initial thrust to the Midwest , not even one civilian life was lost and I stand by this position.

Yes, Igbos of Aniomaland will get these their territories once Anioma State is created.No matter how the Oba's palace would want to interpret their relationship with Igbanke.Imagine non of the rulers of Igbanke clan is recognised because the Govt does not want to offend the palace, I see this as expansionism of the Benin on Anioma territory.But those I really blame are the likes of Omojie whose ignorance would make the Anioma appear so cheap to the Edo where for instance is the Edo influence in Ikaland compared with the Igbo influence ? There is no basis for that comparison.Ika people to start with are Enuanis and by extension are Anioma and Igbo people.During the war, the late Obi of Agbor, Obi Ikenchukwu remembered for his zeal to bring all Anioma people together fully supported the Biafran cause unlike the Obi of Owa who in his charismatic nature pitche his tent with the Nigerian troops and the bargain paid of. He has since after the civil war being projected as one of the  paramount rulers of Anioma even above  the Obis of Ute Ogbeje, Ute Okpu and Agbor  who are traditionally ranked above him.I have read the Ndiowa publication referred to by Omojie and it clearly did not contradict one single thing I said before that the founders of Owa migrated via Ute Okpu from Nri and included in their kingdom Owa Ofie which was founded by Benin migrants and this is why the Obis of Owa are installed by the Olihe of Ofie.This have always been the situation.The Obi of Owa, Efeizomor 11 have always declared that he is of Nri descent.I have read publications on this and there was even a time the Ezenri was invited to felicitate with his Owa Oyibu kith and kin.

Like I noted I cnt be dribbled by the claim that Ika people are not Igbos; I am awware that some of our people deny that they are not Igbos fine,,,There are certain aspect of our civilization that is distinct and unique and was neither derived from the Eastern Igbo nor the Edo.Hence it is better we just remain as a distinct group between the two cultures.I completely disagree with that.There are enough eveidences to tilt the Ikas as Igbo people.But the Benin themselves have varying perception of the Ika people.Some like Bokohahal who is more traditional with his observation thinks that they are Ikas and are seen as a distinct nation from the Igbos yet the highly insultive and ill-mannered Physics HD thinks Egharevba's account which corresponds with Bokohahal's claim was absolutely wrong and could be a reason why some Ika people like Omojie would stoop so low to bombard the net with what he thinks is the official version of the Ika people cum their perception on ethnicity.
The fact is that originally the Edos have little idea if an Igbo ethnic group actually existed.What they know is Eka and the Ekuale corresponding more or less with the Enuani and Ukwuani divisions.Thus the concept of an Igbo ethnic group existing at all is a recent development amongst Benin people.Therefore Egharevba conservative in his perspective in reference to the old ideas would want to project the Ika as a blend of the Igbo and Edo while in modern thought such an analysis why it could be truth would not be a justification not to classify them as Igbo.

2morrow is Sunday and I will not post at all because I might encounter tht fry Physics HD and I could just bear my anger on him.So let him to clear off for a while why I patiently wait for his responses to what I have posted earlier.

@Omonuan, Nnua, Welcome back. Thank you for insisting on that sad event.It what happened.Nobody can single Benin people for anything especially if it is an event of that nature.We only point to it because that is what happened.We have like I noted earlier are the oldest neighbours of Benin because history says we settled in our territory since 900 AD suggesting that for over 1,000 years we have had strong relationship with the Benin kingdom.I know of many Benin people who accepted that shameful act of their parents and try to be conciliatory about it.Nobody said no Benin man or woman did not protect Anioma people during that period of madness but what I dont understand is the attempt by those ones in this thread to completely deny wht happened.When the issue came out in Oputa panel , why did thy not deny it ? And trust the "highly learned " Physics who brought a link as if it was only Asaba people that had issues in the Oputa panel out of the 100 or so Anioma towns that suffered casualties in the war .The issue is not about the killings that occured within Aniomaland.It is the one that happened right in Benin City , a place many of us thought we were safe considering the centuries of close interactions we had shared with them.Nobody talks much about Sapele and Warri because we dont really have much to do with them.It is just an expression of disappointed by the Anioma and not as physics put wage a crusade against the Benin people and their history.


I actually posted a reply to the rubbish written earlier by tht goat in human form called Physics HD just to dismiss what emanates from his slave mentality , but the spam box was at it worst, I actually enjoy debates with the "modern intellectuals" like Physics HD only to make a fool of them.Like I noted earlier I have read the book by Talbot but it was from a Library and I thought the writer was a woman.I only sought for relevant facts but for Physics HD , it was breakthrough for him when he saw where in the publication that human sacrifice which Benin City was famous for was a little over -emphasized thereby dismissing all other accounts, Laugh, He does not stop there,  he went further to narrate how Oba Akenzua 11 did not take Egharevba's review seriously perhaps as eye-witness in the 1930s, It was even for the studies carried out by Egharevba that he was bestowed with the title of Obakhavbaye and he knows that.

In  Benin custom, it was even a thing of pride to be called a slave of the Oba, Why deny it.Edo was a slave.Was he a freeborn ? No, History does not say much about his background because he was a slave and he saved the Oba's life.Hence the land was named after a slave called EDO.Nothing can change that, no matter how a slave is being projected as a servant (just for ethnic pride) a slave is a slave  and cant be servant.And just like Bokohalal noted thee Benin man is proud and that is the problem with Physics HD.

Exotik, I thought you said you wont respond to a "fool" like me, You are the biggest fool in this thread and a coward for that matter.I personally donot take you seriously because to simply put , you are a clown.Just go and wash your head may be na home problem you get, That is the situation in many Benin homes these days .These guys are destroying themselves via their diabolical tendencies of which they are well known in the country.I no even notice u because , you u reach me fire so back off ! or else your own go be apology.But I like your fun spirit derived from the fact that you are amongst the few Benin that have had the priviledged to even leave Benin and experience life in other parts of the country.The mind set of the average Benin man or woman to stay put at home because of insecurity(for reasons I am not sure)  or just "travel go Jand"

The name Osakwe is Igbo as it is Edo.The Edo spelling is Osakue, Osa in Igbo is derived from Olisa and it forms the roots of other names like Osaji, Bosah, Osadebe, Osamor , Osemeke and so.The Edo Osa ie derived from Osalobua and form the basis of their names like Osagie, Osakue, Osahon and so on.The Osakwe and Osakue case is just co incidence because the Igbo kwe and Edo kue both mean to agree attesting to that relationship I have always emphasized must have existed between Igbos(essentially of Anioma stock) and Edos.Have anyone ever asked himself why crops like local pear, breadfruit, pepperfruit etc are shared in Edo and Igbolands and not in Yorubaland ? This is how we research and get answers and not with the likes of Physics HD that lacks originality and love quoting books that favour those baseless points of his.

@Ngodigha, Physics HD is an ant and so are those of his likes.I have dealth with them severally , and this is just another opportunity.Apart from Tgbanke, Ekpon and Inyelen are other Anioma towns in Edo State.We do have as well settlements like Iru founded on Benin territory.We consider them nonetheless as our kith and kin.

@Physics MHD, I know insults s the nature of the average man from Benin .This is why I am waiting enthusiastically for your ''full" package.But dont think I will leave this thread like Omonuan, No way ! I neva said everthing Egharevba said is truth especially those that relates to other ethnic nationalities.But the question I ask is that the father of this present Oba, Akenzua 11 in whose presence the book was edited did not deem it fit to made adjustments at that time.

My dear try and visit Urhonigbe and you would so ashamed of even trying to make comparisons in development between the Anioma and Benin people.

You are so insincere to accuse me of hate when you the one that spreads that message all over the place.I am not from Afemesan but it is a simple question I asked why is there a demand for an Afenmesan state ? I am waiting

@Physcs MHD, Good luck to you and expect brimestone from me and also apologizing in waiting Ok ?

The Benins are wicked and nothing can be further than the truth, Every body knows it , every one says it even amongst the Esan and Afenmai who are the supposed closest relatives of Benin.Have you ever wondered why these people want Afemesan State ? It is due to the irresponsblty of your leaders and people, A nationality named after a slave called EDO.When you passed your lies that Urhobos came from gboland , you thought you were addressing a neophyte, I know the hstory of all Midwestern peoples, Ther origin, customs , civlizaton and so on. have even read Bradbury's book on Edo speakng peoples which you have quoted, In the same manner , you claimed you neva knew Urhonigbe, the largest of all Benin settlements

Like I said before Physics HD you are a small boy, What I said in reference to Basden work was that he said the Anoma people neva practiced cannibalism .Dont msquote me !

I  thought Talbot was a woman thought as much, So it was only Talbot's account that dismsses generatons of records attesting the love the Edos love in sheddng blood ? Let my make my pont clear, if those posts of yours are trully insultve as you have boasted  I  will give back to you with interest.This I assure you.

@Physics HD , So it was Ogbuefi's insults that started evrything, Have you forgotten how you insulted Omonuan and by extention the Anioma  people, You are a small boy that thnks that he knows too much, You dont have any home training though I must confess you are quite brilliant.People like you wll only remember when they receive insult forgettng what they have dished to others.You descend from slaves and I see it from your disposition.To see your mind set, did Egharevba say the cannibals from Igboland come from Anioma? and he went further to say these cannibals became Benin people with time and even tended shrines fr the welfare of the Oba and his household.

And Mrs Talbot (because  I have read the book) was an eye-wtness to era in which not even an individual was used for sacrifice.The book was wrtten in 1926 for cryng out loud long after the practice had been oppressed and stopped, If  may ask why was Oba Eweka suspected to have used hs wfe (who had fled to her Urhobo lover) for human sacrifice ?  Everyone love forging stores negative stories about Benin kngdom, a city known for human sacrifice .The writters over emphaszed on the human sacrfces just to give the peace loving city a bad name just like the Aniomans are  desparately forging to do many years after, I hear you

@ the Vermin, Physics HD where dd you hear tht Equiano yet another great Anioma son say his people were under Benin ? What he sad was that the influence of the Oba of Bnen was NOMINAL  in his place of birth.Ok all Edo speaking people including Urhobos orignated from Benin after you have narrated how Urhobos came from Igboland, You dont even know what you are saying why contradict yourself ? I dont need to remnd you that The Obaseki famly are of Anioma origin and when Ovonramwen was deported to Calabar(where he died and was buried) Obasek took up the mantle of administering the Benin kngdom

@Ngodigha, He is a slowpoke and a descendant of slaves, Our Anioma people have somethng to say abt slaves.A  freeborn of the land or Nwadiani never insults and behaves wth all civility.In ths era of non-slavery ,Physics HD is a slave to prejudice and he thinks he s all that.I am only responding to his insults and men I will play him to the extent he will accept that he is the fool that he is.If he loves Benin he should stop posting or else,

@Physcs MHD , clap fine lenghty story, Does that  change the perspectve of Benin being notoriously known as the seat of human sacrifice ? No, It s a city of blood, the latest demonstated in 1967, Dont tell me that Ovonranmwen did not order human sacrifice throughout his reign, We know the Oybodudu story very well , why dodge that point and the curse he placed on the Oba and hs people ? We all know the Oba dd not order the killing of just 7 Europeans   just as we know that he ordered the killing of chefs who were perceved as barrer to his smooth ascenson to the throne.

The Dahomean kngdom only dates to the 17th century and  must confess tht it  was just as notorious but Benin has a much longer history of savagery , barbaric practces and diabolism.Dd you hear that those that left Benin had sweet and rosy thngs to say abt "great " Benin.

To the rhesus monkey Physics HD Egharevba, The Obakhavbaye of Benin is a title holder of Benin kingdom and he noted that even the political system was DEMOCRATC even when we know the OBA was a dictator who for centures waged wars with the freedom loving Anioma people .In 1939 after his Short Hstory of Benin (and not short hstory of ika) was written, the following was a part of the letter of protest written by the Agbor Patriotic Union; The Unon challenged Egharevba's version of Agbor hstory and claimed that Agbor was the parent stock of all the tribes in the area including Benin.Benin originated from Agbor .Ika had never been subjected to Benin  or other trbes .Benins were weaker and fewer.Before 1897, Benin influence went no further than Ugo.Ikas harrassed Benns wth succesful wars which led them to dig the trench around them.

@the tarsier, Physcs HD, Hahaha, Jacob Egharevba is not an Ika and therefore cant be an authority on our history.Ika people know their history, I  think you are blind ,   the Anioma people call the Benin IDUU and this is an older name  name compared to your slave name Edo or Ile Ibinu land of vexation.Those of us that left Benin left before her  assumed her slave name, We just kept to ancient name that brought with it respect and honour

@Ngodigha, Dont mind this descendant of slaves and cannibals  called Physics HD, He s finished

@the hyrax, Physics HD, In the course of the notorious period of human sacrifice of whch Benn was unchalleneged n the entire coast of Africa, even pregnant women were sacrificed and in order for the gods to savour these sacrifices ,parts of  these people were eaten as well, fnd t very funny to remnd me of cannbals from Igboland, Egharevba never said from Anomaland and he went further to say THEY WERE ASSIMLATED AS BENIN PEOPLE

@the irritating Wasp, Physics HD is that what you have got ? I am ready for night vigil for human caricature lke you, Hei you fall into my trap, As a "proud" Benin man , I know u wont run without a futile fight defending a land named after a slave.You thought you are the master of insults, In fact these skills of pouring out venom was one memorable thing I learnt in Benin, Ngodigha carry Go, Teach this coward a lesson

@Muskrat, Physics MHD tranformed into Physics HD, The Story from Jacob Egharevbathe late Obakhavbaye of Benin in his famous book "Short History of Benin" described Edo as a slave of Oba Ewuare, Brng more points FOOL !

@the lemur called Physics MHD, at least we can start it by sending less voluminous posts, Hahaha, this Edo born idiot and descendaant of a country named after a slave thinks he is a match, You neva sabi.Exotik is even smarte than you to realise that I spent muc of my life in Benin , Nothing I no know abt una, You are finished as far as the nairaland is concerned.Na you go run, Goat !