A PRINCE KELLY UDEBHULU`S REVIEW OF CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE POPULAR WORD "ESANIGBEDO" BY SAINTMOSES EROMOSELE

ENIGIES OF ESANLAND & DIGNITARIES

In the war between Uzea and Benin in the 16th Century when Ozolua was Oba of Benin, two then very powerful and competing monarchs lost their lives. Onojie of Uzea was beheaded and the model of the bust of his head is cast and preserved in the Benin Museum till date. As a reprisal, the soldiers of the slain Onojie of Uzea went after the Oba and killed him at Uromi. This version is supported by Dr Okogie's account. 
A Benin version by Professor Egharevba, has it, understandably out of pride preservation, that it was not the Uzea or Uromi warriors that killed Ozolua but the betrayal of Ozolua own soldiers who were weary of the many wars of Ozolua. Bottomline was that Oba Ozolua was killed and buried in Esanland. 

The original word, after the death of Ozolua, was "Esan Gbe Edo" meaning "Esan defeated Benin". This even became family names and lasted for many years until Benins restored diplomatic relationship with Esans when they needed the Esan war machines to conquer their enemies and acquire new lands overseas (across the Benin river, note that Benin were hitherto forbidden to cross the sea out of Benin City for fear of slaves excaping) in the reign of Oba Orhogbua who had Esan connections (It is believed his mother was Esan) and used Esan, mostly Uromi/Uzea, warriors and sailors in his expansionists campaigns overseas (Delta, Akure, Eko and Dahomey). 

You will notice that although it is said that Benin conquered and founded Lagos in the time of Orhogbua, but the soldiers who actually did the founding of Lagos were led by Generals Isidahomey and Agba of Uromi and mostly Esan and Urhobo soldiers raising the Benin flag. That explains why the socalled Edo names noticed in Lagos are actually Esan names; Eko (Lagos), Idumu (Idumagbo(Idumu-Igbon), Idumota, etc), Ogba (Garden), Eki (Yorubas later corrupted it to be Ile-Eki or Lekki which was where slaves were sold), Ido (means stones - Benins calls stones Ugbe, not Ido or Udolo - where they found rocks), and other names. 

At this time, during the expansionist period of Oba Orhogbua, both Esan and Benin people decided to bury the hatchet and restore their ancient fraternity. It should be noted that in reference to Benin here, what is meant is the area where the Oba is which is today Oredo LGA. That was the Edo and all others including other areas which speak Benin language where Isi (the same as Ekpoma, Uromi, Ewu, Iguobazuwa, Orhionmwon, Ovia, owab, etc. 

Then came the truce period, the Treaty of Peace, which Esan calls 'Ukoven', which was done and sealed by planting the Ohimi trees, what may be today at Ewohimi, and they pledged, on the Ohimi Oath, "Esan I Gbedo" meaning "Esans would no longer attack Benin".

One thing that could be deduced here is that Esan people were warriors and mighty in battle. They however consider themselves as a part and parcel of Benin but never servants or slaves but royal part and stake holder in the development of Benin. Most Esans left Benin in the time of Ewuare whose policies were insensitive and unreasonable. The warriors in Benin and nobility left the kingdom for Ewuare to go found their own kingdoms.

TO BE CONTINUED..

REMEMBRANCE DAY !!! To Borrow a Leaf from Late Prof. Ambrose Folorunsho Alli (22 September 1929 – 22 September 1989). A Visionary even in Death

Prof Alli

          By Prince Kelly Udebhulu.

     To plant a legacy is not magic nor by divide and rule politics, it is how you place your people and development before any other selfish interests. You are right  to say, I tried to help my people and bring development but my people are not appreciating and ready for development, Who planted this disgust and hatred among the OBHIABAS? A misery untold but OBILU JESU for giving me the time and opportunity to witness the arrival of A visionary, A Legend, Developer and A Great OBHIABA when I was A CHILD.

  Prof. Ambrose Folorunsho Alli (22 September 1929 – 22 September 1989) was a Nigerian medical professor who served as Executive Governor of Bendel State between 1979 and 1983.

   Prof. Ambrose Folorunsho Alli was born in Idoani, Ondo state on 22 September 1929. In his childhood he moved between Oka-Odo, Ekpoma, Owo, Efon-Alaye, Benin City and Asaba, where he completed his secondary education in 1948. He attended the School of Agriculture Ibadan (1948) and the School of Medical Technology, Adeoyo Hospital Ibadan (1953–1960) where he gained an MBBS. He served as a house office at the Adeoyo hospital from 1960 to 1961. He went to the United Kingdom for a post-graduate course in neuropathology at the University of London (1961–1966), gaining a D.C. Pathology degree. Later he studied at the University of Birmingham from 1971 to 1974.

  He was a lecturer at the University of Ibadan (1966–1969) and was senior lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1969–1974). From 1974 to 1979 Professor Alli was head of the department of pathology at the University of Benin, Benin City.

  Prof. Ambrose Alli was a member of the constituent assembly that drafted the 1978 Nigeria constitution. He joined the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and ran successfully as UPN candidate in the Bendel State governorship election of 1979. His main thrust as governor was to increase educational opportunities. He established over 600 new secondary schools, and abolished secondary school fees. He also established four teachers training colleges to supply staff to the new schools, as well as several other higher educational institutions. In 1981 he laid the foundation of the Bendel State University, which is now named the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. Other reforms included abolishing charges for services and drugs at state-owned hospitals and eliminating the flat-rate tax. His administration carried out massive construction of roads to open up the rural areas.

  My sweetest memory of the Late Prof. A. F. Alli, when I was just a little innocent child. As a restless young boy I had rushed with other youths to the huge open fields of UROHI SECONDARY SCHOOL, UROHI to watch the Opening Ceremony where the Great Developer was going to talk.  A Secondary School I later became A Senior Prefect. What A great opportunity !

The crowd surged with energy and vivid animation. There was an electrifying participatorial charm everywhere. There was that infectious spirited aura of being present at a historic moment. We were all gripped with a raucous partisan feverishness as the great man of the moment emerged. IT WAS RAINY HEAVENLY. His first Words "If we didn't work in the rain or sun, where / when shall we work?" 

It was a magical moment I will never forget. He was a handson man with confidence and poise. There was grace and certain majesty in his strides. There was an undisguised heroic pose and determined valour about this man. There was that mightiness  presence that exuded power, bravura and intelligence.

Here was the OBHIABA in robust, radiant totality. His voice soared with velvety articulations. There was passion and tremendous vigour in every stress and pitch of his constructions. Even to my young mind, as I watched and fixated by the eloquence of the great man, I was proud to be an OBHIABA. I was proud to come from this EsanLand.

I thought I had known him all my life. I thought I beheld an Uncle, a father, a Guardian Angel with all the charm, with all the solidity of a liberating eminence. His paramount idealism reached far beyond the narrow purview of partisan pursuits. His greatest podium and raison detre was My People! And My People! And My People! Nothing else mattered. What A great OBHIABA. The Gathering was accommodative to all both young and old.

It is rather disheartening to note that, after the appearance and Exit of this Great Obhiaba, we hardly experience a calm gathering void of heavy Mobile Police, Arm Military Personnels, Parade of SSS AND Mighty IGor sized Body Guards where every young child will see a great OBHIABA speaks  and highly cherished.  The million naira question now is, what has happened ? It is a high time the people of Esanland wake up from their doldrums and make concerted efforts to ensure an immediate return to the status quo which gave our fore-fathers un-imaginable recognition and fame and whereby Esan People will not be marginalized or intimidated. Our present Leaders should see reasons why they must wake up to their respective responsibilties and say Enough Is Enough.
OBHIABA, BHADIAKUGBE RHAMUDE AKUGBE AHU. 
...To be continued

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu.
You can tweet to @princekelly75