The continuous marginalization of the Ogu (Egun) people of South-West Nigeria is common knowledge. The late sage and Premier of the then Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo has remained the reference point in leadership not only because of his selflessness and capability, but primarily because of his inclusiveness. For example, it was Chief Awolowo who appointed the Aholu, Claudius Dosa Akran from Badagry as the Minister for Economic Planning and Community Development (1958 – 1964) in the then regional government.

At the same time, Chief D. K Aihonsu (from Ipokia, present day Ogun State) was a member of the Regional House of Representatives through the support of Chief Awolowo. Since the demise of this sage (and the leadership style he represented), there have been spirited efforts to present the South-West Nigeria as a mono-ethnic region. In this vain, political representation (other than local elective posts) has largely excluded Ogu people.

For the records, Ogu people, who speak the language called Ogu (although erroneously called Egun) had been part of this space before colonization and amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates of Nigeria. The misfortune of colonization led to the partitioning of Ogu people into Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. The geographical spread of Ogu people forms a trans-border continuum in all these countries, while settling Ogu people are found in various other places in Nigeria. 

To this end, Ogu people were part of the struggle for Nigeria's independence and have contributed in no small measure to national development. In today’s Nigeria, Ogu people are found mainly in Badagry area of Lagos State as well as in Ado-Odo/Ota, Ipokia, Imeko, and Yewa South Local Government Areas of Ogun State. They are found in most states that share borders with Benin Republic, including Oyo, Kwara and Niger States. In addition, there are various Ogu indigenous communities like Makoko and Iwaya in Lagos State, Ago-Egun in Abeokuta, among others.

The indigenous Ogu people of Nigeria have had their fair share of the troubles with Nigeria. The Ogu are the typical victim of ethnic crisis in South-West Nigeria. In recent times, there has been escalation of ethnic crisis between Ogu people and their majority Yoruba neighbours as often reported in Ado-Odo, Ipokia areas, and some parts of Badagry. A few years ago, Ogu people were, almost as a matter of policy, denied admission into Badagry Grammar School, Kakon Model College and other government-owned schools until sufficient pressure and protests were registered by their leaders. On account of the non-Yoruba names most of them bear (there are some who consciously and on account of accident of naming bear Yoruba names), Ogu people are still denied admission into the various tertiary institutions in South-West Nigeria today among other injustices arising from their minority status in the South-West in particular and Nigeria in general. 

The situation, sadly, at times suggests a systematic intention to single out this particular ethnic group for persecution. To many, the Ogu are Nigerians only when it is time to vote. Lagos traditionally has five divisions with Badagry (comprising mainly the Ogu people and the Awori sub-ethnic group of the Yoruba) as one of these divisions. It is however worrisome that a lot of political decisions and other moves for development often exclude the Ogu as is playing out in the nomination of delegates for the forthcoming national conference.

The Ogu people had looked up to the national confab as a great opportunity to table their concerns and suggestions that will advance the Nigeria project. It was with anxious optimism that the Ogu people through the Ogu Concern Forum (and various other groups) made presentations and submitted memoranda to the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led Confab Committee when the panel visited the South West late last year. Among others things, the Ogu people canvassed for ethnic representation to the confab, just as many other groups had advised. The report that the Constitutional Conference Planning Committee ultimately presented recommended, among other things, that the selection of delegates from each state should reflect their ethnic composition. Following from the recommendations, the Ogu people had made presentations and suggestions to the Lagos and Ogun State governments to be represented at the national confab.

On Monday, February 24th 2014, Governor Fashola of Lagos released the names of the six nominee-delegates of Lagos State to the national confab -- Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Mr. Supo Shasore, Mr. Rabiu Oluwa, Mr. Waheed Ayeni, Prof Tunde Samuel and Mrs. Funmilayo Bashorun. Just as the Ogu, who were not in any way given any consideration in the choice of delegates, were grappling with the misfortune that had befallen them, the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun also announced the names of Ogun State nominated delegates two days after to include Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, Fola Adeola, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Mrs. Titi Filani, Barrister Biyi Adegbuyi and Senator Iyabo Anisulowo. Once again, the reality of Nigeria having a non-political national conference without Ogu people represented stares the entire South-West in the face.

The all-Yoruba delegates' lists from Lagos and Ogun States reek through and through with contradictions. Such an exclusive list has the potential of detracting from the constant claim to a progressive character with which the South-West has often been identified. Neither is such a move in consonance with the mantra of justice and fairness and a collective developmental partnership which often reverberate in this part of the country. How, for instance, could these two states with radio and television broadcasting programmes in both Yoruba and Ogu close their eyes to the existence of Ogu ethnic nationality in their choice of delegates to the National Conference? It is an established fact that, Ogu people are not Yoruba, and to that extent, the governments of the states should have been kind enough to allow for representation of the Ogu as a distinct ethnic formation in the states. Even the non-Yoruba people in Ondo (Itshekiris, Ijaws) get better treatment from the state government.

We believe it is not late to rectify this gross marginalization and injustice. We are persuaded that there should be at least one Ogu representative in the Lagos State delegates' list. We are equally persuaded that the Ogu people in Ogun State deserve at least one representative out of the eight delegates nominated by the state. We reject every suggestion that Ogu people can be represented by non-Ogu people, as not only does this smack of an attempt to infantilize Ogu people, it also amounts to malignant paternalism. We reject the persuasive distortions that tend to lump us up as Yoruba. We make bold to say that the absolutism being projected by the current leaders of South-West Nigeria is against the spirit of national dialogue. 

We demand from the Nigerian State equal rights as citizens, including the right to air our grievances through the national conference. We remind all, that persistent injustice breeds agitation and resistance. We reject all suggestions that diminish our persons, our identities, our dignity and our uniqueness. We do not affirm difference for its sake; we do so because it is the least logical thing to do, seeing that we operate by distinct cultural paradigms that are framed by equally distinct historical evidence.

Signed on behalf of Ogu Collective:
Dr Pius Fasinu 
Ms Gloria Sevezun Agbaosi
Dr Senayon Olaoluwa
Mr Viyon Awhanse 
Dr Jendele Hungbo
Mr Nunayon Samson Afodewu

http://saharareporters.com/2014/03/04/exclusion-ogu-egun-people-lagos-and-ogun-national-conference-delegates%E2%80%99-list

hmm

We know that, so there is nothing shocking about it.

Trouble de sleep, yanga go wake am. OP, get ready for the bashing of your life. My hand no dey oo.

Watch how this thread will die.........its natural death......nonsensical post.....nobody will burst a gut......

cremedelacreme:
Trouble de sleep, yanga go wake am. OP, get ready for the bashing of your life. My hand no dey oo.

Make dem bring am. Even ijebu no be Yoruba. They migrated from sudan according to their oba

coolitempa:
Watch how this thread will die.........its natural death......nonsensical post.....nobody will burst a gut......

Awe see am. Pain already. Oya come kill the thread now.

Hmmm since you claim you are not yorubas that's number 1 mistake, so why ask the Yoruba s to include you in her common wealth, wait a minute it's like you guys were active during the slave trade,selling yourba inidigenes to the whites via sosu mobie,

ikechu1278:


Make dem bring am. Even ijebu no be Yoruba. They migrated from sudan according to their oba

When will you flatees start minding your business? So where did the ibos migrate from? Oh. I forgot isreal

And the immediate former chief of air staff is from ogu/egun of Badagry (Adesola Nunayon Amosu). So op what are u talking about? As a matter of fact he has even created an airforce base in Apa village near kankon/kweme in badary, where helicopters and choppers land an takes off, frequently.

cbrass:


When will you flatees start minding your business? So where did the ibos migrate from? Oh. I forgot isreal

Tell your worthless brothers to mind their business and stay away anioma thread. Until then, I'm going to be a thorn in una backs. Ndi ara

ikechu1278:


Tell your worthless brothers to mind their business and stay away anioma thread. Until then, I'm going to be a thorn in una backs. Ndi ara

Ahahahha now I know where this is all coming from sorry bro, so where is the anioma thread that I may see it biko

cbrass:


Ahahahha now I know where this is all coming from sorry bro, so where is the anioma thread that I may see it biko

You dey look for anioma thread , you're talking to one. How u dey? did you hear Egun said they are not yoruba

ikechu1278:


You dey look for anioma thread , you're talking to one. How u dey? did you hear Egun said they are not yoruba

Am good bro, but I haven't. They are not significant here and they don't speak Yoruba to make matters worse only God knows where they came from

Even if eguns leave Yoruba, the rest of us will still be more than Igbo's. Igbo's can never meet up with Yoruba in positive achievement, no matter how they try. And that is what is getting them angry. Now, when are you guys going to Biafra? You have dirtied our southwest cities enough. Pls carry your dirty bags to Biafra and turn other parts of your alaigbo to what you turned Aba to. Aba, the dirtiest town in africa

ikechu1278:


Tell your worthless brothers to mind their business and stay away anioma thread. Until then, I'm going to be a thorn in una backs. Ndi ara

You are only thorn in your own flesh. You are not doing any damage. The only damage you do is to yourself. Even if eguns leave, it doesn't stop Yoruba's from being far ahead of you flaaaatheads. We are still more than you in population and popularity. Yoruba language and culture are beyond nigeria; we are international. Is Igbo spoken by other residents of other countries? No. Your tribe is a minority tribe. Fake drug makers.

ikechu1278:


Make dem bring am. Even ijebu no be Yoruba. They migrated from sudan according to their oba

You are a complete dumbass sha. You want to fight dirty, yet you behave like a fool bereft of sense of history. Didn't igbos too migrate to Nigeria? Or you are not descendants of Abraham again? Boy, you don't deserve to fight the cause of Igbo's. You don't even have sense of history. You are a small boy. Leave the fight to the few educated ones among you. Go back to your sparepart shop. That is where you belong.

In another news, 52 men raped 16 year old girl in awka, anambra state, during a cult initiation ceremony.

Izzorite

Ndi ofe mmanu

coolitempa:
Watch how this thread will die.........its natural death......nonsensical post.....nobody will burst a gut......

Mumu always chest-beating.
Smelly Pig!

wadetaw202:
Even if eguns leave Yoruba, the rest of us will still be more than Igbo's. Igbo's can never meet up with Yoruba in positive achievement, no matter how they try. And that is what is getting them angry. Now, when are you guys going to Biafra? You have dirtied our southwest cities enough. Pls carry your dirty bags to Biafra and turn other parts of your alaigbo to what you turned Aba to. Aba, the dirtiest town in africa

You are the fulfillment of a coward.

cbrass:
Hmmm since you claim you are not yorubas that's number 1 mistake, so why ask the Yoruba s to include you in her common wealth, wait a minute it's like you guys were active during the slave trade,selling yourba inidigenes to the whites via sosu mobie,

Common wealth indeed.
I laugh in Swahili.
Mumu.

ikechu1278:

http://saharareporters.com/2014/03/04/exclusion-ogu-egun-people-lagos-and-ogun-national-conference-delegates%E2%80%99-list

Truth....egun people has their language.

akinszz:
We know that, so there is nothing shocking about it.

Abi oo

Who doesn't know

They deserve the right to self existence,they say the dont want to be called yorubas,marriage is not by force,since they are denied everything due to them,just because they dont bear names like Tunde,Balogun or Iyabo.....this article exposes the evil of the Nigeria state,you are denied admission to schools or appointments, in the worst form of tribalism known to mankind,simple because you dont have a yoruba tribal name.

A few years ago,
Ogu people were, almost as a
matter of policy, denied admission
into Badagry Grammar School,
Kakon Model College and other
government-owned schools until
sufficient pressure and protests
were registered by their leaders. On
account of the non-Yoruba names
most of them bear (there are some
who consciously and on account of
accident of naming bear Yoruba
names),

This is forced assimilation. Yorubas subtly and forcefully forcing Eguns to start bearing Yoruba names. Tomorrow the Yorubas will now tell the world that Eguns bear traditional Yoruba names as first and surnames, hence are part of the Yoruba commonwealth. This is expansionism at it's extremity.

I had always said it, if Yorubas were in the East, smaller ethnic groups in the East like Ogoni, Andoni, Ekoi, Ejagham, Kele, and the hundreds of ethnic groups in Northern Cross Rivers would have been Yorubanized centuries ago.

The live and let's live spirit of republican Igbos, ensured the survival of those groups with their indigenous language intact, any group that speaks Igbo as a first language, is Igbo.

wadetaw202:


You are a complete dumbass sha. You want to fight dirty, yet you behave like a fool bereft of sense of history. Didn't igbos too migrate to Nigeria? Or you are not descendants of Abraham again? Boy, you don't deserve to fight the cause of Igbo's. You don't even have sense of history. You are a small boy. Leave the fight to the few educated ones among you. Go back to your sparepart shop. That is where you belong.

In another news, 52 men raped 16 year old girl in awka, anambra state, during a cult initiation ceremony .

I wonder when you dumb a$$ oil infected brain will get to start thinking out of the box. Is the issue of cultism only peculiar to igbos? If we're to scrutinize this, wasn't it your tribesman/tribesmen that invented it. It goes on to show how bad, evil and deceitful your tribe is.

You even exaggerated the number just to prove a silly point but I'm sorry cos you ended up spewing crap. Fool.

coolitempa:
Watch how this thread will die.........its natural death......nonsensical post.....nobody will burst a gut......

The name of Yeshua I speak life into this thread

cheruv:

The name of Yeshua I speak life into this thread

Na Na Na...I did warn you...cos....our thinking is not like that...... ...we don't bother ourselves with inanities......

ikechu1278:


You dey look for anioma thread , you're talking to one. How u dey? did you hear Egun said they are not yoruba

wadetaw202:


You are only thorn in your own flesh. You are not doing any damage. The only damage you do is to yourself. Even if eguns leave, it doesn't stop Yoruba's from being far ahead of you flaaaatheads. We are still more than you in population and popularity. Yoruba language and culture are beyond nigeria; we are international. Is Igbo spoken by other residents of other countries? No. Your tribe is a minority tribe. Fake drug makers.

Mr say what u know,the bioko people in equitorial quinea speaks igbo ,and igbo is a recognized language in that country.Now tell me which country recognise yoruba as a language?

coolitempa:
Watch how this thread will die.........its natural death......nonsensical post.....nobody will burst a gut......

yorrobers should stop attache by force with Ogu people, yorrrobers are parasites.