OGIAMIEN AS ABORIGENE:
Professor P. A. Igbafe In his book, Benin under Colonial Administration describes Ogiamien as the owner and traditional landlord of Bini Nation. Not only him, many other historians both foreign and local all describe Ogiamien as the owner and traditional landlord of Bini Nation:
'The belief that land belongs to the Oba is a mistaken conception of the theory of Benin land tenure. In reality… It is difficult to see how they could make such claims vis-à-vis the customary presents which each Oba sent to the Ogiame (sic) on occasion in acknowledgement of the permission granted to the founder of the present dynasty to settle on a foreign soil”.
Besides, many historians both old and new all referred to Evian as the blood brother of Ogiso Owodo. Referring to Evian as a Prince of the Ogiso Royal Family, Dr. Williams Ogunlesi said:
…It was only a Prince from Ogiso Royal Family called Evian who was able to get rid of the monster called Osogan…”
Naiwu Osahon speaking on the dreaded monster also which swallowed many Binis during the reign of Ogiso Owodo noted:
…Every effort to tackle the monster, including spiritual means failed until Evian a member of the Ogiso Royal Family, succeeded in throwing a fore-hot iron into the mouth of the monster…
Ekhaguosa Aisien in his small book: “A History of Benin” also speaking on the same matter, described Evian as CITIZEN EVIAN.
…Ogiso Owodo and his Chiefs were perplexed and helpless regarding the depredations of the Osogan until Citizen Evian came into the picture bringing the tools of his trade to bear on the problem…
Besides this, the interview the Ooni of Ife granted the Daily Sun while reacting to page 205 of the autobiography of Oba Erediauwa speaks volumes:
… The Benin monarch had said on page 205 of his autobiography, I Remain Sir, Your Obedient Servant, that the founder of the Yoruba dynasty, “Oduduwa, was one Ekalederhan, a Benin Prince who had once escaped the community's axe-Man but later reappeared in Ife after wandering in the bush from Benin for a very long time”.
According to the book: “The same Ekalederhan, having become the ruler in Ife refuse to go back to Benin on request but instead sent Oranmiyan, his son basically on a 'home-coming mission' to start the present dynasty in Benin.”
But the Ooni of Ife not only told the Oba of Benin that it was too late “to rewrite history” but that the Benin monarch “should go and read what his forefathers told the Portuguese explorers during their visit to Benin on 2nd July, 1550 AD about the relationship between Ife and Benin.”
“The word Oba, which is part of any Benin monarch's title,” Oba Sijuade said ”shows clearly that they are from the bigger Yoruba dynasty” adding “it is rather too late in the day to rewrite our history which cannot be backed with any documentary evidence.” Recalling the well known historical relationship between the two royal dynasties, the Ooni who said he wanted the public to know the facts about the Ife-Benin relationship argued that:
- The Oba of Benin whose dynasty commenced in 1191 AD was an Ife Prince lent to the people of Benin on their request after the rule of the Ogisos had ended in Benin history.
- It was a request that Ife must help to provide them with a ruler, then Oduduwa, the legend decided to send Prince Oranmiyan whose first son in Benin from a Benin woman was Owomika (Eweka) the progenitor of all Benin Obas including Omonoba since 1191 AD.
- Since Oranminya dynasty started in Benin, all the heads of the Obas on demise were buried in Ife in a sacred place called “Orun-Oba-Ado” up till the year 1900.
- Records in the archives made it clear that since1191 AD, the Ooni of Ife had to be informed, and clearance must be given by him on the new Oba of Benin to be installed up to 1916.”
The father of the Present Oba of Benin was a member of the House of Chiefs in the old western Nigeria under our late revered father, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, my predecessor and the first African governor in the whole African continent.
On a humourous note which the Oba of Benin may find caustic, Sijuade turned to Chief HID Awolowo: “Mama, you are Mama Oodua, covering the entire Yoruba nation both here and in the Diaspora including the Benin Kingdom where Omonoba Erediauwa by the grace of God is the Oba.”
Jacob Egharevba in support of Ooni of ife has this to say:
…”At his death, Eweka I left a strong order that his remains must be taken to Ife to be buried with his father, and this order was carried out accordingly. Since then, the remains of the Oba of Benin were taken to Ife…”
This certainly speaks volumes looking at the culture and tradition of the aborigene Binis.
In the light of this revelation, while we sincerely recommend that Chief John Osamede should go back to Primary School to read elementary history of Bini Nation, so as stop embarrassing the Benin Traditional Council, may we therefore use this opportunity to ask The Ayobahan of Benin Kingdom, Chief John Osamede who is now a slave in view of the foregoing undisputed facts.
Put in other words, the fall and rise of the Great Ogiamien Royal Family is now fully on course. We wish to use this medium therefore to appeal to those Binis aborigines especially those who fled Bini Nation in 12th century AD to return and join hands to rebuild the dynasty of their fore fathers.
Once again, the Ogiamiens are not trying to divide Bini Nation. The division has been on all this while but silent, what we are trying to do now is to make it extant. We want to use this medium to appeal to the Comrade Governor, security agencies, the media, the judiciary, all the public opinion molders and leaders to come out and help us.
Don't allow the power that be to use you to frustrate, deny us our God's given birth right. We appeal to all of you to remain neutral in this major CHANGE about to take place. If you allow yourself to be used to work against the Ogiamien Royal family so also nature will use other people in authority to work against your own people. Please remain neutral. We are not impersonating or trying to be self acclaimed rulers, the Ogiamien title has been there even before the invasion of Oba Eweka. The record is there. We should not bring in politics into this important historical event about to take place. Nature is now at its best. Nobody can fight nature.
Fall and Rise of the Ogiamien Royal Family, in the making is like WATER, once it is poured on the ground it must find its level. Evian Ogiamien Reunion Worldwide, Evian Renaissance Movement and the Ogiamien Trumpet here represent the WATER and they must find their level. We sue for patience.
Finally, whilst restating our determination to continue with the struggle, we hereby promise that we will no longer use abusive languages in the course of the agitation.
Having said all this, we wish to appeal to the comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, to use his good offices to:
- Order the immediate release of Ogiamien Osemwengie unconditionally;
- Look at our letter before him and give positive response to our request in the interest of peace.