samuk:


You are solidly on point. Any further debate is a waste of time. The European did Benin a great favour by leaving us 400 years written eyewitness historical accounts which aid us in disproving any modern day forgery, fallacies and fabrications that are based on politics and not history. Benin are probably the only people that can detect these frauds due to these earlier documents, others are not so lucky.

When Ooni and other traditional rulers visited London in the 1950s to discuss the matter of independence, he was reported by British press as the spiritual head of some 3 million Yoruba people, he wasn't reported as the king. There is great difference between a king of a people and the chief priest or spiritual head of the people.

You are right, it was when Awolowo became the premier of western region he consolidated both the position of the spiritual head and most senior western Nigeria king into one and the Ooni was the beneficiary. That was not the only confusion or abuse of power Awolowo did, he also created problems in Warri by elevating the Olu of Itsekiri to Olu of the entire Warri amongst several others of abuse of his power.

The Oba of Benin and his other Delta people saw the handwriting on the wall and pulled all strings to get out of the western region as soon it was possible, only three years after independence. Mid Western people remains the only people in Nigeria that were able to archive this fit.

Now that it appears that some sort of restructuring of Nigeria is inevitable, we must be wearing and on our guard against those our neighbours that are drawing their future Oduduwa or Biafra maps to include Edo and Delta communities.

Edo and Delta have no relationship with either the west or the east, everyone must stay in their region.

Fezz:
TAO.. the ooni was summoned to lagos as regards to coronation and kingship matters. He's a spiritual leader and he was in the best position to testify on which kings should wear beaded crowns. That is more of a spiritual leader and not a political leader. If he was summoned in respect to identifying which king has so and so plots of land, then I would say he is a political leader.

On the other hand, Awolowo was the person that elevated the Ooni status from being the spiritual head of Yoruba kings to also becoming the political overall head. Only Awolowo knows why he made that decision.

Truthshots:

The Oni of IFA was summoned because he was a British puppet who would play whatever tune the British wrote down. And if you just take a look at that Oni of IFA who got summoned you will see that the guy was a common native doctor.
I read what that foolish Oni said and it was full with ignorance and aberrations and stupidity.
The guy was an illiterate and a dumb delusional fool.

TAO11:
Your reliance on the word “probably” to make your point makes you sound like: ‘I have zero proof of what I’m talking about, but I am pressed to write something.’ Lol.

In essence, you seek to refute certainty with ‘probably’. Return back here whenever you have certainty (backed with proof) over what you wish to defend.

In other words, anyone could come up with any claim whatsoever and then hide under the word “probably”, yet insisting to gullible like-minds that he has a valid claim.

For example, one could claim Benin probably never had a king until Ovaranmwen’s time because all the writings which seem to imply otherwise are “probably” fabrications by Europeans who have always had an agenda to take over Africa.

Notice how anything is fair if common sense is thrown out of a discussion. Consistency is key, lad. Binis must urgently appreciate the concept of consistency.

Having said that, the Ooni of Ife was invited to Lagos to adjudicate if a certain self-imposed king was rightfully entitled to such high office.

And that paper published in 1903 (before aWoLoWo’s birth) by the Oxford University Press clearly informs every sane and consistent mind of the Ooni’s capacity as the ever-leading monarch of the Yoruba and Benin kings.

Having said that, consider the two important points below:

(1) For over 400 years that the Europeans wrote down the history of the Benins, these names (i.e. Eweka I, Uwuakhuahen, Ehenmihen, Ewedo, Oguola, Edoni, Udagbedo, Ohen, Egbeka, Orobiru, Uwaifiokun, Ewuare I, Ezoti, Olua, Ozolua, Esigie, Orhogbua, Ehengbuda, Ohuan, Ohenzae, Akenkpaye, Akengbedo, Ore-Oghene, Ewuakpe, Ozuere, Akenzua I, Eresoyen, Akengbuda, Obanosa, Ogbebo, and Osemwende) never came up once in connection with the Benin Kingdom.

(2) For over 400 years that the Europeans wrote down the history of the Benins, the word "Onitsha" never came up once in connection with the Benin Kingdom.

(3) Unlike these two points above, there are other more concrete evidence than writings and verbal accounts (i.e. evidence from archaeology) which connects Benin kingdom back to Ife since at least 700 years ago. See links below:

(I) https://www.nairaland.com/6087424/benin-ife-myth-shouldnt-circulated#93803726

(II) https://www.nairaland.com/6234931/why-ikwerres-not-igbo-logic/9#96323798

TAO11:
Okay, I guess now the paper isn’t fabricated anymore. Only God knows how many back and forth jumping I will force you to do today.

Having said that, if you will have the courage to read that paper, then quote out where he was summoned.

If you have the courage to read that paper, then quote out where coronation came up as a topic.

If you have the courage to read that paper, then quote out where plots of land came up as the purpose of his visit.

On the contrary, he was clearly said to be the head of all the kings including the Alaafin of Oyo and your Oba.

On the contrary, he was clearly said to be passing a judgment (while wearing his crown) over whether an already self-imposed king has a right to such office.

The key-word there is the right — which he denied ever giving to the self-imposed king.

The British authorities did not concern themselves over shrines and spiritual matters if that helps — perhaps they did in Benin kingdom. Lol.


As it is obvious, Awolowo wasn’t born in 1903 when the Ooni was already the lead king from time immemorial as evidenced by that paper.

Did I expect a Benin man to be capable of honesty? No I didn’t. I’m only writing these for others, not you per se.

Fezz:
Lol.. sorry to burst your burble, I'm not a Benin man. I'm only making comments from a neutral point of view

Fezz:
I can see you are hell bent on talking about this 400 years gap... well, kindly answer this

Come to think of it, ithe is said that the oba of benins heads are buried in ife, does it mean in the 400 years existence of Europeans staying in Benin Kingdom, they where never told by the benin people even for once that such rituals takes place each time an oba passes on. In other words the Europeans never heard about such an important event ever taking place for 400 years. This begs for questioning or don't you think so?

Fezz:


Come to think of it, in respect to the oba of benins heads being buried in ife, does it mean in the 400 years existence of Europeans staying in Benin Kingdom, they where never told by the benin people even for once that such rituals takes place each time an oba passes on. In other words the Europeans never heard ofrom such anot important event for 400 years. This begs for questioning because its obvious the benins never had such a sacred relationship with the Yorubas. I wonder what TAO thinks of this, because such important events should never be left out in writing if it truly happened.

Concerning restructuring of the Midwest, I outlined my view on the best way to solve this issue to unit the south south region as one entity, and best person to handle such a fit is the oba of Benin, because the south south will be ripped apart by the South East and South West if care is not taken when the divide eventually comes. I wrote this in one of my earlier comments.

samuk:


Oba of Benin being buried in Ife is another lie. European actually witness the death of Benin oba and the events surrounding one of such deaths was recorded and no mention of Ife.

Truthshots:
[s]According to a report which I read, the Oba of Benin was buried in or around his palace in Benin city (the palace back then was as big as a whole town)[/s].

samuk:
[s]Oba of Benin being buried in Ife is another lie. European actually witness the death of Benin oba and the events surrounding one of such deaths was recorded and no mention of Ife.[/s]

Truthshots:


According to a report which I read, the Oba of Benin was buried in or around his palace in Benin city (the palace back then was as big as a whole town).

Truthshots:
I just wonder when the British would finally pay a price for burning down Benin city.

samuk:


Benin actually know where their Obas and great women of the kingdom such as Emota and queen Iden were buried. No oba of Benin was buried in Ife. The Yoruba even created two buried sites, one for female and another for Male obas of Benin. Lol

samuk:
Benin actually know where their Obas and great women of the kingdom such as Emota and queen Iden were buried. ••• There is a saying in Benin that no one sleeps (is allowed to be buried) in Ogbe except the Oba.

No oba of Benin was buried in Ife.

The Yoruba even created two burial sites, one for female and another for Male obas of Benin. Lol.

Truthshots:
[s]The extent the yoribas are willing to go to distort history is really making me laugh.
Imagine a "burial site" made with modern cement technology and with English alphabets littered all over it, and these bozos want to claim our medial imperial ancestors used to be buried there in this newly made "burial site"....

Logics is afraid of Yoruba, because they keep giving it a beating.[/s]

samuk:


Oba of Benin being buried in Ife is another lie. European actually witness the death of Benin oba and the events surrounding one of such deaths was recorded and no mention of Ife.

Fezz:
Great! So there was a European eye witness during the burial of a benin king and no ritual involving incapacitation of the head occured. In other words, he was buried normally. This is all I wanted to know. Thanks

TAO11:
Only one of such deaths was witnessed? LMAO!

Anyways, the burial tradition of Benin kings with respect to Ife says the following:

(1) Not all Benin kings received such treatment — It was said to have being done only to the 3rd reign Benin kings.

(2) Such 3rd reign Benin king is said to be buried first in Benin for some period of time before the rites.

(3) The whole of the exhumed corpse (of such 3rd reign Benin king) is NOT to depart for Ife — only the skull.

Don’t misrepresent the received Benin tradition just to promote your timid fraudulent agenda.

Cheers!

Cc: Fezz

TAO11:


Only one of such deaths was witnessed? LMAO!

Anyways, the burial tradition of Benin kings with respect to Ife says the following:

(1) Not all Benin kings received such treatment — It was said to have being done only to the 3rd reign Benin kings.

(2) Such 3rd reign Benin king is said to be buried first in Benin for some period of time before the rites.

(3) The whole of the exhumed corpse (of such 3rd reign Benin king) is NOT to depart for Ife — only the skull.

Don’t misrepresent the tradition just to promote your timid fraudulent agenda.

Cheers!

Cc: Fezz

Fezz:
LOL... but why only the 3rd reign of Benin kings? •••

It sounds folklorist to me, don't you think?

If there's no evidence or an eye witness account that such rituals occord then I think it's onlyour right for such information to be flushed out of history completely.

Truthshots:
I just wonder when the British would finally pay a price for burning down Benin city.
Just imagine the level of tourism that we would be witnessing in Benin city if it were not burnt down.
Benin bronze are a marvel, but I think Benin architecture was an even greater marvel.

Fezz:
That is the consequence of war. The Victor does as he pleases and takes the spoils of war. But I think the brits over stepped though by toiling with Benin history. Obviously Benin kingdom depended a lot on their art work because they used it as a means to store their history.

Fezz:
This is funny.. I agree with you on this one. He obviously did oversabi in this context. I'm sure oba ovaranmwen had a plan in settling it out with the brits peacefully. Like some will say "destiny will always play out its part". It was meant to be.

TAO11:
Just as the Operation Python Dance was not a war between Nigeria Army and IPOB; the punitive expedition on Benin is, in the same manner, not a war between two contenders. Even the name settles it.

One party was simply at the receiving end of a punishment — running and hiding; while the other was on the offensive — oppressing the helpless party.

Fezz:
Be it as it may, but the fact still remains the benins gave it a fight and even though it didn't end well for them, at least they can say to themselves that they stood up to fight the brits. Not even the hausas or fulanis in nupe etc could stand up to the brits. The best they did was mount barricades and once the brits broke through the barricades the hausas fled.

Fezz:


Be it as it may, but the fact still remains the benins gave it a fight and even though it didn't end well for them, at least they can say to themselves that they stood up to fight the brits. Not even the hausas or fulanis in nupe etc could stand up to the brits. The best they did was mount barricades and once the brits broke through the barricades the hausas fled.

Truthshots:
[s]It is only in Nigeria that cowards who didn't dare to stand and fight will mock brave people who stood up and fought till the bitter end.
As I keep saying, Nigerians have a logics different from that of the rest of the world.

And some of them will wallow in their lack of sense untill their last day on earth.[/s]

[s]The Yoruba in particular have always carried their cowardice as a badge of honour. And they have always boasted of the fact the British love them (like one loves his domestic animals).[/s]

[s]Can you imagine that in the colonial era, the Yoruba would mock other Africans for not dressing like British people ? The level of madness from these uncle Toms is legendary.[/s]

TAO11:
Tell me the Yoruba kingdom who refused to fight back when attacked (for some reasons) with violence.

You mean the same Yorubas whom you all accused of marginalizing your naturally weak daddies.

If this have any truth to it, then it is because the Yorubas are the only group brave enough to mock others for whatever reason they please.

Cc: Fezz

Fezz:
It's clearly stated here. The brits had already made up their mind to depose the oba of Benin. The oba of Benin and his chiefs already saw this coming and thus the reason for agitation. Philip and his men made matters worse by wanting to break the laws governing the igwe festival. Agbosere took matters into his own hands and the end was inevitable. Sad story though because if the expedition didn't occur Benin Kingdom would have still had complete grip on the whole of South south region till date.