₦airaland Forum

Bishop Magic: Well I am not yoruba. There is no yoruba blood in me.

I won't claim what I am not either so your Igbo branding is just a way of calling people that oppose your tribal politicking

Ok I will ask you some questions which every creole linked man should know

1. What is your family name
2. What is your family house

3. Family history. Not just that you are a returnee slave

Lastly I have direct link with almost all returnee slaves in Lagos so I am,waiting for your answer.

Creole lol

@ bishop magic

No one bears that again, update yourself. Lol these Igbo people sha.

One of the lasting friendships that I most cherished while I covered the Senate as National Assembly Editor between 1979-1983 was with Senator Franklin Oritsemueyiwa Atake (1928-2003), a former Chief Judge of the old Bendel State.

Shortly after losing the Senate Presidency to the now ailing Dr. Joseph Wayas on October 7, 1979, I asked Atake of the then Unity Party of Nigeria what the O. in his initials stood for. He smiled at me and said “Oritsemuyiwa” and translated the meaning in clear and fluent Yoruba language to “orisa-mu-yi-wa”, which means, “God has brought this one”.

From then on, till he left the Senate in 1983, Atake made it a point of duty to converse with me in fluent Yoruba language.

“Madawonlohun”, meaning, “don’t mind them”, while referring to his National Party of Nigeria colleagues in the Senate. I salute his scholarship till today.

The last journey Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987) made before he died on May 9, 1987 was to his trusted friend and steadfast colleague, Chief Alfred Ogbeyiwa Rewane (1914-1995) in Warri.

He was in Warri for three days and some interpreted that Awolowo went to Warri to thank Rewane for his enduring love and friendship that spanned over 45 years. It turned out to be a farewell visit. A sort of good bye. Abbe Jacques Delile wrote, “Fate chooses our relatives, we choose our friends” while Marcus Tullius Cicero wrote that “A friend is, as it were, a second half”.

Those who knew Awolowo very well such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, will acquiesce to how Awolowo valued true amity and friendship while disavowing ingratitude.

Till he was assassinated on October 6, 1995 in his residence at Ikeja GRA, Lagos by, to date, unknown persons, Rewane was the Ologbotsere of the Itshekiri. The title, Ologbotsere, is very common in many Yoruba cities and in the Bini Kingdom also. In Idanre, for example, the Ologbotsere, Chief Felix Olagundoye Olurankinshe, is one of the king makers and very close to the Owa of Idanre, Oba Frederick Arubuefin Aroloye. He inherited the title from his late dad, Chief Isaiah Akinyawo Olurankinshe, who was very powerful and highly influential in Idanre before he died in 1967 at the age of 112.

I attended a wedding ceremony in Lagos recently between Eyituoyo Amuka Pemu, son of my mentor, Chief Sam Amuka Pemu, who employed me 37 years ago in The Punch, and the love of his life, Oladepe Funmi-Adeshina.

All the people Uncle Sam employed in The Punch and in the Vanguard 20 to 40 years ago including Mr. Shola Odunfa (Our editor), Muyiwa Adetiba, Gori Ogunyemi, Kenny Adamson, Bunmi Sofola (our bonny and platinum with undying beauty), Toyin Akiyode, Fola Arogundade, Jimi Disu, Gbenga Adefaye, Ikeddy Isiguzo (Ilekun) and others were all present at the ceremony.

I noticed a strong resemblance between Yoruba and Itsekiri cultures.

The resemblance confirms to what Prof. Obaro Ikime wrote years ago: “Though distance might be long, the Yoruba and the Itsekiri have common and spiritual bond”.

The likes of Chief Arthur Edward Prest (1906-1976), Chief Alison Ayida, Prof. Horatio Oritshejolomi Thomas (1917-1979), Chief Festus Sam Okotie-Eboh (1912-1966), Prof. I.E. Sagay, Sam Omatseye of The Nation, Pa J.O.S. Ayomike, Alex Ideh, Chief Mrs. Rita Lori Ogbebor, Daniel Reyenieju, Ojoye Oma Eyewuoomo, Mr. Omolubi Newuwumi, Edward Ekpomo, Chief Thomas Eteyitomi, Isaac Jemide, Dr. Stephen Gbejero and others remind us of the Itsekiri.

But, who are the Itsekiri? The Itsekiri are a peculiar and unique people in the Niger Delta. They have inhabited their homeland, which now constitutes the three Warri local government areas out of the 25 local government areas of Delta State. The Itsekiri have rich traditional and cultural practices.

Itsekiri modern history dates from the late 15th century when the people adopted a prince from Benin Kingdom as their monarch. Prior to this time, Itsekiri lived independently in different communities that included Irigbo, Ureju, Omadino and Ugborodo. With the arrival of the prince and adoption of the monarchy, these communities coalesced to become a Kingdom.

History reveals that in several waves of migration before the 15th Century, and some a little later, groups from Igala in Nupe nation came in through the creeks; Yoruba from Ijebu Ode, Akure, and Owo found their way into parts of the kingdom and a group from Aboh also came in. Some along the coast came in through Gulani/Amatu.

Historically, the Itsekiri have a monarchy, over 500 years old, and which, as a rallying point in their society, remains its supreme government. From 1480 to now, there have reigned 19 Olu of Warri: five Olus of the Christian era; 1480-1597: eight Roman Catholic Olus from 1597-1735 and six Olus of the post-Roman Catholic Christian era.

According to Bini and Itsekiri histories, Ginuwa, a prince of Benin, founded the Iwerre (Warri) kingdom about 1480. In the 15th century, Warri was visited by Portuguese missionaries. At the beginning of the 17th century, a son of the reigning Olu was sent to Portugal and returned with a Portuguese wife. Their son, Antonio Domingo was Olu of Warri in the 1640s. Olu Erejuwa, who reigned from about 1720 to 1800, expanded Warri politically and commercially, using the Portuguese to further Warri’s independence of Benin and to establish control over a wider area.

Later, Warri served as the base for Portuguese and Dutch slave traders. It, however, became a more important port city during the late 19th century, when it became a centre for palm oil trade and other major items such as rubber, palm products, cocoa, groundnuts, hides and skin. Warri was established as a provincial headquarters by the British in the early 20th century. In May 1952, the government of Western Nigeria under Awolowo changed the title of the Itsekiri ruler from the Olu of Itsekiri to the Olu of Warri, at the request of the Itsekiri. The Ijaw, Urhobo and other people of the community objected to the change, since they felt the new title implied that the Olu was ruler of Warri, not just of the Itsekiri.

Section 5 of the Constitution of Mid-Western Nigeria 1964 states that, “Without prejudice to the provision of Section 9 of this Constitution, the House of Chiefs shall consist of – the Oba of Benin, the Olu of Warri and the persons for the time being holding such other chieftaincies as may be prescribed by the Governor, who shall be ex-officio members of the House, 51 Chiefs having such qualifications and selected in such manner as may prescribed by the Legislature of the Region; such Special Members, being Chiefs, as may be selected by the Governor, acting in accordance with the advice of the Premier.

The present Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, was crowned in 1987.

In 1997, Gen. Sani Abacha set up a committee for the creation of states and local governments.

The committee was headed by Chief Arthur Mbanefo, a renowned Chartered Accountant while Alhaji Adamu Fika, who is now the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, was the secretary. The committee created a Warri South-West Local Government Council, with headquarters at Ogbe-Ijoh, in the Ijaw area of Warri. Due to political pressure by the Itsekiri, the headquarter was then relocated to Ogidigben, an Itsekiri area of Warri. Riots ensued, hundreds died, and six Shell Nigeria installations were taken over by youths. The crisis was known as the Warri Crisis of 1997.

Whatever may be the future of Nigeria, it is to be hoped that the Yoruba and the Itsekiri will strengthen the spiritual bond between them inspite of the distance that exists between the two tribes.

-Teniola, a former Director at the Presidency, now stays in Lagos.

atlwireles: Ijaw_Citizen aka barcanista ask your Olu to show you, which Warri he lords over.

I am not Ijaw-citizen neither am i barcanister. SMH Igbo dumb people

Bishop Magic: Envious of what?
Your beautiful women? or your squeaky clean cities? or is it your culinary delicacies or your contribution to science?

Warri is less than 6hours by road from Lagos and about 35mins by air. Go and start your Tribal/Jihad campaingn to reclaim warri sharp-sharp.

[size=18pt]I am not speaking for Warri people ohh.[/size] Let them decide your fate.

By the way before you go to warri try re-connecting with your northern gambari cousins in Kwara and see if they want to be associated with you

Therefore shut up. EOD

2) Noting that before the 1914 amalgamation, the Yoruba peoples and our Itsekiri
brothers have lived together as one people with one language, one culture and one
history.

3) Aware of our rich past, tropical environment, the streams, forests and
woodlands, the animals; and an amazing political structure with its enviable system
of governance and ordered society.

4) Aware that since 1914 Nigeria has been wobbling without peace but rather, a
country ruled by fear, trepidations, anguish and uncertainties. That given the
current situation of inequality, un-abating violence, carnage on our roads,
disappearances of peoples, collapse of family values, instability, bombings,
kidnappings, unbridled corruption and wanton destruction of our God-given natural
environment, the felling of our trees, the suffocation of our plants and animals, of
our beautiful birds, the occupation of our country homes by armed, hostile,
malicious and murderous herdsmen, in spite of the laws of the land and helplessly
folding our hands only to watch in tears and deep pains in our hearts.

5) That the political and economic structures put in place by the Hausa-Fulani
since the Uthman Dan Fodio ruthless 1804 Jihad, inherited through the plot of
foreign powers, has put the Yoruba people in constant jeopardy. That this skewed
structure, in the form of the creation of states, local governments, making of the
anti-people constitutions and the seizure of our land, air and sea through despotic
laws, made without the input of our people, save selected cronies, have been
strengthened by successive military regimes of Hausa-Fulani extraction and the
civilian governments who are largely offshoots of the same repressive political
structure.

6) That this past century, this system has made our people to suffer horrendous
murders, killings and now recently the bombing of our worship places, the hate
killings of our people through terrorist acts, in the quest for political and
economic domination and manipulation of Nigeria by forces alien to us.

7) That this attempt at constitutional conference/dialogue we view with
suspicion given the outcome of previous conferences of 1954, 64, 68, 78, 98 and
2005, yet it offers another opportunity for we the Yoruba people to present our deep
feelings to the Nigerian State, in spite of great doubts of the efficacy of the
constitution review process, but with the hope, though faint, that our voices would
be heard for once.

That the classic argument that puts the economy at the centre of all human
relations can no longer subsist, that there are timeless values and cosmology that
every nationality cherish and wish to protect and build essence and existence
around.

9) That the contradictions of Nigeria can be resolved through these suggestions
which appear a peaceful model as against the current resort to armed insurgence and
mass killings of innocent people, on a daily basis, including women, children,
vulnerable and physically challenged people.

On this basis, we the Yoruba Self-Determination groups therefore make the following
recommendations to the National Conference/Dialogue committee for the attainment of
our peoples’ well-being (Yoruba and our Itsekiri kins) and harmony our territories.

OUR POSITION
Ø That the present 36-state structure be abolished and the structures and
institutions of government devolve into the six regional federation. Each region be
empowered to create states or counties and it so pleases.

Ø That the South West Region be made up of the following ,Lagos, Oyo, Ogun,
Osun,Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara and the Yoruba speaking parts of Kogi, Edo and Itsekiri part
of Delta state. I hope this part is bolded enough or those that care, Let me repeat Yoruba speaking parts of Kogi, Edo and Itsekiri part
of Delta state

Ø That the Nigerian Police Force, (NPF) be abolished and in its place should
reflect the federal character of the country with a three tier system of small
Federal, stronger Regional/ State and Community Police structure.

Ø That South West Region should have control over her Sea Ports, Air Ports, all
natural resources on land, sea (offshore and onshore), including but not limited to
oil and gas with 15% of net earnings to the federal government for it to be able to
discharge its duties to the federation.

Ø That South West and other regions should have their own regional constitutions
including the hosting of diplomatic missions as it was the case in the 1950s.

Ø That the South West should have control over Railways, Highways and all other mode
of transportation in her territories.

Ø That the region should take charge of the exploration, generation and distribution
of energy to meet its needs and requirements.

Ø That regional trade unions should take the place of the present centralized Trade
Unions and Professional bodies and Associations.

Ø There should be a regional army with contributions from each of the regions to a
federal army. The Federal Government should maintain a small army while the regions
should have the number of soldiers it so desire.
That all the Itsekiri land and ancestral territories in Delta and Edo States which
have been taken at gun point must be returned to Itsekiri and compensation paid.

That Itsekiri and Ondo oil producing communities be paid a compensation of 1billion
dollars being the cost of the agelong destruction of their farmland, their the
pollution of their air, and the innumerable deaths that have occurred on these
territories since oil exploration began.

That any future consideration for state creation either by the proposed Western
Region or any other organ must have Itsekiri as a state.

Ø That the right to self-determination up to the point of secession, as entrenched
in the constitutions of some other UN members like the United States, (US) and
Ethiopia, should be entrenched in the Nigerian constitution.

We submit that the recommendations of each region be subjected to referendum of
ethnic groups living in each of the zones.
We have made these submissions with the highest sense of responsibility for the
peace and well-being of our people that are currently in the South West of Nigeria
to the Senate of the Federal Republic this day October 17, 2013

Signed:
1) Oodua Self-determination Committee (OSDC)
2) O’odua Liberation Movement (OLM)
3) The Covenant Group (CG)
4) O’odua People’s Congress (OPC)
5) O’odua Student Alliance (OSA)
6) Itsekiri Nationalist Coalition, (INC)
7) Yoruba Human Rights Research Centre (YHRRC)
Yoruba Federalist Coalition, (YFC)
9) O’odua Muslim-Christian Dialogue Group, (OMCDG)
10) Yoruba Farmers and Artisan Coalition, (YFAC)
11) Apapo Oodua Koya, (AOKOYA)
South West Youth |Democratic Front, (SWYDF)
12) Itsekiri Youth Council, (IYC)

Members of the Oodua Nationalist Coalition and the Arogbo Ijaw Union, on Friday, agitated that regional autonomy should be discussed at the proposed National Conference being organised by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Members of the Oodua Nationalist Coalition armed with placards bearing various inscription, lined up at the entrances to the Babafunke Ajasin Hall, Akure, the Ondo State capital, where the meeting was held.

Some of the banners read: “50 million Yoruba people enough to form a nation, Stop Oppresing Itsekiri.”

The group’s demand was also contained in the recommendation it presented to the committee.

The recommendation was signed by 13 groups which comprise the Odua Nationalist Coalition include; Oodua self-determination committee (OSDC), O’odua Liberation Movement, The Covenant Group, Oodua Peoples Congress, O’odua Student Alliance, Itsekiri Nationalist Coalition, Yoruba Human Rights Research Centre, Yoruba Federalist Coalition, Apapo Oodua Koya and others.

The coalition said each region should be empowered to create states or countries on its own, stressing that the South West region be made up of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara and Yoruba speaking parts of Kogi, Edo and Itsekiri part of Delta state.

They also demanded for the abolition of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Arogbo Ijaw Union led by Chief Francis Williams also canvassed for regional autonomy saying any ethnic group seeking to go should be allowed.

http://www.punchng.com/news/national-conference-yoruba-ijaw-agitate-for-regional-autonomy/

superstar1: Deludedmumu,

So how did that remove their ancestral lineage and linkage to Yorubas?

nice reply

Bishop Magic: You know something in so many ways have I come to admire the Igbos and it took your tribal and unbridled hate and jealousy of them for me to see how resolute and enterprising they are.

The more you spew your lies the more I see the hypocrite and lazy naked jealousy you have for them.

You are seriously suffering from inferiority complex.

In a way I regret ever coming to this site because I have come to hate yorubas with passion.

I have taken topics from here and discussed with my friends and collegues and guess what my yoruba friends all sound like agbameta or gbawe.

I have since stopped associating with them.

[size=18pt]I am not Igbo! ODE ![/size]

Because I am not on the your sand drawn lines doesn't make me an Igbo .

Some of us have evovled beyond your cheap politicking thanks to good home training, education and exposure to know that all this crap is all for some cheap political gain and general jealousy.

I said to a northern colleague of mine just yesterday in the Office that the only thing making Nigeria work is Oil revenue and Igbos.

[size=18pt]I am not Nigerian! ODE ![/size] you see, it is envy that will kill you people. In your fit of anger you even decided to write in Yoruba. LOL

atlwireles: There is enough history to guide your boys. The last time they were all refugees in sapele. Push your lucky again, we will always defend what belongs to us in Warri without fear or favor. Cross your boundary in the creeks and the Ijaw, will show you who owns papa's land.

Yes SIR ! IGWE we have heard you. which warri again sir or you mean Iwere ? Olu of warri (lord of warri) Ogiame Atuwatse II

atlwireles: I hope Gani Adams, is not trying to send some silly youths to their early graves in Warri. Yorubas, are better advised to keep off the State of Delta. For the sake of peace, carry your bad belle politics far away from the big heart state. We don't take prisoners here, you will only get a one time warning.

DO YOUR WORST !

Bishop Magic: Gani Adams is the head of a Tribal vigilante Militia which had in the past and continues to do so in the present, been involved in public lynchings.

Yes public lynching of ethnic bigots like you.

Bishop Magic: By applauding OPC's presence in Warri on the guise of re-uniting with the Itshekiris that you claim as Yorubas, you then admit that the OPC is a the authentic Cultural and Traditional ambassadors of the Odua people.

There is NO CLAIM here. [size=14pt]They are part and parcel of yorubas[/size] or do they act like villagers of the east to you ?

Bishop Magic: We have not yet forgotten the troubles that occurred in the 90's which can be traced to Awolowo after the civil war trying desperately to yorubarize warri. Since that ugly past, Warri and Delta as a whole have long put the past behind them.

LOL Typical Igbo man !

Bishop Magic: Do not come and foment your cheap and dirty tribal politics in Delta of all places which happens to be home to Ijaws, Isokos , Itshekiris , Urhobos and Igbos as well.

Again typical Igboman always accusing others of tribalism while they are the worst of them all. Or should I also remind you of Eyo Eta which can be linked to Azikwe

Bishop Magic: The question that begs answeing now are:

1. Why now? In the wake of all the political tensions.
2. Are the Yorubas in general now recognizing Itshekiris as a long lost tribe and if so why now?
3. Is the OPC as a tribal vigilante militia now the head of cultural affairs in Odua land?
4. How come your broad nose that can fit a yam tuber in each separate nostril not see this before rushing o spew insults?

1. Because this country may split and there should be no mistake of who's territory is who.

2. No they are not lost ! Never have they been lost. Even before the war, Itsekiris knew who they were and have nothing in common with tribalism. It is now because your silly brothers are already calling yorubas (itsekiris) biafrians

3. OPC can be called whatever you deem fit but one thing is certain, THEY DO THEIR JOB WELL !

4. LOL you are a very bitter igboman

See how fat and robust they are Na wa oh Nigerian politicians are enjoying big time !!!

Nowenuse: Pls, I hope u are not mistakin d igalas and idomas for igbos oo. Pls tell me d name of the wholly igbo lga in benue or kogi. I'm waitin
Igbos are found everywhere in Nigeria, the question is where they are indigenous or not!

Good, ask him

DerideGull: You are a walking rubbish. Do you know there is LGA in Benue State that is totally of Igbo? This same thing applies to Kogi State. How could a so-called Awori wannabe tell Ndigbo the delineated boundaries of Igbo land?

Yes I am awori egun and I am telling you there are no igbo lg in benue state. Stop this expansionism agenda, why is it in your blood

DerideGull: There is Igbo in both Benue and Kogi States.

please sir, stop that rubbish the only southern group in the middle belt and south south as INDIGENES are the yorubas. Not igbos, igbos are not found in the middle belt infact it's the other way around

Prof Corruption: Laughable. Kashamu should travel to US to prove OBJ wrong.

I mean if he is not, then what is he ?

Which buisness did he do to be rich and powerful

PointB: Perhaps the question is where do we go from here? Succour with the 'children of anger' is definitely a big NO as pitching tent with APC is akin to jumping from frying pan to the fire itself - judging from the disparate collection of desperate characters that peopled the party.

What need to be done is a complete restructure of the country - weakening the center and decentralizing governance And enthronment of ful resource control. If such is not tenable, I vote for continuity, let the ship sink. It's a make or mar!

GEJ be removed !!!

great1: Does that mean that same people that killed Abacha will come for GEJ's head I'm sure Mr President has learned lessons right from Murtala Muhamed, to Abiola, then Abacha..

Nigerian Leaders are often cautious not to fall into enemy hands... Why do we hate Leaders who are calm headed

Not all Leaders are hated

Muritala Mohammed is and will be the BEST NIGERIAN LEADER EVER.

benue, MB gone

hardywaltz: Aboki I don't get u?

My friend try to get me

Rivers state house other non-indigene just like Lagos and as other ehtnic group dictate the voting so is rivers

Billyonaire: If you are not resident in Rivers State, steer their of their local politics and let them evolve.

wll you shut up !!!

hardywaltz: Ogoni + Ikwerre alone can vote in any Gov. That's why Ameachi holds them dear. Nyesom Wike can keep fooling himself with Minority tribes on election day we will see if Riverine + 50% of Obio Akpor + Etche votes are enuff to make him Governor.
We dey watch.

But Ogoni + Ikwerre + Yorubas and Hausas in Rivers state can deliver the votes. Disagree ?