₦airaland Forum

yawn,people recognize nigeria period,its not because you are ibo ,yoruba or hausa.

;d ;d ;d ;d

lol

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is laudate  from Cross River State.?

Your This article has been tagged since March 2007.
Contents [hide]
1 Brief History Of Esan Culture & People
2 Esan Local Government Areas in Edo State
3 Esan Names
4 Esan Language
4.1 Alphabet
4.2 Nouns
4.3 Pronouns
4.4 Sentence order
4.5 Verbs
4.6 Adjectives
4.7 Determiners
4.8 Paternoster (The Lord's Prayer)
5 External links



[edit] Brief History Of Esan Culture & People
Esan (pronounced /aysan/) is one of the major ethnic groups in Edo State, South-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is believed by many historians that the name 'Esan' (originally, 'E san fia') owes its origin to Bini (meaning, 'they have fled' or 'they jumped away'). 'Ishan' is an Anglicized form of 'Esan', the result of colonial Britain's inability to properly pronounce the name of this ethnic group. It is believed that similar corruption has affected such Esan names as ubhẹkhẹ (now 'obeche' tree), uloko (now 'iroko' tree), Abhuluimẹn (now 'Aburime'), etc. Efforts have however been made to return to stutus quo ante. For academic purpose, Esan refers to (1) the ethnic group that occupies central Edo State; (2) (plural unchanged) a person or the people collectively from this ethnic group; (3) the language of these people which, linguistically, is of the Kwa subdivision of the Niger-Congo language family; (4) something of, related to, or having Esan origin e.g. uro Esan (=Esan language), otọ Esan (=Esan land), ọghẹdẹ Esan (Esan banana).

A total of thirty four kingdoms (large villages/townships ruled traditionally by monarchs) make up Esan and many of them seem to have their own oral versions of the origin of Esan as well as its own starting point in history. One of the most popular of these is the one advocated by the group much of which constitutes the now defunct Agbazilo, one of the two former local government administrative units in Esan.

According to the Agbazilo group, made up mainly of Uromi and Uzea, Esan came into being when one of the children of Bini’s Queen Oakha and Ojiso Owodo, Prince Uzia Asokpodudu (Ojiso Owodo’s crown prince and heir apparent) founded Uzea in about 1188 AD after they fled their father's (the Ojiso's) palace following the death sentence passed on their mother, Queen Oakha, who was alleged to have committed adultery with a Bini chief, Ovior. The duo of Ozogbo and Oigi, Asokpodudu's younger brothers, escaped along with him and the mother. It is believed that not only did Prince Asokpodudu (the founder of Uzea Kingdom) escape with the mother, Oakha, relations and some palace servants, he also left with his father’s (the king's) royal trident, ‘Uziziẹnghain’, the Ojiso’s heir loom.

The Uziziẹnghain used to be the royal regalia with which the Ojiso dynasty was founded. Ozogbo later left Asokpodudu in his base in what is today known as Uzea to found Ẹgbele in present-day Uromi while Oigi went and establish a settlement with his mother, Oakha, which is today known as Ẹkperi (outside Esan land). 'Ikhio' is an annual feast celebrated in Uzea in remembrance of Oakha. While Queen Oakha and her children fled northward of Bini, Chief Ovior, her alleged lover, fled eastward to a settlement he established, which is today known as Obior (probably a corruption of 'Ovior'), near Asaba, Delta State capital.(1)

This is believed by some to be the very beginning of Esan though the Irrua group may not easily accede to this position. The very name Esan was not applied to this people until the arrival of other emigrants from Bini who fled Oba Ewuare's brutal reign. The Oba (Bini monarch) had decreed: "No making of fire to cook; no cleaning of homes; no procreation; no washing of clothes." Unable to abide by these rules, many natives fled the Bini Kingdom. When the king sought to know where many of his subjects had gone, he was told, "Ele san fia" ("They have fled", thus giving rise to 'E-san-fia' and later 'Esan'.(2)

In other words, the name Esan was never borne by the ealier group until the arrival of the later groups. Other groups, such as Ekpoma, left Bini later to establish bases where they occupy presently. Except some historical contention to the effect that Esan has always been where they are presently, or that Bini in fact migrated from Esan to its present abode, Esan in this sense is a group/tribe of 'fled/jumped away' people from Bini for various reasons and at different periods in history. Esan largely remains a migrants' settlement just like the New World. This position has made some historians to argue that the Agbazilo group, Uromi and Uzea, are a pre-Esan group which has decided to coexist under the same banner of Esan. It was within this same group, in Uzea, that Oba Ozolua met his waterloo and buried in Ugboha's Otokhimhin, originally called 'Oto-ukhimhin' (the land of Ukhimhin tree). This is the origin of the popular saying among Esan that "Oba ii de Esan, Ozolua ii ri Edo" meaning, "A Benin monarch does not visit Esan just as King Ozolua will (of Benin) not return to Benin."

Esan land is bordered to the south by Benin City, to the south-east by Agbor, to the north and east by Etsako, to the west by River Niger. From Ewu to Benin City, the State capital, is 100kms long. No accurate demographic data of the people is available and the various local governments in Esan appear to lack reliable information in this direction. The people populate areas such as Uromi, Ewatto, Igueben, Irrua, Ubiaja, Ebele, Ehor, Ekpoma, Ewu, etc in central Edo State, South-South Nigeria. It has flat landscape, one lacking in rocks and mountains, and good for agricultural purpose. Rubber tree (used for the production of plastic products) and palm tree rank highest among Esan trees. The land's variety of fruits range from mango, orange, grape, pineapple, guava, cashew, banana, plantain, black pear, avocado pear, lime to walnut and even more. Cassava, yam, cocoa yam, sweet potato, pepper, okra and rice are some of its farm produce. It has numerous streams that are too small to afford fishing.

Replete with different dialects, Esan language is quite unintelligible to even many native speakers. For instance, the Esan word for person (or, somebody) is variously called by the different kingdoms' dialects as ọria (by Uromi, etc), ọhia (by Uzea, etc), ọyia (by Unea, etc), ọhan (by Ugbọha, etc). This obvious difficulty associated with speaking others' dialect other than one's mother dialect has given rise to the widespread use of Pidgin English, which is the local patois, a mishmash of Portuguese, English and Nigeria's local languages.

During the era of the military,the Esan had between five to six high ranking military, police and Naval officers as governors of various states around the country at different occasions, a feat that owed much to their learning,sociability and especially their loyalty. Chief Ikimi and Chief Anenih— have been known to occupy the position of chairman of two national parties —NRC and SDP respectively.

Esan Day is celebrated at the Tafawa Balewa square, Lagos every December. During the occasions names of prominent Esan figures are read to loud ovation. Esan believe in self help, thus assisting to reach villages and towns to achieve development. Some prominent Esan are Chief Anthony Enahoro, who raised the motion for the independence of Nigeria; Peter Enahoro, who wrote How to be a Nigerian, Tony Anenih, a top Nigerian politician and former minister of Works and Housing. Others include the late Ambrose Alli, Governor of Bendel State; Bishop Ekpu; Anthony Cardinal Okogie; late first lady Stella Obasanjo; Sonny Okosun, a famous musician; writers Aba Aburime I and Odia Ofeimu; Chief Tom Ikimi, a politician and former foreign affairs minister (during the reign of Gen. Sani Abacha); former Lagos state police commissioner, Oyakhilomen; former vice president of Nigeria, Augustus Aikhonmu (retired Real Admiral); former deputy commissioner of Lagos state Vincent Airebamen; Rev. Chris Oyakhilomen; etc.

Esan are fun-loving people who have various festivities and ritualistic traditions. Their folktales and folklores serve as forms of learning and entertainment, like the famous igbabonẹlimhin and akhuẹ. They have prominent traditional rulers who keep order and sanity in a complex society where beauty and manners are intertwined. Despite the long-term impact of Christianity among Esan, the people are fetish in that a large number still practise traditional beliefs in the form of worship of ancestral spirits and other gods. A large percentage of Esan are Christians, mostly Catholic and recently of other denominations. Esan has various dialects all of which stem from Bini and there is still close affinity between the Esan and the Bini, which leads to the common saying 'Esan ii gbi Ẹdo' meaning, Esan does not harm the Ẹdo (i.e. Bini).

Esan are great poets, writers, singers, carvers, farmers, scholars, storytellers, etc. The folklore and history of the Esan tribe are worth re-visiting and attempt should however be made to research on the various ways that the villages are related to the Ẹdo and others who may have occupied Ifeku Island many years ago. The Esan heritage is unique despite the variation of dialects. A handful of Esan families are known to possess Portuguese ancestry, resulting from links harking back to the 16th Century when Portuguese sailors and tradesman first entered the Bini Kingdom via the coast. British arrived Bini in the wake of the Portuguese numerous expeditions to, and intercourse with, Bini.

The 14th April 2007 gubernatorial election in Edo State saw the emergence of Prof. Oserheimen Aigberadion Osunbor from Ekpoma as the next governor of Nigeria's 22nd largest state. Before the State's creation on the 27th August, 1991, Prof. Ambrose Folorunso Alli had governed Bendel State (1979-1983), making it the second Esan to govern Edo State. Unlike the Prof. Ambrose Alli mandate/victory, Prof. Osunbor's is widely believed to be mired in controversy of widespread irregularities by the ruling party in the State. Litigation is however on and the new governor has since 29th May, 2007 been sworn in for a four-year term. The ceremony was carried out at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, amidt large crowd.


[edit] Esan Local Government Areas in Edo State
The autonomous clans/kingdoms in Esan land are currently administratively arranged as follows under the current five local government areas:

(1) Esan North East LGA, Uromi:

   Uromi, Uzea
(2) Esan Central LGA, Irrua:

   Irrua, Ugbegun, Okpoji, Idoa, Ewu
(3) Esan West LGA, Ekpoma:

   Ekpoma, Urohi, Ukhun, Egoro
(4) Esan South East LGA, Ubiaja:

   Ubiaja, Ewohimhin, Emulu, Ohordua, Ẹbhoato, Okhuesan, Orowa,
   Ugboha, Oria, lllushi, Onogholo
(5) Igueben LGA, Igueben:

   Igueben, Ebele, Amaho, Ẹbhosa, Udo, Ekpon, Ujorgba,  Ogwa, Ugun,
   Okalo

[edit] Esan Names
ESAN NAMES Name Shortforms Meaning/Context Gender RelatedNames
Abhuluimẹn, Aburime Abu a congratulatory name literally meaning ‘the verdict is in my favour’; ‘the decision/ruling has worked to my advantage’, often given to a child in memory of a major feat or victory over one’s foe or difficulty M 
Abulogho, Abulogholo, Abuman Abu Equivalent of the Hebrew name Abraham, meaning ‘father of multitude’, as blessing or wish for a child to be a future father M 
Adesuwa, Ade meaning one who is born into wealth, the center of wealth, wealth surrounds her,typically a female name F 
Aburẹkhan Abu, Abure, Aburay One followed by a multitude M 
Agbọnkhese Agbọn an allusive name meaning ‘human beings are the unseen forces contending with humans’; ‘humans are their own enemies’, used to suggest that one’s problems, difficulties or travails are caused, not by invisible powers as people are being made to believe but, by fellow humans themselves M 
Aigbọkhan  You don’t strive with someone for no just cause, used by parents to inform their foe/hater that they are not culpable/guilty as alleged, and as such should be left alone M 
Akhigbe (Aah khi gbi ọnan) Aigbe 1. a name meaning ‘this child of mine won’t be killed, hurt or harmed’ 2. [esp Chris. based on Ps. 105:15; Is. 54:17] a name meaning ‘not (meant) to be harmed/hurt/killed’; ‘too defended to be a victim’ [Reason: many parents give their children this name either after losing some child(ren) to death or when they wish to safeguard one whose conception or birth was costly M Ujangbe, Otọibhi
Aikponobhua   M 
Aimiẹndẹ Aimiẹn A child can’t be bought, used to emphasise how precious or valuable a child is F 
Aituajiẹ Aitua It is not ideal to laugh/make mockery in a hurry (proverbial), used to suggest that there is nearly always the possibility of seeing a fallen person rise up, or that the future could be better or more favourable M/F 
Aiwainehi   F 
Aiwuanfo  One can never possess infinite wisdom (proverbial), used to emphasise the limit of human wisdom that makes people subject to errors M 
Aiwuansubhor Aiwuan Death defies human wisdom; death cannot be tricked, cheated, played upon, used to suggest how helpless and vulnerable humans can be humbled by death no matter how wise or intelligent they seem M/F 
Aiyegbeni Aiye No one wants their neighbour’s good, progress, well-being or that human beings have a tendency to wishing each other ill-luck M 
Ẹbhodaghe Ẹbho, Ẹbhoghe people are seeing; ‘the world is a witness’, used to suggest that one’s hands are clean, or that you are not guilty as alleged M 
Ebosẹrẹmẹn Ebosẹ, Osẹrẹmẹn ‘whom God has given me’, equivalent to Jonathan (in Hebrew) M 
Ebosẹtae, Ebosẹtale Ebosẹ, Osẹtae, Osẹtale whom/what God has ordained, suggesting that the will of God can’t be squashed M/F 
Ẹhizojie, Ẹhizogie Ẹhi God is the one who makes one king; or loosely ‘rising to greatness is God’s doing’ M/F Ẹhizọkhae
Ẹhizọkhae, Ẹhizọkhale Ẹhiz, Ọkhae God is the one who makes someone a hero; ‘achieving greatness in life is God’s doing’ (perhaps partly influenced by Chris. [Eccl. 9:11]) M 
Ehibhajiajeme Ehi  F 
Ekaniyere Iyere  M/F 
Ejele  Esan equivalent of the Hebrew name Aaron, meaning ‘esteem, lofty or loftiness, exalted or exaltation’ M Ọsẹmeje, Ọmọ(n)zeje
Enaholo Enaho Esan name literally meaning ‘these are the ones desired’, or (loosely) ‘long desired’, usually given to a male child esp in a family that has long longed or wished for one, similar to the French name Désirée /dayziray/ (fem. Désiré) M 
Erejele, Abejele Ejele father of exaltation/esteem;similar to Abigail in Hebrew M 
Erọmhọsẹle, Erọmhọsẹ, Erọmọsẹle, Erọmọsẹ Ero, ayro, Erọmor (the) prayer has been effective; (the) supplication was effectual, given to a child whose prebirth condition(s) called for prayer or divine intervention M/F Osẹiwuẹ, Ẹbosẹ(le), Ebosẹta(le)
Ẹseleọhẹ Ẹse, Ẹsele ‘free gift’; ‘offer needing no payback’, a reference to the benevolent God who freely gives children to humans M/F 
Ibhakẹwuanlan, Ibhankẹwuanlan Ẹwuanlẹn I didn’t get wise early (enough)’; ‘I’m wiser, more careful now’ [Reason: a name parents give to a child when, after losing several children or after allowing themselves to be deceived, cheated or fool, eventually realise their mistake] M 
Ibọi  a moribund name originating from a misunderstanding of the British colonial officers’ often repeated word “boy” or “oh boy”, when calling the attention of an African worker or young man M 
Inẹgbenẹhi, Inẹgbenosẹ  (I seek God’s protection; I hide under the shadow of the Almighty) M 
Irọbekhian  I go with that which is good; ‘I like peace’; ‘I dislike trouble’ M Ikuenọbe, Ibhaje, Ibhajọbe, Ọsẹmẹikhian
Izẹhinọmhẹn Ẹhi, Ẹhinọmhẹn, Izẹhi I have chosen the good God; ‘I have opted for the God of goodness’, God here being symbolic of one’s guiding angel M/F 
khiẹna  a suffix to which a noun is added to affirm that you are wary of the noun mentioned in the belief that it is in it you suspect you may be hurt/killed Oaikhiẹna (I am wary of my family); Amẹńikhiẹna (I am wary of water, river, etc); Ọshiọikhiẹna (I am wary of my friend)   
Manatuẹ, Imanatuẹ  a corruption of the name ‘Matthew’ M 
Obehiaghe Obehi, Ehi We are looking out for God's time F 
Osẹzẹle, Osẹzẹe  The reason is God or ‘God is the cause’, being an acknowledgment of divine help either in the conception or delivery of the child M 
Ojiẹ  meaning ‘laughter’ influenced by the Hebrew name Isaac M 
Okhueleigbe  literally meaning ‘the constant ringing of a bell does not destroy a bell’, used to suggest that the fact that your name is being repeatedly subjected to slander, insult, or is maligned (esp because people misunderstand your good intentions) does not harm you; a common name in Uromi, Uzea M 
Oko, Okoh  a prefix that is added to a noun to suggest the kind of relationship the person has with the noun mentioned 1. son of; heir of. 'Okojie' (=king’s son; male relative of a royal family) 2. [esp African Traditional Religion (ATR)] son of, or dedicated to. 'Okosun' (=son of shrine, god, idol) 3. friend of; born into. 'Okougbo' (=born in the farm); 'Okorọ' (=born during raining season); 'Okoamẹn' (=friend of water, rain); 'Okouromi' (=friend of Uromi Town); 'Okoemu' (=friend of Emu Town) [Compare: Ọmosun)] M 
Okotuẹ  1. Esan name meaning Pastor 2. a regular churchgoer or church worker 3. loosely, a child born in a church M 
Ọmotuẹ  1. Esan name meaning Pastor 2. a regular churchgoer or church worker 3. loosely, a child born in a church F 
Omiojieahiọ, Omiogieahiọ Omiojie, Omiogie a name meaning ‘everyone’s wish is to be a king’s heir’; ‘to be a prince is everyone’s desire’ M 
Ọmhẹn  ‘pleasant’, equivalent to Hebrew’s Naomi M/F 
Osẹidobor, Ẹhiidobor  ‘God does not make mistake’, often given to a child whose sex is the reverse of what was predicted or anticipated M/F/ Idobọiyikosẹ, Osẹilukholor
Osẹikhuẹmhẹn Ekhuẹmhẹn a name meaning ‘It is God I praise’ M Osẹigẹn, Osẹiga, Osẹiro
Osẹmudiamhẹn  ‘God is standing for me’; ‘God is my support, fortress, stronghold’ M/F 
Osẹnọbhuohiẹn  ‘God is judge’, equivalent of the Hebrew name Daniel M 
Ọdegua  ‘she has mixed up with’ or ‘a mix-up with’, given to the first or the lone female child in a family dominated by males F 
Ọdianọsẹn Ọdia (usually responsorial or positively consolatory) meaning ‘it is well’; ‘fine’ M 
Ọdiọn  eldest, given to the first child in multiple births M/F Akhere, Adesẹ
Ọduẹki, Ọduaki Ẹki, Aki a memorial name meaning ‘trader’, given to a child born on a market day, or right in the marketplace/trading centre F 
Ọfure  [esp Chris. based on Phil. 4:7] a name meaning ‘peace’; ‘tranquility’ M/F 
Ọghanivie Ivie more precious than gold; ‘more valuable than gold’; ‘costlier than gold’, with gold here symbolic of the world’s costliest or most precious thing M/F Ọghanẹkan, Inẹkanbivie, Inojie
Ọhainlosẹ, Ọhainlo  ‘wonder’, ‘miracle’, ‘marvel’ ‘awesomeness’ given to a child often as a tribute to God, who is believed to be at work M/F 
Ọinọghosẹ, Ọilọghosẹ Osẹ 1. a name meaning ‘it is not difficult for God (to do)’ 2. [esp Chris. based on Mk. 12:16; Jer. 32:27] a name meaning ‘nothing is difficult for God (to do)’, suggestive of God’s infinite might M/F 
Ọmejele Ejele child of exhortation, loftiness, esteem, near equivalent to the Hebrew name Barnabas M/F 
Ọmẹnlosẹ Ẹlo, Ẹlosẹ, Osẹ [esp Chris. based on Zech. 2:8] a name meaning ‘(the) apple of God’s eye’, used to suggest how precious a child is M/F Aimiẹndẹ, Ọghanẹkan, Ọghanivie
Ọmobera, Ọmejele  ‘child of esteem’; ‘child of (my) right hand’, considered near equivalent of the Hebrew name Benjamin M 
Ọmọnkherebhe Ọmọn ‘all are children’, used by parents to emphasize that they accept a baby born to them despite the fact that it is different from their expectation/preference esp in terms of the sex F 
Ọmọnkhose Ọmọn, Ose child is the beauty of life, used to affirm one’s fulfillment in, and satisfaction with, life F 
Ọnahoẹmhọnlẹn  a name meaning ‘beloved’, equivalent of the Hebrew name David M 
Ọnuwabhagbe Uwa, Uwabhagbe the person whom the family hasn’t forfeited, offered, given out, used to state publicly, in a more spiritual tone, that your child should not be harmed, imperiled, killed F Akhigbe, Ujangbe
Ọtibhor  this child makes me glad; ‘this baby is a source of joy to me’; ‘this child causes me excitement’ F Eghọnghọn, Ẹduje
Uhọnmhọnebamhọn Uhọnmhọn one’s life is greater than one’s possession’, used to emphasize the consideration of oneself as primary/basic M 
Urẹkpa  ‘help’, equivalent to the Hebrew name Ezra M/F 
Uwadiale  Wealth is good M/F Uwadia
Uwahimhinre  it is to one’s home one brings things, with the advisory message that one should learn to favour one’s family, town, people, etc M/F 
Uwayemen Uwaye i love wealth F 




MOST FREQUENTLY USED ESAN WORDS

Bọdiayẹ? (How are you?)

Ọfure (Fine)

Obokhian (Welcome)

Obulu (Thanks)

Mundia! (Stop!)

Mundia (stand up)

Khara (m), Doẹjie (f) (Good morning)

Ranri (m), Khaijesan (f) (A word of thanks used after dinner)

Ọkhinbue, Ọsẹkhinbue (Good bye)

Ọkhin-ewẹ, Ọkhin-ewẹ (Good night)

Vae, vare (Come)

Go, depart (Kha khian)

Amọghor (Congratulation(s))

Linguistic finding has shown the word ‘gbe’ to have the highest number of usages in Esan, with up to 76 different meanings in a normal dictionary. Names starting with the prefixes Ọsẹ; Ẹhi, Ẹhiz or Ẹhis; and Okoh (for male), Ọmọn (for female) are the commonest in Esan: Ẹhizọkhae, Ẹhizojie, Ẹhinọmẹn, Ẹhimanre, Ẹhizẹle, Ẹhimẹn, Ẹhikhayimẹntor, Ẹhikhayimẹnle, Ẹhijantor, etc; Ọsẹmundiamẹn, Ọsẹmhẹngbe, etc; Okosun , Okojie, Okodugha, Okoemu, Okouromi, Okougbo, Okoepkẹn, Okoror, Okouruwa, etc. To any Oko-, 'Ọm-' the suffix of the name can be added to arrive of the female version e.g. Ọmosun, Ọmuromi, etc.


[edit] Esan Language
Esan is one of the numerous languages of the Kwa subdivision of the Niger-Congo language family, one of Africa's largest subgroups. Unlike English, Esan is a tone language like many of its neighbouring settlements' and Chinese as well. Currently, albeit slow, efforts are variously being made to have dictionaries and grammar texts of Esan language. Once produced, they may help interested Esan appreciate their tongue better and improve on it. Some huddles against achieving this dream are: first, the unusual level of aliteracy among many Esan; second, the literacy level which though comparatively high but calls for improvement; third, the large number of dialects that make up Esan such that, for instance, the people of Ẹkpoma would hardly comprehend Ẹkpọn or Ohordua. So pathetic is the situation that most annual Esan Kings' Council meetings are largely conducted in English. For the interim, however, the information below may be of some assistance in the direction of understanding Esan.


[edit] Alphabet
Esan uses the Latin alphabet, and a total number of 25 letters make up the alphabet:

a, b, d, e, ẹ, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, ọ, p, r, s, t, u, v, w, y, z.

The digraph consists of 10 sets of double letters:

bh, gb, gh, kh, kp, kw (rarely used), mh, nw, ny, sh.

e.g.

Bhi, Ibha,

Gbe, Agba

Gha, Ughe

Khu, Akhuẹ

Kpa, Ẹkpoma

Emhin

Nwẹn

Nyẹn

Shi


[edit] Nouns
All Esan nouns begin with vowel letters (i.e. a, e, ẹ, i, o, ọ, u): aru, eko, itohan, ozẹ, ọrhia, etc. Due to the influence of neighbouring tongues and Western languages, especially English, there is the tendency among Esan to pronounce many non-Esan nouns beginning with a consonant letter. In the event of such within the boundary of Esan write-up, an apostrophe may be employed before the first consonant letter both to Esanise and ease the pronunciation. In speech however such apostrophe is often pronounced as ‘i’ /i:/: ’bazaar, ’Jonah, ’labour, ’zoo, etc.

Each Esan noun ends in either a vowel letter (e.g. ato, Ẹkpoma, uri, oya) or the vowel-associated letter ‘n’: agbọn, eran, ẹnyẹn, itọn, isẹn, etc. Exception to this rule is the writing of proper nouns where a name can end in letter ‘r’ always after a letter ‘ọ’ to make it sound like ‘or’ in English as well as the use of letter ‘h’ after a letter ‘o’ to make it sound as ‘oh’ in English: Isẹribhor, Isibor, Okoh.

In nouns, following the first vowel letter is always a second consonant letter: ahoho, avan, ilo, udia. For the expression of a feminine gender, the second consonant letter following a vowel letter is doubled: ahhihi (=female ant), ọshọ (=female friend), ọrrhia (=female person), etc. This style is better understood by French speakers, who usually differentiate genders – masculine, feminine, neuter.

Pluralization in Esan is of two forms, the first of which has to do with nouns that have original plural forms, in which case the first letter is replaced/displaced by another letter:

Singular Plural ọmọn (baby), imọn (babies); ọmọle (man, male), imọle (men, males); okpea (man), ikpea (men); okhuo (woman, female), ikhuo (women, females); ọshọ, ọmuọe (friend), ishọ, imuọe (friends); obhio (relation), ibhio (relations); obhokhan (child), ibhokhan (children); oghian (enemy), ighian (enemies); usẹnbhokhan (boy), isẹnbhokhan (boys); ọmamhẹn, ọmọhin (girl), imamhẹn, imọhin (girls); ọwanlẹn (elder, adult), iwanlẹn (elders, adults); ọrhia (person), erhia (persons); ọbo (doctor), ebo (doctors); Ebo (English citizen), Ibo (English citizens); obọ (arm), abọ (arms); oẹ (leg), ae (legs); use (nail), ise (nails); udo (stone), ido (stones)

The second has to do, not with the above which have original plural form but, with a large number of other nouns which do not. In this case, a suffix (as the use of 's' in English) is used by adding it to the noun in question, but wihtout a change in pronunciation. For example: Singular Plural uwaebe (school), uwaebeh (schools); eran (stick), eranh (sticks); emhin (something), emhinh (some things)


[edit] Pronouns
All Esan pronouns have plural forms different from singular, but both subject and object cases do not differ: All Esan pronouns have plural forms different from singular, and both subject and object cases are the same:

Singular Plural imẹn (I, me), iman (we, us); uwẹ (you) ibha, (you, or Pidgin English ‘una’); ọle (he, him), ele (they, them); ọlle (she, her), elle (they, them); ọhle (it), ehle (they, them); –, Aah; otuan [preceding figure(s)], ituan [preceding figure(s)]; ukpọle ikpọle,

(‘Aah’, ‘otuan’ and ‘ukpọle’ have no English equivalent, and while ‘Aah’ can only be used as subject, ‘otuan’ and ‘ukpọle’ can be used in both ways: Otuan ọkpa ni ele dia; Dati ituan eva re. Ukpọle ọkpa ribhọ. Jia ikpọle ea re. Note that ‘otuan’ (pl. ituan) is used for humans, ‘ukpọle’ (pl. ikpọle) is used for non-humans and ‘Aah’ depends on the context in which it is used.)


[edit] Sentence order
The use of Esan is open to three orders or arrangements: (subject-verb-object (SVO), object-subject-verb (OSV), and object-verb-subject (OVS)) to express themselves Okoh ’h gbi ele (SVO). Okoh imẹn ddaghe (OSV). Ena yẹ imẹn (OVS). SVO is commonest and most employed. The use of OVS is restricted to a limited number of grammatical constructions.


[edit] Verbs
All Esan verbs start with consonant letters and end in either vowel letter or the vowel associated letter ‘n’: bi, dẹ, fan, hẹn, lolo, etc. In expressing the past, doubling of initial letter of a verb takes place such that ‘bi’ changes to ‘bbi’ and ‘hẹn’ becomes ‘hhẹn’. A verb can also begin with a diphthong: khian, gbe, bhanbhan. The formation of past tense in this case is not different: kkhian, ggbe, etc. Some Esan dialect such as Uzea makes use of ‘ah’ (or ’h) to show present participle (as in “He is going home.”). Although this is absent in majority of Esan dialects, it is used and placed before the main verb when writing: Ele ’h khọa = They’re having bath.


[edit] Adjectives
An Esan adjective, as does an English adjective, modifies a noun or pronoun. That is, it gives more information about a noun or pronoun and makes its meaning more specific. It can appear before or after a noun. The only difference between Esan and English adjectives is that like Japanese, some Esan adjectives are verb-like in that they inflect to show tenses: Ele mhẹnmhin. = They are good. // Ele mmhẹnmhin. = They were good. The doubling of the initial letter of the adjective 'mhẹnmhin (good)' like verbs, clearly demonstrates this point. Esan adjectives are of two distinct types: ‘word adjective’ and ‘phrasal adjective’.

Word adjective.

A word adjective is an adjective consisting of a single word: esi, khọlọ, hu, jian, etc. This form of adjective is subdivided into five types: pre-noun adjective, post-noun adjective, numeral adjective, nounal adjective, and restricted adjective. A pre-noun adjective appears only before the noun it modifies, provides information about the noun’s size and/or quantity, and they start with a vowel letter: ukpomin, ekitui, udede, ikwẹkwi, etc. These adjectives are not subject to the law of tenses and do not take the suffix ‘mhin’. A post-noun adjective comes immediately after the noun it modifies: khọlọ, khọriọn, fuọ, ba, to, han, lẹnlẹn, bhihi, hu, khisin, khere, re(le) (far), re (deep), re (grown up), re (well attended), bue, tan, etc. These adjectives are subject to the law of tenses such that they are used to reflect time (e.g. “Okoh rẹ kkhọriọn.” = "Okoh is ugly.".

Except the adjective ‘khọriọn’, all others can be used with the suffix ‘mhin’, and (‘ebe’ and ‘esi’ which are also called noun adjectives) they all start with consonant letters. A numeral adjective is one that can be used to answer such question as “how many?”: ọkpa, eva, ea, igbe, etc. Because they are also nouns, they all start with vowel letters. They are neither subject to the law of tenses nor can they be used with the suffix ‘mhin’. A nounal or noun adjective is one that comes before a noun and can easily be manipulated to become a noun in usage: esi, ebe. It can neither be used with ‘mhin’ nor are they subject to tense law. A restricted adjective is one that can only be used with a particular noun e.g. ‘bhibhi’ in 'ewewẹ bhibhi' (early morning).

Some adjectives that can be placed under the word adjective are adjectives that are formed from the doubling of a word adjective: fanọn-fanọn (unkempt; untidy), rughu-rughu or ragha-ragha (disorderly), sankan-sankan (muddy and rough), yagha-yagha (untidy), kpadi-kpadi (rough or even), ose-ose (beautiful). This system can also be used thus: fanọn/2, yagha/2, kpadi/2, sankan/2, ose/2, etc.

Phrasal adjective.

A phrasal adjective is one that consists of more than one word; it is made up of a phrase. More often than not, an adjectival phrase usually contains either a noun + verb or an adjective+preposition+noun which combine to perform the work of an adjective. Some common examples are: rui ẹlo (blind), yi ehọ (deaf, rebellious), di ọmalẹn (old, senile), di itọn a (wretched), bhọn ose (beautiful), fi ahiẹ a (serene), fua amẹn (light-complexioned), ba bhi egbe (painful), mhẹn bhi egbe (body-friendly), mhẹn bhi unu (sweet), mhẹn bhi ẹlo (beautiful or not offensive to sight), mhẹn bhi ihue (not offensive to the nose), mhẹn bhi ehọ (not offensive to the ear), khọ bhi unu (unpalatable; offensive), khọ bhi egbe (unbearable), etc.

Below are some Esan adjectives and their meanings (and those that can be used with the suffix ‘mhin’ are shown) Ukpomin (little), ekitui (many; much), udede (big), ikwẹkwi (tiny; trivial), khisin-mhin (small; diminutive), khere-mhin (small; little), hu-mhin (big; foamy), khuẹlẹ-mhin (slim), re-mhin (far; deep; well attended; grown up), dia-mhin (straight; appropriate), bhala-mhin (light-complexioned), bhia-mhin (large, spacious), riẹriẹ-mhin (smooth), rẹrẹ-mhin (restless), kpoloa (smooth), gọ-mhin (crooked) kpono-mhin (slippery), kwọn (slippery; slimy), to-mhin (irritating), kpọ-mhin (widespread), khia-mhin (holy, righteous), fu-mhin (peaceful), bhiẹlẹ-mhin (lazy), fa-mhin (dirt-free, clean), lẹ-mhin (scarce), tua-mhin (quick), zaza-mhin (skilful), sun-mhin (slimy), kholo (spherical), hian-mhin (efficacious; alcoholic), nwun-mhin or mun-mhin (sharp; alcoholic), khọlọ-mhin (bad; painful), sẹ-ẹ (ordinary), nọghọ-mhin (difficult), kpataki (real), lo-mhin (inexpensive; deep), khua-mhin (heavy; hot), tọnọ-mhin (itchy), luẹn (ripe), khekhea (sour), riala-mhin (bitter), fua-mhin (white), bhihi-mhin (black; dark-complexioned), kẹnkẹn-mhin (multicoloured), kọnkọn (fat), kaka-mhin (hard; serious), toto-mhin (serious; taut), ghan-mhin (costly), ghantoa (costly), wualan-mhin (wise), sọnọ-mhin (offensive), lẹkhẹ-mhin (soft), khẹrẹ-khẹrẹ (muddy), gban-a (expansive), tan-mhin (tall; elegant), guẹguẹ (ingratiating), mhẹn-mhin (good), lẹnlẹn-mhin (sweet), zeze-mhin (strong), wo-mhin (powerful; mature), bie (cooked or done), fe-mhin (wealthy); fanọn-fanọn (unkempt; untidy), rughu-rughu or ragha-ragha (disorderly), sankan-sankan (muddy and rough), yagha-yagha (untidy); rui ẹlo (blind), yi ehọ (deaf, rebellious), di ọmalẹn (old, senile), di itọn a (wretched), bhọn ose (beautiful), fi ahiẹ a (serene), fua amẹn (light-complexioned), ba bhi egbe (painful), mhẹn bhi egbe (body-friendly), mhẹn bhi unu (sweet), mhẹn bhi ẹlo (beautiful or not offensive to sight), mhẹn bhi ihue (not offensive to the nose), mhẹn bhi ehọ (not offensive to the ear), khọ bhi unu (unpalatable; offensive), khọ bhi egbe (unbearable), etc.


[edit] Determiners
‘ọni’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘the’ (as singular) in English: ọni emhin = the thing

‘eni’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘the’ (as plural) in English: eni emhinh = the things

‘ni’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘that’ in English: emhin ni or ọni emhin ni

‘na’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘this’ in English: emhin na or ọni emhin na


In the determiner phrases below, the determiners are in boldface:

‘ukpi’ (pl. ‘ikpi’) in Esan is equivalent to the indefinite article ‘a’/‘an’ in English:

ukpi ẹmhin = a thing

ikpi emhinh = ,  things

‘ọsoso’ (pl. ‘esoso’) in Esan is equivalent to ‘any’ in English:

emhin ọsoso = any thing

emhinh esoso any things


‘eso’ /ayso/ in Esan is equivalent to ‘some’ in English:

emhinh eso = some things

‘ikpeta’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘few’ in English:

ikpeta emhinh = few things

‘nekirẹla’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘whoever’/‘whichever’ in English:

emhin nekirẹla = whatever thing

‘erebhe’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘all’ in English:

emhin erebhe = all things

‘eveva’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘both’ in English:

Emhinh eveva = both things

‘ekitui’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘many’ in English:

ekitui emhinh = many things


[edit] Paternoster (The Lord's Prayer)
OTUẸ SI EBIALẸN IMAN

(ERA IMAN NỌ RIBHI OKHUN)

Era iman nọ ribhi Okhun,

ji elin uwẹ khin ebi Aah gẹn,

ni ejele sẹ vae,

ni Aah lu bhi otọ na bi eji Aah lu bhi Okhun.

Rẹ ebale ni iman la le ẹlẹna ni iman le.

Ri olukhọ si iman humhin iman

bi eji iman rẹ rẹhumhin ene lui iman khọlọ.

Kha ii ji iman deọ bhi edọmhẹn –

himhin iman sibhi ebeimhẹn re.

[Ọsẹ khi ọni ejele, ọni ahu bi ọni oriri-ejele dabhi eji Aah

ye na rẹ sẹ bhi ẹdẹdẹmhẹndẹ.]

Isẹ.


OUR LORD’S PRAYER

(OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN)

Our Father in Heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done on earth as in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

[For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for

ever.]

Amen.

____________________________________________________________


[edit] External links
[1] Gerontocracy of Esan people
[2] University Of Benin
[3] Edo State Website

References

(1) S. Okhueleigbe, The History of Uzea Kingdom

(2) A. Aimienwalan, Esan Vision magazine, Esan Students' Association of Nigeria, 1990

(3) C. Okojie, Customs and Tradition of Esan People

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esan"
Categories: Articles lacking sources from March 2007 | All articles lacking sources | Cleanup from March 2007 | All pages needing cleanup | Ethnic groups in Nigeria | Edo State.

Shocking! Liberia, Ghana gang up with Francophone nations against Nigeria

By Funmi Komolafe, Assistant Editor, Just back from Addis Ababa
Saturday, May 26, 2007

SINCE late Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed declared that Africa would be the focus of Nigeria’s foreign policy, successive governments in Nigeria have stuck to that focus. Indeed, Nigeria has done so much for other African countries but has it paid off? The recent meeting of the African Union (AU) Labour and Social Commission held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia revealed otherwise.
 

The Africa Union (AU) Social and Labour Commission meeting that should have passed on as an ordinary meeting of experts discussing labour and social issues turned out to be a political parley of sorts. Experts from African countries  representing the three social partners; workers, government and labour were in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss issues of common interest  to them especially those relating to creating jobs, youth unemployment, social security, immigration among others.


They also discussed how to get Africa her rightful place at the International Labour Organization (ILO). The three social partners' forum  at the ILO is  known  as the “African Group”.  At the International Labour Conference of 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo addressed the group. Last year, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia also met with the same group. During both meetings, Africans discussed the problems of the continent and proffered suggestions.


The Addis Ababa meeting as usual was aimed at taking  critical decisions on the role Africa should play at the 96th session of the ILO due to begin May 30, 2007 at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It was unanimously agreed that Africa should get a permanent seat on the governing body of the ILO which is the body that takes decisions on the running of the secretariat and other policies articulated by the ILO. Other issues which they mutually agreed on were Africa’s presidency of the International Labour Conference (ILC), chairing of ILC committees, capacity-building in regional offices and review of field structures.


After deliberations, a draft report was presented.  It was to be read to the full house and members were to either adopt or call for amendments. But Section 42 of the draft report tore the meeting apart. It read: “On the issue of the presidency of the forthcoming 96th Session of the ILC in June 2007, the meeting was informed about the decision adopted by the 10th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of January 2007, which had proposed Congo for the presidency. After a lengthy debate on the procedure adopted, the meeting concluded as follows :


lThe practice is that any proposal of candidates  for the ILO’s High Offices/ Conferences should be submitted through the Labour and Social Affairs Commission

lFurther discussions on the issue of nominations should be referred to the ministers for consideration.

Hardly had the reader finished reading this paragraph when many hands were raised indicating their intention to comment. The Executive Secretary of the Organization of African Trade Union Unity ( OATUU), Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, a Nigerian, protested the so-called decision of the Executive Council. (The Executive Council is another name for the Heads of State meeting).


Sunmonu told the chairman that “it has always been the African group that makes decision on  positions of the ILO and forwards it to the African Union Social and Labour Commission which then sends it to the ministers.” At this point, the issue became two-fold, not just that Nigeria and not Congo was nominated by the African Group, the procedure of the decision emanating from a meeting of the Heads of State was unprecedented and therefore, Nigeria’s Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary who led the  delegation insisted that it was “unprocedural”.


If Sunmonu protested mildly, the executive secretary of the International Conference of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), Mr. Andrew Kaliembo was more vocal when he said “we, as workers of Africa, cannot accept this.  This kills the spirit of tripartism. We cannot accept a caucus decision. The way you put it here, we workers will never accept to be a rubber stamp”.


But the position taken by countries took the Nigerian delegation by surprise. Before anyone knew what was happening, bloc solidarity had taken place. Congo Brazzaville claimed she was nominated by the Heads of State to chair the ILC because Congo had been margainalized for long. The Congolese minister, Ondongo Gilbert  was so impatient with the Ghanaian Labour Minister who was presiding that he retorted: “I thought this meeting was to adopt the ministers’ decision. In our country, we don’t talk to unionists”.


This comment threw Congo’s supporters off balance but they still stood by her insisting that Congo must preside. This caused a stir with Hassan Sunmonu threatening that if the country was allowed to preside, “Congo will preside over an empty hall. If you don’t talk to workers, you can’t preside over the ILC”.

Gabon, Senegal, Congo, Burkina Faso all allied with Congo. To them, it was Franco-phone solidarity. They could not be bothered about the procedure. But the entire Southern African Development Community in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and others, stood on the side of Nigeria. Delegates from Ghana who supported Nigeria initially, later began to speak from both sides of their mouths.


The greatest surprise was Egypt. Egypt, the country for which Nigeria stepped down for her to chair the closing session of the 95th session of the International Labour Conference opposed Nigeria. Egypt allied with other Arab-speaking countries against Nigeria. Liberia, a country for which Nigeria made a great sacrifice in terms of materials and men also opposed Nigeria. It would appear that for the Arabs, once Congo claimed marginalization, the country got their support. The meeting which was scheduled for two days went on till the third day, a Sunday.


Even more surprising was the attitude of the secretariat of the African Union Social and Labour Commission which has Namibian, Bience Gawanas as Commissioner. Ms. Gawanas who should have set the records straight merely intervened to announce that the meeting may be discontinued because the interpreters had to close for the day. When the meeting resumed on Sunday, the interpreters were still not available. Congo in a very cynical  tone told Nigeria to, as usual, play the ‘big brother’ of Africa and leave the seat for her.


Moderating voices: Government delegate from Algeria expressed regrets at the political and linguistic dimension that the issue had taken. He said: “It would be a great pity for Africa if we cannot agree. It is a dilemma to choose between two brothers especially as all positions are based on valid reasons. Please, let’s go to Geneva together in order to protect the spirit of tripartism. Let’s  show wisdom and sort out this problem before Geneva”.


The delegate from Cameroon, one of the few Francophone countries on the side of Nigeria said that “we should not leave without a consensus by the three parties . We should not forget that ILO is based on tripartism — government, employers and workers.” But Senegal which opposed Nigeria noted that “if we violate the rules of procedure, lack of the absence of interpreters, we would be wrong. He said already “Ministers have endorsed Congo”.


Nigeria had earlier insisted that the word ‘unprocedural’ must be included if Congo must chair the ILC but Congo objected. However the position of Liberia took the Nigerian delegation aback.  Liberia opposed Nigeria but used the excuse of the absence of interpreters to dismiss Nigeria’s claim to the ILC seat. After a needless debate on the absence of interpreters which the AU Labour and Social Commission secretariat could have provided for but refused to, the chairman of the session, Ghana’s minister for Manpower, Youth & Development, Mr. Boniface Abubakar Saddique closed the meeting with these words:


“The meeting is inconclusive. We have come to a deadlock.” He said that a meeting would hold in Geneva to resolve it. Some delegates raised their voices asking “when?”  He also shouted back that the date would be communicated to delegates.


But if the diplomatic scheming within the four walls of the conference room was understandable, the image of Nigeria at the AU secretariat is even more disappointing. For all that Nigeria contributed to the construction of the secretariat, promotion of peace in Africa through contributing men and material, not a single hall or even a room is named after Nigeria. Yet, we have names of smaller African countries on the rooms or halls.



What exactly is the problem with Nigeria’s image in the comity of nations? Are we only useful to our African countries to the extent that we can squander money in the name of peace-keeping as in Liberia, Sierra Leone or in the name of liberation struggle as in the former South Africa, Namibia or Mozambique? Or even throwing away  millions of dollars which could have been used to put our refineries in shape and provide energy,  in the name of restoring a democratic government in Sao Tome & Principe?


Our experience has shown that in many of these countries, Nigerians are not wanted even when their citizens commit more crime than Nigerians. Perhaps, it is time to take a second look at our foreign policy. Nigeria played the big brother role when she stepped down for Egypt but when it came to our turn, not only did Egypt oppose Nigeria, several others ganged up against Nigeria with some even saying that Nigeria should have taken her turn then. Suddenly, the merit of the reason why Nigeria stepped down for Egypt made no sense to no one again.


As Nigeria gets set to go for the International Labour Conference with the issue of who chairs the conference unresolved, this is the time to realise that we have no friends in the real sense of the word. The in-coming government of Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua should re-focus our foreign policy. The national interests should be the focus of our policy. We need to take a cue from the United States of America. Nothing matters to America except it is in the interest of America.

It is the right time to focus on Nigeria for the sake of Nigerians.

;d ;d ;d

Twenty-one year imprisonment is staring four students who were caught cheating in the just concluded Universities Matriculations Examinations (UME), in the face.

The four students, comprising three girls and a boy, were held on May 5, 2007, at the Igbobi College and Maroko Comprehensive High School, both in Yaba, Lagos. Their plans to cheat in the examination were allegedly discovered when different text messages entered their handsets, detailing answers to different subjects.

The students were identified as Grace Aremu, 17, Abiodun Wajia, 20, Monsura Badeyi, 21, and Tajudeen Adeniyi, 23.

The stories of the suspects who spoke to Daily Sun didn’t just fall into place, as the puzzles refused to add, making their stories hard to believe. Aremu denied ever engaging in examination malpractice. According to her, every member of their family is academically brilliant and it was beyond their imagination that she should be involved in a disgraceful act as cheating. She insisted that police investigation would prove her innocence.

She boasted: “My mother couldn’t believe it. She knows we are brilliant in our family. I can’t imagine myself cheating for mere objective questions.”

Narrating her version of what happened that fateful Saturday, Aremu insisted that the phone found on her desk belonged to another girl, Kike. She added that she was writing the UME hoping to study law. According to her, the message sent to the phone included Mathematics arguing that it was not among the subjects she listed.

She recalled that on that afternoon she was having stomach upset and was stooling. She told Daily Sun that she had gone to the toilet to answer the call of nature and rushed back to the hall when she noticed that the toilet was filthy and that the JAMB registrar was around.

She said: “Getting to my table, I saw a phone. I alerted the invigilator. The invigilator said get up! Get up! I told her that it was not my phone. She said I should come and pick my phone. It was the same model with mine. The person said he would send Maths. I don’t do Maths. I’m going for Law. I don’t know why he said he would send Maths.

She added that someone had earlier called her to say he placed two phones in her bag without her being aware. Aremu said: “If someone can keep two phones in my bag, they can as well keep it on my table.” She said the real owner of the phone was Kike. She explained that during the altercation with the examiner, Kike had come to say the phone was hers but when the message came in, she disappeared.”
Adeniji told Daily Sun that he believed he was being punished by God for not praying on that fateful morning before leaving home. “I assume I prayed that day, this would not have happened,” he said.

While stating that it was never his intention to cheat in the exams, Adeniyi added the message that came into his phone stating answers to different subject could have been done by a mysterious stranger he met in the Igbobi College premises after he left the exam hall to answer the call of nature.

According to him, he had taken permission from the invigilator to go to the lavatory and was asking direction when he ran into the stranger. He said: “I saw a man, he asked me what I was looking for. I said toilet, he led me to the toilet. As I was about to enter, he asked me if I had finished my exams, I said no, he asked me my name. He asked me the number of my cellphone.

I told him. He wrote the information down. The phone was in my pocket. We were ordered to switch off. When I got to the hall, I switched off. The woman collected it and switched it on. A message came in, she gave the phone to a man.”

Adeniyi, who was hoping to study Economics (Education), said he never wanted to take the exams in the first place but was persuaded by his parents.
Wajia’s story was not any different from others. She accepted that her phone rang, but denied the caller being somebody with the intention to give answers. According to her, the caller was her “toaster.” She explained to Daily Sun that her “toaster” didn’t even know that she was writing an examination.

Wajia’s story was full of loopholes. She said: “We were instructed to submit our phones, when the external examiners came, they stood outside the hall. A lady entered the hall, she wrote down names. She gave it to one of the examiners. He asked everyone to stand up. He asked who brought phone to the exam hall, he asked if we didn’t know the rules. We said we are sorry.

“My phone started ringing. The man said come and pick your phone. I said no. The woman winked at me not to pick it. The man picked it and said hello, then I took it. It was just my toaster. The man now held the phone, then a message came.”
Wajia said she didn’t know who sent the incriminating text message. She denied being involved in anything that was against the law.

“I don’t know about any message. If I had wanted to cheat, I wouldn’t have given my phone to the invigilator. After all other students had their phones in their pockets.
Badeyi said one of the girls writing the exams with her had asked her to collect her phone from the invigilator, which she did. She added: “I was in the hall when a girl asked me where my phone was? I said it was with the invigilator. She asked me to go and collect it.

I collected it from the woman and gave it to him. He said there’s a message in it. He asked me who sent it, I said I don’t know.”
The authencity of the students’ story would finally be adjudged by the magistrate court. Daily Sun gathered that if they are found guilty, 21-year-imprisnment would likely be their punishment.





Twenty-one year imprisonment is staring four students who were caught cheating in the just concluded Universities Matriculations Examinations (UME), in the face.

The four students, comprising three girls and a boy, were held on May 5, 2007, at the Igbobi College and Maroko Comprehensive High School, both in Yaba, Lagos. Their plans to cheat in the examination were allegedly discovered when different text messages entered their handsets, detailing answers to different subjects.

The students were identified as Grace Aremu, 17, Abiodun Wajia, 20, Monsura Badeyi, 21, and Tajudeen Adeniyi, 23.

The stories of the suspects who spoke to Daily Sun didn’t just fall into place, as the puzzles refused to add, making their stories hard to believe. Aremu denied ever engaging in examination malpractice. According to her, every member of their family is academically brilliant and it was beyond their imagination that she should be involved in a disgraceful act as cheating. She insisted that police investigation would prove her innocence.

She boasted: “My mother couldn’t believe it. She knows we are brilliant in our family. I can’t imagine myself cheating for mere objective questions.”

Narrating her version of what happened that fateful Saturday, Aremu insisted that the phone found on her desk belonged to another girl, Kike. She added that she was writing the UME hoping to study law. According to her, the message sent to the phone included Mathematics arguing that it was not among the subjects she listed.

She recalled that on that afternoon she was having stomach upset and was stooling. She told Daily Sun that she had gone to the toilet to answer the call of nature and rushed back to the hall when she noticed that the toilet was filthy and that the JAMB registrar was around.

She said: “Getting to my table, I saw a phone. I alerted the invigilator. The invigilator said get up! Get up! I told her that it was not my phone. She said I should come and pick my phone. It was the same model with mine. The person said he would send Maths. I don’t do Maths. I’m going for Law. I don’t know why he said he would send Maths.

She added that someone had earlier called her to say he placed two phones in her bag without her being aware. Aremu said: “If someone can keep two phones in my bag, they can as well keep it on my table.” She said the real owner of the phone was Kike. She explained that during the altercation with the examiner, Kike had come to say the phone was hers but when the message came in, she disappeared.”
Adeniji told Daily Sun that he believed he was being punished by God for not praying on that fateful morning before leaving home. “I assume I prayed that day, this would not have happened,” he said.

While stating that it was never his intention to cheat in the exams, Adeniyi added the message that came into his phone stating answers to different subject could have been done by a mysterious stranger he met in the Igbobi College premises after he left the exam hall to answer the call of nature.

According to him, he had taken permission from the invigilator to go to the lavatory and was asking direction when he ran into the stranger. He said: “I saw a man, he asked me what I was looking for. I said toilet, he led me to the toilet. As I was about to enter, he asked me if I had finished my exams, I said no, he asked me my name. He asked me the number of my cellphone.

I told him. He wrote the information down. The phone was in my pocket. We were ordered to switch off. When I got to the hall, I switched off. The woman collected it and switched it on. A message came in, she gave the phone to a man.”

Adeniyi, who was hoping to study Economics (Education), said he never wanted to take the exams in the first place but was persuaded by his parents.
Wajia’s story was not any different from others. She accepted that her phone rang, but denied the caller being somebody with the intention to give answers. According to her, the caller was her “toaster.” She explained to Daily Sun that her “toaster” didn’t even know that she was writing an examination.

Wajia’s story was full of loopholes. She said: “We were instructed to submit our phones, when the external examiners came, they stood outside the hall. A lady entered the hall, she wrote down names. She gave it to one of the examiners. He asked everyone to stand up. He asked who brought phone to the exam hall, he asked if we didn’t know the rules. We said we are sorry.

“My phone started ringing. The man said come and pick your phone. I said no. The woman winked at me not to pick it. The man picked it and said hello, then I took it. It was just my toaster. The man now held the phone, then a message came.”
Wajia said she didn’t know who sent the incriminating text message. She denied being involved in anything that was against the law.

“I don’t know about any message. If I had wanted to cheat, I wouldn’t have given my phone to the invigilator. After all other students had their phones in their pockets.
Badeyi said one of the girls writing the exams with her had asked her to collect her phone from the invigilator, which she did. She added: “I was in the hall when a girl asked me where my phone was? I said it was with the invigilator. She asked me to go and collect it.

I collected it from the woman and gave it to him. He said there’s a message in it. He asked me who sent it, I said I don’t know.”
The authencity of the students’ story would finally be adjudged by the magistrate court. Daily Sun gathered that if they are found guilty, 21-year-imprisnment would likely be their punishment.

Runaway drug suspect meets waterloo
By JULIANA FRANCIS
Thursday, May 17, 2007
• Chukwunonso
•Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section

The saying, “You can’t run away from your shadow” becomes true of a drug trafficker, who finally got nabbed by security operatives.

Okonkwo Charles Chukwunonso, 35, had earlier fled from Holland, where he was residing after he discovered that the Dutch authorities had uncovered his illicit trade of cocaine trafficking. The Dutch authorities were said to have sent out an alert to its embassy in Nigeria and, without wasting any time, the embassy sent information about the suspect and his picture, to other embassies.

He was held on April 16, 2007, by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), when he walked into the American embassy to renew his travelling documents in preparation for a trip outside the country.

Daily Sun gathered that Chukwunonso had allegedly been actively engaged in cocaine trafficking in Holland. He became uneasy and decided to leave Holland after he discovered that the Dutch authorities were watching him like an eagle.

He returned to Nigeria to continue with his life, believing that he had covered his tracks. When the Dutch authories discovered that Chukwunonso had fled their nest, they were unperturbed. They immediately stormed his abandoned apartment and painstakingly searched through his left-over property, hoping to latch on to any clue.

Their pains paid off when they succeeded in finding his international passport. Immediately, the Dutch authorities notified their counterparts in Nigeria about the latest development and a trap was set for him with the assistance of other embassies.

The suspect, who had been lying low for long, decided to surface and shift his operations to America. He had gone to the American embassy to secure a visa when his photo popped up and records fingered him as a wanted person.

The embassy officials for reasons best known to them alerted the EFCC instead of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). After his arrest, Chukwunonso’s home in the Ogudu area of Ikeja was thoroughly searched and 24 capsules of a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine were found by the operatives.

Just to be sure that the substance was cocaine, experts from the NDLEA were invited in for analysis. The result revealed that the substance contained 550 grams of cocaine.
The suspect has, however, disputed the analysis, claiming that it contained only 370 grams. He claimed to be dealing in mobile phones and denied ever dealing in drugs in Holland.

He said: “While in Holland, I was doing a black job.” According to him, black job is a factory work.
EFCC has already concluded plans to hand him over to NDLEA for further investigations, since cocaine trafficking offence is within their jurisdiction.








Thursday, May 17, 2007
• Chukwunonso
•

The saying, “You can’t run away from your shadow” becomes true of a drug trafficker, who finally got nabbed by security operatives.

Okonkwo Charles Chukwunonso, 35, had earlier fled from Holland, where he was residing after he discovered that the Dutch authorities had uncovered his illicit trade of cocaine trafficking. The Dutch authorities were said to have sent out an alert to its embassy in Nigeria and, without wasting any time, the embassy sent information about the suspect and his picture, to other embassies.

He was held on April 16, 2007, by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), when he walked into the American embassy to renew his travelling documents in preparation for a trip outside the country.

Daily Sun gathered that Chukwunonso had allegedly been actively engaged in cocaine trafficking in Holland. He became uneasy and decided to leave Holland after he discovered that the Dutch authorities were watching him like an eagle.

He returned to Nigeria to continue with his life, believing that he had covered his tracks. When the Dutch authories discovered that Chukwunonso had fled their nest, they were unperturbed. They immediately stormed his abandoned apartment and painstakingly searched through his left-over property, hoping to latch on to any clue.

Their pains paid off when they succeeded in finding his international passport. Immediately, the Dutch authorities notified their counterparts in Nigeria about the latest development and a trap was set for him with the assistance of other embassies.

The suspect, who had been lying low for long, decided to surface and shift his operations to America. He had gone to the American embassy to secure a visa when his photo popped up and records fingered him as a wanted person.

The embassy officials for reasons best known to them alerted the EFCC instead of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). After his arrest, Chukwunonso’s home in the Ogudu area of Ikeja was thoroughly searched and 24 capsules of a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine were found by the operatives.

Just to be sure that the substance was cocaine, experts from the NDLEA were invited in for analysis. The result revealed that the substance contained 550 grams of cocaine.
The suspect has, however, disputed the analysis, claiming that it contained only 370 grams. He claimed to be dealing in mobile phones and denied ever dealing in drugs in Holland.

He said: “While in Holland, I was doing a black job.” According to him, black job is a factory work.
EFCC has already concluded plans to hand him over to NDLEA for further investigations, since cocaine trafficking offence is within their jurisdiction.

Why I Shunned Yar’Adua —Buhari
By Tony Orilade/Abuja

The presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has given reasons behind his decision to stay away from the inauguration of President Umar Yar’Adua yesterday at the Eagle Square, Abuja. According to the retired general, he decided to keep away from the ceremony because his presence would amount to endorsing Yar’Adua presidency.

Speaking through his counsel, Chief Mike Ahamba, Buhari said what happened at the Eagle Square yesterday was an illegality and “we don’t have to be party to such an illegality.”

He said “the outcome of Yar’Adua’s election is still being challenged at the tribunal and until the outcome of the processes at the tribunal, we are not going to recognise Yar’Adua’s presidency.”

Ahamba explained that Yar’Adua, was also aware of the many flaws in the election. “If I were him, I will not avail myself for inauguration as that would amount to building a house on a weak foundation since he admitted that the election was fraudulent. Such a house, no matter the amount spent on the building, is bound to collapse.”

He revealed that Buhari’s legal team would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.

Yar’Ádua yesterday also admitted that the election that produced him as president had shortcomings. “We acknowledge that our elections were not perfect. We have established legal avenues of redress and I urge everyone aggrieved to pursue them,” he stated.

This contradicts the position of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, who said that it is only an insane person that would say that the 2007 election was anything but a success.

Breaking News : Fashola Resumes Duty
Posted by admin on 2007/5/30 16:56:18 (154 reads)
By Paul Dada

The newly inaugurated governor of Lagos State, Mr. Raji Fashola, arrived the state Secretariat, Alausa today in grand style. The governor who arrived at about 10:10 a.m., was received by jubilant workers at the secretariat. The workers welcomed the governor, singing, (Kabo Se da da lode, Omo Fashola),meaning ‘You are cordially welcome, son of Fashola’. The permanent secretaries were later introduced to the governor by the Head of Service, Alhaji Yakubu Balogun.

The governor in his address to the workers thanked then for their support and promised them a good welfare package which he said will be unfolded later.

“In the course of time, we’ll be unfolding a better welfare,” Fashola said.

The governor said he will not let Lagosians down because of the confidence they repose in him.

“There is a lot of work to be done. The expectation is higher than it was in 1999. A lot of Lagosians now have a new hope on what we can do. I believe Lagos can be as prosperous as Dubai,” he said.

Presenting the Deputing governor, Princess, Sarah Adebisi Sosan, the governor said: “She represents a balance of fatherly and motherly touches you need. I have found her to be patient.”

A prayer session was later held for the governor and his deputy after which both went into a meeting with permanent secretaries.

Meanwhile, Fashola has promised to turn around the economic fortunes of the state.

Fashola, during his acceptance speech at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, yesterday, said he would make Lagos a pro-business city-state.

He added that he would build and consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The governor also said that jobs will be created for the large number of unemployed youths in the state, adding that the issue of corruption will be tackled by his administration.

The new governor said he will cooperate with the police to ensure the security of lives and properties.

The former governor, Bola Tinubu in his hand over speech, said the monumental achievements of his administration have proved critics wrong.

Tinubu stated that when he mounted the saddle of leadership eight years ago, Lagos was bedevilled with a backlog of seven years of unaudited account while the monthly internally generated revenue was N600 million while N1.2 billion was spent on salaries.

Tinubu revealed that he put the best team together and today, the monthly internally generated revenue is N7 billion.

He urged the new governor to recover all withheld funds by which he estimated to be N34.5 billion.



Posted by admin on 2007/5/30 16:56:18 (154 reads)
By Paul Dada

The newly inaugurated governor of Lagos State, Mr. Raji Fashola, arrived the state Secretariat, Alausa today in grand style. The governor who arrived at about 10:10 a.m., was received by jubilant workers at the secretariat. The workers welcomed the governor, singing, (Kabo Se da da lode, Omo Fashola),meaning ‘You are cordially welcome, son of Fashola’. The permanent secretaries were later introduced to the governor by the Head of Service, Alhaji Yakubu Balogun.

The governor in his address to the workers thanked then for their support and promised them a good welfare package which he said will be unfolded later.

“In the course of time, we’ll be unfolding a better welfare,” Fashola said.

The governor said he will not let Lagosians down because of the confidence they repose in him.

“There is a lot of work to be done. The expectation is higher than it was in 1999. A lot of Lagosians now have a new hope on what we can do. I believe Lagos can be as prosperous as Dubai,” he said.

Presenting the Deputing governor, Princess, Sarah Adebisi Sosan, the governor said: “She represents a balance of fatherly and motherly touches you need. I have found her to be patient.”

A prayer session was later held for the governor and his deputy after which both went into a meeting with permanent secretaries.

Meanwhile, Fashola has promised to turn around the economic fortunes of the state.

Fashola, during his acceptance speech at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, yesterday, said he would make Lagos a pro-business city-state.

He added that he would build and consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The governor also said that jobs will be created for the large number of unemployed youths in the state, adding that the issue of corruption will be tackled by his administration.

The new governor said he will cooperate with the police to ensure the security of lives and properties.

The former governor, Bola Tinubu in his hand over speech, said the monumental achievements of his administration have proved critics wrong.

Tinubu stated that when he mounted the saddle of leadership eight years ago, Lagos was bedevilled with a backlog of seven years of unaudited account while the monthly internally generated revenue was N600 million while N1.2 billion was spent on salaries.

Tinubu revealed that he put the best team together and today, the monthly internally generated revenue is N7 billion.

He urged the new governor to recover all withheld funds by which he estimated to be N34.5 billion.

wow.

is wala an hausa language?

all this in Akwa Ibom.

thanks lady.

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/217574
From the Toronto Star, 25 May 2007
School video got killer

Nabbed by security cameras, intruder takes plea for 2006 knifing of student at nearby hangout

May 25, 2007 04:30 AM
Peter Small
Courts Bureau


Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: Naija pikins for Toronto don dey do drugs, dey kill others

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/217574
From the Toronto Star, 25 May 2007
School video got killer

Nabbed by security cameras, intruder takes plea for 2006 knifing of student at nearby hangout

May 25, 2007 04:30 AM
Peter Small
Courts Bureau

A teenager caught by video cameras wandering the halls of a Toronto high school has pleaded guilty to stabbing one of its Grade 11 students.

Within a few hours of police releasing images from the hallways of Downsview Secondary School, which he did not attend, Oluwasegun Akinsanya made arrangements to turn himself in to police, homicide Det. Stacy Gallant told reporters.

If C.W. Jefferys Collegiate, scene of the Wednesday shooting of 15-year-old Jordan Manners, had been similarly equipped with video cameras, it would have been of great help to police, Gallant said.

"I would encourage other places to have security cameras," he said.

In court yesterday, Akinsanya, 19, admitted to stabbing 17-year-old Danilo Celestino, described by his family as loving and academically gifted.

Akinsanya pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but not guilty to second-degree murder.

The accused was 18 on the afternoon of April 20, 2006, when he went into the high school looking to buy drugs, according to Gallant.

When he couldn't find his dealer, he went to a nearby Coffee Time Donuts shop in a plaza on Wilson Ave., east of Keele St., a gathering place for students.

Akinsanya was directed to Celestino, a small-time marijuana dealer.

They went to the bathroom to do a transaction, but just as Akinsanya was about to leave, Celestino produced a knife and slashed him twice on the back of the neck, said an agreed statement of facts read out yesterday by prosecutor David Wright.

Akinsanya pushed Celestino back into the bathroom, disarmed him and slashed him three times with his own knife. One of the cuts to the boy's back sliced an aorta, Akinsanya's lawyer Ted Royle, told reporters.

Both teenagers rushed out of the coffee shop, where Celestino collapsed. Akinsanya fled.

Superior Court Justice David Watt accepted a joint recommendation from Crown and defence and sentenced Akinsanya to 34 months in prison. Including his time in jail before the trial, it amounts to a five-year term.

"It will never restore the deceased's life or expiate the grief and loss to his parents and sister, but that is not the purpose of sentencing," Watt said, as Celestino's mother, Elma, sat weeping near her husband. Watt said five years was well within the appropriate range.

Royle said his client, who has three older sisters and a supportive father, was barely an adult when Celestino came after him with a knife. But he admitted that his client's retaliatory stabbing of the youth "was an inappropriate response , which has brought this tragedy for everyone involved."

In her victim impact statement, Celestino's mother said the loss from this "senseless act of violence" will affect the family forever.

She recalled a happy youth, good in school, with ambitions to be a computer technician. In Grade 8 he was a traffic crossing guard and at age 12 a volunteer for the Pope's visit, she said.

The father, Danilo Celestino Sr., recalled the "sweat and sacrifice" of trying to provide for his immigrant family and raise his boy properly. "I don't have enough words to express my pain and suffering," he said.
_________________
"An unrestricted satisfaction of every need presents itself as the most enticing method of conducting one's life, but it means putting enjoyment before caution, and soon brings its own punishment." -- Freud, Civilization and its Discontents.
wandering the halls of a Toronto high school has pleaded guilty to stabbing one of its Grade 11 students.

Within a few hours of police releasing images from the hallways of Downsview Secondary School, which he did not attend, Oluwasegun Akinsanya made arrangements to turn himself in to police, homicide Det. Stacy Gallant told reporters.

If C.W. Jefferys Collegiate, scene of the Wednesday shooting of 15-year-old Jordan Manners, had been similarly equipped with video cameras, it would have been of great help to police, Gallant said.

"I would encourage other places to have security cameras," he said.

In court yesterday, Akinsanya, 19, admitted to stabbing 17-year-old Danilo Celestino, described by his family as loving and academically gifted.

Akinsanya pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but not guilty to second-degree murder.

The accused was 18 on the afternoon of April 20, 2006, when he went into the high school looking to buy drugs, according to Gallant.

When he couldn't find his dealer, he went to a nearby Coffee Time Donuts shop in a plaza on Wilson Ave., east of Keele St., a gathering place for students.

Akinsanya was directed to Celestino, a small-time marijuana dealer.

They went to the bathroom to do a transaction, but just as Akinsanya was about to leave, Celestino produced a knife and slashed him twice on the back of the neck, said an agreed statement of facts read out yesterday by prosecutor David Wright.

Akinsanya pushed Celestino back into the bathroom, disarmed him and slashed him three times with his own knife. One of the cuts to the boy's back sliced an aorta, Akinsanya's lawyer Ted Royle, told reporters.

Both teenagers rushed out of the coffee shop, where Celestino collapsed. Akinsanya fled.

Superior Court Justice David Watt accepted a joint recommendation from Crown and defence and sentenced Akinsanya to 34 months in prison. Including his time in jail before the trial, it amounts to a five-year term.

"It will never restore the deceased's life or expiate the grief and loss to his parents and sister, but that is not the purpose of sentencing," Watt said, as Celestino's mother, Elma, sat weeping near her husband. Watt said five years was well within the appropriate range.

Royle said his client, who has three older sisters and a supportive father, was barely an adult when Celestino came after him with a knife. But he admitted that his client's retaliatory stabbing of the youth "was an inappropriate response ,  which has brought this tragedy for everyone involved."

In her victim impact statement, Celestino's mother said the loss from this "senseless act of violence" will affect the family forever.

She recalled a happy youth, good in school, with ambitions to be a computer technician. In Grade 8 he was a traffic crossing guard and at age 12 a volunteer for the Pope's visit, she said.

The father, Danilo Celestino Sr., recalled the "sweat and sacrifice" of trying to provide for his immigrant family and raise his boy properly. "I don't have enough words to express my pain and suffering," he said.
_________________
"An unrestricted satisfaction of every need presents itself as the most enticing method of conducting one's life, but it means putting enjoyment before caution, and soon brings its own punishment." -- Freud, Civilization and its Discontents.

bbc. ;d

NDLEA Convicts Eight Drug Offenders In Anambra.



By Okey Maduforo

Correspondent, Awka

A total of eight persons, have been convicted for the illegal peddling of hard drugs in Anambra State between January and May this year by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The agency has also made seizures of narcotics totalling 246.9kg and 29 pinches of powdery substances within the period.

A break down of the hard drugs seized shows that Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) accounted for 264.9kg, Heroin 17 pinches, while cocaine accounted for nine pinches.

Commander of the Agency in Onitsha, Mr. Joseph Uzoaru, while disclosing this in a statement, also announced that the move was part of its effort towards drug demand reduction, adding that it was in the same bid that 24 clients where referred to the command for counselling, while 15 others had been successfully counselled and rehabilitated.

"They have since rejoined their families while nine others are still undergoing counselling and rehabilitation. The command is presently organising an awareness seminar on controlled drugs for patent medicine dealers in the state. This seminar is aimed at educating both the public and patent medicine dealers on what type of drugs they should dispense over the counter," he said.

The NDLEA boss disclosed that the agency made its biggest seizure this year with the arrest of one Ikechukwu Ejimofor with 108.2 kilogram’s of Indian hemp on Friday 18th May, adding that the arrest was made at the Osse Market area in Onitsha, when the agency operatives broke into a warehouse and discovered the drugs.

He explained that the suspect was already helping the agency in its investigation.

nice.

nice.

somebody got my point.

this yahoo yahoo boys and the 419ers are out of control.

God is good.

@ laudate, you are not a yoruba but you stick up for them.i am ijaw and i have  alot of Edo friends in the USA.i can relate to them,they are very friendly.that is while i stick up for them.

@laduate,read between the line of wesleyanA comment.i just hate stereotype comment.

ontopic,i would love to learn hausa and ijaw.

lagos na wa.