@Agbontean why cant you stop disgracing the Ika people ? Why ? @all , People please try and ignore this man.These are just his personal

opinion which is really a minority one in Ikaland. I am not surprised that a fellow Ika like myself Ezeagu has placed the Ikas where they rightfully

belong ie amongst the Igbos.Do try and understand where Agbontean is coming from. Ikaland is geographically close to Benin and as such there are

Benin influences here and there.Nonetheless , the Benin influence is minimal when compared to the Igbo social structure which the foundation of                 Ikaland

Laugh don kill me , oh, I thought as much, Simply because I declared that I not post , it becomes yet another opportunity for the brat Physics to post ; as usual I think to have " the last word"

@Vainly and Mischievous Physics , Just like I noted earlier , I understand the psychology you are operating from, Initially I thought you were an older man , I am convinced without any doubt that you are just a boy. Like I adviced earlier just concentrate on your studies and make something out of your life because the path you are following will lead nowhere, My " trap " has caught you once more , God I cant believe it , just within a day , ??!!!!!, Ok boy you have passed the test, you are free to make the last word becase I am not interested in this thread, Wait just a closing remark, Your father is a honourable man, a palace chief you claimed saved many Anioma lives during the "1967 Benin massacre" I hope he is yet alive and coupled with such "brillance" exhibited by you including foolishly falling into this small trap, Make him understand the futility of the Oba's claim on Igbanke , The Benin traditional administrative according to Egharevba is "democratic", Let him and chiefs of such respectable conviction plead with the Oba to hands off Igbanke because an Oba of Benin people cannot be an Oba of Ika people.The Ika people have their respective Obis, Ndiches, Omus, Okiwenes, Ogbuebunues, Olinzeles, Olotus, Okparas, Ogenes etc in charge of their affairs including the people of Igbanke.

And lest I forget endeavour to ask your father the true pedigree of Chief Sam Igbe and confirm if indeed he is an "Urhobo man" instead of playing around with Igho Natufe assumptions that he is one, Good bye for now or can I say happy new year in advance, I dey laugh oooohhhhhh,

A round of Applause !!!!!! @Vainly and mischievous Physics, Thank you for not responding, lol, It is not worth it.

At long last that special friday has come but not after I have declared that I am no longer interested in posting anything in this thread. Now, I am not going back on my words and I mean it this is inspite of those provocative remarks of Physics . I am not a regular contributor on such fora like this and I dont expect to continue posting especially when it involves insults( counter insults) like is the case now. Indeed I have materials at home and this was the reason for even resurrecting this matter just to make a few points clearer and hopefully with less insults ie towards the end of the year. But I am someone who keeps to his word ; when I noted I was not interested in posting on the other thread I meant it and I will not do that even if Physics decides to post whatever there . My responses would have been here but I changed my mind . I will not engage myself in debates with a "student" who just wrote his test some few weeks ago. For people with issues of complex to which the likes of Physics and Omojie fits perfectly into , fora like this is an opportunity to "shine" for Physics reading a few books and articles in the internet is just the perfect justification to take charge of such fora, I understand the mentalities of people like that and indeed it is perfect to give them the reason for being "internet heroes"

Tribalist, ?? Everyone has a bit of clannish tendencies especially in Africa and this is not peculiar to Ogbuefi. Before Physics came up with his claims of Ogbuefi being a "tribalist" he has been called that by other contributors on nairaland. I dont even need to respond to such accusations. Anyone can see through his postings, I only know about Benin , I am not aversed to other peoples and to complete it for him I dont care or even bother to know about groups . What is a better definition for a chronic tribalist for peoples with such mentality ? And why his case is so pathetic is that he is a young chap and with the engagement I have had with him he seems to be bright, Very unfortunate.

When I see anyone lying I know because I have trained to read people beneath what they write or say; In fact this is why he keeps denying , he knows exactly what me meant, so just keep those explanations and move to other issues, This was why I quickly countered that "crap " by noting that cannibalism have never being practised in Aniomaland , he even went as far to claim that the Urhobos have Igbo origins just to make a point to justify the killings of civilians in Benin and other places, A statement like that suggest that his is wicked and when this is meshed with chronic tribalistic tendendies it becomes only God knows. Continue denying boy because those denials cannot convince Ogbuefi and many others who understand people like you.

Ogbuefi cant write good English , ?? Vainly Physics just concentrate on your studies and pray so that you can get something out of your life because you are just a beginner. My writing style is not the point far from it. Most of us are anonymous here and I dont own anyone explanations for that just like the Physics does not own me any explanations. When I write time is what I consider the most and I write to conserve time and not to impress anyone definitely not for the little brat Physics, We all know how Sultan Attahiru died , Yes he may have asked to flee but he died within his domain (and more importanly in war) and was buried there ( Bormi is within Gombe emirate which is is a part of Sokoto Sultanate), Please tell us where the great hero Oba Ovonramwen was buried , we all know he was "unaware" of the ambush that left Capt Philips dead however he was the chief architect of the horror of human sacrifice which according to the monarch and his subject would have waded an imminent attack on the kingdom, Hundreds of people were killed and the king would have been convicted for that and exiled because that was wht the British wanted. A true hero especially a leader is someone who dies in the course of fighting for what he believes and not the shameful manner an Oba fled into the bush, tried, convicted, exiled , died and buried in a strange land.

Like I said I am not interested in this thread , I dont just have that time and more importantly I dont care with what people think about my position, Afterall I learnt from somewhere that the Benin forces "crushed" Ubulu Uku yet the Ubulu community is amongst the largest in Delta State with vast colonies in Imo and Anambra State or that for aesthetic reasons the supposed trophy head of Obi Olisa became "young" I did not see something like that with the heads which are supposed to represent the heads of the captured Igala soldiers in the catalogue of such "trophy heads " he presented to us . For some of us half truths are just too sweet , Prof Okpweho who is a recipient of the pretigious National Merit award this year did not end with Adesuwa being the Ezomo's daughter he noted without contradiction that the invading forces were disgraced when they attempted to bring Ubulu kingdom down a reason the great prestige of Benin went flat within the various Anioma chiefdoms throught the 19th century, At tht point it becomes apparent who is lying here,

This is the last I will write here and I will keep this promise.

Not interested in posting anything on this thread ; Initially I had planned that when I travel home for the xmas holidays I will be able to use my cache of materials .However I am no longer interested on this thread.

@Physics of lies and deceit,
1)Ogbuefi  a liar , very funny , I bet you dont even know what Ogbuefi means and why I choose to bear that name, I think that title suits you " Physics of lies and make believe " , Physics is the foundation of the sciences and has nothing to do with with the arts and the culture especially one derived from unwritten sources and speculation.  I deliberately refused to read anything posted on Nairaland for some months because those chiddish and provocative statements of yours might tempt me to waste my precious time to write. Of course I do leave fora like this (when it pleases me  and I did that on NBF) for very the stupid and foolish so that they can "enjoy" the idea  of being the " sun "and others are the "planets". I left Omojie because he clealy falls into this category and your case is so pathetic , and you know why ? I think you are brilliant but writing on fora like this will definitely take you nowhere .You may think you are "educating "  people but you are just wasting your time . You claim that you are in school I know you love your people but the only way you can really help them is to face your education and try to make the best out of it.People especially Nigerians are very stubborn with their own opinions even when its apparent that they are wrong.One of my Cameroonian friends told me this fact some years ago.He said no doubt Nigerians are very enterprising but the problem with them is that everyone wants to be a hero. Of course I have seen some of those "heroes" that have taken writing on Nairaland/NBF as a new territory to conquer.I wish them the best.

When I see fools I just leave them so that they can be comfortable in their "paradise"  . Everything I debated with Omojie has come to past , Where is the Doris Uboh of this world ? He thought Igbodo has no say in Ikaland , where does the present Rep for the Ika people  come from ? I was the person who had exposed him when he had used the cover of being a native of Agbor to make some irresponsible claims. In Agbor the people are not happy with this Obi and you are free to brand it as lies but that is irrelevant to me. This is a highly respected  monarch whose mother has become a major stakeholder in the murky waters of politics which is an insult to the Agbor and the entire Ika people.  Considering how dramatic his father Obi Ikenchukwu had joined his ancestors it would have been imperative for the Obi to get married and produce a successor , but no way !  It is all abt money and power and the Obi who is first amongst equals in Ikaland is not living up to his role as the "father of all" I therefore donot think I should engage in a debate with such a person. I am beginning to understand that there are some people who are "landlords" of fora such as this where they will take the role of the teachers why others are here just to learn.

The primary reason I even came to nairaland was to challenge your fiery response  as regard the killings in Benin. I also donot think I even have much to write when you admitted that it was committed by a "small group" I was unimpressed when you denied that you never insinuated that Igbos are cannibals.  If that was the case I am lost why did you have to post such rubbish because it has no connection with what is being discussed here. But I know the real motive , if you like make more denials .I think you had behaved cowardly by such denials , come on admit it but I know you will not.  A true Edo man with so much pride yet so much cowardice. It was the cowardly act by your ancestors by killing some Europeans that led to the dramatic fall of the Benin "Empire" with the all powerful Oba fleeing to the bush to save his head. What could be more cowardly than that ? That  was in the era of Sultan Attahiru who died in war and in Islamic doctrine "died as a martyr" Please spare me those trash.  I just changed my mind about postponing my "lies and fabrications"  Of course I am not begging you to accept them just as I neva begged Omojie or accept whateva you have posted here. I dont even have any interest to write beyond this year on this thread because I can leave you as you engage on your "exposition of Benin Art"
In the same vain I will be left alone to meditate in the land of my ancestors , you know where, the forests full of legendry Igbodo leaves, plants you know provide oxygen and you are right about the air , hmmmmm  so fresh and invigorating .

If you think that refering me to forests or whatever would be an insult to my person or my community of origin, My boy you goofed big time !  In fact I take that as a compliment . I merely made references to the vast area occupied by Igbodo kingdom as compared to Owa when Omojie  attempted to belittle the communities of Ika East with a claim of who is the "majority" in the area a claim that is  foundationless.  But land area is something that is permanent and cannot be contested. The name Igbodo is derived form the forests which had in abundance a kind of plant used as a roofing material which had attracted my ancestors to the land some centuries ago.Thus if you say how is Igbodo the land of "forests"   Then I think that question is the most Idiotic I have ever heard in my life.
Igbodo by my calculation occupies an area of 200km2  out of about 500km2 in the entire LGA and our neighbours and beyond  flock to our community in search of farmlands , so wht  is wrong if I make a point out of that, For any sane person that is a perfect  case  but for the "Physics of Speculation and Lies" , it is just a perfect opportunity  to  pour venom, Hahaha you misfire in this one.
I know I dont come from the land of Edo ( a name of a slave or "servant" or Ile Ibinu now Benin ( land of vexation) and I say thank God for that.

When I saw you refer to me as "Nwanne" I said to myself see this idiot  that comes from the land of Iduu calling me "Nwanne"  My dear you are not my "Nwanne" , That word is reserved for people of the same ethnic stock like myself and this would mean that I consider Nd'Anioma as my Umunne and by extension the entire Igbo speaking world. Others are just what we call "Oyi" or "Osi" meaning friends but the people of Benin dont really fall into this category either following their acts of barbarism in 1967 which you even admitted though you claim it was orchestrated by a "small group" Small or large to me does  not really matter.
I dont own anyone apologies for declaring that the Benins are a bunch of tribalistic , callous and irresponsible people, Mind you I am not saying all of them would fall into the classification but the majority do and I dont care what you think of my own people. If some  Benins say they dislike the Anioma people for reasons best known to them that is their own problem. The fact is that the neighbours of Benin even those that are of the same Edo stock like them ie the Esan and Afenmai are not their  admirers and this is why full integration into one Edo nation( advocated by some Edo notables) will  just be a  pipedream. Even the Usen a Yoruba speaking people with an Edo culture have had enough of their irresponsibility and the Elawure of Usen would even prefer to be in Ondo State not because of the attraction of oil or whatever. Oh, I just remebered the issue of an Afemesan State which the Physics of lies declared as just "politics" , If there is anyone that should bear the title of chief political maverick  in Edo State that title clearly falls on this present Oba , an Oba putting on Ododo robes to place a "curse" on a sitting Guv simply because the man just want to be his own person not the one to be manipulated from the palace, Or have I forgotten the show of shame between the Oba and his Esama ? What could be more political than that ?
Indeed my grand mother is an Esan from Ewohimi a wealthy trader , she was one of those who had embraced Christainity and because of religious tension within  the community moved to a site which was exclusively Christain in those days. Igbodo and the Esan people remain very close friends and let me make this declaration that the Esan are different from the Benin eventhough both of them are of the same Edo stock.There had been serious settlement of Esanland by many people with Anioma origins and in our tradition the town of Ewohimi which I have some connection was founded by people from Mbiri (in Ikaland) which R.E Bradbury had identified in his book on Edo speaking people as "Agbor".

                             2)FABRICATIONS, WHO HOLDS THE TITLE  ?
I think the person who holds the title is the late Obakhavbaye of Benin Chief Jacob Egharevba   especially as it relates to the history of the Anioma people which is unfounded and it  proves that the work is more or less based on speculation.Let me bring to the fore some of his claims in that pamphlet.
1)The Story of Ovior
In an attempt to connect the present town of Obior to Benin in an account which will be acceptable to the highly sentive monarchical institution of Benin he cooked up the story of "Ovior", His account was not even dated though it was placed in that pamphlet between the two dynasty of rulers of the Benin kingdom.This would put it in the 12th century. Lies , Obior is derived from Obia Nk'Oma meaning he/she came for good in Igbo.This was shortened to Obioma and eventually to Obior. Obior and her husband Ukpali co reigned and most of the present indigenes of that community descend from this couple whose figurines would be seen in the community. Anioma people believe so much in genealogy and the present Obi of Obi of Obior, Obi Kingsley Ofuokwu 111 (installed since 1976) is the 16th on the throne and this would mean Obior was founded sometime in the 16th century by the patriach Eze Chime.
Though Eze Chime was ovbiously of Edo stock , the names he gave most of his children are clearly Igbo suggesting that he was thoroughly assimilated  as Onye Enuani.These are the names of his children Obioma which we know, Onicha named after a principal Anioma deity, Oligbo named after a shrub and Ifite so named because he was given birth in a course of a journey.It will also not surprise anyone who has idea on Igbo naming pattern that "Ifite" or "Ihite" goes with "Ezi" thus in Mbaise we have "Ezinihitte". In Anioma the son of Ezechime named Ifite founded Ezi.

2)On Oba Ozolua being the father of the Obi of Aboh
The Oba was said to have died in 1504 but Esumai the founder of Aboh was from account and genealogical evidence settled on the present site of Aboh in about 1600 while the Aboh kingdom was founded by Ogwezi in about 1650. I begin to wonder if Esume was over 100 years when he founded Aboh.Yet another evidence of speculation. Esume was a member  of the party that was led by Ezechime  in the 16th century and after the settlement of the upland area, a group moved southwards founding such clans like Aboh, Ashaka, Ossissa, Ase , Obetim and Ozoro (now an Isoko clan).From the names of the founders such as Etim, Ozoma, Osuntili, Oputa and so on , it clearly reveals that Esume is not a first generation migrant  since they had been thoroughly Aniomanized before moving towards the south .

3)Not satisfied with his fabrication on Oba Ozolua being the father of the Obi of Aboh( Esume the founder of Aboh did not even take the title of Obi).The acclaimed writer of Edo history wrote how two claimants to the throne   of Aboh  during the reign of Oba Eresoyen in about 1735 (I think) had asked the Oba to mediate.  Lies. In Aboh history the only time there was ever such a dispute was in the century before between Ogwezi and his brother Ugbo.This was only settled after a civil war which had forced Ugbo to settle in the newly founded town of Ogume( in Obodugwua qtrs).The Obi of Aboh does not fall into the category of the "Ada kings" used by Ikenna Nzimiro for the staff used by the Obis of Aboh had never being called "Ada" but "Nma Igbu" which had never been collected by the Obi from the Oba.

4)On Oba Akenzua1 being the father of the Obi of Issele Uku
Another speculation.The present Obi of Issele Uku , Obi Ezeagwuna 1 is the 16th Obi of the town(installed in 1995 - see the genealogical similarity with the lineage of the Obi of Obior).I am not here to claim that Issele Uku does not share some special similarities with Benin. In fact it is one of the "client chiefdoms" of the Benin kingdom and the relationship was mutual. Issele Uku was founded by the last son of Eze Chime but they were the first to receive the "Ada" from the Oba amongst the towns of Umuezechime. This has also been the reason why the Obis of Issele Uku go with the unfounded title of "Clan head of Umuezechime"    a title which should have used by the Obi of Obior or Obi of Onicha Ugbo. Onicha Ugbo on the other hand had neva being close to Benin since it was the forces of Oba Ehengbuda that had forced the Onicha people to retreat to their farms hence that name, Onicha Ugbo.
All Obis of Issele Uku descend from Oligbo via his son Obi Osoezebiwe and I am not aware that another dynasty that sprung up in Issele Uku  in the 18th century.The Obis desend from Oligbo and this is why the Obis of Issele are said to be on the throne of Oligbo its first Obi.

5)On Ezomo Agban being the origin of the name of Agbor
This is the most laughable of his claims, which Ezomo conquered Agbor and had it named after himself.  In our history Agbor had before the 16th century been known by that name. In Agbor history it was often a situation in which the community is named after strong and able rulers which had defended the kingdom from invaders.Thus Igidi and Agbor were just names of such rulers.These men had reigned before the enthronement of Dein in the 15th century thus Ezomo Agban could not have been the origin of the name Agbor. Agbor is an ancient kingdom and the name was deliberately chosen because her people felt tht the kingdom was the centre of the world.In addition , Agbor tradition holds it that the primary reason Oba Orhogbua had attacked Agbor was to avenge the humiliation of Oba Esigie and his mother Idia by Ezechime who had for a while settled in Agbor. In that attempt he failed woefully. And he withdrew his attention to other  chiefdoms  westwards .His son Ehengbuda was more successful , by this time he had launched from the Esan country and brought the Olukwumi people to his side thereafter destroying the original settlement of Onicha people. Issele sued for peace , then Obior in that order.There is little account to suggest he attacked Agbor since Agbor was said to have had a strong and able leader called Akina at that time( this was the same Obi who had waded off Oba Orhogbua's attacks)
It was interestingly during the reign of Oba Eresoyen that Agbor fell during the reign of Obi Mmodu who is claimed by tradition to be a weak ruler. The fabled wealth of Benin during the reign of Oba Eresoyen was nothing but loot from the riches of Agbor .But the respect and glory of Agbor was restored during the reign of Obi Mmodu successor Obi Obanor who expelled the invaders and established the garrison town of Ekuku Agbor to check the Benin garrison town of Urhonigbe .

6)On the story of Adesuwa war
Another nonsense, If indeed the Benin won the Ubulu  the Anioma people would have admitted it.There is really no shame to admit that you fought gallantly and lost a long war to the Benins. In Ogba (Rivers State) they admit that they were originally defeated by Aboh who had beheaded their first ruler. Any sane person will dismiss such story that a princess or a sweet heart of an Oba would travel 60 miles in the rain forest region to retrieve a debt over , Ok let me guess goats, !  I begin to wonder if a woman acclaimed to be the Oba's lover would be involved in distant trade involving the sales of goats. Was she a herder ? Or  was her trade in goats or when did she come in contact with the supposed traders from Ubulu Uku that made her embarked on a journey of 60 miles to retrieve debts on the sale of goats, Egharevba gave us a clue .He said she was bewitched by the Obi of Ubulu Uku who wanted her at all cost because of her beauty. And let me add that she must have sneaked from the palace and quietly embarked on that journey which should have taken her at least three days while her lover Oba Akengbuda who must have detected that his beloved had been bewitched waited for her just like that to return, Rubbish.
But what I find even more interesting was what led to her death.The pretty Adesuwa had rejected the advances of the lustful Obi and mocked his people as "bush people" I wonder if the Benin people were there when all of this occured.The Ubulu Uku people whose town the entire drama was set have their own version of events that led to the war.
The woman (Adesuwa) is question is a daughter of the Oba who had been married to the Obi of Ubulu Uku to seal a strong relationship which had been the case since the foundation of the Ubulu kingdom in the 13th century by Ezemu. But unknown to the Obi , she was involved in diabolic practices which had brought much turmoil in the palace .Initially the Obi was relunctant to accept that Adesuwa was the source of the problem in the palace even after she was exposed by divination. Of course nobody is above the customs of the land and she was executed not by beheading claimed by Egharevba but stoned to death a penalty reserved for those accused for witchcraft. It was several days after that the Oba learnt of her death and his anger was that she should not have been killed publicly and better still allowed to return to the land of birth and for this reason declared war on Ubulu Uku. This our own version and anyone who is reading both versions is free to adjudge on which out of the two is realistic. A  sneak out of the palace(afer being bewitched) to embark on a journey of 60 miles to retrieve debts over goats or a princess who had been killed for withcraft which had provoke the Benin royal family to avenge .
Ubulu Uku is not a client state of Benin like Issele Uku which is a much smaller and younger community.I read from somewhere where a proud Benin declared that Ubulu Uku was brought to "naught" and I laughed. Ubulu clan of which Ubulu Uku is its metropolis is a large community spread between Delta and Anambra states and I wonder if this is an evidence of a community brought to naught. By 1904 Ubulu Uku in her Ekumeku wars gave a stronger resistance to the colonialists than Benin City which had just 150 years earlier had "destroyed the town".The Obi of Ubulu Uku in 1904 did not have to hid in the bush for months before he was tried and deported to Calabar.
The said war between Benin and Ubulu Uku ocurred in 1750 just about the time Akengbuda was enthroned. I personally donot think that the "local manufacturing of firearms" commenced about the period he became Oba especially as we know that he was on the throne for a long period of 54 years. The Anioma states materially were not poor especially from the 1700s when strong trade contacts was established with the Europeans. The freed slave Olaudah Equiano even gave an insight of the relative prosperity enjoyed by the Anioma states and what I found most significant in his account was that the Oba's authority had by the 18th century dwindled in prestige in Aniomaland. Also by the 1700s the Anioma towns of Aboh and Ossomari (now in Ogbaru) had become the channels of trade between the Europeans and the hinterland peoples.  In Ossomari for instance the attached villages in the town all bear the names of the Anioma towns which had established strong trade relationship with her( especially those which were  connected with the slave trade) these are Igbuzor, Ogwashi and Okpanam. Ubulu Uku on the other hand was close to Ossomari rival and richer neighbour Aboh because of the strong connection both communities have with the trading  settlement  of Afor(now in Ndokwa East). I therefore wonder what is meant by "availability of resources" As student of history we know how the all powerful USA lost woefully in Vietnam despite the available resoures at their disposal  or how Italy lost in her colonial gamble in Ethiopia.
The Ubulu Uku people are explicit on how the Benins lost .The country was unknown to them and they were unfamiliar with the bush warfare tactics which the Anioma people were  experts. The Benins lost so many soldiers via ambush while the Obi and indeed most of the Ubulu people had moved to the trading town of Afor. In one instance , the Ubulu Uku people ensured that water and food items ( which are two neccesary needs of the weary Benin soldiers) were poisoned before they made the evacuation and the result was the decimation of the Benin imperial army.This was why the Oba in his desparation to bring Ubulu Uku to its knees sent for the Ogiugo who had a thorough understanding of the country.In anticipation of such attacks the Ubulu Uku renowned as great medicine had to resort to sorcery to wade off the Ogiugo who was a student of the School of Sorcery at Ubulu Uku after he had been treated of an incurable ailment by the same people he sought to destroy because of greed.
Of course there was no way an apprentice could beat a master in the same game. Our people say "Okwuru adi sofulu onye kwunaa" an Okro plant cannot be taller by the person who had planted it. The Ogiugo was captured along with those who had accompanied him  by spiritual means  and he pleaded with the Obi to spare his life . The Obi spared his life and allowed him to go just to inform the Oba that his latest attempt had failed. A few of the remaining soldiers refused to return and pleaded to be drawers of water and hewers of wood in Ubulu Uku. No problem with that and they were given some lands in the Ogbe section(the royal section) of Ubulu Uku. The servile status of these Benin settlers(in Onije and Idumudu) is a confirmation that the Benins did not win the war. Some of them fled to Ogwashi Uku were they founded what is now called OGBE IHAGO. They also share the same account with their folks who had taken up residence in Ubulu Uku.
Another evidence of the failed Edo gamble in Ubulu Uku comes from Ibusa. One Ezeji had before the Adesuwa war gone to the Oba to receive the Ada with the mandate of being the sovereign of the clan. Such a political revolution is a highly republican clan like Ibusa  naturally would be shaky but because of the exploits of the Benin over a large and rich chiefdom like Agbor(during the reign of Oba Eresoyen) , he was accepted with Ibusa assuming the role of one of such client states like Issele Uku. In the wars , many Benin soldiers had strayed to Ibusa and subjected the people to become betrayers of their fellow Anioma kith and kin  which they refused . Rather they were one of the chief supporters of the Ubulu and the Ibusa people after the wars began to question the supposed alliance with Benin facilitated by Obi Ezeji. It did not take a long time before the Ibusa monarch was deposed and he fled to Ejeme Unor( a sister community to Ibusa which had nonetheless accepted the monarchical system).
Thus when I was confronted with a "trophy head"  attributed to Oba Akengbuda, It was  so easy to dismiss it because it is not enough evidence that it was the head of a victorious Obi whose town has many monuments commemorating that historic feat. Afterall the Oba was confronted by the same Ogiugo who had been accused by the Oba of being "soft" on Ubulu Uku and for this reason had been asked to commit suicide .But the Ogiugo from the account of the Ubulu people decided to fight the his king with the hope that he could be supported by the Ubulu people.And that was his end.The Benins say he drowned ie committed suicide but that does not matter to the Ubulus. One simple question I will ask the "Physics of all knowledge" is a simple one.
Since the Ubulu were crushed , what now happened to the body of the '' beloved " Adesuwa  I will like to get a response from you since I am just a "neophyte"  The  point is that the Benins have their own version just as the Anioma people of Ubulu Uku have their own version.I learnt that Lancelot the film maker has produced the Benin version.This is a challenge to we the Anioma people and we have great movie producers to produce our own version.At least those who watch the two versions will be free to judge which is more authentic  and realistic in content. I will personally monitor whenevr a proposal on our version of Adesuwa is made as a film.What will be delightful is that all the cultural sites that are connected with the story are just there in Ubulu Uku.
These are not the only observation.The Urhobos which he claimed migrated during the reign of Oba Ogbeka has been dismissed by Urhobo born writers as a fabrication and of course this did not go without a fight with some Benins that wish to have the "old order" maintained.I have read a couple of such debates of course both sides have stories smeared with bits of lies just to prove a point.
Even if R.E Bradbury commended Egharevba I will just say he was just being diplomatic because there is little in his writing that suggests that he had followed the lead of Chief Egharevba.His was based on facts and not speculation.



3)On Dr Vincent Maduka, Now what is wrong with the title of "Dr" where did you learn that it is only academicians that go by that title. A
fterall your illiterate Esama goes by the title of Sir Chief Dr whatever even when he did not attend the four walls of a university. Even before "Apostle" Alile took over the mantle of that evangelical church he had took up the title of an Apostle. Its just personal choice and I am not a relative of Dr Maduka to verify why he goes by that appelation. In Akwa Ibom State , Dr Ime Umanah is not a phd holder.In fact I understand your case here. For "Apostle" Alile being an achiever than Dr Maduka well it depends on your own definition.I personally donot take the DG  of the NSE as a big deal because if I had done that I would have listed Mr Oscar Onyema CEO of the NSE ( who is as young as Apostle Alile's son) as one of my notables of Anioma stock. Since you have developed the chiddish habit of comparing misfits I think I will compare Chief Emmanuel Edozien to any Benin born technocrat.I will hope for another mismatch from you.
At one time you vainly tried to declare that Prof Onwuachi was a Dr, I ignored that because your opinion is unimportant.You should even pray that that you achieve a fraction of his achievements. Anioma people have really done well in the diplomatic sector. Take the present Permanent Rep to the United Nations Prof Mrs Joy Ogwu( you are free to declare that she is a Mrs) or Mr Ignatius Olisaemeka.These are proud natives of Aniomaland.

I am at liberty to classify Prof Elizabeth Isichei as a native of Anioma because in our custom in Igboland we place the origin of our wives to our origin(this is even a source of pride to the women and her community of origin). Prof Isichei had also done remarkably well as reflected on  her books on Igbos generally. The present Minister of Finance Dr Ngozi Iweala represents Abia state her state of marriage and you know what not even one person from that state has said that she is not qualified to represent them on account that the state of birth is Delta State.  
I think why you have issues with this is that it is cultural. Benin women really donot identify with their husbands. I saw it myself. A situation where women even in their husbands houses are acquiring properties all over the place and in many instances bear children for three , four or even five men
is just a reflection of the custom of the Benin people.This is why I think there is more attachment to place of birth.For this reason it is baseless to use Mrs Ighodaro married to an Edo man to Prof Isichei married to an Anioma man.

On Prof Maduemezia, This man is an achiever no matter how your idiotic opinion is. He is not in the same class with Prof Ekhaguere and you know it. Fine Let me say I was misinformed. The fact is that we all do. Afterall you shamelessly tried to claim Prof Binitie and Prof Igbafe as your list of "Benin notables" !  You even tried in vain perhaps to impress that Prof Binitie could not have been an Itsekiri.You have to swallow your pride on this one.

4) You know what is my response on the dating of the moats by Patrick Darling , Hmmmm I just remebered, trivial !  On the census of 1921 , hahahaha, you you are pained that in that census the Benins were even outnumbered by the Esan and Afenmai, Well there s noting we can do about it. There is no census that is thorough or everyone counted.Many people evn in this 2006 census were not counted , same for the 1991 census and this will be the case whenever they are ready to organise the next census. All enumeration conduction have that adjective "provisional" and it is not peculiar to the 1921 census. What I like with this census compared to ones we now conduct is the kind of elaboration which at present and of course for selfish reasons we are unable re-enact that act. I think the word "shameless" should be used in describing Physics, How can he make such a claim that the Benins are not interested in the "mere" 45,000 of Igbanke clan .Orhionmwon in the 2006 census had 182,000 residents .Now do the arithmetic and you get less than 140,000 and you say the Benins are uninterested. I think you have heve been bitten by a rabid dog to make such claims. What of the Ovia area where the Ijaws occupy no less than three wards, Ok you are tired on arguing over the Ijaw question because you have defeated Ijaws on the same matter .You could have achieved such a feat because those you were engaged with were not informed and more importantly are not even Ijaws from the area.The saving grace of the Benin over the Ijaw question is the presence of third parties like the Itsekiris , Ilajes and I think they have roped in the Ibibios on this one.
I think you are coming to your senses that the claim of the palace on Igbanke is irresponsible .At one time you claimed that in the NBF I made claims Igbanke that suggests that Igbanke belonged to the Benin.Since my rebuttal I have not heard anything from you since you are an expert in linking us with stories on the net.
On Ozarra, these are part and parcel of Agbor kingdom belonging to the IHU IZOMOR group and there is nothing you write here that can change. However if we decide ie the Benins and the Anioma people we make ethnic boundaries , like I said before it is the Benins that will be the losers because Igbanke is definitely not the only Ika town in the old Benin division. Ozarra is small  and really its of little political value to the Ika people talkless of the Anioma people in general. Ika South had over 162,000 in the 2006 census with the Ozarra having just 7,000 people .That will leave Ika South with a net population of about 155,000.I dont think that is too much to give out but the problem here is that Ozarra is on Agbor land and of course they are free just like some of them did a couple of generations ago to cross the Ossiomo river to Ozanisi.The choice is theirs.
I can tell anyone that the Ika people are not interested on the "mineral royalties" the question we should have asked is the kind of minerals Physics thinks that makes the Ika people so attached to Ozarra. Readers of this thread  the mineral in question is  kaolin(native chalk) and some grades of clay which also abounds in other IHU OZOMOR  settlements like Alisimie.
How much are those worth ? Who cares  perhaps the palace but the palace does not feed the Agbor people, Just get that point.
The Anioma people are not interested with Benin lands because we have more than enough but we are interested in defining our boundaries properly and not a situation where the Palace of the Oba would show much desparation to hold on communties he had no rights whatsoever . What could have explained the reason for the title he bestowned on a native of Igbanke ? We know that outcast very well who would sell his people for a pot of porridge.
Anioma will not by the first ethnic based state in Nigeria.It may not be the last.If you say you dont like the idea of ethnic based state then I wonder why you state was named "Edo state" because Edo is an ethnic definition. I think I quite agree with you that the people of Igbanke to an extent should be held for this predicament of theirs.But it is not the  attitude of the Anioma people to leave their kith and kin just like that.No way,

5) That I should not expect a lenghty response from you , Do I really care ? I know you love to spend the entire day posting your "authentic" opinion for us to read. That is what I expect but bear it in mind that I might even decide to stop any more posts here. There are indeed lots of similarities between you and Omojie and these people love having the last word. To them that is a sign of heroism.When I went to the other thread I just could not stop laughing as I saw the semi-literate Agbontean tackle the Physics of "authentic" knowledge in a battle of who should outwit the other.And you know what is  gratifying is to see people refering to what I have written earlier with such positive remarks and sources of reference . It means all the attempt to smear me has been in vain.

At one time I told you along with Exothief  that when the time comes the Igbanke people will tell the world where they belong. This is a democratic dispensation. Ideally a kind of referendum should be conducted in the community and we will know whether the Palace of the Oba had acted well that could have fostered a warmer relationship between the Anioma and the Benin.I also made it clear without any contradiction that Ekpon belongs to the Anioma .I am so sure because Ekpon and Igbodo are close neighbours.We know ourselves very well. Since you had been convinced by one Idemudia a native of Ekpon , there was no "correction" from the highly "celebral" Physics.
I was also the first person who noted that north of Ebu is the town of Inyele which is yet another Anioma town in Edo state.But because of pride , you went on to say you saw it from the Umuanioma website, Hahaha, The Umuanioma is yet another affiliate organisation to the Izu Anioma and I know  some of  promoters personally.It was even from the Izu Anioma that they heard of the name Inyele.Initially they were pre occupied with Igbanke and Ekpon.Personally I would like Ndoni to be restored to Anioma because tht is were it belongs and maybe Ogbaru but that is doubtful.Onitsha and Oguta are completely ruled out.These are strategic towns and if we as Igbo people mean well for ourselves these towns ought to remain where they are.This was also what I noted in the NBF.

@My kinsmen, now I mean the Igbos on this thread and not outsiders trying to pose as "Nwanne" The Ika people denying that they are not Igbos are in the minority and this is why they make so much noise because their position is not a very strong one. I will enjoin you all to just ignore these people.If they write just ignore them.Because whatever they write will not change anything on ground. We have them in our socio-political orgaanisation the Izu Anioma and they dont even bring up that matter.

1)This is very good. At last Igbanke people are beginning to send the message across.They are not Benins and can never be. In this democratic dispensation I expect a referendum to be conducted in the community and we can confirm whose camp is in the majority in the town.The camp of the pretenders who in quest of certain traditional titles from the Oba are ready to "sell" their people and the other camp which represents the aspiration of the Igbanke people.No matter how long you oppress the truth , you will always be confronted by it .The principal reason the Benins claim Igbanke is political . Igbanke is large (over 44,000 in the 2006 census) and that adds to the scantily populated Orhionmwon which they claim accords them "majority status" in Edo State.
It is funny for any sane person to compare Igbanke to Ozanogogo , customary tenants of the Agbor kingdom whose size is not evn up to one of the six primary divisions of Igbanke. Ok I accept Ozanogogo can go to Benin but not just for Igbanke an independent clan but also for other Ika settlements in areas identified as Benin territory and to this category are such towns like Iru, Igbogiri and Owa-Obanosa.With these adjustments made I think it will settle once and for all boundary issues with the Benin in that axis leaving us with the unresolved dispute along the Ethiope river.

2)I left the other thread because it became boring especially when I discovered that I was debating with a "student" that has the whole time in the world to write on nairaland. I am not idle; I work and earn money and there goes the saying "time na money". This is a very busy period of the year with the kind of work I do.I will need to go back to my materials, read them and go through some books and it takes time and this is poor time management . Let me emphasize here that I did not leave the thread for anyone. Definitely not me. In fact I will a bit freer towards the end of the year and will continue from where I stopped.

@Physics, On Issele Uku,
The founder of Issele Uku called Oligbo was the youngest son of Ezechime and was because of that most loved by his father. Issele  Uku because she is relatively young when compared to Obior or Onicha Ugbo tend to emphasize  connections to Benin because according to her own version, the Oba made Oligbo heir to the throne of Ezechime when dispute arosed between his descendants. With a suspicious claim like that , there is always the tendency by Issele people to present themselves as representatives of the " clan head" a title which is non-existent.Its symbols like that that is being used for that.In Onicha Ugbo, Ezi, Obior and Obomkpa( an in law to Ezechime ) such connections to Benin are   not emphasized.

@, all I am leaving this thread for good, However let me make some points very clear.

1)Ika people are Enuanis and Enuanis and Ukwuanis  make up the Anioma nation.The Anioma nation or Western Igbos are part and parcel of Igboland whether those dissident voices( of course they are free to make their own opinions) like it or not whenever an Anioma State is created it will be constituted as part of the South East region.Those who say they are a "unique tribe" are free to join other states.You cannot eat your cake and keep it.You cannot claim to be an Anioma yet bring in baseless theories to create non-existent nationalities and groups.

2)There was systematic killings of the Anioma people in Benin , Warri and Sapele during the civil war.Now, mind you not every Benin , Urhobo or Itsekiri  was involved in that show of shame. We have left that period of confusion and hate and we have forged ahead and this have healed bitterness and anger amongst the peoples of the Old Midwest.

3)Every nation  in Africa has its own version of history and as such is free to present such versions.Of course we cant expect such versions to be 100 % correct but it is part of what constitute each nation's distinct identity.

4) The Igbo nation has many things that bind them and not just language but people say all sort of things to make others feel bad and give them a sense of  superiority.I wish them  luck in their quest.Igbos are often the favoured people for such "bashing", At one time someone insinuated( not implied because it is so clear) that Igbos were cannibals, some say we practice Osu, others justify the killings of the war, Hahaha, We are all here making noise, it will not change anything.It will not for instance change my pride as an Igbo.Of course nobody is perfect talkless of an entire group of people. Come to think of it , I work and have little time to spare.If I should follow this thread , it will only lead to more time mis-management and more exchanges of insults which I am not ready to partake any more.

5)Every thing written here as far as I am concerned were perfect dose for insults and insensitivities to the Igbo and Anioma people.You cannot say because you think someone is "irrational" he deserves to be insulted. You earn respect by respecting others.I am least bothered by any atempt by anyone to denigrate what I have written here; Such attempt is futile  because I have come to understand the mentality of many of the people here.

6)Special love to my folks Chyz and Omonuan and others , Ofu Obi

@Physics,

1)On Prof Awele Maduemezia, Yes , I am aware of the policy of the Nobel Committee but somehow these information do leak to the press and there have been many instances where nominees ( especially in Literature) are exposed to the media by the nominees themselves( who had been informed of that).I saw the story of Prof Maduemezia a couple of years ago(in the Guardian Newspapers when the writer was giving the profile of the judges of the NLNG prize) though I didnot take it seriously until I saw it again on the net. Officially , these could be dismissed as "speculations" but curiously I ask why should Prof Maduemezia be a subject of speculation all these years ? Why not Prof Ekhaguere who is also a mathematical physicist like Prof Maduemezia ? I take no offense with your dismissal of my speculation but it is left for the future to see who is being truthful here. One thing that cannot be swept under the carpet and that is Prof Maduemezia cannot be wished away as the leading academic in this area of physics in Nigeria.

2)More on "trophy heads",
The first figure is clearly that of an Igala citizen, could it be the head of the Attah ? lol, I laugh because the Igala have their own version of the Benin-Igala war and they say(in a version I collected) they had defeated the Benins severally before the Igala soldiers fell to the lust of beautiful Edo women and their war medicines became impotent.In one of such confrontations because there are many of them, the Oba had fled and abandoned his mask which he usually wears  before any war and the mask was sent to the Attah of Igala. The mask soon became one of the regalia of the Igala kings .Interestingly , the Igala mask bears so much similarity to the mask used by the Issele Uku Development Council( I will explain why).Also , the Igalas claim that they demanded tributes from the Benins and when the Benins brought some food items , one was remarkable and this was the coconut.
At that time coconut had not reach Igala and because it was sent to the Attah by the Oba , coconuts soon became known as Ude-Oba( or Oba's nut in Igala , this should not be confused with the Edo word that has a similar meaning) and this is the vocabulary for coconut in Igala to this day.Of course , the Benins have their own version which is well known and even have a "trophy head" to show for the exploits against the Igalas.
While it is true that in a minor version of the origin of the Igala , Benin is cited as the origin , the more popular versions points to an origin to the Jukun empire or to Yorubaland  while the family of the kingmakers or Igalamela were of Igbo origin, until they broke off after a prolong war that led to the sacrifice of Inikpe the daughter of the then Attah Igala.Incidentally, it was the same Attah Igala that is claimed to have waged war on the Benin.  And nothing in Igala history suggests that he was beheaded and his head became a "trophy". It could be  the head of the leader of the captured Igala soldiers.
The claim of  "securing heads" especially of rulers of other states is just  a reflection of  cultural hegemonic tendencies of pre-colonial African States. Most of these claims could be unfounded since there are often no collaborative from the supposed conquered states.In the debate between Oduduwa/Ekaladerhan I was thrilled when I gathered some versions from the Yoruba opinionists that the heads of all Obas of Benin until recently were sent to the Ooni of Ife being their ancestral home.
In our version, we donot believe Ubulu Uku was defeated talkless of her king being beheaded and his head cast into "trophy head". Our version clearly notes that the Benin army was defeated severally and Agbogidi of Ugo who could not conquered Ubulu Uku was accused by the Oba of double loyalty hence the civil war in Benin.
On the claim of wealth which was great in Benin , well that is Benin version because our history says that Obi Oliseh had a very long reign and Ubulu Uku was very rich on account of trade in slaves, native medicine and native cloth. In those days markets that are held once in a month called "Afia Onwa" were common along the Niger and attracted people from so many backgrounds Ijaw, Igala, Nupe, Eastern Igbo, and of course Western Igbo with the Ijaws acting as middlemen to the Europeans on the  coasts especially Brass.The main market of the Ubulus was at Afor which was a satelite state until they were forced to established markets at Utchi( now in Ndokwa East) a fraternal town to Ogwashi Uku.

The spread of Anioma commerce was felt even up to Ossomala and like I noted earlier much of the trade apart from agricultural commodities was mainly in slaves.In Ossomala , are three qtrs namely Ogwashi, Igbuzor and Okpanam all of which were originally of slave origin , they are so named because the slaves were mainly purchased form these Anioma towns before be passed on to Aboh and thereafter the slave markets on the coasts.
While it is true that the trade in slaves led to population drop, it created much wealth and this was responsible for the restoration of such reduction in population.It also fortified the title system since such titles became an avenue to display wealth.

Isidore Okpewho in his "Once Upon a Kingdom" clearly elaborate some Anioma folklores and he also noted that version of the Benin and Ubulu Uku people as it relates to the Adesuwa war. The book is quite interesting.

@Exothief, Old Benin woman pay my fees , that means I must have been initiated into witchcraft which is rampant in Benin, Tufiakwa, God Forbid !, Fine I spent some years in Benin , 1980s and late 1970s  and I occassionally visit there, Ok because I still have  memories of the City. I have to an extent even lost my ability to speak the language.Look my boy , I no get your time.

@Physics,
1)On Prof Emovon and wikipedia, I think you are the one who mainly depends on Google for information.How did you know of Idemudia of Ekpon ? Was it not via Google ? I did not resort to Google to know the ethnographic background of the Ekpon people because I have always known that via observation and the fact that Ekpon is simply one of the towns we share common boundaries with. I merely made a an observation that somebody like Prof Emovon who was an ex-VC was not even included in the list by the writer.If you feel you want to include his name then go ahead .That is your own cup of tea not mine.

2)On Naiwu Osahon, This is not the first time I have read Naiwu Osahon's writings so dont try to interpret issues you know nothing about.I came across Naiwu Osahon's writings(in the Sun Newspapers) when there was debate over the Oduduwa/Ekalederhan issue some years back and amongst the writers of Benin origin , I found him most comprehensive and that was when I had that connection with his writings.Like I have noted before African history is easily manipulated because its unwritten and the result is that different people will have different versions based on their own understanding.Osahon said Benins dont give titles to strangers and I noticed that myself when I was in Benin and my Benin friends told me that. You said that a Dutch trader was bestowed with a "title" in the 1700s , considering the different sources of information, I am therefore at liberty to choose whtever I think is the custom and I dont own anyone an explanation for that.

@, all, Lovely pictures !
1)Aniomaland and indeed Igboland is rich in culture .In the group picture above is are some Anioma traditional rulers .Interestingly , there is a woman there .She is Obi Martha Dunkwu , the Oza Omu of Okpanam and a personal friend of the Oba.Omus in Aniomaland are considered traditional rulers in their own right. Prior to the political reforms introduced by Ezechime and his group in the  early 1500s including the creation of the Omu title , we had an arrangement in which women wielded  a lot of political influence in Aniomaland. This was via the "Ejine" group and this explains why in most Ukwuani areas , the transformation to "Omu" was not comprehensively carried out.Thus we call our queens Omu or Ejine which is an older name and institution.

2)On Okonta, Chyz, Nwennem, Perfect  translation, "Oko" in Igbo means man while "Nta" means game. Therefore the meaning is a hunter and its mainly borne in Aniomaland.The prefix "Oko" forms the basis of many Igbo names like Okafor (Oko Afor a man born on Afor day), Okonji( Oko Nji or a man who is dark), Okocha( Oko Ocha a man who is fair), Okoye( Oko Oye a man born on Oye day) and so many "Oko" names. For women we use "Ada" instead thus a name like Adaeze simply means a princess( Ada Eze).This also brings me to this name "Okonweze"( remember Lt Col. Gabriel Okonweze) in this case it will interpret as Its a man that deserves honour ie Oko(man) , nwe(owns) eze(honour and not king in this case) .It is different from say Okeze or Okobi which simply means a prince.

@Physics,
1)Mind you I never said Benins are slackers academically , howevr that does not put them in the same pedestal as the Aniomas , period. Indeed you should know tht in big names the Benins are no match for the Aniomas and I was somewhat tempted to go on and on but on a second thought , it is just  a waste of time.

2)On the Aniomas waiting for the Catholics to establish secondary schools for them, Yes they did just like others  did elsewhere and I have not heard that it was via contributions from the Edo community that led to the estalishment of Edo College which from the Pic has an Anioma has its first Principal.

3)On Edo being a slave , These are originally the words of an Edo chief and not mine.

@Exothief, It seems you are crying here, Just look at the emotions pouring out from you, You cannot speak Usen and you are proud to be from Usen, If indeed you are proud try and learn the language boy.You are young and can still learn it. When I was in Benin , I was quick to learn the Edo language.Yoruba is not difficult and I dont think Usen is.
On the issue of assimilation, it is the position of the Olu-Awure of Usen which holds more water than Chief Tayo Akpata who is by the way a chief of the Benin Kingdom and has divided loyalties.
Now, on the Olukwumi , they have never denied that they have Yoruba connection, Ok and Anioma people celebrate their diversed ethnic origins and this is why we easily assimilate others and that is why you can never hear of such dissident voice on the issue of who is not Anioma is our area.This is very remarkable because of our diversity as a people.
Zik was a proud Igbo just like myself but never hide the fact that his ancestry was Benin and this is why Onitsha people say Onicha Ado N'Idu but it has neer made them less Igbo.Napoleon the legendary French leader is Italian by origin yet it never made him to think he was less French.
I have been to Ogwashi severally and I went there not because I am looking for bats. Of course there should be bats in rural and semi-rural areas but what is remarkable is that a town as large as Benin City should keep and nurture of bats in so many trees . Ogwashi was founded by the son of the Ezenri and this is why throughout her history she never practised human sacrifice though there were several instances of slavery.

@Chyz, To get Anioma State is a task that must be done and to transfer it to the SE is even a greater task because of the mind set of some people in the Ika and Ndokwa areas.I have been doing some sensitization in the Ika area and wow , you have taken up that responsibility to do like wise for the Ndokwa area.
There are at present talks on new states and using the criteria laid down by law , I am very sure we will get. Ofu Obi

@Andre Uweh, Thks

@Physics,

1)Look very well on the debates between me and Omojie on NBF , I think it was Omojie that had all the time to write not me. In fact I left there because it was worthless engaging in any debate with someone like him.I am even ashamed of him and I candidly told him that.I am just being myself to announce when I intend to write, if I want to leave or the reasons for not writing because I believe there are people out there who enjoy my posts.I therefore will not have to change my character because I am writing in fora like these.
I announced that "I was suspending postings on this thread" and of course you read it and the next was the longest series of posts I have ever encountered in any fora eventhough I had announced I was suspending postings here. Do you think I dont understand the motive for such posts from you ? And funny enough these were addressed to me.You can deny this for all I care because it is in human nature to be deceptive.

2)Yes, right I just remembered yes I once made that declaration on my being an expert on the Midwest and from a relative point of view , I think I am and I have even corrected you severally on this thread.You at one time (though you cleverly want to deny) that the Urhobos were of Igbo stock just to dismiss your irrational justification for the killings in Benin, Sapele and Warri.But as an "expert" I was ready to correct you.Now, mind you even experts and those who are intelligent often make mistakes considering the debatable nature of our history and this is problematic because it was unwritten.As such people can "create" new stories and theories to support whatever claim.
In addition , as an expert I am again correcting you in your list of "Benin notables" Prof Philip Igbafe is an Afenmai and not a Benin man just like Prof Ayo Binitie is an Itsekiri.I understand you love Edo so much and would want to make some comparisons with the Anioma. If I were as desparate as you are I would have even be tempted to list some notables amongst the Anioma people of the Old East like Onitsha but that is not the issue.
I mentioned Prof Elizabeth Isichei because by marriage she is an Anioma in the same light people from Abia State can claim Oknojo-Iweala and I dont have problem with that.In Igbo custom(as a woman) when you are added by your in-laws as part and parcel of their kith and kin , it means you are truly married to your husband and his family.I therefore donot see anything wrong with that except that you feel you can bring down the Anioma by making such dull , chidish and irresponsible claim tht "she is an Oyibo"

3) On Prof Nwanze and Prof Osagie, I dey laugh , You see my boy , nothing you write here will change that fact that Prof Nwanze was VC of UNIBEN before any Benin born academic. Really I am not interested in Google Scholar or its citations ( which is your sole source for justifying academic achievements) because both of us cannot really claim that we have access to their academic career and achievements.Howeevr what is important is that Prof Nwanze had floored Prof Osagie to clinch that position and academic qualifications should have been one of the prerequisites used. Appointments of VCs of course have some political undertones to it however the primary factor had always been academic in nature.
Now, whereas you were free to note how Prof Osagie was an ex president of the Nigerian Society of Biochemists, and use it as an academic advantage over Prof Nwanze, you were quick to dismiss Prof Uwadia's achievements as President of the Ngerian Society of Computer Scientists apparently because you could not get any name to match his.There are several Anioma sons and even daughters who have from an academic background made some impact in the software industry apart from Prof C. Uwadia.The likes of Chris Uwaje, Aloy Chife, Valentine Obi, Florence Seriki or Nweike Onwuyali fits into the category.I would also like to mention the young Prof Nwanua Elumeze who is a celebrated inventor and businessman.

4)On Prof Linus Ajabor, I see nothing wrong mentioning him and more importantly if he is from my home town. In Aniomaland and indeed Igboland we celebrate achievers and as a man who went through hell in the 1960s to attain that position is worthy to be mentioned.From Prof Osato Giwa-Osagie I was able to get the list of fellows of the college, and behold the names of people of Anioma origin were just to long to compare with names from other parts of the Midwest.In fact it made me proud ( You guessed it I am very proud of my people) beacuse true to the claim I made earlier the names of Anioma people there outnumber by far , the names of other Midwest peoples put together.

@Physics, I am in my early 40s and I just as youthful as you or anyone or this thread. Now, that Issele Uku whatever is supposed to mean what ? Because Issele Uku people are Igbos and merely used that to connect that ancient link which I have noted connects the community with Benin though the aborigines of the town are from Nri and have the rights to coronate all Obis of the kingdom.

So funny , so you think I read abt Prof H.U. Isichei on wikipedia, Hahaha, No my boy ! That was not the source of my knowledge of the Prof. I came to know him long ago when I came across Elizabeth Isichei's books.

@Physics, Indeed  posts on nairaland is just for free time and I am waiting.

@Ezeagu, I love the pictures, Reminds me so much about home. Umuanioma Ofu Obi Bu Nk"anyi

@Negro, It is not true that Igbos donot have cultural factors binding them as a people. Amongst the ones which are universal in the Igbo speaking world are
1) The primacy of the Ani (Ala or Ana) or Earth spirit which is found in all Igbo communities and similarly worshipped.In Igbodo , my hometown in Delta State, we have several of these "Ani" shrines which connects us to our cultural root Nri. These includes Aniozuzu( the Obi is the priest), Aniuzugbo and Ani Ukwu.This is the most important deity in Igboland and in the past before you can do anyhting on the land , you must worship Ani to accept such proposal.

2) All Igbos rever Yams and Kolanuts. Take this title I listed as one of the titles of Igbodo "Ojifulueze" meaning kolanuts are kingly or in another literary translation kolanuts deserved to be honoured reveals that all Igbos value kolanuts very well.For yams , we share the same veneration. Thus we all celebrate new yam festivals which we call "Iwaji" or "Iriji". In the festival , all Igbos worship "Fejokwu" or "Njoku" which is the deity(according to tradition) responsible for yams and the keeper of farms generally.

3)We all have titled societies.In the East , such titled groups which are actually "clubs" reflecting status in the society are called "Ozor", InAniomaland, we call such titles "Nmor" and depending on the locality it is called Okpala, Onotu (or Olotu), Alor or Igbu.

4)We all have Ikenga, Nze and  Ndiche institutions

5)We all have the "Umunna"(it have alternative names in various  localities) for men and "Umuada" fro women.Now, these are groups of descent from a common ancestor.The concept of  "Umuada" is identical in Igboland. These are daughters who play significant roles in many traditional functions.In Igboland , Umuada are chief mourners and this is the case in Anioma and just the case amongst the Ezza of Ebonyi State.

6)All rulers in Igboland and this is in most times based on age( which we call Okpara, Diokpa , Onyishi or Opara) or seniority in such tittle societies have in their possession an "Ofor" which is unique to all Igbos. An Ofor is the most important symbol of authority and respect in Igboland.


7)We all have the same market days and the sacred status of Eke is the same in Igboland.

@Chyz, Umu Anioma are a people so blessed and we cannot be deceived like the Rivers people on our identity, We are of Igbo stock. I am so proud of you. In the past just after the war , the new Midwest leaders  wanted to deceive us by emphasizing that "we are of Benin origin" a claim which is only true to an extent.Most Anioma people descend from people who directly or indirectly came from Eastern Igboland. I have always been interested in that claim. Yes to verify it. However after a closer analysis, I discover that such claims are just baseless.If you are to make such claims it should strictly be applied to the Edo speaking area and not to the Anioma, Itsekiri and Ijaw who are not of Edo lingustic stock.

I wish you inform you my bro that we are working very hard to get an Anioma State and hopefully when it is createdit will be classified as part of the Southeast.Some of our people like Agbontaen have been brain-washed by this deceit, it is therefore the responsibility of our people particularly in the Ukwuani and Ika(a part of Enuani) to educate these folks.With people like you , Omonuan , myself  and the vast majority of Umuanioma who know that we are Igbo, Kudos to ourselves ! Daru Unu !

Look at the style of writing of Bokohalal and Exothief, the deceivers have as usual come up with stories and baseless claims that cannot stand anywhere.Im no go work, I tell these Edos , that the era of we are one based on the false claims that "weare from Benin" is gone forever. Just get it , we are Igbos and we wish to identify closer with our Eastern kinsfolk.


@Exothief, The person who depends on Google is your Ovbioba who strategically posted what I think is just a ploy to pose himself as "the intellectual" .A  ploy which is not only laughable but has been destined as a failed project. If I have been so dependant on Google, How did you come to know  ( and from your references love so much ) about Ikhimen( Chime in Anioma Igbo) ? My little boy , it is based on research not your "Ovbioba" who completely lacks originality and in an attempt ( a futile one ) to pull down the achievements of distinguished Aniomans claimed that Prof Igbafe , a  man of Afenmai background is a Benin person.

When I began to study your writings , I instantly knw that you are just one of just boys who grew up in Benin and completely lack any connection with your village of origin and this was simply why I asked you where your "Igiogbe" is located and you said Usen.If indeed it is in Usen and you visit and , interact with your Usen people , you should have known that the attempt to classify Usen people as Edo is an insult on their own identity.I doubt if you even know how to speak your Usen dialect. This is my advice for you, Try and know your root ! and stop deceiving yourself that Usen is Edo. Politically , it is but linguistically it is not.Unlike the Olukwumi people which have been assimilated as Anioma people , your Usen people donot think they are Benins. That is if we take everything the Olu Awure( I hope you have been corrected) of Usen, Oba Uferurhi has said. He as the custodian of the culture, identity and language of Usen people have always noted that the people of Usen(  which is the other name of Awure Ode which is the indigenous name of Usen hence the title of Olu-Awure) are of Yoruba stock.

It was good that Physics apologised firstly on the uncivil manner he insulted Omonuan and secondly eventhough with no iota  of sincerity an apology to the brutal killing of the Anioma in Benin City , a town many of us consider as an ancestral home. With these apologies from such an arrogant and tribalistic individual , I think my purpose of even posting at all on this thread have been fulfilled.  We  can argue till tomorrow on some issues here and it will not change anything and really I dont have such a time to exchange bad language which could make us hate ourselves and our peoples.The Anioma and Benin (Edo) have forgotten about the past and will want to forge ahead as good neighbours with mutual respect.I think the only issue is the Igbanke factor. Apart from that , the Anioma people have no problem wth the Benin .

Hahaha, Bats , well I dont want to dwell on that.Of course you think I will respond to your chidish claims on the  bats in Ogwashi Uku, You no go gat am because we know that such concentration of bats donot exist in Ogwashi Uku , a peaceful town founded by Nri people who have kept on to the ancient Nri custom of regarding human life as paramount unlike your Benin. I just remembered your Obas descend from Oba Ewuakpe, a well known tyrant( according to tradition) who because he was mourning his mother killed thousands of people and when the people angrily refused to give him any respect for that evil act used his loyal wife as sacrifice to win the support of the people. What a shame. This was why I asked your "Ovbioba" a simple question and I am waiting for a response to educate me  why despite the antiquity of Benin, the people are so insignificant in numbers to match such a long history of cultural existence. I think it  all has to do with so many years of human sacrifice.

@Ezeagu, My bro I am considering quitting this thread. I will , I think stop writing after this week even if the likes of Physics thinks the time will be just right to "strike" wth baseless stories and analysis

@Chyz, Dele Nwannem, Dont mind these noise makers that want to use this thread . You can imagine Physics comparing Dr Chris Oriakhi to Prof Austine Esogbue, a celebrated National Merit Award recipient. This people will never stop fooling themselves here. That map is very instructive.Initially Exothief said that the Igbanke are of Edo stock( which Physics disagees) but the map clearly identifies the Igbanke as Igbo and that settles that issue.
I never said Itsekiri donot stand as their own people.Rather what I said is that as much as they are identified as a distinct people , no Itsekiri denies that connection with the Yoruba and this was the point I wanted to make when Agbontaen came up with his stories and lies. Yes Anioma people are Igbos and we love our Anioma identity just as we love our Igbo identity and that is the point Agbontaen does not get.

@Physics, On the Yoruba names of food items,
I will suggest you ask the Yorubas here if these were originally staples in Yorubaland or perhaps make a research yourself instead of refering to what I think are just recent developments. This is just like the case of the fluted pumpkin which has indigenous names all over the place but has its origin in the Americas.

@Exothief, it is your "Ovbi Oba" that relies so much on Google not me .Go through what I have been posting , can you point to any where in the net you can get it ? No because it is the fruit of my own research and I have proprietary rights to it. For this reason I can always defend myself on every point I have raised here without any contradictions.You should even be grateful to me for enlightening your ignorant self.

You talk about vultures in Igboland ; what about the bats all over the place in Benin City ? I can infer that I have never seen in any town in Nigeria where there are large concentration of bats like Benin City and these bats of course we can all guess has everything to do with witchcraft. A pot cannot call kettle black.

@Exothief, I have been expecting some noise from you and I have gotten some.The title of Elawuren is derived from Olu-Awure .I think you are not a bonafide citizen of that community because all Usen people know that they are of Yoruba stock and the so-called Usen language is just a Yoruba dialect.
When I wrote on the Ogie issue , it was not addressed to you but to Physics who want to appear as the "hero" Of course that was in my temporary absence .It therefore has nothing to do with your "thesis" on Ogie.The root of the word is the king and praise/honour are just the secondary derivatives.Pretending and trying to manipulate your own language just to push a point will only make you more foolish on this thread.

@Physics,

1)On Oba Akenzua,
Like I stated before the relationship was reciprocal and let us not manufacture history here.The Oba was educated and quite exposed and after the creation of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa which was created in 1945 , it became apparent to the Oba to set up a political machinery that will articulate the position/aspiration of the Benin and perhaps other Midwest Groups and this was in 1949.This is an interval of 4 years for the Egbe Omo Oduduwa(which evolved into the Action Group) and 5 years after the NCNC.

2)On Chief Edebiri, Indeed the Chief is such a warm character and this is what my father told me.But I suggest you go back to your post on Chief Edebiri because he claimed in the interview that he was one of the unsung heroes of the independence movement.

3)On Chief Sam Igbe, I stand on my position that only those of assimilated stock could be considered as chiefs in Benin. For this reason, Chief Igbe could not have been of a stranger element especially of Urhobo origin.
A few days ago , I stumbled on a write up on the Obas of Benin by Naiwu Osahon in which he clearly noted that titles are never bestowed on non-natives of Benin kingdom.I am not aware that Igho Natufe is the unofficial biographer of Chief Igbe to know his Urhobo ancestry.


This is where I will stop now, I wrote something earlier, I think it has has blocked as usual.I dont really mind because those I intended it for can read it and that is what matters.

@Physics,

"A title on Zappa",
A title on a Catholic Priest, Such a suggestion would natural come from someone who is mentally challenged but I dont think you are.
Zappa did a lot for the Anioma people and we are greatful and we have institutions named after him such as roads and schools and this is enough to immortalize a man who died without any issue and was buried in our land.
Now, on the claims that he came to stop such barbaric practices such as human sacrifice and "other things", Dont expect me to deny that there were not in existence such evil practices but not to compare to the Benin kingdom which was famous as a "City of Blood" where human sacrifice was unmatched in the entire Guinea Coast .And this the fact that despite the antiquity of Benin , the population is quite small because so many must have lost their lives in those days. It could still be the situation now because I remember in 1978/79 , there was rumour all over the place that people had been captured by some Benin agents of darkness for use as sacrificial items though there were denials from the Palace.This is the case because even if there had been no sacrifice, the barbaric practice of those days and the severity of such rituals were enough to genarate such rumours.Incidentally, in 1979 , the Obi of Agbor joined his ancestors and nothing of such rumours was heard in Agbor.I therefore wonder who should remind the other about human sacrifice.
In Aniomaland, it was those towns that were "clients'' of the Benin kingdom that had that practice.In Ogwashi Uku for instance , no one had been ever used for sacrifice because the Obi directly descend from the Eze Nri( Ogwa Nwa Eze Nshi) and this custom is just a carry over of the Nri custom that frowns on the spilling of blood.It will interest you to note as well that Zappa also worked in Ogwashi Uku.

@Physics,

, "Over some yams"
Yes, over some yams because life was difficult those days. But that assault is just a reflection of our opposition to all forms of oppression no matter the person involved. The Iyoba is not God to seize what the people have toiled for and expect the people to just keep quiet. Besides Nnamdi Azikiwe, another notable scholar who recorded this tradition is Ikenna Nzimiro a native of Oguta( whose community is an offshoot of the Ezechime movement).Therefore the story is not my invention.
It might look trivial but "little things" like yam and other agricultural products could cause some effects which changes history.What do you think caused the Ife / Owu war that spark the 19th Yoruba civil wars ? Was it not a quarrel over alligator pepper ? I will advice you be a little more broad minded and humble so that you can learn because you think you are vast, perhaps an expert in refering me to the works of other people and using it as points which of course are in most debateable or just baseless or stupid.
The"thugs" for your information that beat up the Iyoba founded so many towns including several settlements in Edo State ( Okuta-Ebelle in Esanland was founded by people from Onicha Olona) and during the centenary anniversary of the invasion of Benin in 1997, the Oba had invited the descendants of the "thugs" to felicate with him which they accepted.
I will also advice that you should be more tactful with the use of words.

@ChinenyeN, Another lie from Agbontaen, The 2006 census did not specify the ethnic backgrounds of Nigerians and as such no one is sure of the figures.But this is the results of the census for the two Ika LGAs.
1)Ika North East 183, 657
2)Ika South 162, 594
Anyone can do the arithmetic and see if its up to 500,000. But if we include Igbanke which has a little above 45,000 people, you'll get a figure close to 400,000 people but this cannot represent the population of Ika Enuanis because the census does not reveal the ethnic origins of Nigerians.

@Physics,

1) On Egharevba being the source of my claim of the war between the Benin and the Yoruba people,
Wrong assumption !
If you have readmy posts very well , you should know that Egharevba cannot be my source especially as it relates to the Anioma people because everything he wrote as far as I am concerned is "thrash"
Aniomaland was not isolatedfrom Yorubaland and within our territory are people claiming a Yoruba origin and till this day speak a dialect which is primarily Yoruba with serious saturation of Igbo words.In our dialect, we call the Yoruba "Ndi Abakpa" and during my investigation on how Owa broke out of Ute Okpu, I was told that the wars occured mainly in Yorubaland( Agha na Ani Abakpa). It therefore has nothing to do with Egharevba and whatever he wrote because his book is about Benin History and not Anioma history and we know our history too well.
It is neophytes like Agbontaen tht thinks Egharevba is "great" not me.

2)On Anioma being a 20th century Creation,
On the surface yes, it is a 20th century creation but on a closer look, Anioma is just a reflection of names whose identity and history spans over 1,000 years.These are Ika, Aniocha, Ndosimili(Ndo), Ukwuani(Kwa) and Oshimili all of these names dates earlier than Edo in usage.Besides , Ani is the word common to Anioma, Enuani and Ukwuani and it means land or people and this connection fits very well to themselves.

@Physics,

1)On Exothief,

Like I noted before Exothief is a mismatch for me, Because he is so chidish and uninformed.@ Readers please use Google and find out yourself if Ogie was used more in reference to the King or to Honour and we will see who is attemting to deceive anyone here. Mind you I never said Ogie would not (depending on usage) would not be used to mean "honour" and this is just so right since kings are themselves enveloped with honour. In the same respect, Ogie should as well be used for its primary purpose ie the king.
I began to notice that Exothief is nowhere to reality during our debate on the Olu Eko/Eleko( anyone can google these words and see who is lying). Asa native of Usen , a Yoruba speaking community attached to Benin and whose ruler bears the title of "Olu Awure" he should be in the best position to use the title used by his own king as an example.But no way , a classical example of the present Benin youth brought up in Benin City and donot have any knowledge of their roots. Hewenton further to even deny that Usen is not Yoruba speaking which of course is not the position of 99.9 % of Usen people and their Oba , the Olu Awure. Such a person is unworthy of correcting me.

2)On Princess Erinmwinde,
This was the mother of the first Oba of Benin. I will be pleased if I am given another name of an Oba's mother until the craetion of the Iyoba title by Oba Esigie.The fact is that prior to the installation of Esigie, all mothers of the Oba were killed because in Benin thought an Oba should not have mother.During the period of the Princess , the Oba dynasty was at its formative stage and therefore cannot be a good example.Besides there is little on Princess Erinmwinde after her son became Oba.There is every possibility that she was a victim of this barbaric culture.

@Chyz, lol who cares, really Agbontaen has really nothing to write on and he resurfaces every now and then.

@Physics,

1)On Ubulu Uku , the Agbogidi and the scuptures
 The sculptures I  must confess was interesting ; Interesting as well was your "thesis" on those heads.Like I have always emphasized the Ubulu Uku people have their own version of the war , the story of Adesuwa and the Agbogidi and the outcome of the war itself.My advice is that as proud memebers of our respective ethnic groups we should just stick to our versions.
Why you noted that a replica of the head is sent to the "vanquished foe" as a reminder of what could happen to them and the other kept in Benin , I wish to note here that nothing of such exists in Ubulu Uku a town which is renowned for so many monuments including the tree which Princess Adesuwa herself was executed for witchcraft.
In our ie Ubulu Uku version, three major wars were fought and in the first two wars , the Benin army suffered humiliating defeats including the capture of many Benin soldiers whose descendants have been integrated into some qtrs in Ubulu Uku. Now, in the third attempt following a divination, it was revealed that any military attempt to capture Ubulu Uku would be futile and there was someone in the Benin Kingdom who is versed in Ubulu magic which has been used to demolished the Benin imperial army and the man revealed was the Agbogidi of Ugo.
Incidentally , Ubulu people see the same Agbogidi as an ingrate , Why ? Because when he was younger , he suffered from an  ailment and none in the Benin kingdom who was consulted could cure it until he was brought to Ubulu Uku were the Obi and the Ubulu people who are heirs to the strong school of traditional medicine established by Ezemu in about 1200 took care of the lad and after a long period of treatment was cured. In the nature of the Anioma people and their hospitality , he was accepted into such schools and taught many secrets of the religion which had made the Ubulu people impregnable in spiritual matters.
It was in this attempt that the Agbogidi of Ugo was called upon by the Benin to save them from humiliating defeats.When the Ubulu people heard that the Benins were set to attack with someone who has some knowledge of their magic, it was decided that the town should be completely evacuated.Some went to Afor in Ndokwa East, some went to Ashama and other places, while in consultation with their oracles , it was revealed that the war was basically a spiritual one and the seven most powerful memebers of the school were asked to defend the town.
The war was therefore not a war based on "local production of firearms"
In this last attempt , the Benins failed just like the previous ones and even more of the invading Benin army refused to return to the disappointed Oba. Of course, the Agbogidi was not killed rather he was castigated by the Benins for not being on the Benin side which was responsible for their defeat and war ensued amongst themselves leading after a long struggle to the death of the Agbogidi.
Methink and this is my opinion , that the casted head  ( which was "attributed" was that of the Agbogidi and not the then Obi of Ubulu Uku ( Obi Oliseh).I earlier noted that there is nothing of such a head in Ubulu Uku a town remarkable for her numerous monuments and secondly , Ubulu traditions notes that Obi Oliseh was an old man when he joined his ancestors.Look at that Bronze piece very well, Does it look like that of an old man ?  Of course it does not.
The story does not end here
After , Ubulu land had been resettled following the war, three successive Obis of Ubulu Uku passed on in rapid succession and when the oracle was consulted , it was revealed that Ezemu's convenant with the Benin had been broken following the defeat of the Benin army and for peaceful reign to be maintained in the kingdom( as  decendants of Ezemu) they must try and make friends with the Benin.This was interesting because why three Obis had passed on in Ubulu Uku, the same Oba of Benin was still on the throne and this was seen as a symbol by the ancestors of both the Benin and Ubulu people to make peace with the same Oba ( Akengbuda I think) who had been humiliated. Traditional gifts were sent to Benin and the Oba reciprocated and the era of mutual respect and trust was restored.Thus it was after this reconciliation that the Obis of Ubulu Uku began to enjoy relatively long period of rulership in the kingdom.
Like I noted before everyone has his own version and this is ours. For instance , our version says that  Adesuwa was the Oba's daughter who had been married to the Obi of Ubulu Uku but the Benin version says she was the Oba's lover.Our version says that the Princess had used her knowledge of witchcraft to inflict some pains on the royal family hence her execution but the Benin version said that Adesuwa was "spiritually called" by the Obi of Ubulu Uku to attend the market in Ubulu Uku ( 60 miles in a quest to retrieve a debt owned her) and had wanted to force himself on her.

Now, on the issue of "resources" and "local production of firearms",
Our version notes that in the two earlier wars, the Ubulu Uku army was massively assisted by all the neighbouring towns in terms of logistics, resources and so on.Unknown to many people , Ubulu Uku has allied states which of course includes my hometown. Another was the terraain of the town itself which is very hilly.It was this cooperative attitude of many Anioma towns that sustained them during the Ekumeku wars which they fought for more than 13 years and Benin, yes the "almighty" Benin collapsed just within 8 days of bombardment by invading British troops of just a few thousands.The Benins are quick to say that it was the superiority of the British firearms that led to the fall of the kingdom. Yes , this is true for Benin and all other peoples of Nigeria but it was the dramatic fall of the Benin state with such relatively  little resistance that reveals that the Benin State was not that powerful. And from my research , it should date from the death of Oba Ohuan in the 17th century when there was instability in the kingdom and the loss of patronage from the Europeans since slaves which was the main article of trade in those was scarce and very expensive.
This was also the reason why several Benin princes(in the 19th century) who had lost their claims to the throne fled to their maternal kinsfolk in Esanland and raised armies amongst the Esan to forcefully reclaim their thrones. A strong Benin state would ahve easily withstood such attacks but the Benin state was weak and there was massive depopulation which was caused by massive human sacrifice, practice of witchcraft  and internal wrangling amongst the enins themselves.
So the claim of local production of firearms which could be true of the Benin state could not have made any difference as more recent events of the 19th century are testimonies.
The Anioma States on the contrary experienced economic boom from the mid 17th century  because the trade in slaves had brought in much wealth and this has led to massive population growth and further strenghtening the state formative process of the various kingdoms and  states. The principal contact we had with the Europeans was via the Aboh kingdom which had founded a port in the Ijaw country ie Brass.This contact was not just with the Europeans , there were extensive contacts with the North via Igala and the various Eastern Igbo communities as well as Benin itself.Thus there was just a period of growth in production of firearms as well and this was inevitable because the Anioma states had to meet up with the demand of the booming trade in slaves and other commodities.

@Physics
1)I never claimed to be an expert but what I know ,I know too well and cannot be dismissed especially if those so called "facts" are not verifiable or have been smeared with lies and half truths.I left this thread and you felt that your time "to shine " has arrived. This is just the character of an average Edo proud , tribalistic and at times cowardly. I have read your posts. So lenghty yet so empty and I will exposse them one by one . The funny thing here is that superficially you appear knowledgeable but on a deeper look , very shallow but I admit that you are intelligent( I have said that severally and if I was proud as you claim would not have done that ), to dribble around.

2) On Ozanogogo, I find this claims of yours funny and irresponsible. Ozarra has been assimilated as part of Agbor belonging to the Ihu-Ozomor group of communities.The people of Agbor have never laidany claim on Ozanisi because their territory never extended beyond the Orhionmwon river and there are traditional Egbo( or Ikhimi) trees seperating the Agbor and Benin kingdoms along the river and this has been the case for centuries. Let me give you the example of Iru( an Ika town in Orhionmwon).The people of Iru migrated from Owa Alizomor and were granted lands by the Benin people of Isi . And this is the practice , any issue as it relates to land are referred to the Oba while other civil and criminal issues are referred to the Obi of Owa.This is the custom in Iru yet Anioma people have never claimed Iruland since it was founded on what is traditionally Benin territory. On Ozarra , there are never issues referred to the Oba , on land or what soever. I therefore wonder why so passionately claim that the Ozanogogo people are being "oppressed" in Agbor. The titles used in Ozarra are derived from the Obi of Agbor and all issues including chieftancy are referred to the Obi in Council of Agbor via the Ogisi which is an Agbor title. I once referred you to the Oza Group on FB, Did you do that ? Did you not see that the Oza people themselves know that Ozanisi(in Benin) is just an offshoot of Ozarra( in Agbor).

I dont think the Ozarra people are being oppressed over their language (which have over the years have been saturated with Igbo words ) because the Agbor people themselves are indifferent over this since they are part and parcel of Agbor kingdom and from a broader perspective , they know that they are mainly of Edo origin. So the arrival of Oza is more or less a reflection of their origin as Agbor people . For your information the name Agbor (Agbon) is of Edo origin meaning the world , I therefore donot see any difference between your "Ailelehan" and Agbor itself.The case of Iru( an Ika settlement in Benin) and Ozanogogo( originally an Edo settlement in Agbor) are both settled matter and are completely different from the situation in Igbanke.
Your desperation on this Ozanogogo issue is simple to justify the Benin annexation of the Igbanke community.Oh yes I wrote it somewhere when I had some issues with Omojie who have transformed himself to Agbontaen here. But the people of Igbanke never said that they can never be reunited with their kith and kin since the issues that made them allied with the Benin is no longer there and this was even the reason why the communities of Igbanke East namely Ottah, Ake and Oligie was at one time administered from the Ika division before Ogbemudia using military high handedness decided to annex these villages as part of Benin. In your list of "great " Edo citizens you listed Prof Philip Igbafe , I wonder if you have read his book BENIN UNDER BRITISH ADMINISTRATION ( 1897-1938) he clearly noted that Igbanke is part and parcel of Ikaland and interestingly not even one reference was made on the supposed opressed people of Ozanogogo.
At that time Igbanke requested to be merged with Benin , the Ika town of Mbiri did likewise but this was not granted. Now this request did not make Mbiri a Benin colonial outpost which the Benin have taken Igbanke to be.
On the Oba creating six "dukedoms" in Igbanke, You have exposed your ignorance here.The Ojehs or Ezes of Igbanke are not unique in this regard since several Anioma towns have many multiple rulers(I can list examples if asked) and this was why I asked that simple question that if indeed Benins have always been overlords in Igbanke why are there six monarchies in one town ? Because I dont know of any in Benin.The Igbanke people have realised their mistakes and would want to be united with their kith and kin.It is all over the internet including Wikipedia. It is strange to mention the Oba creating such multiples Ojehs in Igbanke because some Igbanke sub clans till this day are installed by the monarchs within Delta state.The Ojeh of Ottah is traditionally installed by the Obis of Agbor. All Ojehs of Igbanke are Ofo holders ( called Ofo Ali or Ofo Nmor) and they are as well installed( except for Ottah) by the respective Diokpas who are called Ogele( this is the case in Aniomaland).It is not in Benin custom for rulers to be Ofo bearers( which is the situation in Igbanke)

3) Prof Elizabeth Isichei is Caucasian and I know too well. In our custom , any married woman is deemed as part and parcel of her community where she is married.T hus Anioma daughtes like Chief Janet Mokelu ( nee Onwuegbuzia) is often claimed to be from Anambra State or in this case Dr Ngozi Iweala is claimed to be from Abia State. Prof Isichei wrote so much about Igbos(and Anioma people) because she saw herself as an Igbo I am therefore correct to group her as an Igbo because it is our custom to do likewise. But if I am not so keen on her being an Oyibo, I will then mention Prof M A Onwuejeogwu who is more celebrated than Prof Philip Igbafe.
Now, on those people of Edo stock, I think you are the one who I will say is proud of his people because most of the people you named donot even match the Anioma people I listed and you know it.Let me perhaps give more names to spice up another mismatch of names from you, Mrs Rose Nsolo the first female architect in Nigeria, Dr Vincent Maduka the first Director General of the NTA and once president Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mr EC Osondu Caine Prize winner 2009, Mrs Monica Mbanefo Director of Technical Cooperate Division IMO and once contested as Secretary General of the Organization, Ms Buchi Emechete famous writer, Prof Maxwell Meju award winner in Geophysics, Dr Kanyo Nwanze Director General of IFAD, Prof Michael Isiekwe the first orthodontist in Nigeria or the Prof Fidelis Odita QC or even the present Economic Adviser to President Jonathan , Prof Nwanze Okidegbe, This list is far from being exhaustive.
I think its pride on your path to compare any scholar within this country as a match to the likes of Prof PAI Obanya( I will only accept Prof Babs-Fafunwa in this regard but he is not an Edo) or Prof Austin Esogbue, Of course I will advise you go through Google since you are an expert in that search engine and feed a "propangadist" like myself, Very Funny.
Perhaps I was even the author of those posts where Prof Awele Maduemezia(one time President Nigerian Academy of Science) where he was cited as a nominee of the Nobel Prize in Physics.I will suggest you give one evidence to debunk this claim then I will rest my case.The fact is that you cant think of any match from Benin, Let me call your favourites Prof Emovon and Prof Ekhaguere, I dey laugh.
Also On Prof Nwanze and Prof Osagie, I think you are just being emotional here. You are bitter that in the race for the VC of UNIBEN , Prof Osagie lost out to Prof Nwanze in that keen contest.Let us be sincere , they dont just pick vice-chancellors like that.It is what you earn by hard work and your past records.In the so called list of citations , it is not enough evidence of scholarly superiority.Not at all
Prof Chukwuedo Nwokolo was recipient in 1982 along with Prof Adeboye Babalola, not 1983.I am not sure Prof T Belo-Osagie won that award as claimed by you.He did not eventhough I acknowledge that he was an achiever.

4)The school in Igbodo was built by the Anglicans not the Catholics.In fact the Anglicans came to Aniomaland before the Catholics.

5)On Attempting to Smear my name,
You listed 8 lies( according to you) and 15 errors! wonderful and advised me to go back to my father's library before I can match you, Look I dont get you. Your problem is a kind of complex since you are the one claiming to "have no match" here. While you took time to analyse your "errors" you found it worthy to "bring me down" and dismiss whatever has been written by me. My man , you are living in a fools paradise and that attempt is vain and will never work.
Now let me take a closer look on the lies and errors
1)On the Urhobo Isoko issue, You were wrong or perhaps were lying just to make a baseless point . Even amongst the Urhobos many clans did come from Igboland.The clan of Evrweni was named after the town the founders came from in Anambra State ( Neni) while the town of Arhawvarhien came from Onya near Aboh.But it is in the Isoko axis that the number of clans claiming Igbo origin is more and even many Isokos without any justification for projecting a distinct identity from the Urhobos use this rather funny reason of ancestry for that.
Indeed there were conflicts between the Urhobo and the Anioma people( who are of Igbo stock).The town of Orogun which is one of the largest Urhobo clan were involved in wars with the people of Aboh before they were driven out. And this explains why Orogun is bilingual and call her clan head "Okpara Uku" which is an Anioma title rather than Ovie.There were several wars between the Ukwuani and the Urhobo.

2)Yes I said Percy Talbot was a woman andthat was an error I admitted and the circumstance was explained as well.This is just afailed attempt to rubbish my posts.My dear you don fail, woefully for that matter.

3) The recipient of the Iyoba title was definitely a king consort before she asssumed the title of the reigning kings mother. I think you misunderstood me.

4)On the moats, It was just a deliberate attempt by you to claim that the moats were long in existence even before the arrival of the Anioma people.The correction I made was in respect to the dates you gave which by the way were forged.From the research I have made on Benin moats and what I can infer from an expert Patrick Darling is that the moats were possibly dug in a period between 800 AD( Ninth Century) and 1000 AD (11th century).In other words there was no specification on the date the moats were dug. What is interesting is that the moats were dug within the historical period of the earliest arrivals to Aniomaland.The Nri people at Ubulu Uku in 900 AD and the moats at Agbornta traditionally claimed to be dug in the 111th century.It is not just that you made an error.You lied just to prove a point.

5)I will not hide from telling you the truth that your personal quest to get Ozarra into Benin can never work.I was smart to remind you that Awo had all the powers to effect any change but did not. Now this means that the claim was just a fabrication.By extension the whole write up by the supposed authority on Ozarra ie one Blessing Otabor should be deemed baseless and should not be taken seriously.You just swallowed your words on this issue.

6)It has nothing to do with my "vagueness" because what is being discused here is about Delta Igbos generally.I therefore free to point at where I feel should be considered.I made myself clear when I posted the figures .Rather in your usual manner , you felt you can dismiss that point and ended just fooling yourself.Pitiable.

7)Indeed every Benin person belongs to a family and there are numerous writings on that.Except that you are just been dramatic with the so-called examples you gave.Those examples are historical figures WITH NO LIVING DESCENDANTS , as such it would be difficult traditionally to point which family they belong.It is like asking me which family Eze Chime belong before he left Benin, It does not matter anymore because his descendants have been assimilated as Igbos or asking me who was the father of Umejei the founder of Ibusa, Of course he had a father yet he is not relevant anymore.History especially unwritten ones will only tell you what is relevant to the story being told, From your status as an "Ovbioba" I know that you greet Lamogun because that is the family you belong and indeed every Benin belong to such families and this was mentioned by R.E Bradbury in his book.As a native of Igbodo I also belong to my family and this is why we greet "Onowu" as our family greeting.I will suggest you are a bit sincere here.

"Ijaws are the ones that call the place Gili Gili" Yes and I will not be contradicted on this one because this is what the Ijaws who are occupants of the territory anyway claim. In the Shell assisted Conservation Mechanism for the Gelegele Forest Reserve, I am aware that the Ijaws made protests that the reserve should be named Giligili which to them is the actual pronounciation. In other words the name ought to be Giligili(g)bene. To them it is the Edo that call the place Gelegele.I will suggest you carry out more investigation before you rush into conclusion with your baseless anaysis and claims.

9) You may not have claimed that the Jan 1966 coup was an Igbo coup but you made insinuations that it was. I suggest you take your time read your long and mainly dry posts and see it yourself starring at you. You may think you are smart but I am not a kid in this regard.

10)Yes on Igbos celebrating the coup , yes you said it , Go and read your posts .

11)Indeed there were sacrifices in Benin in which pregnant women were killed. It might look insane in this era of "civility" but that was the case.This might sound insultive and insensitive to the pride of the Benin people.

12)Yes you made up "Ailelehan" because on a visit to the community the sign post bears "Alilehan" meaning in Ika-Igbo Ilehan's settlement.You were of course sincere to give your interpretation of Alisor which you said is Evboesor but those communities have their sign posts with the names I posted here and this is the similar fashion we name communities in Aniomaland. In Igbodo we have Anikpekwu and Anieyime, in Ute Okpu is Aliedukwu, in Ukala is Aninwalo , in Idumuje Unor is Aniofu. In Agbor are several communities bearing such Ani or Ali prefix, Ani is the earth spirit in Igbo religion and and whenever a settlemet is founded , the founder erects an "Ani" shrine which is the centre of worship in such communities.Thus it was customary to affix the name of such founders to the Ani erected by them. In Agbor kingdom are many of such communities like Alifekede, Alihagu, Alihame, Alizomor, Alidinma, Alibudo and so on. Even amongst the Ikwerre such methods of naming is used in those communities like Elelenwo, Elekahia or Elele Alimini.
Even close to Alilehan is another community which is an offshoot called Idumulehan, I therefore wonder what this will now mean.For you education, Agbor is divided into four groupings the IME OBI cluster, the IHU OZOMOR cluster, the IHU IYASE cluster and EKUKU cluster.The people of Ozarra belongs to the Ihu Ozomor cluster where their identity and rights are preserved and projected.Other communities that constitute this cluster include Omumu, Alisimie, Aliebi, Idumuenwan, Owuwu and Alibudo.

13)Indeed you claimed that Chima was an Igbo.Go through your posts.

14)I think I have written something on Prof Maduemezia earlier.

15)I never said Exothief should use Google to search for the meaning of Ogie and dont misquote me.I said he should use google to search for the meaning of Eleko/Olu Eko.Yes, Ogie indeed could mean honour, king what ever but these meanings narrow down to one fact , that honour comes with the king thus it could be used for both words.What is cleverly be fabricated by you and Exothief is to get a point no matter how trivial it is and use it to hit back.You have misfired in this one.

16)I am not the author of Egharevba's book, what was cited was what he said himself.

17)On the Ado issue I accept and I noted this point earlier.This is unlike you whose pride has become a source of mockery to some of us here.You have been wrong severally and it is either you pretend by not listing it at all ( I will give some examples) or that you have been misquoted or in a word of finality which is chidish "I dont even care" Nobody who wants to learn or be corrected says that.Even when Negro posted something I took it as a new source of knowledge eventhough I didnot even agree with everything he wrote.That of course cant be a sign of my supposed "arrogance". And the use of an insult on this point even when I had earlier noted that correction is unsavoury and I demand an apology for that.

18)Idu, Modern concept, Not conclusive.

19)On Nwanze and Osagie, I have written on that earlier.

20)Indeed Benin City is backward considering her status as capital since 1963( almost 50 years ago). Now, when I noted that Benin land was backward compared to Benin City, it was in this context used differently.In other words the Benin villages are backward compared to the Benin City and the City itself is backward relative to when she became a regional capital.

21) My beloved UN report ( which had Edo born academicians amongst its researchers) is not a measure of economic viability but a measure of human development index.These are two different things. Indeed Edo is unviable.I dont need to remind you on the debt accrued to Edo people by the Peoples Gov besides taxes to make the people feel the impact of government.Teachers from what I heard have gone to strike while students are being over burden with heavy fees at AAU.The evidence is clear.This is not the situation in Delta State nor would it be the case in an Anioma State.On the Human Development Index, it is no news that Delta a state created in 1991 beat Edo created in 1963 to the second position.There is one simple question I have always asked, Can you compare the HDI of Edo State and the Anioma section of Delta State ? I am yet to get any reply.

22) So much pride and ignorance on the Ijaw communties in Edo State.Let me eduacte you on this one
I)Ovia North East Oduna ward ( Gelegele, Danikoro and Sallogun)
II)Ovia South West Siluko ward( Siluko, Abieyi, Zide, Gbelemoton, Safarogbo and Gbelebu)
III)Ovia South West Ofunama ward(Ajakurama, Abere, Itagbene, Ofunama, Binidogha, Gbeoba and Torukubo)
IV)Ovia South West Nikorogha ward (Nikorogha,Asamara, Jamagie, Ajefie, Awori and Ugbo)
V)Ovia South West Udo ward(Okomu)
These four wards are dominated by Ijaws and the councillors from these wards are always Ijaws except for the Udo ward.This is an evidence that there are many Ijwa communities in Edo State and their demand for an LGA is in order.

23)Yes, one has to be assimilated as an Edo before he is bestowed a title.

24)On the Enogie of Obayantor, that was a mistake, But do I really care ? No, Because the point was not who is the bearer of the "Enogie of Obayantor" is but the justification for creating such a title for a non-Edo people.This is not the era of Edo Empire.

25)I never assumed there were derived from the Oba because you dont need to educate me that an Odionwerie derives his authority from age and not from the Oba.

26)Yes , you insinuated that Igbos were cannibals.Because there was really no reason for posting such trash, My dear Mr Know All why did you write that in the first place ?

27) You seem to have forgotten to mention Ekpon community as one of your famous "errors", At least a man called "Idemudia" have educated you better and of course for pride sake you could not even mention it,

This is just Part 1 of my replies to my posts since I left.It was just a strategy (a pathetic one ) by you to ridicule me and my posts and appear as the expert( which you keep calling me).Let me remind you that this venture of yours have met a brick wall.We shall see who will quit.
I just went through your so-called apology and I will say to you that such an apology is not accepted because it is not genuine.The good news that you have come to your senses to accept that the systematic killings were real and that can never be cahnged ,No matter the denials, links or waht soevr.Because of the brief holiday, you ahve written so much.I am not that idle, I will trash these so called points of yours one after the other.

@Boko Halal,

1)I have sent what you implied by the word "Igbo", As a true Ika man I know the meaning. The word in reference is "Igborn" meaning slave. However both words are pronounced differently and I suspect that you are an Igbophobist to imagine such a word and  compare with the Igbo nation. Igborn and Igbo are completely diferent words and are pronounced differently.Have you ever asked an Ika man what the word "Oba" means in Ika and Igbo generally ? It means  a yam rack and in this case the words are pronounced and spelt identically. As an Edo man , you should concern yourself more with the present effort by the Edo historical school that strives to change history by claiming that  Edo a slave who saved Prince Ogun ( who became Oba Ewuare) is now a "servant" or that Ubini ( from which Benin is derived from) is derived from a Yoruba word "Ile Ibinu". You at not fit at all to brand Igbo as slaves because in Edo there is a word that sounds like "Igborn"
According to Prof Afigbo and a galaxy of writers of Igbo origin, Igbo is derived from an ancient word which simply means a forest dwelling people. Incidentally in Yoruba , Igbo( pronounced a bit different) is the word for forest.
From my experience I have come to know that some Benin people are even of slave  or settler origin especially those who go with the non-hereditary morning greetings like Iyase(Lavbieze) and Ezomor(Lagiesan).It was of recent Ezomo was made hereditary and these being war titles had in their ranks people of diversed origins many of them non Edo(and indeed of slave origin) and in the time of peace many of them became assimilated into such warrior families.

2)Ika like I said earlier refers to everyone of Enuani( Eluali) stock and not just the reduced Ika LGA. I also did say that the Anioma of Enuanilands had for generations shared a strong relationship with the Edo and even some writers have indicated that the moats ( according to Patrick Darling dates between the 9th and 11th century AD in its earliest period) could have been in reaction to pressure from the Enuani neighbours.You wont even find such songs for Urhobos or Afenmais who are of the same Edo speaking stock( like the Benins and Esans).If you share a long relationship with your neighbours , there is always that tendency for you to call such a person your "brother", There are evn songs which connects for instance the Igala kingdom to Benin including words derived from such relationship or between Benin and Ife which the Edos call "Uhe", The Igbo clans you mentioned ie Ngwa and Abriba are to the far east of Igboland and I tell you that we never shared anything with them and there are corresponding social issues these Igbo communities would have with their Ibibio neighbours or what the Nsukka people will have with their Igala neighbours.What you dont know is that communities especially those along the borders were indifferent about identity and what we have now is a legacy of the colonialists.
It was also this legacy that led to the killing of many Ika ( and Anioma) people in Benin City which ought to be the city of their "brother", Events however have changed all of that.

3) Majority of Ika being of Edo origin, This is a theory because no one is sure of course about the composition of the population.While it is true that there is a strong Edo presence in the ancestry of Ikas, there is also a strong Eastern Igbo presence and what anybody will tell you is simply influenced by politics. Some who favour Eastern Igbo identity and origin , those Benin origin will be dismissed  , others who feel that they are not "Core Igbos" will favour an Edo origin. Let me give a simple example, In the early records , Abavo was said to have founded by Eastern Igbo migrants who were later joined by Edo and Anioma groups. But this is no longer the case as the story has been reversed to say that Abavo people came from Benin and was joined by Igbo people. In Agbor where there is a period of myth surrounding the origin of the aborigines, it is a divided issue amongst the Agbor people themselves.I will therefore advice that no one should rush into any conclusion.
As far as I am concerned , these claims most of which is baseless and imagined is just a show off by the Edos whose intent is to resurrect the old imperial period. At one time these people made a claim that Igbanke was derived from Igbon Ake or Ake slaves .In other words it was Ake a Benin chieftain that placed the slaves on "Benin territory", A claim which is laughable and unfounded.Though only two out of the 6 subclans of Igbanke claim Anioma origin, they make up over  half  the population. In Owa and the Ute clans , the Edo element is small. I earlier gave the situation in Owa clan. In Agbor there are aboriginal( which is a matter of debate), Edo and Igbo lineages, In Igbodo there are Edo and Igbo lineages.In Mbiri, Idumesah, Otolokpo and even Umunede it is also same situation. In Akumazi , it is completely of Igbo( Anioma ) origin.It is therefore wrong to jump into any conclusion.
4)When you "ad
@Negro_Ntns
1) One of the problem you have is ignorance and you have remained to be ignorant and really it's your choice.If you call my write ups "Propanganda"   its just your choice as well. I am not bothered about that. What is even more disturbing is your show of ignorance here, Ask any Edo, Akure or Owo person who is vast in history if there have never been any wars between these three states.It was customary in those days for states to recruit in their ranks people that may not be of native origin.Benins were experts in this. For instance in Ugbodu(an Anioma) is a qtr called "Ologhosa". According to traditional history , Oba Ehengbuda of Benin had invaded Anioma communities looting and carting people as slaves but the Olukwumi towns of Ugbodu and Ukwunzu struck a deal with the Oba to act as military outposts or spies for the Benin Kingdom.One of Oba Ehengbuda  trusted warrior was one Ologun who is of Owo origin( now see the case in reverse) and he was ask to settle in Ugbodu where his descendants constitute the Ologhosa qtr while a shrine named after the Oba was intalled at Ukwunzu.Thus these two towns became sites which the Edos could use to invade other Anioma communities and demand for tributes.
2) Like I say before Agbontaen is no match to me as it relates to the Ika and Anioma people as well as their history and civilization because he has from the beginning  chosen to be biased about certain issues which I usually present to him. Of course the word "Igbo" was adopted  from somewhere just as the word "Yoruba " was used in reference to the Old Oyo Empire(now used for all Yoruba speaking peoples).It was not even of Yoruba but of Nupe origin. Agbontaen's  thought is politically influenced , now while politics is a factor in anthropology , it must be handled in such a manner that you dont get biased with it. I asked him a simple question, What do the Ika people call themselves , Is it not Eluali ? I am yet to receive any reply because he knows his case has no solid foundation.
3)I will repeat that word that you are ignorant, why ? Because the little story I gave on the estalishment and origin of some Igbo towns is just in reference to the Anioma area, which to start with is not even within the Old Eastern Region. When you talk about migrants, Nri or Igbo , I dont think it should be based on the foundation of Anioma towns itself which have been proven to have been established by Igbo, Edo, Yoruba, Igala and even migrants of Ijaw and Isoko origin. But there are substantial evidence that Igboland had been continously been inhabited for over 8,000 years.I will urge you to read more about Igbos on wikipedia.The Nri ascendancy came up in the 9th century AD and quickly established itself throughout the Igbo area and it was also from Nri that the earliest groups of people settled in Aniomaland ie Ani Ekei( in Ubulu Uku) in about 900 AD.Nri has nothing to do with Ife or Benin , besides the art works of Igbo Ukwu which was under Nri hegemony predates those of Benin or Ife. It therefore cannot be an offshoot of those places.
Igbos donot hide the fact that they are of diversed origins but this is the case everywhere.This have been proven genetically.The Igbo language ie West Benue Congo a sub family which Edo, Yoruba, Igala, Idoma , Gbagyi , Ebirra and Nupe are also members .In other words the people speaking these closely related languages could ultimately share one identity and this is why I dont take these ethnographic divisions amongst our people in the South of Nigeria very seriously.Talbot in one of his books thinks Igbo have some elememnts of Bantu which I also think is the case and this connects Igbos to the people of the old Cross River State.We are really one.

I will for the time being suspend my posts here , Why ? Because the message has already been sent .The issue  is whether people accept or reject it, Of course we all have choices to make, Ultimately , it will not change anything or our  path to our collective destiny. What I will not tolerate  is for anyone to insult another because he thinks he has that master stroke with  that. If not for the unguarded statements of Physics on an individual Omonuan( who is aggrieved especially if you consider that he has Edo ancestry though assimilated as Igbo)  , I will not be bothered with the rubbish Agbontaen is posting here because his position cannot be superior over that of his king the Obi of Owa.
Who knows , it could be that Omonuan lost some of his relatives in Benin.I almost lost mine if not for God's grace.
Let me note here that I dont hate any group of persons.My reaction initially was when Physics attempted to call Igbos "cannibals" which to me is the most uncivil . Of course you cant expect me not to repackage his insults on Benins and their monarchy.A word is enough for the wise.

@Omonuan, Dalu Nwannem, You see its only senseless and ridiculous people (like Exothief) that will think that we are the same person. Let me note here and I will not want to be contradicted that Ogbuefi and his brother Omonuan are completely different persons.
The  3 points you have mentioned remain indellible not now some will want to manufacture stories to justify the massacre of Anioma people in Benin City/Warri/Sapele  in   1967.  We are beginning to see propaganda here, over 800 civilians killed and the " highly cerebral" Physics notes that his figure of 8,000 people was just an "error" just as we have seen how the meaning of Alilehan has been transformed to "Ailelehan" This people will never stop to amuse me.
Like you noted the Anioma and Edo have shared a lot of things together perhaps for over 1,000 years however the Anioma and Edo are a distinct people and this has never been in doubt.We know some Edos settled and became Anioma people just as some Anioma people transformed themselves into Edos. A case of vice versa/exchanged of population but it has always been the attitude of these Edos to claim Anioma land as if its a fiefdom of Benin. This is the reason they have held on  Igbanke as if its a conquered territory ; while Physics makes a bland attempt with his "Ailelehan theory " to justify tht  irresponsible claim on Igbanke.

@Exothief,
1)Hahahaha, You no get work ! Look I work during the day and whatever is posted here is the least thing that comes into my mind.I am only chanced during the early  morning to write my "essays" you love reading in the morning when you wake up and I expect you should read this as well. But point of correction the fellow who writes essays here is Mr Physics , I wonder how he manages his time. But one thing of note to your "Ovbi Oba" there is no originality with what he writes since he has done little or no research of his own to back many of his claims especially with his "Ailelehan proposition"

2)So your Papa and Grand papa get Igiogbe for Usen ? But how dem dey cope with the witches and wizards for there ?Thats good at least they still remember the village dem come from unlike most Benin people that have transferred theirs to the city.On Agbontaen , well birds of the same feathers will flock together, Agbontaen speculates just like you and in your eyes his writings are "better". Well, let me inform you tht those his writings contradicts the position of his Obi, the Obi of Owa and when presented with these facts , he vanished from this thread for months. Perhaps it could be better in your eyes since there is much emphasis in his writings on a connection with Benin which points to the egocentric tendencies of Benins generally as the " source "  of all Midwest peoples. Unkonwn to your ignorant self, Agbontaen desends from Igbegidi, one of the sons of Ijue the Obi of Ute Okpu who is of Nri origin. Incidentally I descend from Eyime a decendant of Ogbeje the founder and first Obi of Ute Ogbeje  and also of Nri origin (who was a relative of the Obi of Ute Okpu) ; but the point is that I am no sellout because I feel my people are less Igbo and over emphasize whatevr we may have adopted from Benin. I cannot be that cheap.

3)This is an assignment for you, try and take a deep research on the Olueko and Eleko /Oba of Lagos titles and swallow your pride.You can use Google(it is easily available) to confirm if mine or your points are more reasonable.It is not an issue of trying to speculate just to win an arguement.On the Ogie title which simultaneously means honour , I can emphatically tell you that Eze used by Igbos can also be translated to mean honour as well , it does not change the basic meaning of the word ie the king.It can as well mean crown, glory all of these are forms of metonymy.It does it change the meaning of the word "Ogie" in Edo or "Eze" in Igbo.

4)I will only partially answer those questions , why ? Because you are intellectually challenged to even understand what I am writing.To begin with, do you actually explain what you think the Osu institution is ? I am waiting for you to give me some expalnation before I will elaborate on that.There is no evidence that Osu-like relationships did not exist in Aniomaland (which according to you was dominated by Benin).It did but the sophistication of the Anioma people (which the Benins lack) was responsible for the ironing out of such issues.These so called Osus unlike the situation in some areas of Southern Igboland have been integrated and there no complains of discrimination.In issele Uku for instance is the Idumu Ahaba qtr while in Aboh is a section of the non royals called Ndichie Nta.
Yes, the eastern Igbo have there own names for the Okpunor and it varies from place to place(many of the younger generation may not know). In the Anambra area for instance it is often called "Iba" .In addition to our Okpunor institution we have what is called "Mbana"(see the similarity with Iba) which I find difficult to translate into English. Let me try, the nearest word to it would be one's roots or origin. Thus it is in our custom for Okpunors to be represented in ones "Mbana" and it is this Mbana mentality that never allowed Igbos to expand in a wider geographical area that will match their large population.
On the issue of Nri not assimilating the few Igbos who practiced those vices, This is what I can tell you.The Nri people were a race known for pacifism.It is not the position of the Nri( who are more or less the Levites of Igbos) to wage war on any body who has for reasons best known to him to be involved in such vices, Igbos you must remember are republicans and every state while acknowledging the cultural/religious  hegemony(not political hegemony) of Nri saw itself as a distinct people.

5)On your  Ibusa friend, I will not commend much on him because I dont know him and his reasons for choosing Benin, Warri or wherever.But wht I can tell you is that there are large Anioma communities in the East as well , I will therefore say it is a question of choice, options and opportunity(this is what an Igbo will never want to loose).I can also confirm to you that there are evn Edos in Asaba , the East or wherever just for the same reasons that has been noted earlier.

6)Just a reminder, Have you heard of the atrocity committed by that Benin born LovePeddler Joan Nzeribe to thwart the will of the Imo people in the guber elections. This was a woman who is a descendant of the Arala of Benin thus are linear relatives of the Oba.She was married to the Igbo born musician Harry Moscow and had children for the man.Only to suddenly jump into the hands of yet another Igbo man Nzeribe just for money.