₦airaland Forum

Yujin:
There's nothing like hybrid Igbos so take note. No group of people are entirely pure breed. There must be a mix some where. Even my home town became mixed during the civil war. Name your town and after a thorough research I'll tell you how mixed you are. Igbo bu ofu.

Lol,this is interesting. Now, take a look at some of these Southern Igbo communities and tell me who they are mixed with.
Owerri, Isiukwuato, Ishiagu, Ozu item and ihiagwa. Ngwa....

VolturiLord:
Lemme attempt to straighten out some few details missing in the various arguments so far.

1. Influence doesn't always connote power, especially in this situation. The influence of the Obi of Onitsha isn't cultural or even traditional, but rather granted by his status as a big shot before ascending the throne and also by the status of Onitsha as a centre for commerce. This can be likened to the case of the Alaafin of Oyo and the late Ooni of Ife, one could say the Late Ooni was more wealthy and thus influential than the Alaafin of Oyo, but that didn't make him more powerful. Power is granted by right of history and tradition. Even as a non- Igbo, it is glaring clear to me that the Obi of Onitsha is neither the most powerful traditional ruler in the East, nor is he the custodian of the Igbo culture, even if he might be termed to be the most influential. Hosting or receiving highly regarded personalities as guests in you Kingdom doesn't bestow that position to anyone. Culture and tradition does that instead. Let us not be moved by inconsequential rubble, but rather sift through the silts of history and sands of time to get the real gist.

2. No traditional ruler in the East is historically nor culturally enabled to be classed with the Sultan of Sokoto, Oba of Benin and the Ooni of Ife/Alaafin of Oyo. This is as a result of what some Nairalanders had explained prior. The Sultan of Sokoto is the embodiment of Islam in Nigeria, in matters of culture and religion, his word is law. Such also is the case of the other tradional rulers I mentioned before. They are worshipped as decendants of supernatural beings who made and shaped the earth. These kings are thought to hold absolute power over their subjects and are revered likewise The igbos on the other hand are more pragmatic. They do not recognise a central monarch and apart from the Obi of Onitsha and Agbor, whose thrones were inspired by (and pay homage to) the Throne of Benin, the Igbos have always regarded their traditional leaders with a healthy dose of skepticism and wariness which I must commend, as it reduces cases of abuse of power. As they say, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

This is neither an attempt at ethnic or any other forms of bigotry, I'm just following a rational train of thought, so please, present your counter arguments logically also.

There are no counter arguments. You hit the nail on the head. There is no absolute leader in Igboland.

Ihuomadinihu:
Lol,this is interesting. Now, take a look at some of these Southern Igbo communities and tell me who they are mixed with.
Owerri, Isiukwuato, Ishiagu, Ozu item and ihiagwa. Ngwa....

Lol. I thought you would even mention communities more in the central areas of Igboland. Ihiagwa near Obinze, Eziobodo and Iheabiam. I guess that's where you are from. Those people very close to rivers state. Isikwuato people who came from the cross river areas to the rocky areas of Abia state. I'll do a research on them and get back to you. I