₦airaland Forum

shachris02:
Chambers Dictionary (William Geddie, ed. 1962) says: “A nation is a body of people marked off by common descent, language, culture, or historical tradition: the people of a tribe.” However, S.O.L. Amadi-Nna (1993) avers that: “A tribe is a group of clans under recognized chiefs and usually claiming common ancestry. Ikwerre can therefore not be a clan but a tribe. The Ikwerres claim a common ancestor. Ikwerre is an independent small tribe.” In the words of K.O. Amadi (1993), “Traditions suggest that Ikwerre is a nickname given to Iwhnuruọhna people…..They have ever since regarded themselves as a distinct group and have happily come a long way in their struggle for self-identity as evidenced by the recognition of their language as one of the Nigerian languages.”

Amadi-Nna (1993) added that: “The Ikwerres are a small but distinct tribe. The Ikwerres have distinct linguistic, social and cultural traits and formations that distinguish them from other close neighbouring tribes like the Ijaws and the Ibos. Majority of the Ikwerre settlements have their roots traceable from the old Benin Empire.” Iwhnurọhna people descended from the ancient Bini Kingdom. The name of the grand ancestor is Akalaka. Their relations in Rivers State are Ekpeye and Ogba people. The reigning Oba of Benin when Akalaka, the ancestor of Ihruọha (later called Iwhnurọhna) fled was Oba Ewuare (Ogwaro). Akalaka, a member of the Benin royal family, fled in the 13th century on allegation of plotting assassination of the Oba. He died in 1462. Iwhnurọhna his third son settled east of the Sombrero River by 1538 AD, as detailed below.

Chief N.M.T. Solomon (2004), native of Ikodu Ubie in Ekpeyeland, in his narrative draws heavily from the now authenticated written historical records delivered by various informed sources including “Eketu (Weber) of Ubeta, assumed to have lived for over two hundred (200) years as the oldest man in all Ekpeye, Ogba and Iwhnurọhna (or Ikwerre), at that time (and) was asked to narrate the history and customs of Ekpeye people” as unfolded in his lifetime. Here is what he said, which has been validated by the accounts of the current generation through responses to our questionnaires and direct interviews thereby increasing our level of confidence on the data:

Ekpeye, born in Benin, was the first of the three sons of Akalaka. While in Ndoni, he married a second wife to gain the love and favour of the people. The new wife gave birth to a son, which he named Ogba. Akalaka was still in Ndoni when his first wife, the mother of Ekpeye, gave birth to his third son called Ihruoha (Ikwerre).

Similar historical fact by J.N. Olise (1971) averred that: “Akalaka, a member of the Benin royal family, fled with his wife from Benin to Ndoni, a community located close to the River Niger, to save the life of his new born baby (Ekpeye) … While at Ndoni, Akalaka took a second wife. … Akalaka had two sons, Ekpeye – born to him by his Benin wife, and Ogba – born to him by his Ndoni wife. According to F.E. Otuwarikpo (1994): "After the death of Akalaka in 1462 AD, his two sons, Ekpeye and Ogba had conflict, which compelled Ogba, the younger son, to move northwards where he founded Ohiakwo (Obigwe) and settled with his family. Ekpeye who remained at Ula-Ubie had seven sons – Ubie, Akoh, Upata, Igbuduya, Ekpe, Awala and Asa. The last three sons – Ekpe, Awala and Asa – crossed to the other side of Sombreiro River (present day Ikwerreland and settled there since 1538 AD.” He added that: “Ekpe migrated to present day Rumuekpe and spread through Elele (Alimini), Ndele, Rumuji and part of Ibaa. Awala migrated to present day Isiokpo …”

Amadi-Nna (1993) also said Akalaka migrated with his half brother called Ochichi from the area of Benin Empire. Ochichi sons were Ele (Omerele, now Elele), Elu (Elumuoha, now Omerelu), Egbe (Egbeda) and Mini (Alimini, Isiokpo).

The crucial point here, which is of great importance in tracing the joint origin of the ancestors of the Old Ahoada Division (in the Governor Diete-Spiff administration), is the mention of the number of children that Akalaka had, namely: Ekpeye, Ogba and Ihruọha (Ikwerre). It is noteworthy that the pedigree and name of Ikwerre people, Iwhnurọhna, obviously took its root from this original name – Ihruọha. Chief Solomon therefore establishes a very vital historical link, which has been missing in literature on Ikwerre origin that would assume more significance in the discourses of Ikwerre genealogy in the future – the fact that Akalaka was the direct father of Ihruọha (Ikwerre). Iwhnurọhna, in Ikwere parlance, means the face of the community (town, city or village).

Nigerian colonial history records that the name "Ikwerre" was given by the colonial administration when they wanted to acquire the Rebisi waterfront to build the wharf. Using an Ibo interpreter to talk to the illiterate Rebisi (Port Harcourt) chiefs, they asked them: Would you permit us to use the waterfront to build the wharf for ships to berth? And they answered: A KWERULEM, meaning - "We have agreed." What the white-man was hearing was "Ikwerre," so he recorded it in the official gazette that the IKWERRE PEOPLE have agreed for the colonial administration to build the wharf. And since it was the official record of government, the name Ikwerre became the name of the Iwhnurohna people in all official documentations till date.

Similar cases of Anglicization of native names in the Niger Delta region by the colonial administration are Benin for Bini, Okrika for Wakrike, Degema for Udekema, Abonnema for Obonoma, Brass for Gbara sni, Bonny for Ibani, Pepple for Perekule, Ahoada for Ehuda, etc

Even so, “… there were dissenting voices, … who believed that Ikwerre origins lay outside Igbo land, … in the Benin Kingdom of old. It is, therefore, obvious that the interminable debate about Ikwerre origins and migrations including the repudiation of the Igbo tradition is not a phenomenon of the post-civil war period. The controversy, as it were, is not necessarily the product of the present political realities wherein groups which hitherto were seen to have cultural affinities now find themselves in different states or administrative systems.” -- K.O. Amadi (1993)

The Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention, a cultural organization of Ikwerre people, in a paper presented to the Human Rights Violation Commission headed by Rtd. Justice Chukwudifu Oputa on 10 October 2001, said: “Ikwerre ethnic nationality is not and has never been a sub-group of any other tribe in Nigeria including Ndi-Igbo. There is no doubt that the advent of the British and later regionalization put Ndi-Igbo at the helm of affairs in Eastern Nigeria. This brought Ndi-Igbo into Ikwerre land. In course of time, the Igbo took advantage of their position in the then Eastern Regional Government to grab land in Ikwerre and occupy political positions such as the mayor of Port Harcourt. In the process, Ikwerre along with other minority groups were marginalized and driven to the background.”

Professor Godwin Tasie noted that in 1913 the Rt Rev Herbert Tugwell, the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, undertook an experimentation tour of Ikwerre towns and villages assumed to be Ibo-speaking to test the Union Ibo Bible Nso being introduced in Iboland. "Tugwell discovered from the tests he carried out that although the Ikwerre were often regarded as Ibo… the Union Ibo Bible translation, surprisingly, was not easily understood by the Ikwere." This is obviously why Igbo vernacular was compulsorily introduced and taught in all schools in Ikwerreland before the Nigerian Civil War to the assimilation (i.e. destruction) of the Ikwere language.

This also obviously led to the Rumuomasi Declaration in 1965. " … in their meeting at Rumuomasi in 1965 the Ikwerre had, under the umbrella of a highly promising new body that was to get the Ikwerre together as a people of new and clearer vision, they had declared themselves as a people of the distinct identity of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality - not Ibo, not Ijo, not anything else but Ikwerre, Iwhnurọhna. This was the historic Rumuomasi Declaration of 1965 (G.O.M. Tasie, 2000). The full implication is that Ikwere people began to assert themselves forcefully as an ethnic nationality of their own and not Ibos or Ijos, and efforts were made to revert to the original Ikwere names for families, villages, communities and landmarks. For instance, there was the change from Umuola to Rumuola, Umuoro to Rumuoro, Umukrushi to Rumuokwurusi, just to name a few.




T O N Y E N Y I A, PhD, MNIM
CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
IWHNURỌHNA CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
Saturday, 5 February 2011

References:
Olise, J.N. (1971)

The Peoples of Benin, Oxford University Press
Amadi, K.O. (1993)
Amadi-Nna,S.O.L.(1993) Otuwarikpo, F.E. (1994)

Studies in Ikwerre History and Culture, in Nduka, O. (ed) (1993) Craft Publishing Ltd
Studies in Ikwerre History and Culture, in Nduka, O. (ed) (1993) Craft Publishing Ltd
The Phonology of Ekpeye: A Descriptive Analysis, unpublished MA Thesis, University of Jos
Solomon, N.M.T. (2004)

A Short History of Ekpeye People (an excerpt from an upcoming book entitled “THE EKPEYE BOOK – A Comprehensive Guide in the History and Culture of Ekpeye People of the Niger Delta Region in Nigeria” published by Usama Ekpeye USA Inc,
Tasie, G.O.M. (2000) Chairman's Opening Remarks at the Maiden Ikwerre Annual Thanksgiving Day, mimeo

http://iwhnurohna..com.ng/2012/11/a-brief-history-of-ikwerre.html

size40:
Except for those who don't know. But for many of us down here in south-south, we know that the 2 major reasons why the Igbos want the people of south-south to be part of their separatists movement is; the oil and access to sea and port facilities to enable them continue their importation business. Check the whole of Igbos land they do not have access to the sea the way we South-south have. From Calabar straight to Edo even stretched to Ondo and Lagos states all these States have great access to the Atlantic Ocean. So that is the reason why the Igbos at all cost want the south-south people to be part of Biafra. They see it as whether we like it or not that we are Biafrans. If u doubt me, just engage on this Biafra disscusion with any Igbo man and tell d person ur a Rivers, Akwa Ibom person but ur not part of Biafra and see how he will insult u as if u have no right to say ur a nigerian. I encounter them here everyday in port harcourt. I challenge on d street, cab, football viewing centers etc. Some of which have made me their personal enemies. Yet they cant do anything to me because me i hold ground for my Area and zone. Not that the Igbos love us so much and the Hsusas and the Yorubas hates us so much as being painted by the Biafrans led by one Nnamdi Kanu of Radio Biafra. Igbos is land is seriously a landlocked zone. Tompolo's boat can't even sail in Onitsha river how much more a cargo vessel or ship.

Mishelly:
Ik
I guess to you theres nothing wrong with too many hotels littered around owerri (no offense meant) but now i see why you have issues with people here.I used to think you were unjustly attacked. I wonder if your eye sight is clear.. owerri dont need thousands of hotels before its known that its a "showbiz" place. Even if rochas wanted to make it so wgjy hotels? Why not Venture into things like amusement parks, resorts, etc like that, that will generate money .Calabar and Uyo that have more money and are nice too dont have industries but they worked on making their state not just beautiful but also a nice tourist spot. Honestly ive given up hope on imo. I use to think Rochas was that man that would turn things around, obviously not

dinachi:
It will be horrible economically for our people IF they go on to become Biafra. It will be an economic hell. With most importers being of Igbo origin, they are gonna have to depend on Lagos and Port Harcourt Ports to get anything in. And that is where Nigeria is going to make a killing on import duties and rates. The customs are also going to make a killing on goods heading to Biafra. We will be forced to import foods like, yams, beans, onions, tomatoes, carrots even beef from the north. It is not like I expect the Biafran zombies here to understand, they will never do because anything short of their beloved biafra is not acceptable even if the Biafra is hell in its self!

As for the IPOB clowns, they will never understand the damage they did to businesses of Igbo men and women with their senseless and violent protests. Blocking the Niger bridge for the length of time they did cost Igbo men and women billions in profits.

But this post is not for the zombies, it is only for the Igbo men and women. who still thinks and has balanced reasoning. Zombies can do only what they know how to do best, rant and rave.

dinachi:
It will be horrible economically for our people IF they go on to become Biafra. It will be an economic hell. With most importers being of Igbo origin, they are gonna have to depend on Lagos and Port Harcourt Ports to get anything in. And that is where Nigeria is going to make a killing on import duties and rates. The customs are also going to make a killing on goods heading to Biafra. We will be forced to import foods like, yams, beans, onions, tomatoes, carrots even beef from the north. It is not like I expect the Biafran zombies here to understand, they will never do because anything short of their beloved biafra is not acceptable even if the Biafra is hell in its self!

As for the IPOB clowns, they will never understand the damage they did to businesses of Igbo men and women with their senseless and violent protests. Blocking the Niger bridge for the length of time they did cost Igbo men and women billions in profits.

But this post is not for the zombies, it is only for the Igbo men and women. who still thinks and has balanced reasoning. Zombies can do only what they know how to do best, rant and rave.

CreampieAngela:
kindly remember that each region was developing on its own pace with different resources before and igbo man, Aguyi Ironsi, abolished regionalisim and foisted the unitary system on us

Vicboi1:
are u kidding me how many years remaining why can he renovate the old ones to standard ones to save cost and time he just built those hospitals just to acquire lands all over imo state why cant he pay his workers up on the bailout money that was given to him explain that

sorom4:
Ask questions before spewing trash. That was the same flyover started by Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who is the former Governor of Imo State but this man left that project to rot since 2010

Ndeewonu:
Imolites, please, beware. Roachas has never built any strong thing in Imo since he became governor. From roads, houses, bridges, they are all collapsing. I am begging you people, please, test the integrity of that bridge before plying on it. I take GOd beg una

millionaireman:
@Abagworo, let your boss Rochas see Akwa Ibom Specialist Hospital. It is now open. That Imo deoes not earn as much as Akwa Ibom must not be an excuse for Imo state university teaching hospital to be paralysed.

Vicboi1:
Industry my foot show us picture na so because he is building it people of the state should die first just to wait for the so called industry to start u are a big loser if new governors are complaining Rochas should shut up because he was there during gej when oil was around 100 usd per barrel but he didn't plan very well because if he had sense he would know that Nothing lasts forever he misused Imo funds and bet me he would die on that seat if u know him tell him that he would die on that seat rubbish

Vicboi1:
In conclusion Rochas is a bastard and he would die on that seat

Herald47:
Rochas should go and take some clue from obiano,obian built 3 massive flyovers within a year,rochas is still struggling with the ones handed to him by previous administration,for almost 5 years of his tenure nothing to show for the flyover whereas that of anambra is 90% completed.op you should be ashamed posting pictures of a flyover that's still under construction for almost 9 years now,what a shame.

SpaceTour:
Okorocha has ran down Owerri into a slum. Let me get the pictures of those Owerri flyovers

emperorceaser:
Oga did the survey the so called flyover and see quacked work. In fact the drainage system close to the flyover is spoiling already. Did u notice the inconveniences of that flyover to the imolites, with no alternative route. I doubt u r in owerri, cos the flyover is built with rented machines. The cracks on the casted wall r much. Anyway it either u say dis out of sentiments or u ain't in owerri.

BADNEAT:
This man na big mumu....he abandoned that project for 4yrs because it was ohakim's project....

Vicboi1:
Bro I just passed there this night bush have covered everywhere and the paints has washed away the building is very ugly now Rochas is purely a China man all his project doesn't last for a 2 month's