₦airaland Forum

Nowenuse:
Great analysis!

Hmm, I don't think Urhobos would be clearly more than Igalas unless of course you add Isoko to the Urhobo population.

2ndly, like I was telling garfield. If fulanis are the 4th largest tribe in Nigeria, then Hausa cannot be the 1st or even 2nd. They would be the 3rd.
This is because the Hausanized Fulanis of the Northwest are something close to 10 million. If you remove them from Hausa population, then Hausa shrinks significantly and cannot compete with Yoruba & Igbo.

Between Yoruba & Igbo, it is very very difficult to tell who is the largest.

Compare Delta central 100% Urhobo to Kogi East, Igala plus minorities from 2006, you will see that Urhobos are more than Igalas. (within the homelands at least) Mind you, Warri metropolis is not even Delta central but Delta south and there are still Urhobos there.

Yujin:
I'm 100% sure of that. Just three states in the north would cover that population. You don't know the population distribution of Igbos. Outside Lagos and its satellite communities in Ogun state, where else in the SW do Igbos have such conspicuous presence?

Everywhere there. Even if they are tiny, theya re still present.
In many places within this obodo Nigeria ,igbos are tiny but prominent component of the fabric of towns. That is what many people don't know. prominent is not the same as populated That is how one of you was arguing with a cross riverian that migrant Igbo Communities were more than the Ibibios in C/River state and he was telling you guyz the reality on ground.

Nowenuse:
Pls, are you from Kogi state? Can you tell why the Ebiras & Okuns can never unite against Igala?
Both of them have been together in the same political entities for decades, how come they still can never agree till now?

The mind of the average okun is not in kogi, it is stuck in Ilorin, Ibadan, Ile-Ife or Lagos.lol funny but 'it is a true something'. Even during elections their turnout is usually the lowest. They are not enthused about the entire prospect of 'Kogi' at all.. To the Igalas, Kogi is nirvana. The state na their papa property, an avenue to finally develop their land after years of shackling under Benue-Plateau to Benue then to Kwara (Where they were jokingly called 'abroad kwarans' because there was no bridge between Itobe and Ajaokuta at the time like it does now, they had to use Canoes to even get to their own capital in ilorin and other parts of the state) nd then again under Benue before they finally landed in Paradise Kogi

Ebiras are the ones in a dicey situation here, because left to the Okuns they won't even be Kogites. Igalas are happy where they are. Ebiras however will never share a state alone with Igalas and don't want to return to a state where they would be an even smaller minority under a heavy yoruba majority (Kwara). I just feel it is because of them that Kogi was even brought together as an entity cos Igala population alone can't sustain a state so the western half were brought over from Kwara to join, together with the centrally located and historically significant town of lokoja.

The truth is that Okuns and Ebiras have different political agendas but they can still come together if they really want to. They just have to come by a rotation agreement and Igala domination will be history.

GODMALE:
what about the Benin's? Or are you saying there are more urhobo, ijaw, Ibibio than the Benin's?

Binis are a dicey case, cause BENIN city is now so diluted, so many Esans, Etsakors, Igbos, Yorubas, Isokos etc now in Benin. I can't even honestly remotely remember what the second largest bini town(or village) probably Abudu near Ika or Utesse near Ondo state? ? The Benins are essentially a city state people. So much aspect of Edo history was focused on Benin city that it looks like the people forgot to produce other towns.

Urhobos, Ijaws and Ibibios are all more populated than Benins.

Yujin:
Most of what you wrote is correct but as for saying 'realistically' Igbos will be the third largest is a big fallacy. The threat of the huge Igbo population was one big factor for the hate in the north in colonial times and even during the war. Igboland had by far the highest population density in sub-saharan Africa

Population density of Igboland between the Central Anambra and the Central/Imo to Umuahia axis, as well as the central Enugu ridge between Ezike and Udi, I agree. But overall population is still a big toss up to be honest. And by overall population I am also including the Ikwerres, Ikaz, Ogbas, Kwales and all other igbo affiliated groups, even Ekpeye.
Igbo settlement pattern is the same as that the Fon of Southern Benin, still all Fon within Benin cant be more than 4 million.

Density x Landmass is what will result in eventual population not just density alone.

garfield1:
Dont you think ebira and okun are equal since both control 5 lgas.

Okuns:
Yagba East
Yagba West
Ijumu
Kabba-Bunu
Mopa-Muro
Like 50% of Lokoja LGA landmass, although most definitely less than that for population prolly like 35%.

Ebiras:
Adavi
Okehi
Okene
Ajaokuta
Kogi (although this lga is a mix cause there is a small nupe spillover from lapai, Niger state, and also they call themselves Egburas not Ebira )

So the truth is that the Okuns even have more Landamass (By a lot) and more LGAs than the Ebiras, but the Ebiras are more than Okuns cause the Ebira homeland although smaller is more densely settled than Okun lands.

Iamgrey5:
Your submission on the Hausas is right

Many people often think it is the Fulani that are treating the Hausas unfairly, but they don't understand that Hausas themselves don't mind being treated that way as long as they are given a room to hide under the imperial Fulani rule of the core north to propagate their culture.

Most urban Hausas are very pleased with the Hausa-Fulani tag (for various reasons). NW Fulanis are indifferent about it, while NE Fulanis lowkey abhor it. lol
I know this for a fact. Except people just want to pretend and bla bla bla.

[quote author=Nowenuse post=83510059][/quote]You are right on most of your points, but no census have ever shown esans to be more than Binis. Although Esans have more villages than the Edos, but Benin is a massive metropolis, and even though esans are now a prominent population within the Benis Metro LGAs of Ikpoba Okha, Egor and Oredo and even parts of Ovia North east, they are still no match for the Binis population wise.

You are also right about the ebira population in SW and Edo
Although realistically speaking Ebiras still can't be up to 3 million. assuming 1 million of them are in Kogi (Tao+Koto) their communities in Toto nassarawa) and Abaji (Fct) are few and scattered. 200,000 max.

Yujin:
Firstly, there are more Igbos in the north than in th West. The north is made up of three regions with lots of cities and towns where Igbos are found in huge numbers. You don't know this. Then in the SS states outside Rivers and Delta, Igbos presence is still huge. You don't know this too. The day a credible census will done in Nigeria, lots of people will die of heart attack.

You state this like you are 100% sure of it.
If Lagos for example is 25 million people, how we say for instance that Igbos are 20% of Lagos state, you know that is 5 million Igbos already in Lagos alone notwithstanding the other SW states. How many northern states will you have to put together to obtain 5 million Igbos?

Unless a truly sincere census compete with ethnic information is carried out in Nigeria, we will never truly now the positions of Nigerian ethnic groups with regards to population, but the truth is that the Hausas are scared to death about the prospects of a census with ethnic information, because so many tables will be broken to pieces.

Kebbi isn't a pure Hausa state
Kaduna will be a shocker
Jigawa has a large Kanuri minority of Mannga extraction.
Meaning only 4 of 7 (Katsina, Sokoto, Kano and Zamfara) are over 95% Hausa and Fulbe
Now, in the case of an ethnic census of these states some Fulanis will NOT self identify as Hausa and herein lies a huge problem. All those Lamidos and Dikkos, Bellos, Tukurs, Yeros, Sambos, Danfulanis, Baffahs/Bappas, Bappayo/Babbayos, Yugudas, Barkindos, Gidados, Jungudos Etc etc will all instantly become Fulani.

In the North East Zone.
Gombe is a majority minority state plus a plurality of Fulbe with hausas hiding under them.
Adamawa is also a largely state of Minorities with a prominent Fulani ruling class plurality with Hausas hiding under that. (similar to Gombe)
Taraba is also similar to the two above but with a smaller and less prominent Fulani component
Bauchi isn't a homogeneous state either with Hausas, Fulbe, Kanuri Bole, Jarawa, Warja etc being there.
Yobe and Borno are largely Kanuri with a host of minorities in Southern and Eastern Borno (Bura Pabir(Babur), Shuwa, Marghi, Buduma/Yedina, Chiboku, Mandara numerous others), and western Yobe being mostly Kare-kare, Bade and Ngizm. (Pottiskum and co)

So realistically speaking Yorubas or Hausas or even Igbos could theoretically be the largest ethnic group in nigeria.
BUT realistically Igbos are most likely 3rd with the Yorubas (1st or 2nd) and Hausas being (1st or 2nd), and Fulbes being 4 and Tiv or Kanuri being 5th/6th although I am betting on Tiv because of the ethnic breakdown of Borno and Yobe which i already highlghted above but which many people aren't aware of)

The CIA re dead wrong, sorry. Urhobos are even more than Igalas lol and they are not on the list. Also I am pretty sure their 'Ibibio' means Ibibio + Efik + Annaŋ + Ekid (Eket) +Oro (Oron) + maybe even the Andonis/Ibeno.

I was just laughing a few years ago when Ijaws were parading themselves as the 4th ethnic group in Nigeria. Una doh!

cc: Iamgrey5 , garfield1 , Nowenuse

Iamgrey5:
You absolutely right

I am amazed when people claim Igala is more than half of kogi

I have been to kogi on few occasions and I have noticed this might be a misconception.

Meanwhile, Oga garfield

Igala is kogi East not west.

The misconception stem from the fact that firstly Ebiras and Okuns never sit in the same boat on political issues. As a result, the igalas always deliver bloc votes for their candidates and most times will always win. Over the years this has been misconstrued by people to mean that Igalas are the majority in Kogi, when in actuality the Igalas are a plurality (single largest individual ethnic group in the state) but not a majority of the population. Just like Urhobos in Delta.
Tivs in Benue are a real majority, and can single handedly decide the fate of elections even if all the other ethnic groups vote against. Igalas can't single handedly decide the political fate of Kogi if Kogi central and Kogi west have a unanimous voice, but that might never happen.

This coming election will also show that same pattern.

garfield1:
I agree.i only approximated or tried to exaggerate.out of the 9 lgas in kogi west,they dominate 7.bassa and one other lga which i cant recall are not igala dominated.what is the percentage of okun and ebiras

Igala - 40%
Ebira - 30%
Okun - 20%
Nupe offshoots (Bassa Nge, Kakanda) 3-4%
Others (Ogori, Idoma, Hausa, Bassa komo) 6%

Give or take.

garfield1:
Please dont misunderstand me.i never said ibibios are indigenous to cross river,i said there the largest non indigenous tribe in cross river.the mistake you make is counting ethnicities only in their original homeland,no you must count areas they are settled in large numbers also.
ishans and ebiras cannot be up to 2 million.kogi was 3.2 million as of 2006.half of kogi is igala thats 1.6.leaving the okun and ebiras to share the remaining 1.6.if you estimate their growth rate at 2.6 % annually,they wont be up to 2 million.same applies to ishans.by estimation,edo should be 4.5 million now.half or more is made up of binis.the central where ishan inhabit has the least popupation so they cant be up to two million.

Igalas are not half of Kogi. More like 40-45% max.
People think Kogi east is is just Igala...forgetting that there are Bassa Nges and Bassa Komos plus Idomas there too

Nowenuse:
Yes you are right. Kanuris could be more than Tivs.
Please, there are no Ibibios in Cross River state. It is the Efiks that are in Cross river.
If Ibibios are on their own, they would be at the level of Igalas, Idomas, Urhobos, Bini BUT if they are merged with the Efiks, Annang & Oro, they would be at the level of Tivs & Kanuris.

For me, I think Igalas, Gbagyis, Nupes, Urhobos, Idomas, Binis and even Esans & Ebiras are around 2-3 million people each.
While Ibibio-Efiks, Kanuris, Ijaws & Tivs are around 5 million people each.

Nope!

I agree with the rest.

Osaze007:
What are you saying
Lagos Yoruba is Oyo dialect
All of Yoruba from Lagos to kwara speaks Oyo dialect

Lagos Yoruba aka SMY Standard modern Yoruba) is a direct fusion of Oyo Yoruba and Egba Yoruba in equal measures, that has also since evolved leaving out all the funkyness and nasality that Oyo is notorious for.
Nobody goes around speaking Oyo Yoruba in everyday life in Lagos or anywhere outside Oyo areas except the older generation. You will be made fun of, seriously..

Olu317:
There are Yorubanised English words in Yoruba language though little. One example is Shop is which is Shobu. Another example is mummy which moimi/momi/maami etc.

The Yoruba word for Shop/Stall is Isọ. 'shoobu' is a direct result of deliberate modernisms/infusion.

Not sure 'mama' is from english because in my dialect of Yoruba, mọmọ and yeye both mean grandmother, while iya and mama is mother. That might neeed further digging into.

ADAMUdaCOWBOY:
Identity crisis did not kill Obama, TD Jakes, Tupac or Biggie, trust me, it wont kill her.

AAs are suffering from identity crisis

ADAMUdaCOWBOY:
Who indigenous language epp?

I knew someone would quote me with this reply.
Do you want a child who would suffer identity crisis in their mid years? especially in a foreign country not knowing who they are?

Does she speak her indigenous language/language of her people though?

I don't think so.

And that would be too bad.

That first map on page 1 is wrong though, th part highlighted to be igbo is actually Ibibio.
And there is no Ekoi in Akwa Ibom state.

Besides, some of the parts shown to be Ibibio are actually Annang, especially those on the western local governments of the map.
Just a simplistic map that is assuming a lot of things.

grandstar:
There are a million and one products you excel in, why go pour money into something you suck at? The only way the country can ever produce rice is with a tariff in place. Take away the tariff and production collapses showing that it was built on a house on mud in the first place like we don't know.

Put energy into your strengths not weaknesses. Nigerians are being deprived of one of the benefits of international trade by these protectionist policies which are cheap goods.

Nigeria should not have a subsidy on fuel in the first place. If the price of fuel was deregulated, smuggling of it to Benin or anywhere in the world would benefit the country. The subsidy is the problem and not the smuggling.

Sorry sir, but you don't know what you are talking about.

Wickedtruths:
The border with Niger, is it southern or northern?

You're an idiotic illiterate who is probably a coconut smuggler in Badagry.

Ten months later, on 28 August, when they met in the lounges of a major Tokyo hotel on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), the atmosphere was tense, the smiles forced. Nigeria had recently decided to close its land border with its Beninese neighbour – for at least 28 days. Announced on 20 August, the ruling is also less strictly applied on the borders with Niger and Cameroon. But it has much stronger consequences for the Beninese economy.

It is an open secret that the border closure and general border security in the north is way more lax than it is in the south. Stop pretending like you don't know. Even the current border closure with Niger is only a partial closure.

mvem:
different dialect... You can tell by hearing the two

Ok, but which Hausa dialect is it being compared to?
Which area speaks what could be regarded as the 'standard' Hausa in Nigeria?

Ibrahimmrfish:
Pakistan people are the same people with India,they use to be the same country.Urdu is the same language with hindi,the difference is a little,Urdu have a little Arabic influence but both speakers of Urdu and hindi understand each other,it is just like Nigeria Hausa and Niger Hausa.

what is the difference between Niger Hausa and northern Nigerian Hausa?

Ikecna94:
Right! Even during the time Imo and Abia was cut up and added to Rivers State, Obasanjo equally cut off some parts of oil lands in Delta to give to Ondo just so SW can gain the title of oil producing. Till date, Delta State government have been fighting to regain the lands back and although some parts have been won back but, there's still significant number of lands still attached to Ondo State. If Delta is still struggling to gain lands stolen back in this era sef, what makes wike think he can stop any greedy move to take away oil lands from Rivers.

liar liar pants on fire! name the lands that were transferred from Delta to Ondo and stop talking in question marks. So we can work with the specifics.
What even makes Delta an entity?
At least the other guy discussing the issue in rivers mentioned parts of ONELGA, Egbema and Ndoki.

Bouncingbabyboy:
Under Jona a thousand naira was 3k cfa....wake me up when it gets to 3k under Baba

And under Jona, Crude oil prices was closer to $100 per barrel... stop talking out of context and set bitter politics aside for once in your life.
Oh wait...I forgot ! This is Nairaland, where most people don't understand micro or macro economics but tie everything to the person or party occupying the executive position at any given time.

2special:
Who are those importing rice and other banned products from these countries.... Nigerian

Which is exactly why the government closed off the border. Some of the items being smuggled shouldn't even be smuggled if Nigeria was functioning at even 30% the ideal... Imagine smuggling Sugar, Vegetable oils and Macaroni through the border. I just laugh.
But In my opinion this is just a short term solution to the issue, and it would need deeper structural reforms both economic and otherwise to make any long lasting changes to the issue of smuggling.
We can blame our neighbors all we wan't but the truth is that Nigeria itself has got to get its house in order.