₦airaland Forum

The South would not rise up in Arms..
Because the running mate of the proposed Northern President would be from one of the Southern groups.

The others would just murmur and protest but would not be able to change anything.

The president come 2023 is likely going to be a Southwest Yoruba with a Northern running mate....or a Northerner with a Yoruba running mate.


The South East and South South are neither United nor prepared.....and until they come together and speak with one voice , the country would continue being ruled by the North ,(Hausa-Fulani dominated) and their Yoruba allies.....


Forget about Biafra, Niger Delta republic or any secessionist country.... it's impossible......No secession in Africa without a bitter war.....


Forget restructuring and true federalism.... It's not gonna happen. Those in control know they'll go bankrupt and poor once the nation is restructured....

We South South people are all trapped in this dilemma called Nigeria...

Mathis101:
Despite receiving the highest allocation,Akwa Ibom's debt is top 5 in the federation at N206.41 billion with nothing to show for it except few over hyped white elephant projects . While some other states are quietly building industries without making too much noise , akwa ibom is only good in propaganda . Is it it any wonder that Akwa ibom has the second highest unemployment in the federation?

https://www.pulse.ng/bi/finance/nigerias-top-5-states-with-highest-debt-profiles-in-the-first-half-of-2019/knp4npj

You are right. There are good roads in Uyo and drainages. The city is clean with some flyovers, the stadium....But there are so many unnecessary projects in the state. If those projects were channeled into something else, it would have been better....


Unemployment is still much there....Very few industries.....Uyo has not been fully developed. It is just good beautiful roads cutting through clusters of villages ... Uyo wasn't excellent planned....

But the previous administration did a good job in changing the narrative...... from 2007

Abagworo:
I read recently a debate about Ikwerre ethnic group originating from Benin and in that process someone mentioned Ekpeye and Ogba as being brothers with Ikwerre even though that was a recent hypothesis based on the tradition of origin of Ekpeye and Ogba which stated that Akalaka their common ancestor had a third son whose whereabouts was unknown. Some Ikwerre 3rd columnists therefore tried to claim Ihuruoha as that lost son in order to justify a recently conceived story of Benin origin.

Back to the topic of the day here is history of Ekpeye as written by Usama Ekpeye the Ekpeye cultural organization and my use of same to prove Crossriver Igbo ancestry.


EKPEYE IS NOT IGBO.

There is no need for too much debate as I refer you all to www.usama-ekpeye.org for a very short history of Ekpeye people.

Ekpeye and Ogba are brothers and have their origins from Benin.

Unless someone can proof this historical origin of the Ancestors of Francis Ellah and Chibudom Nwuche to be wrong, or proof that the Oba of Benin or his Ancestors are Igbos, then please let it be clear to all that Ekpeye and Ogba people are not Igbos.

Ekpeye has it's distinct dialect that cannot be mistaken for any variant of the Igbo language. For example, God in Igbo is Chineke but in Ekpeye it is Ebilikpabi.

Some Ekpeye people may understand and speak Igbo or even bear some Igbo names, but that is mainly because a lot of Igbo people lived in Ahoada/Ekpeyeland and still do till this day. For example, half of my father's compound in Ahoada town was occupied by Igbo tenants and thus the interaction was intense and so was the culture mix; but that does not mean that Ahoada people are Igbos.

Furthermore, as Emeka Okala already stated, during the Eastern Region era, the Igbo language was taught at schools and at Sunday schools to the extent that in the main church in Ahoada - St. Paul's Church Ahoada (now Cathedral), sermons were usually interpreted in Igbo and beside the English Hymns Ancient and Modern, we also had the Igbo prayer and song book - 'Ekpere Na Abu' .

Also, although some Ekpeye names may sound like Igbo names, they do not always have the same meaning. For example, my family name Echikwa to an Igbo man means 'Tomorrow too' but in Ekpeye, its meaning is 'Do not pursue'.

However, the Ekpeye people are always very welcoming and will welcome our Igbo friends at anytime.

While we discuss Ekpeye people, let me also use this opportunity to extend our warm invitation to all to attend USAMA EKPEYE's 8th Annual Convention and fund raising gala night taking place at Jackson, Tennessee

Ekpeye was the first of the three sons of Akalaka who migrated from Benin Kingdom in the 15th Century. He was born in Benin (Edo) and married a Benin girl called Iyavaeme. He lived permanently at their last settlement (Olube) now called Ula-Ubie.

At Ulobe, his wife bore him four male children namely Ubie, Akoh, Okobo and Upata. As the first son of a great general, Ubie was brought up also as a warrior, a brave hunter, a notorious herbalist, a farmer, a trader, a juju priest and all other attributes of a great man. He was the Nye-so-eja-eleof Ulobe and the chief priest of his father, Akalaka shrine Ogbolo now Ogbolo-Imaji brought from Benin.



1 The name Ekpeye is also Ekpafia or Ekpa afia which translates to bush bag. The Igbos further in call them "Akpa ofia" or "Akpa Ohia".

2 The name Ogba is extremely common in Crossriver Igbo and it means hunter. The name Akalaka is a common title in Crossriver Igbo and means destiny. By Crossriver Igbo I mean Igbos living by the bank of Crossriver in Abia and Ebonyi States. Example include Afikpo, Arochukwu, Abiriba, Abam and Ohafia.

3 In a bid to proclaim a difference with Igbo the author tried to claim Igbos called God Chineke whereas Ekpeye called God Ebilikpabi but that's a wrong claim. Igbos originally called God Orisa, Olisa, Olise, Orise and also shortened it to Osa or Ose at times which makes the original Igbo name for God identical to Bini but Ekpeye originating from Crossriver made use of the God there known as Chukwu or Ubiniukpabi. Chineke was adopted by Christians and used across Igboland including Ekpeye. The origin of the God Chineke is Oboama/Umunama Mbaise. Common names used for God in Igbo which people also bear as surname are Orisa, Chineke, Ukpabi, Obasi, Igwe, Amadi and Chukwu. Ukpabi, Obasi and Chukwu originate from Crossriver Igbo whereas Igwekala and Amadioha were established by Crossriver Igbos at Ozuzu Etche and Umunoha Mbaitoli.

The aim of this thread is to enlighten people on clarify some controversy in recent miseducation of new generation

Ogba and Ekpeye are said to be descendants of Akalaka who is said to have sojourned in the Benin Kingdom. The Ekpeye Language is very distinct from even the Ogba Dialect. The Ekpeye language appears to be ancient and could have been a remnant of the Proto-Igbo Language along with the Igboid languages of some parts of Ebonyi State....

Another thing that supports a possible Cross River Igbo connection is the presence of Ebiriba in Ekpeye. There is also an Abiriba (pronounced Ebiriba) in Abia State. The word "Ebilikpabi" which is the supposed Ekpeye word for God, is similar to "Ibinukpabi" of the Aro. Also, some Ohafia traditions suggest an eastwards migration from Benin too.

It may be possible that there was an Aboriginal Ekpeye speaking people who lived in the area before the arrival of Akalaka from Benin . Akalaka's descendants, with the experiences from Benin may have instituted the monarchy and governed the Ekpeye while the other founded Ogba.

The Ekpeye Language is marginally intelligible with most Igbo dialects. The Ogba Dialect is similar to West Igbo And Riverine Igbo Dialects...


As for Ikwerre, there was actually a proto Ikwerre group which was an offshoot of the ancient Ekpeye. Later in history, some Ogba people and more Ekpeye as well as some people from the hinterland Igbo joined to give what is called today Ikwerre.....


All these are History.....
Since it is the consensus decision of these groups to be recognized and regarded as distinct ethnic minorites, I think everyone should respect their wish.
Everyone or group has the right to self determination and so Ikwerre, Ogba And Ekpeye should be given such rights..... Belgium is French speaking but not French. Austria is German speaking but not German. America is English speaking but not English. Mexico is Spanish speaking but not Spanish....

I think we should respect that....

My own problem with these groups, especially my very own Ikwerre is the distortion of history, telling lies, sowing seeds of hatred, denying facts , just to prove we are distinct...... It's not good...


The Itsekiri did not distort history to maintain their status as a distinct minority.
The Isoko didn't do so to differ from the Urhobo, neither did the Efik or Annang....