Don’t take over our land, Itsekiri caution Bini
By Kayode Ehonwa
The Itsekiri Nationality has cautioned some forces in Benin Kingdom to abstain from any effort to take over their ancestral homeland..
In a statement on Monday made available to Irohinoodua, the Itsekiri National Youths Council, (INYC) expressed regret at the plot by certain interest of Benin dominion to trample and take over ItsekitI an central land through force and fraudulent distortion of historical landmarks.
The Itsekiri lamented that the following Itsekiri ancient territories are being treated as if they are owned by the Binis.
The territories are Ologbo, Ologbo, Ikara, Ajatiton, Kolokolo, Ajoki, Ajamimogha, Ogba, Ekete, Ekenwan, Ogbo, Osanmara that are all indigenous Itsekiri communities in Edo State.
The Statement signed by Appearance Afejuku stated “The attention of the Itsekiri National
Youths Council (INYC) has been drawn to a publication by the Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM) which appeared on today’s Vanguard, Monday, April 13, 2020 wherein a certain Curtis Ugbo and his co travelers spewed balderdash coated in displeasure against an adhoc committee they claimed was set up by His Imperial Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri.”
The group said “Since the protracted Ologbo crisis, the INYC has deliberately bar any Itsekiri youth or group from displaying such boorish idiocy by calling out or casting aspersions on His Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin as displayed by Curtis Ugbo and his crew against His Imperial Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri on all media.”
Is deed “Knowing how garrulous and shameless Curtis can be, we have decided to set the record straight before the unsuspecting public takes him seriously.”
It noted that the highly revered Itsekiri monarch, Ogiame Ikenwoli has and did not set up any adhoc Peace Implementation Committee on the Ologbo crisis. BSM should consult with Chief Yahaya Tesigiweno Pessu, Sir. A.S Mene and Mr. Egert Omonukarin about such committee.
“The Itsekiris, in our nobility are not known to be insultive to monarchs and other traditional institutions. Hence, we will not join issues with Curtis Ugbo and his co-travelers to insult the Binis and their monarch whom we hold in high esteem”
In a related development the Oodua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC) asked the Olu of Warri and the Oba of Benin to wade into the matter for amicable resolution. ONAC in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Mikhail Akinjobi said the land in question has been known to belong to Itesekiti people. “The land and the communities belongs to Itsekiri. Those who wish to claim this land lack a deep sense of history”, ONAC said.
It stated that the Council is trying not to destroy the existing relationship between the Itsekiri and Bini kingdoms which dates back to over five centuries. However, if the Binis decide to bring all their criminals on social media to denigrate our traditional institution, we shall soon show to the world that no society is complete without all kinds of people.
They are exclusively Itsekiri names. They bear no linguistic connection with the Bini language. The establishment of Bini dukedom to oversee Itsekiri communities is totally alien to law and our culture.
Anyone interested in acquiring Itsekiri land in any of the aforementioned Itsekiri communities in Edo state and others should follow established legal processes of land acquisition either for individual or corporate use. Anything short of that is an invitation to anarchy.
The only panacea to genuine peace in Ologbo is for the duke and dukedom (Enogie system) which are alien to Itsekiri custom and tradition, to be Immediately dismantled. If other ethnic nationalities in Edo state accept dukedom, Itsekiri shall not.