(pop. 1953 - 3, 166; 1963 - 2, 815)
By DR.CHRISTOPHER.G. OKOJIE, OFR, DSc (Hon)
It will serve a useful purpose to remember right at
the onset that there are two parts to every Esan district: the royal family and
the common people. They were quite
distinct, for nearly all the ancient ruling houses came from Benin City or its
suburbs. The head of the ruling houses was and still is, the ONOJIE, who with
his family, servants and brothers inhabited EGUARE, the administrative CAPITAL
of the district. Another important thing an enquirer must take notice of is the
use of the word BROTHER by Esan people. It can mean anything from a male blood
relation to a very good friend. Secondly OBA's SON can mean a BINI and, in
fact, it was recently, a common thing for any Bini, outside the city, to
describe himself as the OBA's SON!
HISTORY:
The correct name is OKHUELE-ESAN, a name which has overemphasized the connection there
is between Okhuele-Odua (Okhuodua) and Okhuesan. From the name it would appear
as if there was one Okhuele which split into Okhuele of Odua and Okhuele of
Esan. That would be a wrong impression for the only connection between the two
places which are quite distinct and separated by a large community - EMU - is
ELONMON, the Princess from Benin City who eloped with the audacious OKHIRARE
founder of Okhuodua. This woman after the death of Okhirare, married OLU, one of the
junior sons of Izibi or Ijesan of Udo.
Prince Olu, an
independent, resourceful and avid hunter, one day while hunting, came to a spot
full of Ukhua (Native Walnut). He was so fascinated by the beauty and richness
of the spot, that he came home with a glowing report of it to his father, the
Onojie. He packed his property and together with his immediate family members
and servants he returned there to settle. Because of the many Ukhua growing
wild there Prince Olu's settlement was referred to as ISI-UKHUA or OTO-UKHUA
which soon got corrupted to OTOUKHUA. It was a matter of years for the original
name to degenerate into OKHUE.
Now from the union of
OLU and Princess ELONMON resulted a son called ESAN. By his father’s industry
and popularity many people in search of peace and quietness came to swell the
population of the little hamlet the inhabitants of which served Olu as a ruler.
But the very first to be installed Onojie formally was Esan, Olu's successor.
As a godson of OJUDO (Onojie of Udo), and the half-brother of Erakpe of
Okhuodua and Oriomon of Emu, his connections were so regal that he was soon a
famous man. Thus the Oto-Ukhua founded by his father came to be known by his
name - OKHUE-ESAN.
The blood
relationship between places like Udo, Ubiaja, Emu, Ohordua and Okhuesan can now
be understood. It is related to Udo and Ubiaja patrilineally, and to Ohordua
and Emu patrilineally. Izibi of Udo was the father of Olu, founder of Okhuesan,
when Izibi was the senior brother of Edeikholo, founder of Ubiaja. Esan, the
son of Olu, was the son of Princess Elonmon, mother of Erakpe of Ohordua and
Oriomon of Emu.
With a prolific and
much-travelled woman like Princess Elonm there was bound to be an avalanche of
burial complications descending her off springs. Her death raised so many
issues that brotherly blood, freely spilt, with the one result that would
surprise no one: She had to be buried in parts! Death finally caught up with
the Princess at Okhuesan; the junior son, then sent word to his senior
brothers, Erakpe and Oriom Erakpe followed by his people arrived post-haste,
and like the big brother he was, demanded as a right, the respected body of
their mother. Especially though the most junior, maintained that since she died
on his lap, the mother should be buried at Okhuesan - it was no strange place
for the According to Esan custom really Elonmon ought to be returned to her
natural place - Benin, but in her case, no son however dutiful, was prepared
carry the body of his dead mother in a six months trek! A heated argument
ensued but it got temporarily stopped by Okhuodua seizing the dead brother and
making a dash for it! Okhuesan gave a determined chase and on road between
Okhuesan and Emu, a bitter scuffle followed. Hours later when there was neither
hair nor skin left on their "respected mother Okhuodua cut off the dead
woman's head and made away with the prized part of the human body, according to
Head hunters 'code'! They buried it at Okhuodua and the spot is marked today by
EKI-ELONMC Okhuesan had the consolation of having a headless and skinned body
bury! It was all very shocking for Emu, the middle son who had been neutral!
1. IDELUAN (1953 - 707; 1963 - 983):
This was founded by
one of Olu's sons called Oakhireman.
2. IKIALA (1953 - 428; 1963 - 536):
The full name is
IKEKIYALA and was founded by Oghogho, of the Onojie, UWAIFO, hence it is also
known as Idumu-Oghogho.
3. IKEKEN (1953 - 509; 1963 - 686):
This village consist
of IDUN-ISO and IDUMU-OGWA. The la was founded by immigrants who had fled from
the unrest at Ogwa, result of the Ekpoma - Ogwa skirmishes. The Idun-Iso
quarter was founded by people from Iki Opoji, during the protracted Irrua -
Opoji War of 1850.
The site occupied by
Idumu-Ogwa was the original Ikekogbe Iweala, Ubiaja's first Eguare. This really
gave the two settlements of Idumu Ogwa 468 Idun-Iso and Idumu-Ogwa their common
name; Ogbe is sometimes called EKEN. Every Eguare in those days had a quarter
where the Onojie's servants and slaves lived; it was usually behind the walled palace
grounds, and hence this special quarter was called IKEKOGBE, that is, behind
the palace wall. This 'BACK OF OGBE' or BACK OF EKEN Iweala came to be IKEKEN
which became the overall name of all the settlements that later grew up in the
area.
The original
Oto-ukhua became the Onojie's seat - EGUARE, which had a population of 522 in
1953 and a figure of 610 in 1963.
2. PRESENT ONOJIE:
His Royal Highness
EHIDIAMEN is the present Onojie of Okhuesan. He was born in 1916 and as a
youth, was famous for his agility and acrobatic prowess.
When Onojie Ozigue,
about the 8th Onojie in Okhuesan died in 1905, his son and heir was ISII, the
second son was ATAIMEN while the third son was O-bo. Isii at once began the
burial ceremonies according to Esan Native Laws and Custom but within nine days
of his father's death, he too was dead. He had actually begun the ceremonies
but death did not allow him to conclude the rites and was the second son
Ataimen that finally performed the burial ceremonies with Ogbe. He then
ascended the throne in 1905. In April, 1920 Ataimen was appointed a members of
Ubiaja Native Court (BP 2/4120, S.S.P.A.of 29/9/20) but on the 20th of
September, 1920, he died with his son and heir Ehidiamen, a minor. His uncle
Obo (pronounced Oobo) was made a Regent. It took the long period of 1920 to
1933 for young Ehidiamen to overcome his minority. In 1933 Obo stepped down and
he with his own first son EIGBOKHAN left the palace for Ehidiamen.
Chief Ehidiamen was
an Honourable Member of the House of Chiefs in the Old Western Region and in
the Midwest House of Chiefs following the creation of Nigeria's fourth region
in August, 1963. Ehidiamen is fearless, forth-right and dedicated to any cause
he believes in, an attribute that had brought him on a head-on-collision with
powerful politicians after the 1979 elections. He has very little respect for
his brother traditional rulers who pretend to be neutral in' politics but work
ceaselessly at night for the party in power. Chief Ehidiamen who had always had
a real grip on his people, had a long lasting problem with his people and up to
1992, is still living outside Okhuesan in Uromi, his mother's place, despite a
settlement. It is only now in June, 1993 he has begun rebuilding of his palace
under the assistance of Okhuesan Community and men of goodwill.
3. KINGMAKERS:
The elders of Eguare
form the kingmakers of Okhuesan.
4. INSTALLATION:
Okhuesan history
amply emphasises the uniqueness and advisability of keeping strictly to Esan
Native Laws and Custom as exemplified by the Isii - Ataimen episody. Burial
ceremonies are decisive.
Genealogy Tree
