(pop. 411 - 1953)
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 founder of UDO was IZIBI better known as IJESAN. He
was the senior brother of EDEIKHOLO of Ubiaja. After the banishment of Ede for
pilfering at the Oba's palace; Izibi later traced him and found him in ESAN
country. By now Ede had found new wealth and position of authority at IWEALA.
Blinded by his new importance he dealt with his senior brother harshly and
disrespectfully, so much so, that Izibi decided to escape the insults of this
ungrateful brother by going to found a settlement of his own. He settled first
at IKEKEDE.
Some
elders maintain that it was from the present Eguare
that some people went to found settlements in Ikekede. This is
incorrect. The
Onojie, as a matter of fact has been there twice: first, during the
arrival of
Izibi from Benin and secondly for a short time, when Izibi who had
become Onojie, in a fit of temper, killed AGBOINKHENAN, one of
his junior brothers. Since as Onojie he could not be killed for this
offence,
Udo banished him from Eguare for a short period. He went to live in his
original settlement of Ikekede. True, more people followed him to swell
the few
that had been left originally. When he paid dues Udo demanded of him, he
was allowed
to return to Eguare. He left some of his children as Ekhaemon of
OGHONMERE,
IRAKUA and UDONERIA.
1. OGHONMERE
This place was founded by Izibi's second son who became
the first IHAZA.
2. IDUMUAKHIMI:
This was the place founded by the third son who became
the Ezomo. This is why in Udo, the Ihaza is senior to the Ezomo.
3. ERIA or UDONERIA:
The fourth son and his party remained when the Onojie,
his father, returned to Eguare after his atonement. As a result of his
influence and popularity he was made the Iyasele.
4. IRAKUA:
Enema, Izibi's fifth son founded this quarter.
5. EKO UROMI:
An Uromi Prince called UTOMI with his family was the
first settler, in this quarter.
6. EKO UGBODU:
This place was founded by EDEN of Uromi, but he was later
joined by the influential and wealthy Ugbodu whose name eclipsed that of the
first settler.
7. EKO OKUKPON:
This place was founded by Olcukpon, an Uromi man, but his
followers were from Eguare Udo.
Oghonmere, Irakua and Udoneria together form the
community known as IKEKEDE.
2. Kingmakers:
The elders of Eguare form the Kingmakers of Udo. They
form EGBELE - IBHUIE.
3. INSTALLATION:
The late Onojie must be honoured with the customary
burial and Ogbe ceremonies before a successor is installed. As soon as the
Onojie dies, the heir’s most senior uncle takes charge of the Odugha while he
gets busy with all the ceremonies ending with the funeral rites. By the end of
the third month he is through with all the ceremonies and after inheritance of
his father's wives and property, he is installed as Onojie. The important men
in all the ceremonies are the elders of EGBELE - IBHUIE whose head is the
traditional Osukhure. He and the Oniha install the new ruler.
4. PRESENT ONOJIE:
The ruler in the fifties was a regent and was the second
son of AKUEWANBHO. His name was UJIAGBEDION. In 1948 EDOMEN, a young man of
about 26, died shortly after completion of his father's burial and Ogbe
ceremonies. His heir Joseph AMEBHAGBEMEN-UHONMON, was then a minor, and so his
uncle, Ujiagbedion was chosen as the Akheoa. Ujiagbedion was an experienced,
humorous and honest looking man of about 66 in 1954 and had taken sincere care
of both the Palace and title which he was holding in trust. In 1968
Amenbhagbemenuhomon overcame his minority and came on his own as Onojie of Udo.
GENEALOGICAL TREE
6. NON - AGRESSION
PACT:
Blood ties kept the people of Udo, Ubiaja and Okhuesan in
peace. The peaceful connection between Udo and Ewohimi emphasises the strong
kinship organisation of old Esan. The mothers of Izibi who founded Udo and
Ikhimi, the founder of Orikhimi were sisters. This matriline connection was
brought down all the way from Benin to Esan and the tie remained strong and
unbroken even up to the advent of the British. Ugbesea's tyranny got to a stage
when the humble people of Ikeken could not take it anymore and so rebelled, but
unfortunately they were so indiscriminate in their expression of hate for
Ugbesea who had become synonymous for Ubiaja that soldiers had to be sent.
Ewohimi under the leadership of Warrior Odijie, had come to the assistance of
their cousin, Ubiaja. Before the arrival of the soldiers, the great Agho of
Ubiaja fell to an Ikeken matchet and to prevent his paraphernia from failing
into the enemies' hands Odijie pulled things from the body of the dead man. The
Ahanman (Ivory) on his wrist could not be pulled and as he drew his matchet to
sever Agho's wrist, Obiyan warned, Remember Ewohimi and Ubiaja do not see each
other's blood! Ikeken had both Warrior Agho's head, Ahanman and all!
Though Ubiaja and Okhuesan fought later, shocking the
spirits of the departed forebears by the free show of each other's blood, this
was Ubiaja's fault. They had tried to impose themselves far too much upon
Okhuesan on the ground that the latter was junior to Ubiaja which is really
Okhuesan's ·UNCLE’. On the other hand the relationship between Udo and Ubiaja
has been so cordial that there is no boundary between the two communities. Up till
now Ubiaja sends EMINA UKO consisting of a leg, a forelimb and half the chest
of a cow slaughtered when an Onojie dies in Ubiaja, to Udo. Similarly Udo and
Ewohimi still exchange Emina Uko for the actual burial ceremonies of an Onojie,
a goat and a piece of cloth are sent.
