(pop. 1953 - 2385;
1963 - 4165)
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
UROI
Until the later part of the thirties, Urhohi which the
then British Administration referred to as Urhohi Village group had no
intercourse with even the nearest district of Ekpoma let alone the rest of
Esan: Urohi people had always regarded themselves as being Benin if one
remembered what happened after the Idah War of 1516. As the Benin warriors were
returning, home from the war front Oba Ozolua had wisely decreed defensive
posts at strategic spots along the main routes through the old Esan country:
some powerful defensive medicines were planted in flat wooden containers (Uro)
with soldiers ostensibly to guard these defensive fetish weapons. These
military out-posts developed into communities later that went by Uroh in Uzea
in the North-East, Uroh, down South near the River Niger and Urohi, in the
extreme Western end of Esan.
Until the coming of the British made travelling safe, no
Urohi man visited Ekpoma, Opoji or Egoro with which communities Urohi was
constantly in a state of war. Also until the construction of the Native
Administration road which was more of a foot path through the impenetrable
jungle, from Urohi through Ukpoke to Ekpoma, Urohi was isolated and insular
even though Urohi was on the old routes most Benin Traders took to Esan.
The place was heavily forested, rich in Iroko, Mahogany
and Obeche, very fertile and the people were excellent farmers. Hunters and
gatherers, like Urhobos, traders etc. settled along River Ossiomo and on the
fertile farm land. All the interests of these people were towards Benin to
which it was easier and safer to evacuate their products through nearby Uhi.
The Ossiomo River formed an effective boundary limiting Urohi to the Esan
country.
It is reasonable to believe that the captain of the Benin
warriors left to guard the defensive Uro, called Oseighelen or his heir called
Irenlen, gave rulership of the community who later according to Esan .custom
came to be known as Onojie. It is, also reasonable to see how this original
settlement became Eguare with a 1963 population for 1556.
2. EKOMIJIE: (205)
This came·from the Eko or camp of Omijie, the first son
of Urokuyuwa, a Benin man; this man first settled in Idomotien. Eribo was the
Uko Oba (Oba's representative) who returned to Benin leaving Urokuyuwa as his
deputy).
3. OHOGHO (610)
This village was formed by some Benin warriors, thus,
becoming one of the earliest settlements. Here is the seat of the Oshodin that
takes care of the Onojie's harem and like the rest of Esan, it was his duty to
"Baa Igben” that is place one of the Onojie's Ivie necklaces around the
neck of a desired woman, single or married. Once this happened the woman automatically
became the wife of the Onojie.
4. EBHOUKHURE (347)
Some of the Benin men who came to settle the Urohi - Uhi
land dispute, founded this community in an area where sugar cane (Ukhuere) grew
luxuriantly. The original name Idumedo had been eclipsed by this produce.
5. OHON
Like all the settlements of Urhoi, the founders of this
village came directly from Benin or nearby Uhi. Here the Iyasele of Urhohi is found.
6. UROHINAEGORO (383)
This place was founded by Benin people from Uhi and some
fugitives from Egoro which got decimated about the same time Ikhatenmen and his
group were forced to flee further into the jungle. Many of these people
belonged to the hardy groups that withstood the onslaught.
7. EKHUELE
This place was founded by some of the original Benin
warriors under the leadership of Ekenuhan. The name has nothing to do with
Ekhuele Khanoba of Ekperi. The name came 'from Akhue (for marble game) which
abounded in the area.
Because of the fertil ity of the land and the remoteness
from powerful rulers and marauders, farmers and hunters founded many subsequent
communities that went by the name of Ago, Eko, like Ebutemetta camp (263)
Okenauwa or Ago Uwa (805), Ageni from Ago Eni which was founded by elephant
hunters who getting tired of the long and hazardous trips to Urohi jungle
finally settled there.
From the-heterogeneous mixtures of the settlements, even
the adoption of Esan custom following the establishment of Ekpoma Native Court,
has not been able to weld them together in the true Esan way and with no ties
of kinship inter-marriage within the same Idunmun is the practice. Exogamy is
practically alien to Urohi!
As pointed out already, after the establishment of Ekpoma
Native Court in 1905 and fixing of the old Benin - Esan boundary, Urohi was
forced into some positive union with Esan, though in practice it was more at
tune with Benin; thus Esan did not know anything about Urohi Enijie. Until 1931
when the all powerful Ishan Council was abolished Imadojiemum (1909 - 1946) District
Head (D.H.) of Ekpoma - Egoro - Opoji District, ruled Urohi. But today, Urohi
is a virile component of Esan West Local Government Area and fully integrated
with all Esan activities and custom under an enlightened Onojie - His Highness
Oguamere 11 like his jovial forebear, Oguamere 1.
