The various
people of Idumuesah do not lay claim to common ancestry. It is a clan founded by seven settlers from
different parts of the present day Edo and Delta States. Since each settler founded a village of its
own, federating into a clan, the name IDUMUESAH meaning “Seven Villages” speaks
for itself. The seven villages are
Ali-obume, Ali-Egboh, Ali-Ilor, Ali-Oje, Ali-Eketu, Ali-Asuku and Ali-Echenim.
Ali-Obume founded by Ibili
traces it’s origin to Ugboha in Esan Local Government area of ancient Benin
kingdom of the present Edo State.
The next settler Egbo who
founded Ali-Egboh came from Aboh in the riverine area of Ukwani in the present
Ndokwa Area of Delta state.
After Egboh
was Ilor, the founder of Ali Ilor who
came from Uromi In the heart land of “Esan” area of ancient Benin kingdom, now
Edo state. The last but not the least to arrive was Ojeh who, according to
history was a brother of Ilor. Therefore he also came from Uromi as described
above. His settlement was Ali-Ojeh. Eketu, Asuku and Echenim, whose ancestral
home were traceable to the present day Ezi and Onicha Olona in present Aniocha
North Local Government Area of Delta State, founded Ali-Eketu, Ali-Asuku and
Ali-Echenim. However the other of their arrival is lost to history as their
villagers became extinct in the distant past because of lack of written history
of these settlements. The factors which made it possible for their people from
diverse cultural, religious political and traditional background to fuse and
live in such harmony and charity as one political and administrative unit are
lost to oral history.
IDUMUESAH
POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRTIVE SYSTEMS
Every
political unit has its political and administrative system either peculiar to
it or universal to the units within its area of location. This explains the
uniqueness of the system practiced by IDUMUESAH CLAN as compared to other ten
clans of Ika nation.
While
others operate kingship or monarchical system of Government, Idumuesah operates
a system of administration based on the frame work of GERONTOCRACY a system
whereby leaderships devolves on the oldest male. It is not quite clear why the
Obiship or Enogieship system is not adopted having regard to the fact that all
the settlers/founders of the present existing villages except Egboh, came from
the area where OKPARANSHIP SYSTEM based on Gerontocracy is practiced. As a
matter of fact, the present system as practiced since founding the clan appears
to have been influenced by the federating villages not to practice the
monarchical system of Government.
The
uniqueness of it’s system of administration has been source of strength instead
of weakness as it’s hegemony has never been challenged, it is also on record
that the history of Idumuesah is characterised by peace, harmony and good
neighbourliness with it’s neighbours over the years as there is complete
absence of border clashes, boundary cases or violent clashes of any nature or
war with any external authority. In pursuit of the noble ideas of democracy,
power is shared among the villages that make up the clan to avoid concentration
of political or administrative power on an individual, group of people or
village.
However,
each of the villages enjoys a measure of autonomy and sovereignty.
Ibili being
the first settler in the present location of Idumuesah clan was honoured with
the senior Okparanship of the clan translated into the people usage as “Okpara
Uku” of the clan. This underscores why Ali-Obume which Ibili founded has been
presenting the Okpara-Uku irrespective of whether or not any of the Okparan
from the other there villages of Ali-Egboh, Ali-Ilor or Ali-Ojeh is /are senior
to him in age.
To bring
about checks and balance in the powers of the senior Okparan/Okparan Uku,
certain political/administrative offices are reserved for the three other villages
Ali-Egboh, Ali-Ilor and Ali-Ojeh. For example, the Olotu-Uku of the clan (is
the minister and leader of all the age groups below him is reserved these three
villages of the clan in rotation. So also is the position of usage (the prime
minister) the Odogwu (the war lord) and the Obaseki. Each of the four villages
of the clan is ruled by a council of elders (Inniche) headed by the oldest
among them that bears the title of Okparan. Therefore, it is to differentiate
the rulers of Okparan of Ali-Obume while performing the administrative,
political and religions leadership of the clan that the nomenclature of
Okpara-Uku is ascribed to him. On administration of each of the four villages,
each Okparan has the autonomy over the affairs of his village in so far as his
actions do not conflict with the over all interest of the clan. Little wonder
they all meet to discuss and resolve issues that border on the over all
interest of the clan as unit.
Idumuesah
clan, from ages of its existence has continued to maintain peaceful
co-existence, mutual understanding/respect and good neighbourliness with its
immediate and far distant neighbours without compromising her economic rights
and privileges.
However,
complexities and intricacies of modern administration and political approaches
to the general welfare of it’s citizenry has made it necessary to effect some
modernization to meet the challenges of the present day social, economic and
political growth. Even then it’s method of governance has not drastically
changed in traditional and religious matters.
All such write ups should be
forwarded to the publisher or the editor, Ika Weekly at the newspaper
co-operate office, 108 old Lagos/Asaba Road or to our
email:ikaweekly@yahoo.com. Better still you can call Mekiriuwa on 08033417578
or Augustin 08064929488.
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
as an indigen of idumuesah am satisfied
Idumuesah Kingdom is a great and powerful kingdom. God bless Idumuesah Kingdom.
Thank you for the historical analysis. Am very happy.
God bless IDUMUESAH
I’m very glad to read and understand the history of my Kingdom, I’m very proud of my ?Kingdom Idumuesah ,my name is Clement the son of Egbule (ozomor) greetings from ??Europe.
This article is very vital it worth reading. I’m glad to have the idea of our history.
Am so satisfied about the origin of my village
Idumuesah is indeed a great land.I am proud of idumuesah ,may God bless our great kingdom in Jesus name Amen
May God bless our great kingdom idumuesah in Jesus name Amen
I’m very happy having gone through the historical analysis of Idumuesah clan and I can say that Idumuesah is a very kingdom.
Thank you so much for that pretty analysis.
Iroro Friday from Phortharcourt
It is a pity that almost the whole people of Ika tribe, whom I hold in high esteem, seem not to understand their root. Each time an Ika person, whether old or young, literate or illiterate, talks or writes about Ika history, they tend to point Ika origin to Edo or ancient Benin. This is a BIG ERROR. The whole of Anioma people in Delta state including the Ikas are sub-group of IGBO ethnicity. But unfortunately, people of ANIOMA, especially the Ika people, tend to lean towards Edo instead of IGBO.
The fact is that we are all IGBO decent, conquered by the Great Benin during olden days and now we seem to have lost our root. We speak a dialect of the IGBO language, we wear Igbo dresses, we bear Igbo names and our monarchs use Igbo titles like Obi, Eze, Okpara etc., yet we dissociate ourselves from the Igbos. The Benin man would refer to us as ‘owie Ika’ meaning son of Ika whereas we claim Edo descent. What a shame for a whole tribe of people not to know where they come from. Both Kings and the people in this area are just being stupid. They all lack knowledge of their descent! What a shame!
You don’t need to insult any one to make your point. A true son of Ika can’t talk to his elders the way you just did.
Thank Money or what do you call yourself, if you don’t agree with the historical analysis provided here and your argument is that Ika people bears Ibo names, wear same dress & what have you as such they’re Ibos. why not provide the actual history with facts instead of insulting both their kings & the people. Maybe your sense is tied to you fingers not your brain.
Thank Money,
Thanks for your message but you did not get it right. Try to investigate further about villages. That of Idumuesah is right. I don’t know of other clans. You can contact me for further clarification if you are interested.
Thank you.
Wow nice one I can now tell my children the history of my village bless you god bless idumuesah
Am so Happ knowing about my village. We are good people
Firstly, i want to say a big thank you the writer. Long life idumuesah. I’m proud that am from IDUMUESAH.
The historical analysis above is pretty good,great kingdom, peaceful people.
Thank you for the write-ups.
Am very very happy to read this vital information.
Am proud of my home.
Chukwu gozi ndi idumuesah.
I love where am from very interesting story about my village is good to learn about your originality very informative to everyone living. Much love my lovely people. Udo. LYSN MBMB
Buh why do anyone who notice dat am from idumuesha stay away from me??
I’m UTEBOR Happy ifeanyichukwu I’m so glad to be an origin of idumesha kingdom, where it means a lot to me being an indigen of I idumesha is very very good because will respect our culture , will love each other most expecially if you are son of the soil of idumesha kingdom
Where my land is a great kingdom in agbor at large,I superly love my home town because is an amazing twon.
Please tell me how owa oyibu people try to claim idumuesah railway
Please tell me the spiritual war between owa oyibu and ldumuesah
I’m very glad to read and understand the history of my Kingdom, I’m very proud of my ?Kingdom Idumuesah ,my name is stanley amechi the son of (ilor,) the iguwebike of our time long live my people. greetings from ??Europe.
Was meant to understand that the seven villages are sons of ibili.
Laï wé núo.
Greeting to all indigenes of the idumuesah kingdom, I love you all.
First I want to commend the person who took his time to attempt to pen down the historical thread line of our people. God bless you richly.
I also want to thank the person that challenged the one who discriminated against and insulted this write-up and our people. On this note, I want to say that Mr thank Money should please be civilized enough to write to us as he talked, about a historical pathway of our people.
There’s truly a belief by some that the ika people are of the same descent as the Igbos. But the ika people were conquered, and controlled by conquest by the great Benin kingdom. I know for a certainty that the Agborigine are a people of their own originally called the OMINIJIE”, ominijie oku ntiti. Led by OKWAPOR before they switched to the monarch system.
For me, the history of our people, the great idumuesah people is not known until I read the account of this beautiful writer.
Honestly I appreciate the person who wrote this, because he has enlightened me into my roots and to relate with my ancestral people as nature demands.
Thank you so much. Long live idumuesah kingdom, long live our people.
Thank you all.