By Benson Iduh
Over the years there have been the desire of the IGBOS to widen the ethic and geographical area or scope of the people referred to as “Ndi-Igbo” in Nigeria.
The arrow head of this drive are the new generation of Ndi- Igbos of the present South-East geopolitical zone. Their inspiration is perhaps to be hinged on two main planks. Firstly, their belief that there exist some people West of the Niger river in Nigeria who speak a very close language spoken by the Ndi-Igbos.
Secondly, they believe that the separation of the people was the handiwork of the Colonial Masters just for administrative convenience. There is no doubt about the closeness of the people of Anioma spoken languages to the Igbo language. As for the Aniocha people, as you move from Agbor eastwards towards Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa and Asaba the difference in their language and the Igbo language narrows down. That was why the Anioma people were in the past referred to as Ika-Ibos.
But the question we should ask ourselves is, long before the colonial masters came did the Agbors (Ikas) forefathers or ancestors regard themselves as Ndi Igbo? The obvious answer to this question is capital “NO” This is because history did not tell them so. If this is so, why are the Igbos of South-East tying so hard to igbonize these people. The average Ibusa, OgwashI-Uku and Asaba people can perhaps conveniently say they are by induction, part of the Igbo race. The same cannot be said for the Agbors (Ikas) many of who claim to have__Bini___ accessory or brotherly link with ancient Benin Kingdom.
History tells us that Agbor Kingdom is a very ancient one and that the Agbor people may have founded Onitsha (Nmiri) and even, the Benin Kingdom and many other Ika and Amiona towns.
History also tells us that at a particular period in the history of Benin Kingdom. One of the Obas of Benin fell out with one of his very influential and loved war generals who was to be executed. This general along with his teaming supports in exodus fled Benin for Agbor for their safety. The then powerful Eze Agbor accommodated many of them in Agbor and some others he sent to the other Ika clans. This accounts for the many Benin names seen in many Agbor/Ika families found in Agbor and other Ika clans. Would you now call these Benin people who have populated Agbor/other Ika lands Ndi-igbo? Let us also note that Agbor as a very ancient kingdom may have originated their own language before coming in contact with the Igbos of the South-East. Some historians claim that Agbor may have been founded by the returnee Ndi-igbo war mongers who went to help Oyo and Ile-Ife Kingdoms fight the Fulani Jihadist. These historians fail to note that history tells us that the earliest time the Fulani Jihadist sacked Oyo and Ile-Ife kingdoms was in 1835. During this time Agbor had already a well-established kingdom and a very strong Monarchical administration.
Before the colonial masters came to Agbor in 1901 Agbor had existed for more than thousands of years and have been speaking the Agbor Language. Since the Ogele Dynasty which started at about 800BC.
What exactly are the benefits derivable from this desire to bring in others into the Ndi-igbo fold? Let me hazard a guess as to what may be the benefits that may be acruable to the expanded Ndi Igbo. Some of the perceived benefits may include increased numerical strength which is no doubt a political asset. Secondly, make the Ndi-Igbo a major ethnic group and possibly feel more at home in Agbor/Anioma area. I strongly believe the Ndi-Igbos are already enjoying these benefits with or without the Agbor (Ika) and the Anioma people. To the average Agbor man (Ikas) teaming up with Ndi-igbo will make no difference, rather it will leave them to be called second class or fake Igbos. While the Agbors/ Anioma people see the Igbos as brothers and close neighbours, the Igbos have not in the past and even presently demonstrated same. Instances abound when federal appointments were to be given to the Agbor (Ikas) or even the Anioma people, the Igbos of the South-East have always argued that they are not Igbos and cannot represent the interest of the Ndi-Igbo. Let me give you a few instances. An Ika man was deputy governor of Central Bank. A substantive CBN governor was to be appointed and the Agbor man was being considered. The Igbos have argued that they have not held that position. In response, the government of the day wanted to make the Ika man as the substantive governor. The Igbos vehemently opposed it on the grounds that he is not an Igbo man. Also, an Ika man who was a deputy inspector General of Police was dropped in favour of an Igbo man because of the argument that he is not an Igbo man.
The struggle for economic and socio-political power has shown that the Igbos have not developed the large heart to accommodate their distant brothers of the Agbors/Anioma as the Yorubas do by allowing a man from Kwara state to be governor of Lagos State.
Yes, Alhaji Lateef Jakande from Offa Kwara State was overwhelmingly voted in as governor of Lagos State in 1979. I think the Agbors/Ikas are better left at what it is presently and that is the Agbors (Ikas) are non-Igbos. This non-Igbo status is more beneficial to both the Ndi- Igbo of the South East and the Agbors/Ikas. This is because in sharing Federal appointments the Igbos will get their share while the Agbors/Ikas and Aniomas too will get their own share too. This is an added advantage, but lumping them together as Ndi-Igbo will make their share mutually exclusive. The Agbor/Ikas will always remember their fraternal link with the Ndi-Igbo which they have always demonstrated in peace or battle just as the Ndi- Igbo will as well do.
The administrative bandary does not in any way take away the fraternal ties that exist between the Ndi Igbo and the Agbor (Ikas)/Anioma people. The relationship will be more cherished and rewarding than when banded together as Ndi-Igbo with concomitant acrimony of real and pseudo-Indi-Igbo.
As for the Agbor (Ika), the Onu-Ika have in the past made a bold statement when they met with the National Assembly Committee members on ethnic nationalities to inform and assert their uniqueness as a distinct ethnic nationality called the Agbor/ Ika people who speak Agbor/Ika Language of which they have been included as one of the ethnic nationalities of Nigeria. To avoid this misrepresentation by persons who are not well informed of the origin and history of Agbor/ Ika people claiming that the Agbor/ Ika people are Ndi-Igbo a high power committee be set up to adequately inform the people the position of Agbor/Ika nation their stand on this identity issue The Agbors/Ikas love the Igbos and have fraternal link with them but not to the extent of being outrightly called Indi/Igbo an identity their fore fathers never held or embraced.
