Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, is not dead, he is hale and hearty- Media aide says

Rumors about the death of Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, was rife over the weekend. The absence of the governor from the government house for over a week gave many people concern, with some suggesting that he might have passed on. The DG Media and Publicity to the governor, Fanwo Kingsley, this morning released a statement denouncing the rumor. According to him, Governor Yahaya is currently on break for two weeks and would resume office on Saturday November 12th. Read the statement after...

Brangelina Divorce: Battle between Jolie & Pitt for custody of their kids continue

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt made headlines when their supposedly perfect marriage crashed and Angelina sought for primary custody of their children. Well, the battle is on as Brad has not only filed legal documents requesting for joint custody, but Angelina is reportedly not willing to stand down. Read TMZ's report after the cut...

Angelina Jolie is ready and willing to fight Brad Pitt in court over the custody of their children and "until he gets his s**t together" she only wants him to have monitored visitation ... sources connected to Angelina tell TMZ.

Angelina's wish list is basically what she and Brad agreed to temporarily while the L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services investigates a confrontation between Brad and Maddox. As we reported, DCFS is looking more broadly at interactions in the family.

Our Angelina sources say she ultimately wants the family repaired so she and Brad can resume a "normal" parenting regime, but until then she will fight hard for sole physical custody. She believes Brad has substance abuse and anger issues that must be addressed.

Sources connected with Brad tell us ... the custody arrangement is riding on the conclusions of DCFS, and they believe the agency will determine Brad is a good parent.

One Angelina source said this is looking more and more like "War of the Roses redux."

Catholic Church in Enugu organizing a free wedding for members?

According to this Twitter user, St Mary's Catholic church Enugu is organizing a free wedding for members who can't afford to pay for their wedding ...

Check out this throwback photo of Charly Boy

That's Charly Boy and his son...

Chika Ike says she is not a role model

Chika Ike shared a sultry picture on Instagram with this write up;

"I'm back home ,sitting on my couch and thinking  of how blessed i am to have you all in my life. Your constant  love and support has kept me going all these years. I get a lot of messages ,emails and comments from people asking why I started "African diva" reality tv show . The sole purpose is to give a young African woman a platform , an opportunity and a startup capital that will enable her face the world ,be productive and be a person of value .It's  also my little way of giving back and also appreciating God for all the blessings he has bestowed on me. I didn't have it all rosy and I know what it feels like not to have at all, to feel helpless and to have a burning desire to achieve your set goals. My goal is not to be a role model or some kind of super woman , I'm doing what I love doing with all my heart and if while I am at it I encourage and motivate someone then good enough. The truth is you can be whatever you want to be if you believe in you ,with hard work and the grace of God, nothing is impossible.NEVER stop believing .NEVER stop working hard . Never stop Praying. Love you all❤️

Photos: Protest as Lagos bans LAGBUS from plying Ikorodu Road

Residents of Ikorodu community in Lagos state are currently staging a protest following the decision of the state government to ban the LAGBUS(red buses) from plying their route which already has the BRT (blue buses) plying it.

Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, at a press conference on Friday, said the decision was taken ahead of plans to introduce Intelligent Traffic System along the BRT corridor in the state.
Elegushi said consequently, all LAGBUS would no longer be allowed to load or drop passengers along the BRT corridor, pointing out that it was part of steps taken to relocate all other franchises from the use of the corridor.

“Henceforth, the LAGBUS buses can only provide end to end bus services using the expressway and service lanes along the Ikorodu Road stretch. The restriction does not extend to charter staff buses run by LAGBUS; does not preclude access to depot along Ikorodu road and express services are allowed with only few designated stops. All routes from Ikorodu hinterland will now terminate at TOS Benson Bus Stop after which there will be no loading of passengers. However, the operations of LAGBUS buses have been moved to other 14 routes identified by the Lagos State Metropolitan Transport Master Plan.”

This decision however left many of the commuters stranded this morning. They are currently staging a protest and calling on the government to rescind its decision.

 See more photos below...

Gov Peter Obi quotes that set the internet on fire...

"To you young people, Take Back your Country...it is your future they are toying with". - Peter Obi

"I reduced my convoy to 5 vehicles and you cannot buy fuel unless I am in the car".- Peter Obi

"If I sleep in a hotel and have to pay N250k a night, I will be awake all night...feeling like I was robbed". - Peter Obi

"You know there are many big men in Anambra state, so when they want to see me, I say to them I will come to you instead".- Peter Obi

"We handed schools back to Churches and by 2013, we were number one in WAEC."- Peter Obi

"I beg you to participate more in politics, the society we help them abuse today will take its revenge tomorrow".- Peter Obi

"The only way out of recession is to spend for growth. You can only spend for growth either from savings or from borrowing.
The question is: what are you borrowing for?
Are you borrowing for consumption or for production?
When you borrow for consumption, you are heading for disaster."

-- Peter Obi.

" I had to stop the Presidential lodge in Anambra... A project awarded at 400million. I had to close down state house in lagos and Abuja... Because I felt we dont need it.... Even when other states had."

" They said President Obasanjo is coming... I went to borrow the kind of cars they wanted... Instead of spending millions... From a neigbouring state."

"I requested Obasanjo to spend the nights in my lodge Since they said he must sleep over... I asked my wife to pack out of my bedroom... We went opposite to lodge in a hotel (name mentioned) for the week, we paid N30,000 instead of N100,000."

"I used the 150million for 2 bullet proof cars to buy almost 50 Peugeot cars at 3 million each.. gave 17 to JUDGES and 18 to permanent Secretaries (because i discovered they did not have cars) and kept 10 for govt house... which I used as Governor... I did not use bullet proof cars as Governor."

"They said we should attend world Igbo Congress in U. S.... That the budget WAS cut from 40 to 32million.... I asked them why... That only one person should go and come and tell us what was discussed."

"Instead of paying 30,000 for each security personnel (about 30) per night in Abuja, I told IG to give me Police whenever am in Abuja....I travel alone... Ppl complained.... The 15 drivers lodged in Abuja state house...who come to airport to cause confusion, i asked to go, kept only 3. The others to go back to Akwa or look for job... I asked the cook to go back to Akwa instead of giving him 30,000 per plate."

"When Governors lodge and Govt house was burnt before I came... With budget of 400million and 300 million, I repaired them for 42 million and 80million respectively. They wanted to impeach me that I did not spend by due process... Following the awarded Contracts and contractor.... I saw a table.. That my predecessor used, they said its old... I asked them to renovate it... That all i needed was a table to write as Governor... "

" So so so I was able to save money and made sure that ANAMBRA HAS THE BEST ROAD NETWORK THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN NIGERIA....."

♡♡♡♡♤♤♤♤ PETER OBI....WORDS ON MARBLE! "

Copied!!

It's that bad? They say Angelina Jolie has blocked all of Brad Pitt's incoming calls and text messages

According to a report by Us Weekly, Angelina Jolie has blocked Brad Pitt's phone number on her phone, after she filed for divorce from him earlier this week. Us Weekly reports below...

Cutting all ties. Angelina Jolie took extreme measures to sever lines of communication with her estranged husband, Brad Pitt, after filing for divorce, a source tells Us Weekly. “Angelina has blocked all incoming text messages and also Brad’s numbers,” the insider tells Us.

Jolie, 41, made headlines on Monday, September 19, when she filed for divorce from Pitt, 52, after two years of marriage, ending their 12-year relationship. 

A source close to the Allied actor told Us that Pitt was “blindsided” by Jolie’s filing.  “He is beside himself and has been crying,” the source said. “He was completely caught off-guard and blindsided and had no idea she would do this. Angelina filed the court papers a minute before the courts closed on Monday night. He didn’t have a lawyer or anything. She had threatened divorce in the past but he did not think she would file this time.”

Nigeria Professional Football League as of today (photo)

Rangers of Enugu top the table with 60 points while Rivers United and FC Ifeanyi Ubah have 57 and 56 points respectively.

Small Business -Facebook Marketing

ALAMIEYESEIGHA’S N2.8B HOTEL ROTS AWAY IN ABUJA

Almost seven years after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) handed over the N2.8billion Chelsea Hotel to the government of Bayelsa State, the hitherto money-spinning edifice is rotting away in Abuja.


The hotel was seized from the state’s first civilian governor, the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
A Federal High Court, Lagos in 2007 ordered the forfeiture of the hotel by Alamieyeseigha after the ex-governor was sentenced for corruption.
Besides the hotel, the EFCC sold other Alamieyeseigha assets in Nigeria and realised N3, 128, 230, 294.83billion; $441,000; E7, 000 and £2,000.
The money was remitted to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in accordance with the law, for onward delivery to the state government as ordered by the court.
Former EFCC Chairman Mrs. Farida Waziri on September 7, 2009 handed over the hotel to ex-Governor Timipreye Sylva in Abuja. The thinking was that it would be a source of revenue for the state.
Seven years after the asset was returned to the state government, the hotel has become a haven for miscreants, men of the underworld, rodents and reptiles.
Shady activities are being perpetrated at the abandoned hotel, which poses danger to some shopping malls and banks in the Central Business District of Abuja.
Some of the miscreants have stripped the hotel of vital materials, which has no security.
An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said: “As at the time we handed over the hotel, in 2009, the asset was worth N2.8billion. We returned the hotel to Bayelsa State with another asset at No. 2 Marscibit Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse II Abuja which was valued at N210million.
“We took a step further by instructing Diya Fatimilehin and Co., former managers of the hotel to provide the state with detailed inventory of assets of the hotel.”
“It is unfortunate that nothing has been done in the last seven years. The land where the hotel is sited attracts either up to N800million to N1billion in Abuja. Yet the asset is allowed to lie fallow
“To the source, the fate of the once throwing hotel is a typical case of how the anti-graft war is being “frustrated and rendered meaningless”
“A former Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu worked day and night to bring Alamieyeseigha to justice but the efforts have come to naught,” he said.
Asked if the EFCC can query the state government on why the hotel has been abandoned, the source said: “Well, there is not much we can do because we have done our best.
“The state’s funds were looted and used to buy the hotel; we traced the loot and recovered the assets. It is left to the state to live up to its pledge to make judicious use of the asset or sell it.
“We have been expecting a status report from Bayelsa State on how it has spent the recovered funds and the utilisation of the returned assets.”
Upon the receipt of the hotel in 2009, Sylva said: “The Bayelsa State Government will not be able to manage the assets by itself. The fund that the state government will receive will also go to building what is called the Transparency Plaza, in the middle of the Yenagoa Central Business District, so that this plaza will be a monument that will be a constant reminder of today.
”As soon as the fund is accessed, we will like to ask you to come to Bayelsa State to lay the foundation of this plaza.
“We will welcome your close monitoring of the expenditure of this fund, after all without the instrumentality of EFCC, we would not have accessed this fund, so it is only good that you know exactly what we are doing. We are running an open government; our budget is on the website, anybody can access it. We are fully committed to transparency and to partner fully with EFCC.”
As at press time, rodents, reptiles, rodents, miscreants, drug addicts have taken over the hotel.
It was gathered that many posh cars and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) massed up in darkness at the hotel at night for what a source described as “nocturnal deals”.
A concerned bank executive said: “The activities of some miscreants at the old hotel premises constitute security threats to commercial entities in CBD, including choice malls and banks nearby.
“Security agencies and the police should have more than a passing interest in some activities at the old hotel.”
-The Nation

#facebooklivechat - RitaDominicOfficial

Hey fam! Here's a clip from#facebooklivechat some minutes ago. Awesome chatting with my people. Full video is at RitaDominicOfficial on Facebook. Do enjoy your evening

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ8X5_lj_8I/?taken-by=ritadominic

The Correct History of Edo by Naiwu Osahon

A mere spiritual of the black race

hon. khu mkuu, world pan-african movement
M.Sc (Salford); Dip. M.S., G.I.P.M., Dip.Inst.M., G.Onst.M, G.I.W.M., A.M.N.I.M.
Poet: Author of the magnum opus: 'The secrets of the ages"
One of the world's leading authors of children's books
Awarded: key to the city of Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Honourary Councilmanship, Memphis City Council;
Honourary Citizenship, County of Shelby; Honourary Commissionership, County of Shelby, Tennessee.

Historical accounts are vague as to when and if the Bini (Edo), migrated from the Nile valley. What is not in doubt is that the earliest rulers of Benin were called Ogisos.

Thirty-one Ogisos in all ruled the kingdom of Benin between 900 - 1200 AD, which is the earliest period so far accounted for in Benin history.

The Bini monarchy demonstrates strong affinity with ancient Egyptian gods and Pharaohs, with which it shares identical authority, grandeur and a great deal of reverence from their subjects.

In fact, the hair style of Bini chiefs is similar to Pharaoh Ramses II's famous helmet, while the small circles on the helmet appear also on many Bini bronzes. Bini Queens wear identical hairstyles to that of Pharaoh Mycerinus (Fourth-Dynasty), and Pharaoh Sesostris I (Twelfth Dynasty). The kings (Ogies) of Benin (Bini) also adopt grand Osirian titles of the 'Open Eye,' signifying omniscience and omnipotence.

The Bini cosmological account of the universe draws significantly from the Egyptian one. The Egyptian version, which later formed the basis of genesis in the Bible, is that the universe was created from chaos and primeval (or ancient) ocean. After a hill (called tatjenen) arose from the bottom of the ocean, a son-god (God's child or baby god) called Atom (which is the Sun without which life on earth is impossible), appeared on the land created by the hill. The son-god or Atom then created eight other gods which together with himself made nine gods. These nine gods are presumed by modern science to be symbolized by the nine major planets of the universe.

The Bini version is that, in the beginning there was no land only water everywhere. In the middle of the water stood a tree on top of which lived (Owonwon) the toucan. Osanobua (The Creator) decided to populate the world so The Creator sent three sons, each with a choice of peculiar gift.
One of the three sons chose to have wealth and the next chose magical skills. As the youngest was about to make his choice known, Owonwon cried out to him to settle for a snail shell. This he did. When the canoe the three children were travelling in reached the middle of the waters, the youngest son turned his snail shell upside down to release endless stream of sand resulting in the emergence of land from the waters.

The three sons at first were afraid to step on the land from the canoe. To test the firmness of the land, they sent the Chameleon, which is why Chameleons walk with hesitation.

Osanobua then came down on a chain, from the sky, to demarcate the earth and allocate responsibilities. Osanobua appointed the younngest son as ruler of the earth. The son called the earth (Agbon) and promptly set up his headquarters at Igodomigodo.

The oldest son was given control of the waters by Osanobua. The Bini call this son, Olokun (meaning the god of the river). The other son was allowed freedom to use his magical powers to balance out the negative and positive forces of nature. He apparently represents evil and the Bini call him Ogiuwu (or Esu sometimes) meaning the harbinger of death. Ogiuwu is supposed to own the blood of all living things. In other words, no living thing can live forever.
Osanobua then settled in the realm of the spirit world across the waters where the sky and the earth meet.

While Osanobua and Olokun represent aspects of life such as good health, long life, good luck, prosperity and happiness to which man may apeal through ritual purity, Ogiuwu represents mourning, evil omen and diseases.

The youngest son, the ruler of the earth represents innocence and so is susceptible to the powers of the other deities. These same good and evil influences form the basic elements of all modern religions, with man endowed with the power to make choices.

The importance of the emergence of the tree before man on earth is not lost on modern science, which recognizes that without the tree manufacturing oxygen, life on earth would have been impossible. Modern science has also confirmed the Bini cosmology that birds, insects etc preceded man to earth. The Bini myth of creation was earth based in scope.

The Ogisos (meaning rulers of the sky) because of their direct lineage to the youngest son of Osanobua (God), from the sky, were of course, accorded divine qualities by the Bini. These, the Ogisos naturally tried to strengthen in a variety of ways, including not allowing themselves to be seen eating in public and so suggesting that they can live without food. They are not mortal but god-kings with celestial mystique attached to them.

Because the kings (Ogisos) of Bini are considered divine, they are worshipped by their subjects who speak to them always with great reverence, at a distance and on bended knees. Great ceremonies surround every action of the Bini king.

Bini kings have immense political powers, as ultimate judges in court matters, the deliverers of death penalty, the receivers of taxes and tributes, the regulators of trade, the nominal owners of the land of the kingdom, chief executives and law makers, and principal custodians of customs and traditions.

However, their immense powers are hedged with checks and balances to prevent excesses. The king's powers are held in trust for the entire community and cannot be exercised without consultation with other levels of authority, such as the kingmakers, known as Edionisen.

The first Ogiso king was called Ogiso Igodo and his kingdom Igodomigodo was at Ugbekun. Ogiso Igodo's successor, Ogiso Ere, transferred the capital from Ugbekun to Uhudumwunrun.

This detailed history of Bini is being provided to illustrate the formidable authority and infleunce welded by monarchs in African kingdoms and demonstrate how ancient people tried to breath life into myths. Whether it is the son-god of the Bini, Egypt or the Christian religion, ancient people translated myths into reality. There is, therefore, nothing special about Jesus Christ. The idea of the Son of God or Son-God is as old and ancient man in Africa.

Ogiso Ere was a very resourceful king. He introduced the guild system of carpenters and wood carvers, which eventually developed into the world celebrated wood works and bronze casting of Igun Street in Benin City. Ogiso Ere also built the first ever Igodomigodo market known then as Ogiso market and in modern times as Agbado market. Ogiso Ere, a lover of peace, invented the famous African kingship paraphernalia which includes the Ada (a sword of honour), Eben (a sword for dancing), Ekete (a royal stool), Agba (a rectangular stool) and Epoki (a leather box).

Ogiso Ere was succeeded by Ogiso Orire, maintaining the primogeniture (son succeeding his father) principle. The fourth dynasty on the death of Orire introduced the system of gerontocracy (the oldest person in the community rules), until the death of the twenty-second Ogiso when the primogeniture system was restored. The twenty-third Ogiso extended the primogeniture rule to all his frontline chiefs known collectively as the Edion (Elders). The Edion included Chief Oliha, Edohen, Ero, Ezomo and Eholo-Nire. Ogiso Ibioye, another resourceful king introduced the use of cowries as currency to Igodomigodo.

The last of the Ogiso kings was called Owodo. He reigned in the 12th century AD and had only one child (a male) despite having many wives. In attempt to unravel the cause of his wives' barrenness, he sent his first wife Esagho and three male messengers to consult an oracle. The oracle named Esagho as the cause. To avoid the wrath and punishment of the king, Esagho threatened to lie to the king that the male messengers had carnal relationship with her (an act carrying death penalty), if they revealed the oracle's declaration. The messengers, in connivance with Esagho told the king that the oracle fingered his only son, Ekhaladerhan as the cause of his wives' barrenness and that Prince Ekhaladerhan had to be killed to reverse the situation.

The king, angered by the development but reluctant to take the life of his only child, banished Ekhaladerhan and his mother to a place called Ughoton on the outskirts of Igodomigodo kingdom. Three years after the banishment, Owodo's wives were still barren so he sent another set of messengers to the oracle. It was then that the truth about Esagho's treachery was revealed. Esagho was executed as punishment and still the king's wives remained barren. Apparently, the problem had to do with the fertility status of the king himself but no body dared to raise such ideas in those days. Women were always blamed for barrenness.

However, Ogiso Owodo, apart from his domestic problems, was not a very popular king and his execution of a pregnant woman for some misdemeanor, proved to be one offence too many for his subjects and frontline chiefs who banished Owodo from his throne. Owodo took refuge at a place called Uhinwinrin, where he died miserably a few years later.

During the period of Owodo's banishment, a monster that appeared to be coming out of the Ikpoba river, (although the Igodomigodos believed it was coming from the sky), attacked and devoured people at will at the Ogiso market. The Igodomigodos as a result, nicknamed the Ogiso market, Ägbado Aigbare, (meaning we go there together we never return together), which is how Ogiso market acquired its current name of Agbado market.

Every effort to tackle the monster, including spiritual means failed until Evian, a member of the Ogiso royal family, succeeded in throwing a fire-hot iron into the mouth of the monster. The feat appeared to have sent the monster to its eventual death and endeared Evian to his people, because the monster never bothered the people of Igodomigodo again.

The death of Ogiso Owodo created leadership vacuum for the first time in Igodomigodo's history. The people were not prepared to countenance a mere mortal from a non-Ogiso lineage ruling them. It had to be the God-son's first son or nothing. It was during this period of confusion that the elders, known as Edionisen, including Chiefs Edohen, Ero and led by Oliha mounted a search for their banished Prince Ekaladerhan.

In the meantime, Ekaladerhan had set up a settlement he called 'Ilefe,' (meaning, successful escape) and had changed his name to 'Izoduwa,' (meaning I have chosen the path of prosperity).

Izoduwa's new home, 'Ilefe' was in the heart of Yoruba land and because of his immense magic powers soon endeared himself to his Yoruba community which included some Uzebu (corrupted in Yoruba to Ijebu) who had followed him into exile from Igodomigodo, and were treating him as a god. The Yoruba corrupted his name Izoduwa to 'Oduduwa' and his camp, 'Ilefe' to
'Ile-Ife.'

Oduduwa became the spiritual leader of the Ifa divinity. The yoruba (who call The Creator, Olodumare), saw Oduduwa as a direct descendant, which he claimed as a result of his God-son lineage, although his banishment link with the God-sons (Ogisos) was kept a secret from the Yoruba. In fact, the Yoruba believed he was a deity from the sky as he claimed and accorded him great reverence as their leading ancestor.

The Ifa myth of creation draws significantly from the Bini and Egyptian corpus. It claims that Olodumare (The Creator) sent Orunmila (another name for Oduduwa) down to the earth with a cock (rooster) which carried a quantity of sand in its claws. Before then, the entire earth surface was covered with water. The cock dropped the sand on the water and spread it with its claws to create land. Oduduwa subsequently had eight children who later dispersed to found and rule other Yoruba communities. The Yoruba myth of creation is community based confirming lineal relationship with its (earth based Bini and universe based Egyptian) mother sources.

Oduduwa's first son was by a Yoruba woman called Okanbi. This son was called 'Omonoyan,' (meaning precious child in Bini) which the Yoruba corrupted to 'Oranmiyan.'

When the Edionisen of Igodomigodo finally traced Ekaladerhan (Oduduwa) down to (Ilefe) Ile-Ife, they could not persuade Oduduwa to return to his father's throne in Igodomigodo. The Edionisen, out of frustration for not being able to persuade Izoduwa to return home to his throne, installed a temporary administrator, the hero whose name was Evian, to oversee the affairs of Igodomigodo.

Evian was a popular administrator. He invented the acrobatic dance called Amufi and the traditional dance called Emeghute. He ruled until very old age and before his death, nominated his oldest son, Irebor to succeed him. Most of the people of Igodomigodo and senior chiefs would not have this. They rejected Irebor on the ground that his father Evian was not an Ogiso and, therefore, lacked divine authority to bequeath kingship (Ogieship)to his heir.

Leadership vacuum was again created in Igodomigodo and after a period of uncertainly, the Edionisen decided to once again reach out to their son, Izoduwa, who had by then acquired the Yoruba title of 'Ooni.' After much pleading by the Edionisen, for the Ooni to allow his first son to ascend to the throne of Igodomigodo, the Ooni decided to put the people of Igodomigodo to a test. He gave the Edionisen some lice and instructed them to bring them back in three years to get their answer.

Cheif Oliha kept the lice in the hair of one of their slaves and after three years returned the lice to Izoduwa who was surprised at the level of preservation and development of the lice. Izoduwa (Oduduwa) concluded that if the Edionisen could so adequately take care of the lice, his son was likely to be in good hands.

In the meantime, Irebor was warning the people of Igodomigodo against what he called (Ogie a mien, Aimmien Oba), meaning it is an Ogie that rules Igodomigodo and not an Oba, in protest against the intrusion of the Ife Prince. The word Ogiamen then became the nickname of Irebor and subsequently the hereditary title of the ruler of Irebor's Igodomigodo.

Ogiamien Irebor prevented Prince Oranmiyan from entering the heart of Igodomigodo kingdom. The people of Igodomigodo built a palace for Prince Oranmiyan at Usama. Prince Oranmiyan, unable to bear the animosity for very long, renounced his office and called Igodomigodo land, Ile Ibinu (meaning a land of annoyance and vexation). He declared that only a child of the soil, educated in the culture and traditions of Igodomigodo could rule the kingdom.

Prince Oranmiyan, on his way home to Ife, stopped briefly at Ego, where he pregnated Princess Erimwinde, the daughter of the Enogie of Ego. Princess Erimwinde's casual encounter with Prince Oranmiyan resulted in the birth of a baby boy who couldn't talk in his early years but loved playing the game of marble.

When Oranmiyan, who had in the meantime established his Alafin dynasty in Oyo was informed about his son's predicament, he sent the child's mother seven marbles. While playing with the marbles and other children, one of his throws hit the target and in the excitement screamed: ' Owomika,' (meaning I hit the target). This is how his title of Oba Eweka was derived and he ruled over Usama renamed Ile-Ibinu outside Igodomigodo. In the meantime, Ogiamien Irebor who ruled Igodomigodo had been succeeded by Ogiamien Ubi by the time of Oba Eweka's reign in Ile-Ibinu.

Oba Eweka's reign was not particularly eventful. He was succeeded by Oba Ewuahen, Oba Ehenmihen and the Oba Ewedo. Oba Ewedo changed the name of Ile-Ibinu to Ubini, which the Portuguese corrupted to Benin or Bini.

Oba Ewedo moved his palace from Usama or Ubini to its present site in Igodomigodo, causing a bitter war between the Oba and Ogiamien Ode who was the ruler of Igodomigodo at the time. The fight was considered purely a family matter by the people and elders of Igodomigodo. To prevent it leading to the death of too many innocent lives, the elders prevailed on the adversaries to settle their quarrel amicably.

Oba Ewedo requested Ogiamien Ode to sell the land to him. A treaty was struck requiring Ogiamien as the traditional landlord of Igodomigodo kingdom, to sell part of the land to the Oba at the coronation of every successive Oba. The Oba elect first had to present gifts to the Ogiemien which include two male and two female servants, a royal stoll, a wooden staff, a rectangular stool and a round leather box.

The Oba-in-waiting and the Ogiamien would then meet at their common boundary called Ekiokpagha, where the Ogiamien would take sand from the ground and put it in the hand of the Oba while he eays: "I have sold this part of Benin land to you but not your son and when you pass away your son will buy the land from me as you have done."

The Ogiamien's dormain in Benin kingdom is known as Utantan where he has chiefs assisting him in his traditional duties. The present Ogiamien of Utantan-Benin is Ogiamien Osarobo Okuonghae, a graduate of history from the University of Benin.
Oba Ewedo's reign was followed by that of Oguola, Edoni, Udagbedo, Ohen, Egbeka, Orobiru and Uwaifiokun in that order, none of which was considered particularly spectacular in Benin history.

The mid 15th century AD through the 16th century AD, withnessed the period of the warrior kings in Benin history. Ewuare the great, Ozolua, Esigie, Orhogbua and Ehengbuda consolidated, developed and expanded the kingdom through innovative leadership ideas, closely knit, disciplined community organization, warfare and conquests. A British adventurer called Ling Roth, was the first to refer to Benin as great, a tribute not only to the extend of the Benin empire but also to the elaborate, detailed and efficient administrative machinery the people had evolved over a period of more than 1,000 years.

At its height, the Binis controlled vast Yoruba land with populations several times larger than that of Benin. The Benin kingdom extended in the West to Lagos, where the Binis set up a military camp of occupation which they called Eko, in the North-east to Ekiti, Owo, Ondo, most of Delta state and all of the North-west to the river Niger.

The Binis established their influence and authority along the West Coast of Africa and through dominance lent their name to the Bight of Benin. The Binis have very close affinity with the Ashantis of Ghana and are considered of similar or common stock.

However, the frontiers of the Benin Empire were constantly expanding and contrasting as new conquests were made and as vassals on the borders rebelled only to be re-conquered.

The Binis spread their culture and traditions, particularly their Obaship ideology and system by sending royal brothers to rule over tributaries, or holding hostage, sons of conquered chiefs to be trained in Benin City or by sponsoring candidates for thrones of conquered territories. Objects such as Ada and brass masks were introduced to vassal lords as emblems of their authority and these symbols have endured in virtually all the territories that experienced Bini control. Even in places outside direct Benin influence, such as in the Niger Delta area, the reputation of the Oba of Benin was such that leadership disputes were brought to him for arbitration and the winners took back home, Benin regalia to form part of their leadership traditions.

The city of Benin, like the ancient Egyptian cities walled against predators, has a giant protective moat dug around it between 1280 - 1295 AD, without using mechanical equipment. The engineering feat still marvels in modern times. The Benin moat is described in the Guinness Book of Records as second in magnitude only to the Great China wall.

Ewuare, the first Bini warrior king, was himself forced into exile as a young prince and nearly would not have ascended the Benin throne. With death penalty hanging on his head as a result of some misdemeanor, he fled into the woods although regularly, secretly visiting the city of Benin at night.

The elders (Edionisen) heard about his secret visits and set a trap to capture and kill him. Just as he was about to be caught, he escaped to the home of Ogieva Nomuekpo, who hid him in a well covered on top with leaves. Ogieva then went to invite the elders to come and arrest Prince Ogun as he was called then.

While Ogieva was on his way to call the elders, Edo, the head servant of Ogieva's household alerted Prince Ogun about his master's diabolical plan and helped the prince to escape. Ogieva returned with the elders to find that he had been betrayed and he severely punished Edo for this.

After several years in the bush, Prince Ogun began to grow weary of his vagabond life and accepted to be crowned Oba Ewuare of Ubini land around the mid 15th century AD. The father's throne had been vacant for a while then and he was the oldest heir.

On the throne, one of his first acts was to reward Edo with many valuable gifts. After Edo's death, he bought his corpse from Ogieva and buried it at the entrance to the palace's inner tower. Then he decreed that the land of Ubini should henceforth be known and called Edo. This was later expanded to Edo O'Evho Ahire, meaning Edo the city of love, in appreciation of Edo's love that saved young Prince Ogun's life and gave Benin her greatest king.

Oba Ewuare the great, as he later came to be known, was the most dynamic, innovative and successful Oba in the history of Edo kingdom. Under him, Benin was completely transformed religiously, politically, socially and physically.

Houses originally built with poles or palm ribs and padded with mud were rebuilt with packed mud. The city was re-planned and neatly laid out, with roads radiating from the center. It was divided into two distinct segments with Ore ne Okhua, constituting the public sector and the Oba's sector (Ogbe) the other.

The population of Ore ne Okhua was organized into wards with each specializing in a peculiar craft or ritual services in allegiance to the king.

The palace, which did not have a permanent site in previous reigns, was constructed on a massive scale covering several acres of land at its present location and turned into a beehive of activities as the political and spiritual nerve centre of the vast kingdom.

The Binis have a saying that in the Oba's palace there is never silence. The complex includes shrine areas, meeting chambers for a variety of groups of chiefs, work spaces for ritual professionals, royal artists and craftsmen, storehouses, residential sections for the Oba's numerous wives, children and servants.

A seventeenth century Dutch engraving from Olfert Dapper's Nauwkeurige Beschrijvinge der Afrikaansche Gewesten, published in Amsterdam in 1668 described the palace thus:

" The king's palace or court is a square, and is as large as the town of Haarlem and entirely surrounded by a special wall, like that which encircles the town. It is divided into many magnificent palaces, houses, and apartments of the courtiers, and comprises beautiful and long square galleries, about as large as the Exchange at Amsterdam, but one larger than another, resting on wooden pillars, from top to bottom covered with cast copper, on which are engraved the pictures of their war exploits and battles, and are kept very clean. Most palaces and houses of the king are covered with palm leaves instead of square pieces of wood, and every roof is decorated with a small turret ending in a point, on which birds are standing, birds cast in copper with outspread wings, cleverly made after living models."

Ewuare re-organized the government by centralizing it and he set up three powerful palace associations of chiefs. The political elite of the kingdom was made up of titled chiefs and members of the royal family. The seven highest-ranking chiefs who were, in fact, descendants of original elders of Benin were constituted into Uzama with leadership authority next to the king.

The brothers of the king who tended to be potential rivals were sent as hereditary rulers (Enogies) of administrative districts. The mother of the king was given the title of Queen mother and set up in her own palace in the town of Uselu just outside the city.

Ewuare restored the annual cycle of royal ceremonies the most important ones being Ugie Erha Oba in honour of royal ancestors and Igue to strengthen the mystical powers of the king. The present day elegant ceremonial costumes of the kings and chiefs of Benin originated from Ewuare's reign.

Ewuare set up a war machine that extended Benin notion of kingship, objects, aesthetic ideas and power across the West Coast of Africa. The arts, particularly brass casting, flourished during his reign.

The kings of Benin from the reign of Ewuare the great until the 17th century AD were Ezoti, followed by Olua, Ozolua, Esigie, Orhogbua, Ehengbuda, Ohuan, Ahenzae, Akenzae, Akengboi, Akenkpaye, Akengbedo, Ore-Oghene, Ewuakpe and Ozuere.

When king Ozolua died, a bitter struggle for power ensued between his two sons, Esigie in Benin City and Aruaran in the town of Udo, about 20 miles from Benin City to the northwest. Udo then, was an important centre almost as large and powerful as Benin City. Esigie triumphed just as he did in the war against the Igala people from north of Nigeria who had attacked the kingdom during his reign. The Binis drove the Igala soldiers back across the river Niger and established their king, the Ata, as a vassal of Benin.

The Portuguese first reached Benin which they called Beny or Benin (although the Binis called themselves, their language, capital city and their kingdom, EDO), during the reign of Ozolua between 1472 and 1486 AD. The Portuguese found a highly developed kingdom with unique and very sohpisticated political, artistic, linguistic, economic, cultural and military traditions in the process of territorial conquests.

Between 1504 and 1550 AD, the Portuguese, a major European power at the time, happily negotiated and established diplomatic and trade relations with Oba Esigie and his kingdom of Benin. Portuguese mercenaries fought along side the Binis in many territorial wars after the treaty. Trade between the Portuguese and Benin was mainly in coral beads, cloths for ceremonial attire and great quantities of brass manilas which Bini craftsmen melted for casting. In exchange for Portuguese goods, the Binis offered tobacco, spices, colanuts, ivory, earthenware, jewelry, artifacts, domestic slaves etc.

European slave trade in West Africa started with the acquisition of domestic servants, and warrior kingdoms like Edo had plenty of them captured as war booties. It was forbidden to sell or take a native Bini into slavery and so elaborate identification marks on faces and chests were contrived. Binis, therefore, were hardly ever captured by Arabs or Europeans into slavery.

One of the numerous elite palace associations was assigned the responsibility of conducting affairs with the Portuguese. Until this day, a secret language which some claim is derived from Portuguese, is spoken by members of the association.

The seventeenth century witnessed another period of internal turmoil in Benin history. After the death of Ehengbuda, the last warrior king in the late 16th century AD, his son Ohuan ascended the throne but he did not reign for long and he produced no heir. With his death, the lineage that produced the Eweka dynasty ended.

Powerful rebel chiefs established private bases and selected kings from among their ranks. This produced a series of kings with doubtful claims to legitimacy, which seriously weakened the Benin monarchy.

At the turn of the 17th century, a very powerful Iyase (head of chiefs and the supreme military commander of the kingdom), rebelled against Oba Ewuakpe and after the Oba's death, supported a rival brother to the heir apparent, who won and became Akenzua I. This rebel (the Iyase ne Ode), is remembered in Benin oral history as a threatening foe and a very powerful magician who could transform himself into an elephant at will.

Oba Akenzua I, from 1715 AD and Oba Eresonyen from 1735 AD, successfully fought the rebellious chiefs and restored power and legitimacy to the Bini manarchy. Their reigns were followed in 1750 by that of Akengbuda; 1804, Obanosa and Ogbebo in quick succession; 1815, Osemwede and 1850 Oba Adolo.

During the British invasion of Benin City in 1897, Oba Ovoranmwen Nogbaisi (meaning the great) was on the throne. The British, viewing Benin as the main obstacle in their expansion drive into the agricultural interior of the West African coast from the river Niger, decided to provoke the kingdom to get an excuse to sack it. The British stubbornly sent their scouts to Benin against the advice and tradition of the Binis, during a sacred national ceremony when foreign visitors are not welcomed. The British mercenaries were eliminated as hostile intruders, which was the excuse the British wanted. The British then launched a full-scale war, which lasted for eight days and went in their favour because of their superior weapons. After capturing the ancient city of Benin, they scattered the inhabitants to villages and farms. While the Binis were out of the way, and the invaders had exiled Oba Overanmwen to Calabar (in South-east Nigeria), they ransac ked the Oba's palace, all Bini shrines and chiefs' homes, stealing thousands of sacred Benin works of art and other valuables which today adorn the leading museums in Europe and America. Not content with their looting, they burnt the entire city down to the last house.
From accounts of members of the British army that invaded Benin City in 1897, we learn that the floors, lintels, and rafters of the council chambers and the king's residence in the palace were lined with sheets of repoussé, decorated brass covered with royal geometric designs and figures of men and leopards. Ornamental ivory locks sealed the doors and carved ivory figurines surmounted anterior. A brass snake, observed for the first time by a European in the early eighteenth century, was still to be seen on the roof of the council chamber house.

All of these the invading British, in the name of their king and country carted away. What they could not steal or burn, they destroyed. And sitting on the ruins, the British subdued and indirectly ruled this outstanding African civilization for another 63 years as part of their Nigerian colony.

Despite the British abuse of Bini culture and marginalization of Bini history, the spendour of Edo civilization continues to this day to astound and exite the world. Benin artifacts are among the most exquisite and coveted in world's history and the kingdom of Benin ramains famous for its sophistication in social engineering and organization. The Bini Obaship institution is still one of the world's most revered apart from being one of the most ancient.

Eweka II ascended the throne of Benin in 1814 and Akenzua the II became Oba in 1933. Between them, they restored a great deal of the tradition and dignity of Benin Obaship and rebuilt, although on a smaller scale than the Ewuare palace, the grandeur, triumph and supremacy of Bini traditions. Large walled areas have now replaced the numerous compounds of former kings with enclosed individual altars for each of the three immediate predecessors and one general altar for the rest. Decorated sheets of brass adorn the rafters and lintels and terra-cotta plaques recount the exploits of former kings.

The current king of this great African kingdom and one of the most vibrant, colourful and enlightened civilizations in the history of the world, is Oba Erediauwa, Uku Akpolo Kpolo, the Omo N'Oba N'Edo.

Copyright: The Secrets of the Ages by Naiwu Osahon,
Published by Heritage Books, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria.
Also published in the children's book series:
Obobo Books, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria, under the title:
EDO: the kingdom of love, by Naiwu Osahon

CONTROVERSIAL ABUJA JUDGE, ABANG, TURNED THE LAW ON ITS HEAD, SAYS A’ COURT

CONTROVERSIAL ABUJA JUDGE, ABANG, TURNED THE LAW ON ITS HEAD, SAYS A’COURT
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday came down heavily on Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja over his ruling on June 27, 2016, removing the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, averring that his judgment was biased and turned the law on its head.
In a unanimous judgment, which lasted for six hours, the five justices of the court held that Justice Abang went beyond his remit as a judge, was biased and turned the law upside down.
The Appeal Court justices further held that the matter was hostile, controversial and contentious and should not have been commenced with an originating summons.
In the view of the Appeal Court justices, the proper mode of commencement of the case should have been through a writ of summons.
The court held that Justice Abang erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice against the governor when he refused to give fair hearing.
The court further held that the judge pre-judged the matter when he touched on the substantive issues at the preliminary stage without hearing the appellant.
The justices who heard the case were� Ibrahim Shatta Bdliya, Philomena Buwa Ekpe, Morenikeji Ogunwumiju, Abubakar Datti Yahaya and Saidu Tanko Huseni.
Justice Abang has in the last couple of months acquired a reputation for his controversial rulings that have raised eyebrows and reinforced the perception of rascality in the Nigerian judiciary.
Other than his controversial ruling on the Okezie Ikpeazu vs. Samson Ogah case, he has granted a series of orders that have added to the confusion over the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Some detainees of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have also fingered him as one of the to-go-to judges who readily grants long detention orders to the commission during its investigation of high profile corruption cases.
Abang also refused to recuse himself from a corruption trial involving the former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, after the latter accused him of bias and being his classmate at the Nigerian Law School between 1987 and 1988, a claim Abang denied.
Justice Ogunwumiju, who delivered the lead judgment yesterday in one of the appeals, held that Justice Abang “committed grave violence against one of the pillars of justice” relating to fair hearing.
She further held that Justice Abang raped democracy in his order that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should issue a certificate of return to Dr. Samson Ogah when there was no evidence of forgery or criminality against the appellant.
According to the court, the judgment given by Justice Abang was grossly erroneous, because it was based on inadequacy of tax receipts that could not be visited on the appellant (Ikpeazu).
Justice Ogunwumiju held: “After reading through the judgment several times, I was amazed at how the trial judge arrived at his conclusion of perjury against the appellant when there was no evidence of forgery. His findings are ridiculous.
“The judge must have sat in his chambers, unilaterally assessed and computed the taxes of the appellant and came to the conclusion that he did not pay the required taxes.
“Courts are not allowed to speculate, as the trial judge did in the instant case. In one breadth, the trial judge spoke from the two sides of his mouth when he claimed that he based his findings on supply of false information and in another breadth �he came to the conclusion that the appellant committed perjury even when there was no allegation of forgery and no allegation that he did not pay tax.”
Justice Ogunwumiju also held that �the trial judge turned the head of the law upside down in his conclusion that it was the appellant that should bear the burden of proof of an allegation made by Ogah.
She held: “With respect, we disagree with him because it is the person that makes the allegation of falsehood that must prove it.
“The court erred when he imported the phrase, ‘as and when due’ into the PDP 2014 guidelines. The judge would not have imported the phrase into his findings if a copy of the PDP� guidelines had been attached to the originating summons. The judge violated the party’s guidelines.”
The court held that the plaintiff did not exhibit the party guidelines which the trial judge relied on.
“From whatever angle one looks at the judgment of the trial court, the decision of the court is grossly erroneous,” she held.
She further held that the inadequacies of the tax receipts of the appellant who scored the highest votes at the election could not be visited on him, adding that “doing so will amount to a rape of democracy”.
Justice Ogunwumiju further held that although the falsification of tax documents or tax evasion are criminal offences for which a candidate seeking public office could be questioned, it could only form a basis for disqualification where the person had been convicted.
“All the issues about tax goes to no issue because the second respondent (Ikpeazu) was a civil servant and his tax deducted from source.
“The question is not that the second respondent (Ikpeazu) did not pay his tax, but that the documents given to him by the tax office was false. I do not think that the learned trial judge was right to have found that it was the second respondent that gave false information.
“The situation would have been different if he had a private business, from which he earns revenue, but made false tax payment claims.
“There are nothing spectacularly irregular with the tax clearance receipts submitted by the second respondent. Why would the second respondent be blamed for the tax recording system of the tax office?
“Without the facts of falsifying the documents to confer undue advantage, the perceived irregularities are of no moment,” she said.
The court said Justice Abang placed the law on its head when it directed INEC to issue a fresh certificate of return to Ogah.
While upholding the appeal, the court awarded N100,000 cost against Ogah.
The Appeal Court further held that Justice Abang was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction on a motion for stay of execution of his earlier judgment delivered on June 27, even after the appeals against the judgments had been entered.
Justice Ekpe, who read the lead judgment, held that what Justice Abang ought to have done in line with the time honoured doctrine of “stari decisis” was to have transferred the motion to the Court of Appeal for determination.
The appellate court, therefore, ruled in favour of Ikpeazu on his appeal challenging Justice Abang’s decision� to hear the application for a stay of execution of his judgment when he was duly informed that the appeals had been entered.
Justice Ekpe held: “The lower court (Justice Abang) has made a complete summersault of the entire suit. Once an appeal is entered into, there is nothing left for the trial court to adjudicate upon.
“All the trial court was supposed to do was to transmit the record of proceedings to the appellate court.
“But it deliberately chose to do otherwise. This is against Order 4 Rules 10 and 11 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2011. The lower court acted ultra vires.”
Justice Abang �had insisted that he had jurisdiction to hear a motion for stay of execution of his earlier judgment delivered on June 27, even after the appeals against the judgments had been entered at the Appeal Court.
In her contributing judgment, Justice Ogunwumiju held that Justice Abang “deliberately stood the law on its head”� when he erroneously assumed jurisdiction to hear the motion and adjourned it till a later date.
She further held that Justice Abang lacked jurisdiction to interpret the provisions of the Court of Appeal being the rules of a superior court.
The hearing of all the appeals filed by Ikpeazu, which lasted till 5 p.m. yesterday, �witnessed some drama including the attempt by the Ali Modu Sherrif faction of the PDP to come in, but was rebuffed by the court.
Justice Abang had on June 27, ordered Ikpeazu to immediately vacate the governorship seat and directed INEC to issue a certificate of return to Ogah who came second in the PDP primary conducted in Abia State on December 8, 2014.
Justice Abang said he was satisfied that Ikpeazu perjured by giving false information in his tax receipts in the Form CF001 and documents accompanying it, which he submitted to both PDP and the INEC.
After the Appeal Court ruling, the Abia State governor and his counterpart in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday welcomed the verdict of the Appeal Court in Abuja, which upturned the removal of Ikpeazu by a Federal High Court, saying that it was “wonderful” news.
Addressing journalists at the Government House, Umuahia, the capital of Abia, after praying in the chapel, Ikpeazu said that the verdict of the appellate court once again demonstrated that the people of Abia freely gave him their mandate in the 2015 governorship election.
“Our mandate once again has been affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Abuja. This to us is a victory for the common people of Abia State that voted massively for us in 2015 general election,” he said.
Though the long drawn legal tussle over his mandate appeared to have taken its toll on governance, Ikpeazu assured the people that with the favourable Appeal Court ruling, “we’ve been reinvigorated to continue our service to the people of Abia without let”.
While expressing his thanks to God for seeing him through his tribulations, Ikpeazu equally lauded the judiciary that stood as the last hope of the common man.
“Without the judiciary of this country, what would have been the fate of the son of a poor teacher who became governor at the mercy of God and Abia people?” he asked.
According to him, without the steadfastness of the judiciary, it would have been very difficult for ordinary people like him to aspire to be anything, much less becoming the governor of Abia State, given the penchant of the rich and mighty to trample on the weak and poor.
The Abia governor also asked the Nigerian media to rise up to the task of “firming up our democracy and making sure that all arms of government work in consonance to promote the ideals of democracy”.
Ikpeazu had emerged from the government house chapel where he had gone to pray and give thanks to God after receiving the news about his victory at the court.
Shortly after the governor’s session with journalists, members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) arrived at the governor’s lodge and congratulated the victorious governor.
The BoT Chairman, Senator Wahid Jubrin, who led the team, comprising Professor Jerry Gana, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Stella Omu, Hajia Zainab Maina, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, and Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd), said they were in Abia for the burial of Chief Ojo Maduekwe.
Jubrin said they were on their way to Maduekwe’s country home when they heard about the Appeal Court verdict, adding that PDP did not make any mistake in choosing Ikpeazu to be its standard-bearer in the 2015 governorship poll, adding that he was confident that the Abia governor would deliver on his election promises to the people of the state.
Also, Okowa congratulated Ikpeazu on his victory at the Appeal Court. The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, said the victory of Ikpeazu at the Appeal Court was a true test of the rule of law and commended the unanimous judgment of the court by not allowing political opportunists to take over power through the back door.
He also thanked the justices for holding on to justice and fairness in their judgment.
He noted that the judgment had once more restored the hope, faith and confidence of Nigerians on the country’s judicial system.
The Delta governor further called on the dramatis personae in the Abia governorship debacle to end the unnecessary legal battles to enable its government focus on bringing democratic dividends to the people of the state.

-Thisday