I’ve gone through the lists of prominent names of my people who fought in the Ekumeku war and none of the names are Igala, Bini, Yorùbá or Hausa. They’re all Igbo. The reason I’m saying this, is because a lot of us do not understand history and how it’s distortion affects us today. Today the descendants of these brave men who resisted the British soldiers for 31 years are claiming that they’re no longer Igbo instead they’re Bini.
I have come across comments accusing me of being sponsored by certain elements to push the Igbo unification agenda. I wish such were true because I’d really appreciate the money. I have seen how ignorance has caused us to reason from our nose and our culture has been ridiculed by our very own people. Why would a Nwabuokei from Ọnịcha Olona open his mouth to say he’s Bini and not Igbo? I watch his videos and I’m appalled to say the least, at how a sensible person would setup his camera and go on to deny his very identity.
The other day it was the man from Idumuje Unor who was doing same thing online. Odiakose is an Igbo word. Ose/Olise/Osebuwa are Igbo names for the Almighty Creator. Odi na aka Olise is purely Igbo. I’m happy his king has come out to reaffirm their Igbo identity. Such elders should be ignored as they do not speak for us. I am an Igbo woman and I speak the Enuani dialect of the Igbo language.
Someone dropped a video comment of my King saying he’s from Bini and that Obio is from Bini. I laugh at such people because I have no business with such claims. If some people say they’re Bini, yet they don’t understand an iota of Bini language, they speak fluent Igbo, they use the Ọfọ, they use the four Igbo native market days and they celebrate iwaji festival, then they are only living in denial and should be ignored. It doesn’t matter whether they have a crown on their head or not. Read that again, please.
Even if my mother wakes from the grave today and claims Bini, I’m purely Igbo. I have gone beyond petty blackmail and gaslighting and I know my roots. My ancestors were Igbo and if there’s any Bini or Igala blood here, then it is through marriage, assimilation and servitude. The Bini people who joined us from Bini after our migration, they have their own quarter here in Obio and we have always been told that they are visitors so how are we now Bini when we acknowledge these people as visitors?
Obio market is on the Eke day. Eke is Bini, abi? I don’t know how most of these Bini apologists think. You bear Igbo names, speak Igbo and you observe Igbo calender, yet you are Bini. I’ll keep talking and I don’t mind being dragged by unruly elements who lack consciousness and history. The task ahead is daunting and can only be achieved through consistent teachings and reorientation and hopefully, we would be able to salvage most of our people.
Daalụ nu umunne m.
HRH Omu Onyebuchie Okonkwo – Omu of Obio
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