RECOGNITION OF OKPE AS A DISTINCT ETHNIC NATIONALITY
Introduction
Nigeria is a federation of more than 350 ethnic nationalities. Okpe is one of them. Centuries before British merchants and colonial officials set foot on what is known today as Nigeria, these ethnic nationalities, including the Okpe people, had well established kingdoms and machinery of government administration. In precolonial Nigeria, the Okpe Kingdom was recognized as an exemplar of administration second only to the Benin Kingdom in the Edoid speaking areas.
Driven by purely economic interests anchored on the imperative of imperial domination leading to the 19th century scramble for Africa and beyond, Britain systematically established itself as a colonial power via its series of so-called protection treaties with kingdoms and peoples in the contemporary Niger Delta region and elsewhere in Nigeria. The Nigerian nation was a British invention, an amalgam of hitherto disparate independent nations. These original or founding nations of Nigeria, including the Okpe, have been transformed into sub-nations in a structurally defective Nigerian state. The continuing ethnic conflicts in Nigeria and the marginalization of certain ethnic nationalities is a manifestation of the problems caused by such transformation.
In a multiethnic polity like Nigeria, most inter-ethnic conflicts are due to disagreements over territorial boundaries, denial of access to power and the extinguishment of the sovereignty of certain ethnic nationalities. Because of their historical depth, these conflicts defy the sort of “inter-elite power-sharing” formula that Donald Rothchild argues was instituted to safeguard democracy in post colonial African countries.[1]
As argued elsewhere, access to power is the chief cause of social strife in any society.[2] The contest for political power in Nigeria is driven by the contrasting imperatives of ethnicity, religion, and regionalism. A critical element of the contest for power is the relationship between the minority ethnic groups and the majority ethnic groups. Territorial disputes, access to power and wealth, to education and employment, and to social services and resource control have established themselves as the causes of ethnic conflicts in Nigeria. The construct of each of these elements is framed in inter-ethnic rivalry. As a state comprised of Nigeria’s minority ethnic nationalities, Delta State has a unique role to play in ensuring and protecting the distinctiveness of each of the ethnic nationalities of the State.
Ethnic identity has defined the scope of political intercourse in pluralistic societies.[3]Arguing from opposing ideological prisms, liberal and Marxist theorists predicted the withering away of ethnicity as a political force in the polity. For the liberals, the imperatives of modernization with its emphasis on individual success and economic activity will compel the formation of inter-ethnic national associations that will render ethnicity moribund and obsolete. On the other hand, Marxists referred to ethnicity as a false consciousness of the masses and a stratagem of the bourgeois ruling class to subjugate the working class. However, historical experiences over the past three centuries have contradicted both assumptions. Across the globe, ethnic conflicts have remained the most potent destabilizing factor in respective multiethnic polities, including Nigeria. More than 90% of states in the international political system are multiethnic, with two or more ethnic groups. Competing ethnic nationalisms challenge the sovereignty of several states in Asia, Africa, the Americas, Middle East, and Europe. Even at the supposedly matured stage of socialism – Marxist communist rule in the former Soviet Union – ethnic conflict remained an intractable problem for the Soviet leaders. Irrespective of the ideological postulations of the Soviet regime, interethnic conflict systematically neutralized the desire to create a new Soviet man.
Therefore, it is vitally important that the harmonious policies of the Delta State Government on ethnic relations be maintained and strengthened. It is in this regard that the Okpe Union, as the apex socio-cultural organization of the Okpe Nation is presenting this submission for the recognition of Okpe as an independent and distinct ethnic nationality in Delta State. A brief historical narrative of the Okpe Kingdom is provided herewith.
Establishment of the Okpe Kingdom
There were three main migratory waves from Benin Kingdom to the present territory of Delta Central Senatorial District in the Ogiso period of Benin Monarchy. The first was in the 1170s under the reign of the 1stOba of Benin, Oba Oronmiyan (1170 – 1200 AD) that saw the settlement of Urhobo in Ughelli and other villages. The second wave was the last Urhobo migration that settled in contemporary Abraka in the 1370s, under the reign of the 10th Oba of Benin, Oba Ogbeka (1370 – 1400 AD).
The migration of Okpe from Benin Kingdom occurred during the reign of the 16th Oba of Benin, Oba Ozolua (1481 – 1504 AD). Oba Ozolua conquered several territories, including Ijebu Ode, Ondo, and towns in contemporary Edo State. He had several sons, including Prince Eze of Aboh, and Prince Igboze that migrated to contemporary Delta Central Senatorial District in 1550, and whose son, Prince Okpe had four princely sons: Orhue, Orhoro, Evbreke, and Esezi. They resided individually and collectively in several villages, moving from Olomu to Okperikpere (Okpe Isoko) and through contemporary Ozoro en route to Orerokpe.
It is instructive to note that, when the Four Princely Brothers, our forefathers founded the Okpe Kingdom with its headquarters in Orerokpe, it was established as an independent ethnic nationality and NOT as a clan or an appendage of any other ethnic nationality.
GENEAOLOGY OF THE OKPE PEOPLE
Prince Igboze of Benin Kingdom
Prince Okpe
Prince Orhue
Prince Orhoro
Prince Evbreke
Prince Esezi
The uniqueness of the Okpe Nation is that each Okpe national is a descendant of one or two ruling houses of the Okpe Kingdom: Orhue, Orhoro, Evbreke, and Esezi. Thus, the Okpe ethnicity satisfies all the properties of statehood and nationality as the nationals share the same common ancestry as depicted above, the same language, culture, and traditions. The Okpe Kingdom has a clearly defined territory under a single monarchy and a permanent population of Okpe ethnicity. In fact, Okpe is one of the few ethnic nationalities in Nigeria that possess these clearly defined properties. The others are, inter alia, in alphabetical order, Benin, Nupe, and Itsekiri.
The choice of the first Orodje of Okpe Kingdom was a marked deviation from the Benin tradition where the first son is crown king. It was expected that the four brothers would have crowned Prince Orhue as the first Orodje, since he was the first son of Prince Okpe, in line with the Benin tradition. However, in a unique display of a novel democratic practice, the brothers decided to crown their youngest brother from the Esezi Ruling House, who ascended the Throne as Esezi I, the first Orodje of Okpe Kingdom. They all agreed that the Orodjeship would rotate among the four Ruling Houses.
Due to his dictatorial rule, Esezi I was assassinated in 1779 and the kingdom was thrown into chaos and civil unrest. The migration from Orerokpe to the founding of villages and towns in the Okpe Kingdom was accelerated. Though Okpe did not have another Orodje until 1945, it is remarkable to note that they maintained their territorial sovereignty, internal cohesion, and unity of the Okpe Nation through mainly intermittent central gerontocracy in sustaining a central leadership Council, the Udogun Okpe which is made up of chiefs drawn from various districts of Okpe.
MAP OF OKPE, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA
The above map clearly delineates the boundaries of Okpe Nation with her neighbours, while the blue line indicates the boundary between Sapele Local Government Area and Okpe Local Government Area, the two local government areas in Okpe Nation. The boundary between Okpe and Itsekiri is the Benin River towards the Ethiope River down to the Benin Creek (known as the Hole in the Wall Creek). This Hole in the Wall Creek runs through Ugbukurusu, Elume up to Ughoton/Ugbokodo boundary with Omadino in Warri South.
On the east, the boundary between Okpe and Urhobo is the Ethiope River with Mosogar and Jesse on the East-Southern flank, and Oghara on the East-Northern flank. The land boundary between Okpe and Urhobo on the East, is between Aghalokpe and Okpara (Agbon Clan) of Ethiope East LGA. On the Southern flank the boundary is at Erere Creek near Effurun Roundabout in Uvwie Local Government Area. Lastly on the South-Eastern flank, the boundary between Okpe and Urhobo is the Okuokoko-Agbarho bridge on the East-West Road (Effurun Ughelli Express Road).
British Colonial Policy And The Okpe Nation
We all know how the British, for their selfish administrative convenience fused diverse ethnic nationalities into one. This British policy gave rise to the falsity of classifying Okpe as a clan of Urhobo. Most contemporary Okpe were born and raised in this falsity. A renowned British scholar, R. E. Bradbury, succinctly articulated this view when he opined that the British categorization of Okpe and Isoko as Urhobo was done purely for administrative convenience. He posited that the inclusion of Okpe “with the Urhobo tribes” was done on a geographical rather than a linguistic basis. He concluded that “Okpe is said to be closer to the Edo of the Benin Kingdom than are the Urhobo dialects proper.” [4]Unfortunately, this British colonial policy vis-à-vis Okpe was continued by succeeding Nigerian governments.
Notwithstanding the long years of interregnum, and the attempts by some powerful leaders to establish mini kingdoms, the Okpe people remained together as a Nation, thus giving significance to the slogan “Okpe Agbamua eni” (the unity of Okpe is an Elephant). The establishment of the Okpe Union on May 16, 1930, in Lagos, galvanized the Okpe people into greater resolve. The Okpe Union, the oldest ethnic organization of Delta State, became the mouth piece of the Okpe Nation and a defender of Okpe Identity. It championed the fight for the restoration of the Okpe Monarchy and succeeded in doing so when the British colonial regime approved the coronation of the second Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Esezi II in 1945.
The Case For Recognizing Okpe As A Distinct Ethnic Nationality
Since the Isoko have succeeded in extricating themselves from this colonial contraption, we strongly feel that the Okpe Nation has a very good case to be recognized as an independent ethnic nationality. The above map shows the compact territory of the Okpe Kingdom, with the blue line delineating the two local government areas currently in the Okpe Kingdom: Okpe and Sapele LGAs.
Out of all the 25 LGAs in Delta State, it is our view that the Okpe Kingdom is the most capable of a fine delineation given that no other ethnic nationality is indigenous in either Okpe or Sapele LGAs.
With a land mass of 1,014.3 square kilometers, the Okpe Kingdom is larger than Andorra (468 square kilometers), Malta (316 square kilometers), and Liechtenstein(160 square kilometers) put together. We have a population of 302,671 (2006 Census) and 416,800 (2016 estimates).Not captured in this count are Okpe residing outside Okpe territory in other locations in Nigeria. For example, it is estimated that Okpe nationals residing in Uvwie LGA exceed the Okpe in Sapele LGA. Furthermore, two Okpe villages, Ohore 1 and Ohore 2 are incorrectly grouped in Uvwie LGA.
While Okpe Identity was recognized in Bendel State, where the Okpe Language was used in news broadcasts on Bendel State radio and television, it is baffling that this recognition has been extinguished in Delta State beginning from the administration of Governor Felix Ibru in 1992. It is our prayer that Your Excellency’s Government will rectify this injustice by recognizing Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality in Delta State, with the rights to teach Okpe Language at all educational institutions in Okpe Kingdom, including the use of Okpe in news broadcasts on Delta State radio and television, and the recognition of Okpe as an ethnic nationality in DESOPADEC.
We commend the recent decision of your Government in recognizing Ndokwa as a distinct ethnic nationality. It is a welcome act that correlates with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. As articulated in the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Okpe, like other ethnic nationalities in Delta State, have the inalienable rights as “indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen” our “own institutions, cultures, and traditions…” and to protect our “individual and collective rights, cultural rights and identity, rights to education, health, employment, language” etc. (https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/document). It is worth noting that Nigeria is a signatory to this UN Declaration. Fundamental to the Okpe Nation are our “cultural rights and identity, rights to education, health, employment, language”, as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which we must protect to avoid the extinction of our language and culture as has been experienced by several indigenous peoples globally.
Delta State is in a unique position to demonstrate to the rest of Nigeria how a multiethnic polity coexists peacefully and respectfully. Okpe is the most populous mono-ethnic nationality in Delta State and yet its language is not taught in postprimary educational institutions in Okpe Kingdom. Therefore, we appeal to Your Excellency to endorse our request for the recognition of Okpe as a distinct ethnic nationality in Delta State, to facilitate the teaching of Okpe Language and History in all post-primary educational institutions in Okpe Kingdom as well as at the Delta State University. This policy will reinforce the tenets of federalism and recognize Okpe as one of the federating ethnic nationalities that constitute contemporary Nigeria.
We thank you in anticipation of your kind consideration of our appeal.
Yours faithfully,
Prof. O. Igho Natufe
President General, the Okpe Union
Akpederin Kingsley E. Esq.
General Secretary, the Okpe Union
Cc:
- The Permanent Secretary, Government House, Asaba.
- Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Asaba.
- HRM, Orhue I, Orodje of Okpe Kingdom.
- Secretary, Udogun Okpe.
References
[1] See, Donald Rothchild, Managing Ethnic Conflict in Africa: Pressures and Incentives for Cooperation, Washington, D.C., 1997, pp.15-18.
[2] O. Igho Natufe, “Resistance Politics: An Essay on the Future of Nigeria,” A Paper Presented at the International Conference on The Challenges and Opportunities of Globalization at the Dawn of the Millennium, at Howard University, Washington, D.C., USA., April 11 – 14, 2001, p.9.
[3] See, Okwudiba Nnoli, Ethnic Politics in Nigeria, Enugu, 1978; Donald Rothchild, ed., State and Ethnic Claims: African Policy Dilemmas, Boulder, CO., 1983; Donald Rothchild, Managing Ethnic Conflict in Africa: Pressures and Incentives for Cooperation, Vamik Volkan, BLOODLINES: From Ethnic Pride to Ethnic Terrorism, Boulder, CO., 1997; and Donald L. Horowitz, Ethnic Groups in Conflict, Berkeley, CA., 1985
[4] R. E. Bradbury, The Benin Kingdom and the Edo-Speaking People of South-Western Nigeria, London, 1970, p.128.
