Bwari Abuja Crisis

The major market in Bwari in the Federal capital territory of Nigeria, Abuja, suffered massive destruction and devastation by disgruntled members of the community. Many stores in the market were burnt to ashes and one life was lost and many people suffered injuries.

Eyewitnesses who spoke on the issue said the crisis was as a result of a major disagreement between the Hausas and the Gbagyi tribe over which tribe the Sarkin Bwari should be from. The Gbagyi tribe felt they were more deserving of having the Sarkin Bwari title given to one of their own since they were the rightful owners of the community and were greatly annoyed that the title was being consistently given to Hausas.

Aviele Clan

Aviele Clan

Aviele clan migrated from Benin City many years ago in the 15^th century under the leadership of the OKPEA.

They settled in a place between Ugoili and Auchi from where a part of them further spread southward to Agbede, the present capital town administrative seat of the clan.

There is no accurate knowledge of the time and of the successive leaders before the advent of the Nupe invasion early in the 19^th century. The cause is traceable to the distance and swampy condition of the road from the original home in Ugioli to their present home at Agbede.

Aviele clan consists of:

1.          Agbede town, The administrative headquarters,
2.          Ugioli village, the original home
3.         Ubiane village
4.         Odigie village
5.         Egho village
6.         Ogwole hamlet and
7.         River Edion Settlement

Boundary

The aviele clan bounded on the south by Okpovbo Local Government Council rea, on the North by Auchi Clan Area, on the East by Anwain Clan Area and on the West by Owan Local Government Council Area.

Monarchy and Order of Succession

Leadership was based on the most acclaimed Odion amongst the people, no matter from which family such Odion is from.

Before the present Chieftaincy system which was introduced by the Nupes, the following LEADERS followed one another;

After Opea, there were (1) ofuede, (2)Aighagha (3)Atevheda, (4) Oriekor, (5)Akhinemhe, (6)Azimokhai otherwise called Okwakwa.

Dynasty

Omoaka is the 1^st known head Chief to Agbede after the Odion system. He reigned for a considerable length of time and died in 1874.

 After him, came Emokpire, Who was the second head chief and he reinged from 1874-1973

The end of his reign marked the end of the reign of headcheifs and the beginning of the use of the title ‘Oba’.

1. Oba Momodu1: 1880-1910

2. Oba Amedu 1910-1917

3. Oba Yesufu 1918-1929

4. Oba Abdulai 1930-1937

5. Oba Momodu (II) 1938-1960

6. Oba M.S. Momodu (II) 1960-

Custom and Culture

The Aviele people are Muslim communities. Whatever obtains in Auchi customarily, Traditionally, Socially, Matrimonially and religiously also applies to Aviele.

Auchi Clan

Auchi clan is bounded on the Northern side by Uzairue clan, on the South by Aviele clan, on the East by South-Ibie clan,all in Etsako LGA, and on the West by Ivbiadaobi clan in Owan LGA.
(Uchi, a corruption of 'Usi' in Edo Language) was the founded of Auchi (Evbo-Uchi) clan in Etsako LGA, in the then Bendel State of Nigeriia.
Uchi (Usi) was a prominient farmer and iol worshipper. He migrated with his sons whose names were:
1. Igbhe
2. Ogun
3. Ekpe
4. Ortse
5. Ekhei
from Udo town in  Benin kingdom in what is now known as Ovia Local Government Area, during the reign of Oba Ozolua in about 1481 to 1500.
Till today, the descendants often refer to themselves as Ivi-Uchi-nu Udo, meaning Uchi's descendants from Udo.
During that period, there was a fierce battle between the Oba's army and the people of Udo, for their refusal to pay their tributes to the Oba. Uchi fled from Udo with his sons, arrived and settled where Uchi Market is situated today.
The five villages in auchi were named after the sons in order of their seniority:

1. Igbe     -   Igbei Village
2.Ogun    -    Usogun village
3. Epke   -    Afekpe or Akpepke village
4.Ortse  -  Aibortse Village and
5. Ekhei    -    Iviekhei or Iyekhei village

They all lived together until the death of their father Uchi. Then the descendants quickly spread to and expanded in their present locations

1. Igbei to the East
2. Usogun to the West
3. Akpepke to the North.
4. Aibortse to the North-Eats and
5. Iyekhei to the South.

leaving their original home exclusively reserved for meetings and Marketing and named their original home the 'Square', after their father and so it is known as Uchi Market."
For many years they were autonomous and independent of one another.Th eldest man in each village as regarded as the leader. Coordination of opinion on general matters was done periodically in meetings usually held in the Uchi Market Square.

DYNASTY AND ORDER OF SUCCESSION IN AUCHI
During the 19th century, the Nupe/Hausa warriors set up the method of the Edo system of Government in Auchi, and set up their administration which would enable them to govern Auchi from Bida. They were then teachers and leaders and they needed one recognized leader for the five villages in Auchi. At that time, Ikhelebe Osimhe, son of Madam Aneke Ortsudo, who was born into an Ortse type of marriage at Akpepeke from Usogun, the premier villag inn Auchi, was acting as an agent to the invaders on the slave trade . In one encounter between the Auchi and the invaders, Madam Aneke Ortsudo, a grand daughter of Usogun was killed. As a mark of compensation and appeasement, Onara Osimhe who was an elder brother of the same parents with Ikelebe Osimhe was passed over and the choice fell on Ikelebe Osimhe as the first ruler OGIE-AUCHI) of Auchi in 1819 with the title of TARU' Otaru from the invaders.

Below is a list of the first Otarus of Auchi and the years they reigned:
1.Ikelebe 1819-1860
2.Imoudu 1861-1875
3.Idao 1875-1905
4.Odifiri 1905
5.Ikharo 1905-1919
6 D.H. Momoh 1919-1944
7. Prince M.J.Momoh 1945-1955
8. Cheif A.K.Momoh 1955-1970

Religion-Islam.
The Islamic religion found its way into Auchi as early as 1910 and the first Jum'ah Mosque was built in 1914 before Western education found its way in 1922.
This is circumstantial to the reason why the people are predominantly Muslims. Mosques are found in every corner of the town for Islamic worships. The five daily prayers are said in the various mosques.

Marriage
The traditions and customs that were originally put in place for marriages are not practiced so often nowadays due to the influence of Religious practices and Western culture, but the tradition involved in getting married in Auchi is still outlined below.
In Auchi, a man who is interested in marrying a woman expresses his intention by making a public present usually in cash known as  'Ize-Otse' gift to the woman during an annual customary dance. If the gift is not rejected by the family of the girl, it marks a formal approval of the man's application with the gift.
Courtship then starts and the man starts to pay regular visits to the girl and her relations. The next step is the extension of courtship to the parents of the partners. The family of the man sends gifts of Salt, Yams and Palm oil to the family of the girl.

the family of the girl then calls a meeting of the women in their family to discuss the merit or otherwise of the man's request.
In the meeting family of the intending husband is thoroughly screened and when finally approved, the edibles are shared among the women of the wife-to-be's family.
The length of time for courtship varies depending on the age of the girl at the time of 'Ize-otse' gift and the seriousness on the part of the intending husband. It is normally 6 months.
Dowry is also paid and the amount payed as dowry as increased over the years and has never decreased;
i. From 1929 to 1954 the customary dowry was 24Naira minus conjugal expenses and labour.
ii. From 1955 to 1968 it was 70Naira minus conjugal expenses and labour.
iii From 1968 till now, with the present economic state of the Naira, dowry payable depends on the agreement reached between the two families.
Before thee marriage is consummated and the bride joins the bride-groom, a request gift comprising of 100 kola nuts, one keg of palm wine and 10Naira (lol) in cash is sent to the family of the bride to  be. When the gift is accepted, a date for the marriage is fixed and 7days to the date of the marriage, girl and boys from the two families meet and entertain the partners who both stay indoors until the marriage is celebrated and the girl taken to the boy's house. Assorted gifts are demanded and paid for by the boy's family to the members of the girls family.

Social Activities

Naturally, the Binis are popular in all types of social activities, music, Dance and Drama handed down by ancestors many years before Uchi left the old empire of Bini in the 15th century.The tradition was maintained by the Auchi people up to the middle of the 20th century.
During festivals and occcasions, the Auchi people often entertain audience with dances customarily dedicated to such occasions.
A few of these dances are:
Isiko Dance (Hunters' dance)
Ukele.
Anibogie Dance(elderly women dance).
Orkhidegbor.
Illo Dance (Masquerade dance
Eboi Dance (Native doctor dance )
Ikpogu
Igoro
Oleke
Igiagbede dance (Dance involving all the young men and women )
Idjee and Oleke dance were transported early in the 20th century from Ora and Ishan respectively and have now died out.
In all the various dances, music is often supplied vocally accompanied with drums of various sizes. Gongs, Harps, Atsalogun, Alidor, Ekpai and empty bottles which ever may be suitable or adapted to the particular occasion.
The music and the movement of any of the dances usually rhymed and is melodious and thrilling to the audience.
With the inception of the Muslim Religion, social activities started to dwindle and between 1935 and 1955 died out one by one.

ADMINISTRATION

There are different rules and procedures involved in the setting up of the administration of Etsako. They may change from time to time, so the description given here may be different from what obtains now and at some point in the future.

There are 3 social structure of power. These are (a)Age (b)Title and (c)Wealth. Wealth can be divided into  (i)Man Wealth and (ii)Material Wealth. The ways which these three factors are useed in cln administration is shown below.

• During and after the Nupe rule, the method of taking titles in  Auchi, South Ibie and Aviele clans practised the foreign system of taking titles. In this method, the candidate after fulfilling the requirements of the chiefs and eders is turbanned and associated with a foreign title name. Some of thee title names are: DAUDA, YAMAH, KESSARAKI, TOMOH,YERIMAH,and JAGBA.   

• The above method was also the case to a lesser degree in the clans of Anwain, South Ineme, and Jagbe.
• The nupe also introduced some principles on leadership that were alien to the clans of Auchi, Uzairue, South Ibie and Ekperi. It is thought that in these clans, headship of the village was once vested on the oldest man in the clan. The Nupes demanded a more virile form of administration, and selected men of character, wealth and ability from among the people of the clan to act as their local agents. Under Nupe patronage, these men came to be regaded as headmen and tribute was rendered      them for the services they gave in acting as intermediaries with the slave raiders.
• At Auchi, Uzairue and Ekperi, the Nupes appointed Agents for the clan and these agents, in their turns, appointed village heads to whom they gave the Northern name, Dawudu. At South Ibie, local agents were appointed in each of the five villages and a clan headship did not evolve.

• In Avianwu, Okpilla, Wepa Wanno, Ekperi and North Ibie, a title is taken by whoever is desirous of it by paying fees in the form of money, livestock and food, to those who have already taken titles. The ceremony lasts from3 to 7 days varying from clan to clan in accordance with the customs of the clans.Among the Okpillas, a man is not qualified to take a title while his father is alive and among the Weppa Wannos, a similar tradition exists in the case of an Amoya son, also in Weppa Wanno, women can be given titles. In Ekperi and Avianwu, any free born male may offer himself up as a candidate for taking a title but public opinion may prevent a  person from taking a title in the presence of an older person in the family who has not taken it and a person may be prevented from taking a title if he is not rcommended by the head of the family.                                                                                                                      
•       A title holder establishes himself as a person of substance in the clan, he/she is qualified to contribute to administration of the clan affairs. Note that a man can also participate in the administration of the village or clan by virtue of actual long age and or by wealth.

HISTORY

History of Etsako

The Etsakos are descendants of refugees from Benin. Their legends relate to the Obas during the series of Civil Wars which led to their flight to the country lying to the East of Benin Kingdom.
The exact/accurate date of the battle or the subsequent exodus has not been pin-pointed,  but it is said to have occurred during the period of the reign of Oba Ozolua or Oba Esigie of Benin (1500-1504A.D.)
According to legend, the refugees first settled in an area lying between Auchi, Uzairue and Ugioli. At some point in the future, dissension arose between the settlers and further migrations towards the North and the East  were made. Peaceful expansion followed until 1855 when the area became subject of slave collection/raids by the Nupe from Bida.
All the clans could possibly have successfully repelled the invaders, but they did not combine to do so. They could not do anything against their mounted and well armed foes and eventually, they were compelled to capitulate and acquiesce to the Nupe demands.
For that reason, Etsako continued to to pay tribute to the Nupes until 1897 when the Nupes returned to Bida to resist the attack of the first British Patrols in the Northern part of Nigeria. Soon after the withdrawal of the Nupes, the first Europeans appeared. No resistance was offered them and the downfall of Bida was announced.
Unfortunately it was impossible to make research into the official records covering the periods 1897 to 1919 which was said to have got lost during the war. It is therefore only possible to piece the story of the British administration before 1919.
Around 1904, British Patrols from Idah, then part of the Southern provinces, found the clans of Weppa Wanno, Anegbete, Avianwu and Ekperi and established a native court at Fugar. At some time before 1904, North Ibie, Okpilla and parts of Uzairue up to Avia were administered from Kabba. In 1911, an assistant District Officer was stationed at Iddo-Okpilla for the administrative convenience of the residents of Kabba province. In 1914 Idah was transferred to the North provinces and the Southern portion of Etsako were administered from Ubiaja.
In 1918, the Kurukuru Division was formed with its headquater at Fugar and the Etsako re-united in one division. In 1919 administrative systems known as "District Headships" were created as follows:
1. Okpilla and North Ibie were placed under a District Head from Okpilla.

2. Auchi, Avianwu, Uzairue, Ikpeshi and South ibie were placed undera  District Head from Auchi.

3. Weppa Wanno, Ekperi and South Uneme were placed undera  District Head from Anegbete.

4. Long before this time, Aviele, Jagbe, Anwain were under a District Head from Agbede.

GEOGRAPHY

Geography of Etsako

The Etsako division occupies a land area of about 4,300 square kilometres. The southern boundary of Etsako is formed with the Northern end of the Okpebho LGA. The Northern boundary is formed with the Southern boundary of the Okene LGA, the Eastern boundary is formed by the River Niger while the Western boundary is formed by the Owan LGA.
Etsako occupies land with diferent geographical features, it has water supply coming from 6 rivers, the River Niger, the River Orle, River Edion, River Ogio, River Ogbudu and River Obe. Apart from these rivers, there are also smaller streams which serve the area in their water needs.
In Etsako, the communities and clans have different soil types and features. There is Savanna land which is occupied by Auchi, Uzairue,Weppa Wanno and South Ibie.
There is Semi-Forest land and Swampy areas which is occupied by Aviele, Anwain, Jagbe, Ekperi ans South Uneme.
The Rocky land/Rocky Areas are occupied by Okpilla, Okpepke and the three divisions of Ibie.

ETSAKO IN EDO STATE

Etsako is in Edo State, Nigeria.

The location of Edo State is on the map in the picture.

A more detailed map of Edo State is above, see Etsako on the map.
I would really have liked to post a detailed map of Etsako west, but I could not find it anywhere on the web and I can't really create a map since I am not a Geologist/Geographist.
So I'll just write what I know about the
 place from inquiring about it and from reading.

Local Government Areas in Edo State.

No long story here, there are 18 LGAs;

1.  Etsako East
2.  Etsako West
3. Etsako Central
4.  Owan East
5.  Owan West
6.  Esan North-East
7.  Esan South-East
8.  Esan Central
9.  Esan West
10.  Ovia North-East
11.  Ovia South-East
12.  Orhionwom
13. Uhunmwonde
14. Egor
15.  Akoko Edo
16.  Igueben
17.  Oredo
18.  Ikpoba-Okha

Initially, there used to exist only a single Local Government area of Etsako, it was later divided into three different parts in order for there to be effective administration of the area.

Etsako LGA was divided into the three LGAs which individually, are composed of the following towns/communities/clans:

Etsako West

1. Auchi
2. Ozairue/Jattu
3. Agbede
4. Anwain
5. Iyaro/Ivbiaro
6. South Ibie
7. Afashio
8. Awiele/Aviele/Ugioli
9. Warrake

The District Headquaters of Etsako West is at Auchi.

Etsako East

1. Agenebode
2. Oshiolo 
3. Iviagbapue 
4. Imiiakebu 
5. Afana 
6. Imiegba 
7. Itsukwi 
8. Ayogwiri 
9. Emokweme 
10. Ekwothor 
11. Iviukhua 
12. Okpella 
13. Okpekpe 
14. Iviebua 
15. Ibie 
16. Weppa Wanno

The District Headquaters of Etsako East is at Agenebode.

Etsako Central 

1. Fugar 
2. Anegbette 
3. Udochi 
4. Ogbona

The Ditrict Headquaters of Etsako Centrl is at Fugar.