IDRIS AHMED, LOKOJA.
Some Ethnic groups occupying most of the North Central Nigeria, who traced their ancestry to the ancient Kwararafa Kingdom have come together, under the umbrella of Ohiku Egbira Descendants Union (ODU), and resolved to henceforth bear one name as the Egbira.
The federation of Egbira people, comprising of Etuno (Igarra) from Edo state, Ebira/Opete ( Okene) and Egbura Koto from Kogi, Nasarawa states and FCT respectively, have resolved and agreed to adopt the common ethnic nomenclature of Egbira.
Addressing Journalists on Saturday after an expanded meeting of the relevant stakeholders, held at the NUJ Secretariat in Lokoja, the President General of the Ohiku Egbira Descendants Union, Dr. Musa Ibrahim Ahmadu, explained that since the demise of the ancient Kwararafa Kingdom the once united and formidable Egbira people disintegrated and bore different names due to migrations and in some cases on influence of neighbourliness.
Dr. Ahmadu, who was a former Secretary to Kogi state Government, said the process leading to the unification of the various groups of Union started over four decades ago, with late Alhaji Usman Obatemi and late Alhaji Isa Bukar as arrow heads.
He however, distanced the unification from religion and political partisanship as he said that the unity of the Egbira transcend any or all primordial considerations.
The President General made bare the nine (9) point agenda as resolved, which include, maintaining Egbira as the common name with a common spelling E-G-B-I-R-A regardless of dialectical differences, to foster and strengthen the unity of the Egbira Nation through enhanced social and cultural activities.
The Egbira people as loyal, committed and dedicated citizens will partner with Government in curbing insecurity and maintaining peace in our different communities.
While they pledged to mobilize resources towards the provision of economic and social services for communities, stimulating and enhancing the economic development of their territories and the peoples through the cooperation of the constituent groups in the Egbira Nation.
According to the President General the descendants of the Kwararafa Kingdom also resolved to create a formidable machinery for conflict resolution within the Egbira Nation through the encouragement and development of a virile
articulate and self-sustaining internal crisis resolution mechanism.
The Ohiku Egbira Descendant Union also resolved to make their collective voice formidable and relevant in local and national issues for the ultimate development and transformation of Egbira nation.
The resolution also include, ” To be bound together in all ways as one entity, with a common destiny, and to do any other thing and all other things, that will enhance the unity and overall development of the Egbira peoples and Egbira Nation, as a whole.
” To transform the Ohiku Egbira Descendants Union into a viable organisation that is relevant and responsive to the need of our people.”