DON TO ESAN MONARCHS: Come Together to Fast- Track Development in the Land.

By Lucky Isibor.

Esan monarchs have been called upon to close ranks and come together to galvanise and mobilise Esan people at home and in diaspora to develop Esanland. 

The call was made by Prof. Matthew Izibili, a lecturer  in the Department of Philisophy  at Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, on Tuesday, 22 June while delivering a lecture titled " The Role of Traditional Rulers in Promoting Peace, Development and Ensuring Security in Esanland" as part of activities to mark the 50th coronation anniversary of the Ojirrua of Irrua and Okaijesan of Esanland. 

             Alhaji W. O. Momodu 11.

Ojirrua of Irrua and Okaijesan of Esanland.

Prof. Izibili who noted that Esan monarchs have always been at the forefront on issues that relate to peace and development in their various domains before the advent of the colonial masters, appealed to the monarchs to address the issues of sky rocketing cost of burial and marriages, ill treatment of widows and their children, preventing female children from inheriting their father's properties where such a man has no male child adding that they're capable of breaching peace and security.

According to him "the emerging issues surrounding marriages, burial rites, widowhood practices, wife inheritance call for serious coution. Otherwise, we may end up cutting the nose to spite our faces. We need not bury our future with our dead parents. 

"On marriage, we should encourage our prospective couples to get involved. If we must stop the ugly trend of cohabiting of two adults without fulfilling the community approved rites of marriage, the Palace should speak up on the fast growing trend of "fixed prices" in contracting marriage in Esanland. It is fast taking a revenge mission- Ekalumele. 

Prof. Matthew Izibili.

"It will shock my audience that we today have very well to do Esan sons and daughters who we can no longer reach as a result of the inhuman manner their mothers were treated after the death of their fathers. This is anti development in scope".

Prof. Izibili urged the monarchs to make Esanland an interesting place to be adding that the people deserve encouragement and eulogised the proprietor of Mudiame University, Irrua for establishing the university in Esanland.

The erudite scholar appealed to Esan Monarchs to collaborate with security agencies, profile all the strangers; help to organise local hunters into  vigilantee, restrict the influx of mistreants into their communities and apply caution in the allocation of land for the settlement of perceived strangers in their communities while franning at the emerging trend of absentee monarchs, and advised them to stay in their domain.

While calling for the revival of the dance exchange in Esan land which he said will strengthen collaboration between communities, Izibili urged the monarchs to encourage the development of indegenous technologies like pottery, textile, the Esan Igbulu in particular, blacksmithing and traditional medicine with a view to ensuring that those with expertise in traditional medicine are encouraged not to allow what they know to die after their earthly sojourn.

In another lecture titled, " Social Justice for All in the Nigerian Society; the Role of Traditional Institutions", delivered by Prof. Agatha Eguevoen; traced some of the harmful cultural practices still remotely in force in Esan.

She called on the traditional rulers in Esanland to strive to eliminate these practices which include rights and rites of widowhood practices, wife and inheritance parttern, subjugation of the girl child and women, child marriage and child abuse, female genital mutilation, socialization of the girl child into timidity and by extension backwardness.

In his remarks, chairman on the occasion, Paul Okhaide Itua (Esq.) appealed to Esan monarchs to take the recommendations of the lectures seriously and slate them for discussion at their meetings.

The lecture was attended by the Ojirrua of Irrua and Okaijesan of Esanland, His Royal Highness, W.O. Momodu 11, Chief Isaac Ekioba, the Oruare of Irrua; Dr. Jude Obasanmi, a lecturer in the Department of Economics at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and the Chief Responsibility Officer of Josemaria Escriva Foundation, Ekpoma; Irrua Palace chiefs, women groups and Irrua indegenes at home and abroad.