MYEKEE
onakingston@gmail.com 07031870710/08054446801
OPENING THOUGHT:
Anonymous writer states: “If you want to have a cloth, you can’t just take the threads that go up and down. You have to have the threads that go across as well. This is what it is with language and culture. They go together. Language is a part of the pattern. But the threads have to be put together to make the pattern. This is done through social interaction and interaction with the land.”
IGEDE PROVERBS:
It is a popular saying that a picture can tell a thousand words, and so is proverbs, it has the ability to explain multiple and rich concept in one simple sentence or statement. They express truths based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity and as well allegorical. Igede proverbs is used to convey messages during important conversations by astute individuals and only the wise and the careful understand them.
Proverbs collection- continuation 5
21. Ohe-é a yẹng la ụdaa ka a dudu kọ dong ukpenyi lẹ.
22. Ọngọ la ẹhị ookpokpo ka ri adirahu ọ-ọpyị nya alidu.
23. Igbachịwụ-ụ aá yang nya ọpyị ri ka.
24. Ẹkpẹ chị ẹnụ ẹpwụ ri ụdụ.
25. A ri ang nya olikiri a ka wọọ ugbe ẹ-ẹkpẹ.
STILLWATERS POEM:
Theme: OLIBEENU ỌKPẸẸKPẸẸ.
Olibeenu ọkpẹẹkpẹẹ á me ọnụ ka.
Olibeenu ọkpẹẹkpẹẹ á chị-ị ụpwọọnụ ju ẹla ka.
Olibeenu ọkpẹẹkpẹẹ á ya ẹla ọhẹ áalẹ, ya ẹla ọkịla ijuju ka.
Olibeenu ọkpẹẹkpẹẹ á ju-uhi ka.
Olibeenu ọkpẹẹkpẹẹ gamwụ.
Olibeenu ọkpẹẹkpẹẹ á juwa ẹ-ẹpwa bala ojiya kaka.
Chajị nya ọọwa lẹ, ẹ-ẹpwa chị-ebwo, ojiya chị-ebwo.
Chajị nya ọọwa lẹ, ọhaha gamwụ.
Chajị nya ọọwa lẹ, okpunyi gamwụ.
Ẹ-ẹga ka ibeenu ọkpẹẹkpẹẹ áá godayi giri-giri-i, ụ-ụwaa ụbwọọmwụ okpunyi á ka ji lẹ.
Olibeenu ọkpẹẹkpẹẹ á me ọnụ ka.
TREASURE FROM THE BIBLE:
THEME: ANỤ́-Ụ JUWA KPA ỊLỌNỤ KEJI HA OHE OLUHYE ỌTỤKA.
TEXT:1 IPITA 5:6 HUMILITY
“Chajị nya ọọwa lẹ, anụ́-ụ juwa kpa ịlọnụ keji ha Ohe Oluhye ọtụka ịnyịnyịịnyị mẹ, chajị ká Ohe Oluhye ayịdang tịtị ka jẹ́-ẹ huunu hwaa ka uhye lụka ọlẹ kọ pwoku mẹ.”
ABOUT THE LANGUAGE:
Following the approval of Igede standard orthography; three consonants were adopted. In normal speaking of the language, we don’t have real f,s,v, though some dialectical pronouncements seems to carry these consonants occasionally. The only reason that these loan words were accepted was that it pave way for writing of foreign words like soldier (isoja), soya beans (isombyi), Olive (olivu), a catholic priest (ifada). Outside these categories of words, they are not allowed to be used. When some people write- house as ‘efa’ instead of ‘Epwa’ or ‘evu’ as in dog instead of ‘ebwu’ or ‘uvo’ as in hand instead of ‘Ubwo’ is not only wrong but unacceptable. When you think strongly that it is right to write like that, the first thing is not to write, but to prove and use the statutory process to disprove it. When people take language issues the way they feel good, we will as a people be causing damage to our language. The largest room is the room for improvement, but it should not follow individual impulses or fancies. We have a collective stake to make our language the best and all we need apart from knowledge is humility.
HISTORICAL SNIPPETS:
Benue state that was created 3rd February, 1976 from Benue-Plateau state is composed of the 23 Local Governments- Ado, Agatu, Apa, Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Gwer- East, Gwer-West, Katsina-Ala, Konshisha, Kwande, Logo, Makurdi, Obi, Ogbadibo, Oju, Okpokwu, Ohimini, Oturkpo, Tarka, Ukum, Ushongo, Vandekiya.
Igedeland comprising majorly Oju and Obi used to be part of the defunct Idoma division during the colonial era and later Oturkpo division during the post-colonial era. In February 1976, it attained its own divisional status following the local government reforms. Igede was made up of three main district: Igede Central, Ito and Uwokwu districts. In 1996, when Obi was created out of Oju, it became the second local government predominantly inhabited by the Igede people.
Igede people are found in relatively large numbers within Benue State in Gwer West local governments- Akpachayi, Ugboba, Ajinmole of Oju clan as well as Ugbogwu and Ugboba of Ainu clan. Konshisha Local government –Ochoro of Ainu clan and Ononwu of Ibila clan.
In Cross River State, apart from the Igabu and Itakpa, that were administratively severe from their kinsmen following the division of the national boundaries between the North and the Southern provinces, there are various other Igede people in relatively large number from Ibilla, Ukpa and Iyeche clans which today constitute the majority of the population of the North of Yala local government of Cross River State. They occupy Gabu and Igede Edii out of the present Yala local government of Cross River; with Okpoma council ward being the third that is predominantly Igede people- comprising Iyeche, Anyikaha, Akiraba, Ebonda, Ayikwo, Omodomu, Adoka, and Iren village settlement.
DO YOU KNOW THAT?
Barrister Ocha Ulegede instituted a suit at the Federal High Court Makurdi against INEC and others for the restoration of the denied Uwokwu State constituency. He appealed when the matter was not decided in his favor to Court of appeal sitting at Abuja and won in 2007, the decision of the court was denied and disobeyed. In 2010, he instituted a technical matter of contempt against INEC and others.
On the 9th of March,2011, Professor Atahiru Jega on behalf of INEC formally wrote a letter to the court through INEC’s counsel that, UWOKWU STATE CONSTITUENCY IN BENUE STATE ASSEMBLY BE RESTORED. Consequently, election to Uwokwu State constituency was conducted on the 10th September, 2011. Honourable Dr. Jairus Erube was declared and returned as the winner of the election.
As the constituency flourishes, let us hope that Barrister Ulegede will not be like other unsung hero.
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