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By Young Erhiurhoro
The struggle for freedom and independence by the Unenurhie people is not something of today or two years ago. It’s a struggle for years now. But for the fact that, it’s a habitual attitudinal process in Nigeria, that if you don’t have ‘Abuja Connection’ you will continue to suffer and nobody or government is ready to attend to you or listen to your cries and pains, the Unenurhie people have continued to languish in their own inheritance because they have no helper or saviour to remove them from the broad day slavery in this modern world.
This is why we must be bold enough to fight for justice and for our civil rights as citizens of this country in the case of Unenurhie community seeking for autonomy and independence from the present Evwreni kingdom to be recognized by the Delta state government as a “kingdom”.
We should be fearless and determined as full indigenes of the Unenurhie community to say the truth and present facts surrounding the history, origin and identity of the Unenurhie people.
In this case, I have not seen or read in any legal document or book that, it’s against the law for a community or communities in a particular kingdom to seek for their own separate kingdom from the parent one. But unfortunately, when some of us will gang up to fight this noble cause in a community that is completely being oppressed in every aspect of human existence, then such people are not better than slaves in this modern world.
I referred to this struggle as a struggle for reformation, reclamation, restructuring and finally, a struggle for freedom. This is why every Dick and Harry in the community must key into this vision and mission by throwing their support behind the present UCDU leadership who are fronting the struggle in line with legal process. But if some of us especially the youths, as a result of selfish interests decided to thwart the efforts of the leadership by joining forces and voices with those we perceived as enemies; then such people have only sworn oath to perpetually remain as slaves before the Evwreni people till eternity.
In fact, I can’t be afraid of darkness to urinate inside my bedroom. It’s now time to speak the truth to the world. Are we really happy that at this time, Unenurhie is being classified as a quarter in Evwreni kingdom? Are we really happy that since the creation of Evwreni Ward, no Unenurhie person has ever become a councillor? If it’s really true that, Unenurhie is part of Evwreni kingdom, how many times has Unenurhie person become the president-general of Evwreni Clan Improvement Union? Are we really happy that, out of the four polling units we originally have in the community, Evwreni forcefully took one from us? Are we really happy that, the Odion’Rode whose royal stool and traditional seat of leadership is in Unenurhie and also regarded as the second in command in traditional hierarchy in the kingdom has no recognition, allegiance and homage from either the Evwreni people or the government? In fact, the questions are endless.
Considering all these political, socio-cultural, traditional and economic sabotage on the entire Unenurhie community, is anything truly wrong as Unenurhie indigenes to have our own kingdom? If not for power intoxication and jealousy on the part of the Evwreni king, I think it is even more beneficial to them and to us if we have our own kingdom. But for the fact that, they want us to perpetually remain under them and to continuously silent our voices anytime we dare to shout, it is the reason they never want us to grow and become a responsible man in life. This is never accepted in a civil and democratic society. This is why we shouldn’t relent in our oars.
Since the beginning of this struggle, I have observed and said time without numbers to the gatherings and meetings of leaders and elders of Unenurhie community that, our major challenge and problem to pursue this laudable goal to achievable end is not from the Evwreni people per se; but from the same Unenurhie people. We are the ones washing our dirty linens in the public. This is not actually the issue of having a big man or woman amongst us or having Asaba or Abuja connection. In the first place, are we really tired of this marginalization and oppression from the Evwreni people? If we are tired, then the determination and courage to voice our pains and suffering out will also be there with us.
In advanced societies which Nigeria claimed to be, things are rightly done by following the legal process. If this is true, then we are not out of place if we cry to the Delta state government that we are tired of the co-habitation and co-existence as a sub-clan in Evwreni kingdom and that, we want to go on our own. So many communities in Delta state and other parts of the country have done it before. Unenurhie is not the first, and it will definitely not be the last in such struggles as human beings will continue to be exposed to oppression, marginalization and humiliation by bad governments or leaderships.
More seriously, some of us in Unenurhie community, both home and abroad have continuously accused those of us at the forefront of the struggle time without numbers, as being enemies of peace and consequently bent to cause division and chaos in Evwreni kingdom. Like what I said earlier, in such struggles in civilized societies, there is no need for violence or carrying of arms or weapons. It’s a legal battle and we have to use the legal weapons available to us. This is what we are doing right away and not the other way as some assuaged. Even though a man is poor or not, he should be able to identify the picture of his dead father whenever he sees it.
Sorrowfully, in the course of this struggle in respect to my numerous publications as a media practitioner which I think have helped a lot to push this struggle forward, I received from some Unenurhie people embarrassments and harassments to that extent of telling Evwreni wealthy and political class of not how, “I’m not an indigene of Unenurhie community, but only helping to cause division and chaos and later to run back to my hometown of Uwheru.” If you were in my shoes, how will you feel as a person? Yet, in all these embarrassments from our own people, I’m most determined to pursue this laudable dream to a reality.
But only one finger can’t remove the louse from the hair. We must join our efforts and forces together to achieve it faster. In whatever capacity or position you are placed as a son or daughter of Unenurhie community, have it at the back of your mind that, our joy is full when we are free as a people on planet earth. Evwreni people are never our enemies. We still remain people of the same ancestry and lineage. All we are fighting for is to regain our dignity and respect as a people. There is nothing wrong if we have Evwreni kingdom and Unenurhie kingdom. Today, I’m one of the archenemies of some Evwreni heavyweights especially the king for carrying this struggle on top of my head. Yet, I know without being told that, I won’t be remembered again if this race finally become successful. But I will be happy for the achievement because it will obviously embrace my children. If I’m not from Unenurhie, my children are maternally from it. This is my joy and happiness despite the predicaments I have suffered from the struggle till now.
I want to conclude this short piece with the words of Sir Wiston Churchill. He said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” I rest my case!
Young Erhiurhoro;Kjc is a reporter and a member of the Urhobo Historical Society.
