Iguedayi Is Not Under Authority Of Any Other Community – Ediagbonya Emphasises
By The9JaTREND
The Odionwere of Iguedayi Community in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, Pa, Liawe Ediagbonya has debunked the publications in one of the dailies that Iguedayi is under the authority of Ebuotubu Community.
Pa. Ediagbonya made the clarification at an enlarged meetings of the elders and people at the community Oguedion.
He said to put the record straight, Iguedayi has boundaries with Evbuotubu, Ukpea, Iguogie and Iguoto from time immemorial, and as such, they should not misled the general public on the true position of things.
In a brief history on how Iguedayi village came to be, Pa Ediagbonya pointed that it was during the reign of Oba Adolor, the great Oba sent Avbiogbe Chiefs to plant Nim tree (Ikhinmwin) for them and ever since the village has been own its own.
He said Aigbekan N’Iwegue who had the chieftaincy title of Obadagbonyi of Benin Kingdom founded the community of Iguedayi as earlier said during the reign of Oba Adolor, being a prince and brother to Oba Adolor. He was a first class chief in Benin kingdom.
As custom demands, he was not to share the Palace with the Oba hence he went in search of a place that will be convenient for him to settle, which led to his discovering of Iguedayi community and the Oba gave his blessings that he should go and settle in the new found land and take possession of its administration.
Going further, Pa. Ediagbonya pointed out that the village had its Oguedion and Edion N’Akezua, Edion Noghowanre, and for them to be united and leave in peace and harmony, the Oba gave them Alegbe Shrine and also gave them that of the children known as Aikobie and that of the women called Omeho Shrine.
“It is also on record how the great Oba Akenzua in his wisdom approved that a school should be built in Iguedayi in 1956 and in 1957. The school was officially opened to the people and was named ‘Holy Aruosa Primary School II, Iguedayi. He then admonished the people to get closer to God and built a church which he named, “Holy Arousa Cathedral II”, the first one at Akpakpava, the house where the Ohen Osa was living then and is still standing. The people of Evbuotubu and environs attended the church and school. The name of the Ohen Osa then was ‘Aisienevbomwan’,” he said.
Continuing Pa. Ediagbonya said one of the reason they were also close was when the great Oba said it will be good for the people to build and own their own houses in Benin and he introduced Land Allotment Committee and that was what brought Evbuotubu and Iguedayi together.
He added that when the great Oba Ewuare II came, as a man of peace and progress, pronounced the ban on Community Development Association, the villages that have Odionwere and Oguedion, should be replace with Odionwere and Edionene and henceforth, they should charge of the village on him (the Oba).
He affirmed that even when they were doing things together then, each village have their own Odionwere and Oguedion and never interfere into each other’s affairs.
Pa. Ediagbonya used the occasion to advised members of the public to disregard the publication made by the people of Evbuotubu stressing that Iguedayi is not under any community and whoever want to do any transactions with Iguedayi should feel free to do so.
Also speaking, Mr. Austin Ohaini, Mr. Ediagbonya Christopher – Financial Secretary of the village and Austin Omokaro collaborated what the Odionwere, pointing out that Iguedayi has never been under Evbuotubu as claimed by the people of Evbuotubu.
