Ajaokuta: The Real Owner of Ajaokuta District. The Untold History

TRUE HISTORY OF AJAOKUTA 

The Tribe That Owns Ajaokuta.

Ajaokuta Local Government was created from Okene Local Government Area on 27th August, 1991 and has it’s headquarters at Adogo.

Aerial View of Ajaokuta Steel Company

The History of Ajaokuta – The Tribe That Owns Ajaokuta Local Government is Ebira Tribe. See reasons and the history below.

Before creation of kogi State, Ebira (Ebira Tao & Ebira Koton, Okun, Kakanda and other minority ethnic groups with Ajaokuta and Lokoja were in Kwara state, while Igala are in Benue state before amalgamation and creation of Kogi State in 1991.

How come a former Benue indegene now claiming an old Kwara Lands (lokoja, ajaokuta, etc).

Historical Background of Ajaokuta.

Ajaokuta Local Government was created from Okene Local Government Area on 27th August, 1991 and has it’s headquarters at Adogo.

The Local Government is in the Central Senatorial District of the State and covers a landmass of 1,088 square kilometers.

Geography of Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

Ajaokuta Local Government is bounded to the North East by Lokoja LGA, Bassa Local Government to the North West, Ofu Local Government to the East and South-West by Okene and Adavi Local Government Areas respectively.

Climate Of Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

Ajaokuta LGA is located in the tropical zone, influenced by two climatic conditions namely: rain and dry seasons. The rainy season starts from April to October, while the dry season starts from November to April. The dominant vegetation of Ajaokuta Local Government Area by virtue of lying on the fingers of the equator, is interspaced with erect and numerous trunks of trees.

Population of Ajaokuta Local Government Area.

The 2006 projected population of the Local Government Area is put at 97,904.

Administrative Districts and Settlements of Ajaokuta Occupation of Ajaokuta People Infrastructural Development of Ajaokuta

Ajaokuta district has it’s headquarter at Ajaokuta native town. The traditional ruler in the area is the Onu Ajaokuta, and it is a third class status. This district has four wards namely Ajaokuta, Adogu-Ogodo, Geregu and Upake wards. Eganyi district has its headquartersat Adogo and has the Olu as the traditional ruler which is first class in status. It has eight wards namely Adogo, Achagana, Badoko and Ogiri wards. The rest are Patesi/Abodu, Uwosi/Owpho, Uchuwa/Upaja and Odonu/Ohuege wards.

Ebiya district with its headquarters at Ebiya has the Idu as the traditional ruler (Akaaba Family) and third class status. The district has two wards namely Ebiya North and South respectively

Occupation 

The major occupation of the people of Ajaokuta Local Government Area is the production of cash and food crops as well as fishing. The vegetation of the area further provides positive environment to the major occupation of the people, especially Savannah which favours trees like locust beans, palm trees, iroko, mahogany etc, all of which are economically viable.

Infrastructural Development

The area has enjoyed the development of the towns and villages under several administrations.

The giant Iron and Steel Company of the Nation is located in Ajaokuta Local Government Area .

Historical Background of Ajaokuta.

Before the creation of Ajaokuta Local Government Area from Okene Local Government Area on 27th August, 1991 and has it’s headquarters at Adogo. The Local Government is in the Central Senatorial District of Kogi State and covers a landmass of 1,088 square kilometers.

There are two schools of thought about the Ebira origins. The written source (archeological) and the oral traditions. The Ebira, through oral tradition, trace their descent to Wukari (in the present Taraba state) where they were a constituent part of the Kwararafa confederation. In about 1680 AD, they (along with the Idoma and Igala) migrated out of Wukari a chieftaincy dispute. The Ebira later split into various groups and settled in different locations between 1680 and 1750 AD. The Ebira Tao first sojourned with the Igalas at Idah but later crossed the River Niger and settled at Ebira Opete located the vicinity of Upake in Ajaokuta LGA. The 'father' of the Ebira Tao who led them to this premier settlement in Ebiraland was Itaazi. Itaazi had five (5) sons who all later migrated from Ebira Opete and were the founders of the various districts in Ebiraland. The children and the districts they founded are Adaviruku/Ohizi (Adavi), Ododo (Okehi), Obaji (Eyika), Uga (Okengwe) and Ochuga/Onotu (Ihima). His daughter named Ohunene settled in Eganyi district. Members of the various clans in Ebiraland are descendants of the children of Itaazi. Ohizi had five children who are progenitors of the five traditional Adavi clans named after them. These are upopo-uvete (Apasi), Uka, Idu (Aniku), Adeyika and Uhwami. A migrant group from Eganyi known as Ezi-Onogu clan is also found in Adavi. The sons of Ododo who are the ancestors of Okehi clans were Okovi Oviri and Enwgukonyai. Obaji the founder of Eika had ten children named Ohiaga, Iyewe, Avassa, Ehemi, Anchi, Epoto, Egiri, Ubobo, Ogu and Eyire. Uga of Okengwe had two sons whose children constitute the present Okovi and Agada group of clans. Due to a sizeable concentration of other Ebira clans in Okengwe district, they formed a socio-political coalition known as Ada-ehi. Ochuga had six children and their descendants make up the six clans in Ihima. These are Emani, Oha/Idu, Ohueta, Ure, Ohongwa and Odumi. The seventh clan is Akuta who migrated from Okengwe. Though Itaazi's daughter named Ohunene was the founder of Eganyi in Ajaokuta Area. When Itaazi was extending his district After separated from Igala because of Chieftancy as well, EBIRA first settled in Ajaokuta and Itaazi left his only daughter Ohunene to occupy the area while he moved to get more land for his children.

The Ebira took their name from the lower Benue valley. They described themselves as people from Ebira. Tradition collected from among the Idoma say Ebira were already in the area of Abinse down to the area of modern Agatu district when Idoma ancestors met them. This was about the 15th and 16th centuries as claimed by Ohiare (1985). This indicated that the Ebira presence around the Benue valley was about the 14th Century.

It was from here that the wave of migration dispersed the Ebira and other associated groups to the confluence area. From here also the people migrated to Ebira opete and the Okehi hills.

Several reasons were given for this migration. They were succession disputes, outbreak of epidemics, and flight from punishment which the people considered as unjustified and oppressive.

There is yet another period of Ebira historical development. This began with their migration across the Niger at Itobe to the right bank of the Niger around the present location of Ajoakuta. This place was known as Ebira opete.

The Ebira had to move further from the Igala territory for obvious reasons of succession. It was a common practice in the royal circle of Idah that the losing side in succession dispute was always obliged by tradition to move out of the capital enmasse to the inland and sometime beyond the boundaries of the Kingdom (in this case, the Ebira belonged to the losing side and so had to move).

According to Ozigi (2004) the dominant theme in the struggle of the Ebira opete settlers was to secure political independence of Attah in Idah. So, it was their desire to be rid of Idah’s political influence. This forced the people to begin gradual westward. Some settled in Okehi and Upai hills and Ohunene the daughter was left to take care of Ajaokuta Area and others in Igarra (Etuno) area. From Opete the Ebira moved gradually in families, lineages and clans to the hills of Okehi, Upai and Eikaoku, a compact area chosen for security purposes.

Political organization of the people in their new area reflected the settlement patterns based on family lineage and clan group conducted its affairs as a semi autonomous entity. In each clan group, lineages often acted independently. The leaders of these clan groups never failed to strengthen their political authority through religious sanctions ordained by the ancestors. Institutions of ancestral

Did Igala People Own Ajaokuta?

No! Igala people are not the owner of Ajaokuta Local Government Area. Its owned by Ebira. This is the true History of Ajaokuta.

WHY?

In about 1680 AD, they (along with the Idoma and Igala) migrated out of Wukari a chieftaincy dispute. The Ebira later split into various groups and settled in different locations between 1680 and 1750 AD. The Ebira Tao first sojourned with the Igalas at Idah but later crossed the River Niger and settled at Ebira Opete located the vicinity of Upake in Ajaokuta LGA. The 'father' of the Ebira Tao who led them to this premier settlement in Ebiraland was Itaazi. Itaazi had five (5) sons who all later migrated from Ebira Opete and were the founders of the various districts in Ebiraland. The children and the districts they founded are Adaviruku/Ohizi (Adavi), Ododo (Okehi), Obaji (Eyika), Uga (Okengwe) and Ochuga/Onotu (Ihima). His daughter named Ohunene settled in Eganyi district to take care of Ajaokuta Area.

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