Endurance Edafewotu: Diary Of An Accidental Author

Protocol

We are alive because we dream; we are here because of dream and vision. To the giver of vision and accomplisher of dreams, Jehovah God I return all thanks, glory and adoration.

Today marks a milestone in my life and the life of my family. One of my dreams is for my mother to see me speak to the world. I am happy it is happening today. It gladdens my heart to see her seated here, well and alive to witness me speak to this large and noble audience. Mama may this day add more graceful years to your years. My father, Edafewotu Joseph Ejomovuae is not here physically but I know he would have been proud. Baba is an articulate descendant of the Omoba royal family of the great Emede Kingdom. He always wished for his son to be the president of the world. Baba I hope right now I am making you proud. Continue to rest in peace. And for members of my immediate and extended families seated here, thanks for coming and sharing this happy moment with me.
Much of what I want to say will not be about the book, The Isoko Ethnic Nationality in Time Perspective, the book will soon be available to all and I will not want to spoil your suspense. I want to speak instead on Isoko development and growth. It is the motivation behind the book. 
First, what motivated me to write this Book: Four words are engraved in my inner thoughts, these are: Peace, Justice, History and Identity. These words are the pinnacle that stands out this work because they are the motivating factors.

The book: History, Identity, Justice = Peace

The highest desire of a man is to have peace. Peace to enjoy good life, but peace cannot exist except there is justice, justice cannot exist except there is history. It is this history that gives a sense of identity. Where there is no history, there cannot be peace or sense of community.

We are seated here peaceful, basically because we have the sense of history in our mind-eyes. We know the protocol here. If the seat reserved for the Royal Highness for instance is forceful taken over by another individual, believe me there will be chaos in a moment. That means the orderliness we are enjoying here is as a result of all of us knowing historically that the royal fathers are the custodian of our common heritage and they deserve our utmost respect.  We can therefore situate our plight today on the altar of history; most of our history is disjointed. From Ellu to Ovrode to Aradhe, Enhwe to Okpolo, the scramble for supremacy continues, why? Because we have not taken time to understand our collective identity. This is what this book stands to put right, let us know who we are.

Early background

A great number of the audiences here could flash back to the 1990s when Orchid photos run the streets of different communities in Isokoland with a photo camera hanging and dazzling on his neck; a photographer that enjoyed his job. He was to be later Nicknamed Orchid, a name that is still popularly known to many. That young Orchid is the one standing before you today. 

I am home grown; I started my primary school at Isoko Central school, my secondary school at Emore Grammar school, my first post-secondary school job all in Oleh. I have traversed the breath and length of Isoko from child-hood; I can speak and write Isoko fluently, I am an Isoko man in and out. Those little beginning prepared me for this day.

How the journey started

Sometimes around 2006, I started asking several soul searching questions, some of which were: Why are there so many proliferation of kingdoms in Isoko? Why cant we have one super king that will run the Isoko affairs as some other neighbouring ethnic groups have? Are we really an ethnic group, if yes, why don’t we claim the same paternity? What affinity is the binding contract between Isoko clans that make us an ethnic group?
This curiosity led me to start scrambling things on pieces of papers wherever I go, sometimes, asking questions and observing events more keenly to determine the happenstance. It was not until 2014 that I decided to start putting my curiosity into concrete writing. But yet, I was writing at my leisure.

The strategic Synergy

The Ice and my little peace was broken when the Isoko culture living legend, High Chief Iduh Amadhe engaged me on informer discussion when I went to him to extract some of his historical knowledge by way of interview and to tap from his cultural endowment, little did I know that that single move would bust my comfort zone and I will be put on my toes.  He made bold to say at that time, that, he has been looking for someone or a group of people to put up a robust and detailed history of the Isoko people. Its a legacy he wishes to leave behind as an IDU President. He went further to confide in me that he has tried several individuals, set-up several committees to achieve that feat all to no avail.  He therefore hope that this is not another fruitless journey, but he will give me a chance and all the support I needed to succeed particularly as the idea to write was birthed by me, not that I was commissioned or coaxed by anyone to carry out this cause. He then went ahead to pray for me that I should succeed in making this dream a reality. He also went further to state that as an ethnic nationality, we must add to the existing literature, particularly the most referenced one by Professor Obaro Ikime The Isoko People: A Historical Survey. This clarion call was to be the pivot that re-ignited the already burning desire to complete this work. Even with this drive, High Chief Iduh never allowed me a day from that moment to rest without a check on how far I was doing about the book. At some point let  me confide in you that, I was always running behind my boss, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas any time I meet Chief Iduh at any social gathering because I know his next question after salutation would be,  Have you finished the work? Almost every now and then, either Chief Iduh or Hon. Dan Odhomo would buzz my phone, their impetus spurred me to take the needed action and the result is what has made me today this accidental author. Thank you again Chief Iduh.
Prof. Samuel Aghalino is yet another great Isoko son that master-mined the completion of this work. I remember a day I was privileged to dine with Comr. Ovuzourie Macauley, in company of the erudite Professor, and he raised some concerns about the jargons I was writing, and I was trying to argue with the Prof, you cant imagine the jabs I received from the comrade himself. But Professor Aghalino was determined to make those so called Jargons readable. When professor Aghalino first read this work, the grammar he used to express my jargons till today, I am still searching for it in the encyclopedia because I could not even comprehend it, but yet, he guided me through it all without undermining my person.

The title of this book was carefully and academically selected by the Prof himself. I am very privileged to work closely with him. Opportunity to say your thought to this kind of gathering do not come always, so I crave the indulgence of my royal fathers,  all and sundry to allow me digress a little bit.

Desire to make impact

The students here present I can see you all, I am very pleased you are invited to this occasion, my only message for you is this:  You are the only limit to your dreams, no one, nothing on earth, including money and family challenges can stop you from living your desired dream life if you give your heart to it. If I can stand here to speak to you, you can do much more. Don’t allow peer influence, societal entertainment or excuses of financial limitations to stop you. You are welcome!

Let me put on record something pertinent I have always believed could revolutionize Isoko if well managed. Although, Isoko have many economic endowments, there is one that is very much under-utilized – Appointment of Aides.

Most recently, from the presidency through the governor and the house members, to the local government, many young Isoko sons have been appointed as aide or the other. For instance, I have been an aide to Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas for quite some time; Azilo is an aide to Hon. Egbabor, Isoko North Local Government Chairman, Iruo Odize an aide to Hon. Constantine Ithiako (Malik Ikpokpo) Isoko South Local Government Chairman and so on. Some school of thoughts believed these aides are just jamborees of praise singers and sycophants, but I beg to differ. May I state here that it is how theyve been used that make them look so; these numerous groups of individuals can become strength to the Isoko as a nation if given the opportunity.

How I found my life

We as political aides that you see today are endowed with various potentials, talents and strength. These aides could become great leaders if they are well managed and mentored by their political mentors and political leaders. One of the best internship for would-be politicians and policy makers is serving a political office holder as an aide; through the day to day activities within and outside the power play a vital role in the political offices, the young intern is equipped with a first-hand opportunity to learn the role of governance, the challenges, the good and the bad which prepares him for the rudiments of good governance that can make Isoko-land a better place. The multiplier effect is the introduction of men and women of Isoko extraction into the international and national arenas where they could challenge the best talents in international and national debates, which are the key instruments for the survival and well-being of any ethnic group. The political aides could become key players at the international level; all they need is the right platform. Therefore, the advantage of many vibrant men and women as political aides could become an avenue to create positive impact in Isoko land, and not just using them as praise singers and sycophants only; they can do more if they are given the opportunity to governance.

Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, who fortunately I found my life with, gave me a fair platform. He started mentoring me from the first day I had encounter with him. He focuses my attention on two basic principles, humility to grow, and independence from the principal. That means, for me to grow, he always emphasized I should humble myself, and secondly I should always use my God-given brain both in making money and taking critical life decisions. Today the supports I have gotten from him not only has it led me to attending some of the best universities in the world, and also progressing to Ph.D level, but also has made me a focal point that could pull this great exciting gathering today. What I am emphasizing here is, with all humility, our political office holders should give the young men the platform to develop themselves; as it will enhance the growth of Isoko-land and generation unborn to compete favorably in the larger society.

Challenge

To you the young vibrant followers, I dare say, leave your comfort zone and develop yourselves. If I can go for post graduate even with my commitment to duty almost on 24hours basis,  you too can do same; do not sit akimbo expecting every month salary, venture out please. Take a cue from the Ibo man, with proliferation of traders; they have exported their trading prowess above the shores of Nigeria. We can export our leadership abilities to the United Nations like Barr. Rockson Igelige is gradually doing. We could export same to the United States, UK and Europe, even Asia. The world is open for us to exploit.

The foreseen debate

In writing the book, The Isoko Ethnic Nationality – In Time Perspective, I purposed in my heart that I want to kick start a debate; I want to open a can of worm that could spiral into finding the truth that we never knew that lies in those years ago that seemingly may have been long buried in oblivion. I never believed and till this moment agreed that I would in any way be exhaustive on the true history of the Isoko people. My desire is to follow the line of the great Isoko sons and daughters like Professor Obaro Ikime, Prof. Orona Oroka, and Prof. Sada of blessed memory, Prof. Samuel Aghalino, Idudhe and the other many writers who has contributed a great deal to the different segment of Isoko history, language, philosophy and culture. 

I know criticism beckon

The methodology I adopted in this work is that of a soliloquizing researcher and thinker, who after picking pieces of information that may not make too much meaning or sense at the time would try to give meaning to them by reconstructing events, weaving through ages long gone, events that never happened in his presence. Sometimes and most often I admit those conclusions may be far from the facts or sequence of events. But in being wrong, I may have made someone else right because it is because I attempted to be wrong that is why someone else could be right. I have not attempt here to provide a bench mark, but a starting point into the discovering of a true Isoko history. I know criticism beckons, but believe me, criticism is a healthy affair of man because it is the birthing of discoveries.

My emphasis

My emphasis is to connect the different clans in their possible migration journeys, routes, and time frame. I may be far from being correct also; however, the idea is to provoke you to provide the correct version(s), to provide a starter-park for any researcher that wish to in modern times delve into the muddy waters of long gone ethnic history. I love archaeology and antiquities because they give me a picture of yester-years wherein in my mind-eyes I could see how my great grandparents where thinking and acting.

Historical foundation

I also went ahead to coin two separate epochs that determined the historical foundation of what you today call Isoko ethnic nationality. These I called Isoko as a Union of Clans, and Isoko as a Political Unit. The Ideas behind the political unification of Isoko which started in the 1914s after the Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria is credited to Chief Ekpre Otobo who I see as the custodian of that epoch. Appendix 1, shows and affirm his dexterity in the formation of what became Isoko Local Government Area, where we now have Isoko South and North today. I added as Appendix some of the speeches of great sons like Prof. Ekoko Abednego, Prof. Samuel Aghalino during the first Isoko economic summit for the reader to be abreast with some of the findings and modern thinking in Isoko land.

Geographical territory of Isoko

Our other very important but often neglected of Isoko brothers like the Isoko-Ame who found themselves under different local governments and states are also featured here so as to bring it home that there is difference between ethnic nationality and political unit. Isoko ethnic nationality does not end with Isoko-South and North geographical locations, instead, it cut across the other Isokos in Ndokwa in Delta state, Osekwenike in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, and other distant towns from Isoko geographical location like Ugbogui, Ilesha, Ofosu and so on.
I concluded the writing by admitting that, the work of this nature cannot and should not have a conclusion because it is the beginning of the end. The research has just started. 

May I state therefore that, it is not the geographical territory of Isoko south and North that many mistake to be Isoko ethnic nationality that is referred to here, but an ethnic nationality with a distinct culture, and identity that cut across many lands outside the shores of Isoko territories. Therefore, Isoko need to be accorded its pride of place in the comity of Nigeria and Africa ethnic groups.

A mentor’s words on marble

Permit me to leave all young men here with one of the words on marble from my mentor Hon Joel-Onowakpo on the 22nd of July 2018, he said, There is blessing residing in the inner sanctuary of the grey hair, the old man pours it out only when he knows the child is prepared to receive it. Unfortunately, many old men die without pouring it out because the supposed recipients are not prepared to receive it.” Are you prepared?
Thank you.

Being a speech presented by Mr. Endurance Onojakaroma Edefewotu on the occasion of his book presentation titled: THE ISOKO ETHNIC NATIONALITY  IN TIME PERSPECTIVE at the IDU Unity House, Oleh on Saturday 9, November, 2019

BIOGRAPHY:
Endurance Onojakaroma Edafewotu is an avid photographer, whose main interest is history and archaeology. He is widely traveled and has spent years recording and storing artifacts. His love for museums, archaeology and antiquities started from his early years when his late grand-mother Emebu Egha would routinely tell him the history of his family tree and culture.

Endurance Onojakaroma hails from the Omoba Royal Dynasty from Emede in Isoko South Local Government Area. He had his primary and secondary education at Isoko Central School Oleh where he first learnt to love and developed the art of photography. While still in secondary school, he began working with Heartson Studios where he was praised as one of the most accountable staff. 

In 1994, he started his own practice and opened Orchid Photos and barbing Saloon. Few years later he proceeded to the University of Benin where he obtained his B.Sc with a Second Class Upper in Political Science and Public Administration. Shortly after, he proceeded to study International Relations at the University of Port Harcourt for his Master’s Degree level. He is presently studying for a Ph.D at the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. 
His enthusiasm to gaining more knowledge has made him to undergo different training both at home and overseas. Some of which are: International Tax Management Training offered by the Strides Company London; Leadership Strategy, and Change Management at Coventry University, Coventry UK;Sustainability Strategy, Leadership and Management at University of   Edinburgh Business School, Scotland, UK. Others are: Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Nigeria; West African Union of Tax Institutes, Accra, Ghana and so on. 

He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria. He is an accomplished Entrepreneur with diverse business interests. In addition to that, he served the government as a civil servant and also served as personal aide to the immediate past Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue. Honesty, hard work, and dedication are the pillars upon which his life is built.

Endurance Onojakaroma is passionate about development and is always ready to commit himself to ventures and initiatives that will yield positive transformation and development. He serves as Head of Strategy for Golfers Africa Magazine – a media platform set up to influence the development of the game of Golf in Nigeria. The magazine is highly rated by the NPGA (Nigeria Professional Golfers Association). He is also a Director at the African Centre for Youth Sports and Development – an organization working to develop grassroots sports in Nigeria.

He is also the Executive Secretary of Gender Equality Advocacy and Development Initiative.

Edafewotu is an ardent lover of artifacts, archaeology and museums. He is happily married with children.