GENERAL BACKGROUND Since the demise of the old and mighty Kwararafa, most of its original constituent groups have remained essentially one significant entity except unfortunately one (Egbira People).

GENERAL BACKGROUND
Since the demise of the old and mighty Kwararafa, most of its original
constituent groups have remained essentially one significant entity
except unfortunately one (Egbira People).
The Jukun has a variety in in the chamber ethnic group, but the two
identify themselves as Jukuns.
The Idoma is a group made up of such others as; the Igede, Agatu, and
Adokas- speaking a very diverse variety, of the Idom Language. However,
the three latter varieties, for greater ethnic significance and weight, all go
by the name IDOMA and by God grace, they are relevantly happy for it.
Also the Igala, has the Ibaji and Apoto as other variants of its people but
who to all intent and purposes are Igalas-period! The result is a
dominant Igala ethnic group in Kogi State.
So, besides the tendency towards one centrifugal unit among the three
major Kwararafa groups mentioned above, or perhaps because of it, each
of them have significantly been grouped within the same major
administrative units. They are each grouped in one state, where they
each make a significant difference and are doing well for themselves.
The Jukuns therefore being all together make a happy significant
difference together in Taraba state. We know the Idomas are all together
in Benue state. The Igalas on their part have been quite mobile in state
citizenship. And so emblock they have moved from Kwara to Benue and
now to Kogi state. Wherever they go, no one can afford to ignore their
combined numbers. That is the name of the political (vote-might) game.
Unfortunately this is not the same with our own variety of the Kwararafa
group. Our variety of the descendant of Ohiku, have gone their variety
ways and also go by variety of names such as Egbura, Ebira and Igarra
(ETUNO). This seems un-Kwararafa, going by the example of other
Kwararafa groups we have seen. The Egbura (Miyakaan or Koto) alone
are split into three and insignificantly located in Kogi and Nasarawa
state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Ebira (Opete/Tao)
seemingly, are lucky to be together in Kogi state. But the Igarra (ETUNO)
on the other hand seems to be lost to Akoko Edo Local Government Area
of Edo State.
IMPLICATIONS
As a consequence, our collective Ohiku and Kwararafa cultural identity
and heritage is fast fading away, as each of the group is being
swallowed by the Hausa, the Yoruba or the Benin/Ishan culture
respectively. Quite a pity! Yet these were the people who together were
the main combatants or warriors that fought for the creation of Kwararafa
Empire and, who in the 1963 census were counted to be about 3 million
peoples and were ranked 14th among the 295 identified ethnic groups in
Nigeria while in 2006 census, Egbira people were counted to be over 32
million peoples and were ranked 4th among the 300 identified ethnic
groups in Nigeria. Egbira people cut across more than 8 states of the
middle belts and midlands of the West African Savannah great land.Yet
we are not together as formidable ethnic group.
OHIKU EGBIRA DESCENDANTS UNION
The organization is the OHIKU EGBIRA DESCENDANTS UNION. It was
formed in 2002 through the vision of the vibrant late UMAR SULE OTU
and our revered father Alhaji UMARU ABATEMI USMAN, may their great
souls rest in perfect peace. The OHIKU EGBIRA DESCENDANTS UNION is
a non-partisan socio- cultural organization embracing all the Egbira
speaking people. As we know, the Egbira speaking people comprise the
people we now know as Ebira (of Kogi central Senatorial District); the
Egbura (of Koton Karfe and Mozum also in Kogi); the Egbura (of Toto and
Umaisha (Opanda) districts of Nasarawa State); the Egbura (of Abaji in
the Federal Capital Territory) and, the Etuno (of Igarra in Akoko Edo Local
Govt. Area of Edo State). Each of these groups speaks a variety of the
Egbira language. But it is established however that we are descended
from one and the same ancestor “OHIKU”. It is in acknowledgement of
this fact that the OHIKU EGBIRA DESCENDANTS UNION was born. OHIKU
means Ancestor.
PRONOUNCEMENT
We have mandated, by our Royal Fathers ( OHIMEGE OF PANDA,
OHIMEGE OF IGU, OTARU OF IGARRA, OHINOYI OF EBIRA, AND ONA OF
ABAJI) and indeed all Anegbira, to tell Nigerians and the whole world that
coming from one and the same ancestry, the so called “Ebira”, “Egbura”
and” Etuno” are one and the same people and that henceforth, we that
formerly known and differently called “Ebira,” “Egbura” and “Etuno” now
want to be known and called “EGBIRA”. We are the three legs of one great
ANCESTRAL SEAT (OHIKU).
THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF OHIKU EGBIRA DESCENDANTS UNION
The Ohiku-Egbira descendants Union as a non-partisan socio-cultural
organization formed therefore with the following objectives;
1. To acknowledge the fact that we are of the same ancestry.
2. To rekindle, rejig, rejuvenate and revive our same but fast fading
culture and cultural values.
3. To foster Egbira ethnic Nationality and interests.
4. To unite the entire Egbira people (i.e. Egbura, Ebira and Etuno) who are
scattered in various state of the federation and the federal Capital
Territory.
5. To stimulate the socio-political and economic unity is achieved.
6. To stimulate the socio-political and economic unification of the entire
Ebira nation.
7. To rejuvenate and enhance our common socio-cultural heritage
through conferences, seminars, work-shops and festivals. This would
enhance a common identity and thereby aspirations of the Egbira nation.
8. To create a formidable machinery for conflict resolution within the
Egbira nation through the encouragement and development of a virile,
articulate and self-sustaining internal crisis resolution mechanism.
9. To make our voice formidable and relevant in local and national issues
by rallying behind goal-getting and visionary leaders of our various
communities, for the ultimate development and transformation of Egbira
communities.
10. To fight the cause of Egbira nation through our definite resolve.
Towards this end, we intend to invoke the maxim of “One for all and all
for one”, through our collective and cohesive might determination.
11. The Egbira nation through the Ohiku-Egbira Descendants Union stand
for one common destiny. It is therefore our resolve to press for
government patronage and fair representation in government at all
levels.
12. To identity our strategic interest and map out plans to project them,
especially in a highly dynamic polity like Nigeria where there are several
contending group interests and aspirations.
13. To ensure a good and positive political consciousness in our people
through a vigorous information dissemination.
14. To be bound together in all ways, by all means as one entity with a
common destiny.
15. To arrest the pull, the suction and the drift of the various Egbira
groups towards and into the bigger ethnic groups around which we are
located- a phenomenon which tends to deem, diminish and weaken our
cultural ties and sameness. We therefore now want to pull back from that
loose association and be integrated into a same and one group. As I
stated somewhere, it is the current Nigeria’s body language- the more of
the same, the merrier and may I add- the stronger.
16. To identify our common strategic interests and project and protect
them.
17. To tell Nigerians and the world that we are one and the same people.
MAY GOD ALMIGHTY BE WITH US.