“Azagba is a multi-ethnic society. In it we have the Ijaws, the Urhobos, the Ukwuanis, and the Isokos. We came together by divine providence, and now we have one common identity and destiny. We all are Azagba people. Wherever we go, may we be proud of our community.”
That is what I wrote before the name chart that was reposted in Azagba Network Group. In my opinion, I did my best. Many people candidly praised the effort, but I was surprised to hear from the president of Azagba Development Union (ADU), Capt Francis Otuju, that some people also bitterly complained that their family names were ‘deliberately’ cut off. How could that be when the focus of the article was to celebrate the uniqueness of our ethnic pluralism? At this juncture, I want you to please recall that the title of the article was: “Azagba – A Rich Tapestry of Ethnic Nationalities.” This will perhaps help you to understand that the goal of the article was to unite our people rather than to disunite them.
Please permit me to state that history is work-in-progress, as there is no single historical record in the world that can be all-encompassing or even flawless due to the smokescreen of human imperfection and limited knowledge. So if your family name did not reflect in the list, that does NOT mean it was deliberately ‘cut off’ as some who want to cause disaffection would say. Look, I don’t claim to be Mr. Know-it-all because I know that I have my limitations as well just like any other person. I think the time has come for us to harness our different shades of opinions for the betterment of our community instead of constantly engaging in needless disparaging vituperations based on nothing but primordial sentiments.
Some time ago I was with our erudite Okpara-Uku, Mr. Augustine Oku Oguafor, at his Kwale residence. Both of us tried to exray the reasons why there is a dearth of historical records on Azagba. Time and space will not permit me to say the reasons that we identified, but it was clear to us that in the National Archives in Ibadan you can hardly find any records on Azagba apart from the few ones that we presently have. However, history is like water. As water has many sources so does history. The historiography of our community can therefore not be predicated ONLY on ONE source which is intelligence reports. The advent of technology has made it easier for exchange of information. So let us use it to the full and contribute to the body of knowledge bordering on our history. The Bible says, “To the making of many books there is no end…” I have, on many occasions, encouraged the people of Azagba to write their own perception of our history if they felt my writings are vitiated with errors. But what I get is condemnation instead of commendation. I will gladly interpolate, extrapolate, or even extricate any part of my historical writings if you can take positive instrumental action to complement my research findings.
Please oblige me to state clearly that no name was deliberately CUT OFF from the chart. The list you saw is work-in-progress. Give me your family name and I will include it because Azagba is really, really a rich tapestry of ethnic nationalities!!!
I thank those who have supported me morally all these years. I also thank those who have criticized my works. It is Normal even in sane climes to expect constructive or destructive criticisms from dissenting voices. I accept your criticisms in good faith. But I want to advise that it should be constructive and goaded by goodwill, so that together we can build a virile community – a community that is united, peaceful, prosperous and progressive. Long live, Azagba.
Credit – Sylvester Izuogu
