By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
History is a sacred record of humanity’s journey. It should unite people through truth rather than divide them through selective interpretation. In recent days, an extensive essay authored by Osifo Osa Washington, Esq., titled “Gelegele is Benin: A Definitive Historical, Geographical, and Legal Exposition on the False Claim of Asari Dokubo,” has generated widespread debate across Nigeria.
While every Nigerian possesses the constitutional right to express opinions, no individual possesses the exclusive authority to pronounce the final verdict on centuries of complex history. The history of the Niger Delta and adjoining regions predates colonial administration, modern state boundaries, and even many written records. Consequently, sweeping declarations that every aspect of ownership has been conclusively settled deserve careful scrutiny rather than unquestioning acceptance.
History Is More Complex Than Political Narratives
The history of Gelegele, the Benin River, and surrounding coastal communities cannot be reduced to a single narrative.
For centuries, the waterways linking present-day Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Rivers States served as interconnected economic and cultural corridors. Along these waterways lived various ethnic nationalities—including the Ijaw, Edo, Itsekiri, Urhobo, and others—whose interactions involved trade, migration, diplomacy, intermarriage, and at times conflict.
Historical scholarship recognizes that coastal settlements often evolved through continuous migration and coexistence rather than exclusive occupation by a single ethnic group. Consequently, competing oral traditions should be studied with academic objectivity instead of political absolutism.
Colonial Records Were Administrative, Not Eternal Deeds of Ownership
The essay relies heavily on colonial administrative documents and British treaties.
However, it must be remembered that colonial authorities frequently drew administrative boundaries primarily for governance and taxation rather than to determine the historical ownership of indigenous lands.
Many colonial maps have since become subjects of litigation across Nigeria. Therefore, while such documents possess administrative significance, they should not automatically be interpreted as conclusive proof of ancient ethnic ownership.
Modern State Boundaries Are Not the Same as Ancient Historical Boundaries
There should be no confusion between constitutional administration and historical identity.
Today, Gelegele is undoubtedly administered as part of Edo State under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That constitutional position deserves respect from every Nigerian.
However, acknowledging present constitutional administration does not automatically extinguish debates concerning historical migrations, ancestral settlements, or cultural affiliations. These are matters for historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, and where necessary, competent courts—not social media declarations.
Peace Must Prevail Over Provocation
Equally troubling are inflammatory statements from any quarter suggesting violence over territorial or ethnic questions.
Nigeria has paid an enormous price for ethnic conflicts. No responsible leader should encourage language capable of inflaming tensions between communities that have coexisted for generations.
Likewise, responses to controversial statements must avoid demonizing entire ethnic groups. The actions or opinions of individuals should never become the basis for collective condemnation.
The Ijaw and Edo Peoples Share Centuries of Interaction
The Ijaw and Benin peoples have shared commercial, political, and cultural relationships spanning hundreds of years.
Many coastal communities reflect this long history of interaction. Families with mixed ancestry, traditional alliances, and economic cooperation demonstrate that coexistence—not perpetual hostility—has been the defining feature of the region.
Attempts to erase the contributions or historical presence of either people do not advance scholarship or national unity.
Let Scholarship Decide
Historical disputes should be resolved through:
- rigorous archival research;
- archaeological investigation;
- comparative oral traditions;
- judicial interpretation where appropriate; and
- respectful dialogue among traditional institutions and scholars.
No individual article, regardless of the credentials of its author, should be regarded as the final authority on a subject that continues to attract scholarly debate.
A Call for Responsible Leadership
Those occupying positions of influence—whether traditional, political, legal, or activist—bear a responsibility to speak in ways that preserve peace rather than deepen division.
Our diversity should be a source of strength, not conflict.
The future of Gelegele, the Benin Kingdom, and the Niger Delta will be better secured through mutual respect, constitutional order, and evidence-based scholarship than through inflammatory rhetoric.
History deserves careful study.
Justice deserves due process.
Peace deserves our collective commitment.
Let facts continue to be examined, but let no Nigerian use history as a justification for hatred or violence.
