THE STRESSED MINORITY OF THE ESAN PEOPLE AND THE UNSTRESSED TRUTH AND REALITY OF THEIR POLITICAL STRENGTH

By Enaholo Abel USIALE

This election has not just shown us the greedy politicians among our midst, it has further given us the opportunity to know how dumb certain persons can be when it comes to political thought and/or calculations.

Politically, the dumbest set of persons in Edo state as we speak are those stressing on Esan as Minority and claiming their votes does not matter, like seriously? Now, just in case you are not aware, Esan is the second largest tribe in Edo state after Benin. Edo North is not a tribe, Edo North is a Senatorial District of about 5 tribes which include Etsako which is 3 Local Government, Owan which is 2 Local Government and Igara which is within 1 Local Government. In fact, in Akoko-Edo alone, there are about 40 languages with many tribes. So, what I do not understand is if a tribe of 3 Local Government or 2 has become more than a tribe of 5 Local Government. Why calculating it in form of District and not the true nature which is tribe.

Today in Edo state, it is only Edo south and Edo central that can in other words be called tribe because the whole of the former is the tribe called Benin while the whole of the later is the tribe called Esan. While the Benins speak just one language, the Esan as well speak one language, but in the case of our brothers from Edo North, they do not, there are about 50 languages in Edo north and very many number of tribes.

Now, let us come to population. It is true that the Edo south is more in population. But, you will agree with me that in the whole of Edo state, among all the tribes from Edo state, Esan has the highest population of her people in Benin and even Edo North. These people loves adventure so much, and just like the Igbo people, they are just everywhere you go, especially in Benin where every nooks and cranny is filled with a high number of Esan people saying khara, bhadoh, onegbe, onuwabhor, owalen, egbe-fuere, ofure, owofure, dijie, aesan, enibhokhan-bho, etc. Many of these people have houses in Benin, some have lived in Benin for too many years and even gave birth to all of their children in Benin. In Esanland as we speak, you hardly, I repeat for you to quote me anywhere, you hardly find a home without more than one of their family members living in Benin. In some cases, in one home, you discover that about 5 to 10 persons resides in Benin where they do business and other things. Very many of these people votes in Benin. It is said that these set of Esan people constitute about 25% of Edo south population, you know what that means.

One very good and/or surprising thing about Esan people is that in so many aspect of life, they think alike, whether or not they visit home. These include Politics. The political language spoken by an Uromi, Ekpoma, Irrua, Igueben, Ubiaja man etc, in Esanland becomes same spoken by Uromi, Ekpoma, Irrua, Igueben and Ubiaja man in any Local Government in Benin. Their political unity and cooperation is second to non, very surprising and at the same time wonderful. If the Esan people in Esanland are following PDP today, know that it is what the Esan people in Benin and every other parts of the state will be doing, it is like what is agreed upon and over 90% of Esan people in Benin follows the train with all form of enthusiasm.

So, when some dumb fellows are coming to social media to disgrace themselves, I start wondering whether they are with us in 21st century and in the contemporary Edo state politics or still in the old parochial days of no proper political reasoning.

Get it and get it clear today, politically, after Edo south in population, it is Esan, the 25% of Esan in Benin are part of the Edo south votes, no single tribe of Edo origin has that population. If with the recent population of voters released by the Independent National Electoral Council (INEC) and Edo North is just about 2,000 voters more than Edo central votes, without the 25% of Edo central votes in Benin and someone is coming to social Media after seeing his massive rejection in Edo central, to tell you that the votes of Edo central is minority, can't you see that their village people are after them with all kinds of weapon.