CONTROVERY surrounding the dispute about the original home of Nigerias Igbos has taken another twist with several historians claiming that Ndigbo originate from Aguleri after having settled there after leaving Israel. Over recent weeks, there has been an ongoing debate as to whether Ndigbo originated from Nri or Aguleri, leading to who should be the Igbo paramount ruler the Eze Nri or the Igwe of Aguleri. Of late, His Royal Highness, Onyesoh, Eze Nri has claimed to be the traditional head of all Igbo people. In a swift rebuttal, however, Aguleri historians have pointed out that this is untrue as Ndigbo migrated from Israel and are direct descendants of Jacob. They add that is was from this confluence of Omambala and Ezu riverbanks that Ndigbo then spread out across the southeast and the rest of Nigeria. One Aguleri historian said: For the interest of those who care to know, Igbos believably have their origin from Israel. In fact, history has it that Eri the fifth son of Gad who was seventh son of Jacob did migrate across the Sahara Desert and sailed until he finally settled beside the confluence region of Omambala and Ezu riverbank situated in present day Aguleri, a town in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State. Agu-ulu-Eri means the lion is the king of the jungle and all animals are beneficial to Eri. After his death, Eri was buried at Eri-aka, a historical tourist site that still exists till date in Okpu village. He added that Menri, whose name later became corrupted to Nri was buried in Aguleri after he founded his own settlement in present day Agu-ukwu Nri. He added that the founding of Aguleri predates this, making it the ancestral home of all Igbos. In 1995 a six- man team of Israeli archaeologists who came to Aguleri on a fact-finding mission were overwhelmed with amazement at the sight of the biblical ancient Onyz stone that was availed to them in sacred Obugad Square, Aguleri. They discovered other lots of relics that got them more convinced of the Igbo- Israeli relationship. Another critical point being that Eze AE Chukwuemeka Eri, the 34th king on the throne from the Umuezeora dynasty who then exchanged gifts with those Israelis is an Agulerian and lives in Enugwu Aguleri. He is the Eze king currently in charge of Enugwu Aguleri where Obugad Square, an ancient spiritual temple built by Eri in memory of his father Gad is placed, the historian added. He pointed out that till date all the aforementioned evidence is still located in Aguleri town, the centre of the Iduu- Eri kingdom. Calling Aguleri the true cradle of Ndigbo, the historian added that Aguleri, not Nri is the ancestral home of all Igbos, kind of similar to Ile- Ife with Yorubas.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 08:49:38 +0000
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