WHY ODUDUWA WAS CROSSED FROM BENIN TO IDAH
According to the Igala version of Oduduwa story, Oduduwa who’s Benin name was Ekaladerhan, had a problem in the palace. He was ordered to be kílled for the gods to appeased. But people especially his mother’s side followed the executioners not to kíll him as he was the only son of the mother. After a long journey from Benin, the executioners freed him and asked him never to return to Benin. They then killed a fowl, and stain their knives with blood to show the king that he was kílled. Ekaladerhan then proceeded to a place and settled. The historical cock was the bronze cock returned to Benin some months ago by the Jesus college Cambridge University London.
The place he settled is called Ughoton. In the place, information started reaching the palace that it was like the prince was not killed. Ekaladerhan heard about this and ran from Ughoton towards Idah which was the path followed by Pa Idu, their ancestors, when he left Igodomigodo for Ife Igala land to settle temporarily during a great flood that took over his Community then.
On reaching the side of River Niger, the Igala clan in charge of the water ways within Idah, the Omaogbaje clan royal Navy saw him and asked him. He gave them brief about himself but there was difficulty in understanding each other because of language difference. They brought him to the Attah in his palace. Attah also could not understand him much. Some sources said that the Prince said his name was Izoduwa when asked.
Though Izoduwa in Benin Kingdom means “I have chosen the part of greatness or wealth. As a result of the language problem, some of our people thought that he was calling Ojoduwa which in Igala language means God has brought him. While Attah watched the event for some time, he told the people that since he said he came Benin, he was their person, and it was Lord that brought him. In Igala language, Attah said, Odu duwa (Oduduwa). That was how his name while in Idah and even when he relocated with his Igala wife to Ife in Omala to stay under Onu Ife, which some sources said was replicated by him after moving from Ife Omala to Ile Ife. This was around the 12th century. It was said that some Igala who followed him from here founded Agila town near Ile Ife.
Note: This is Igala version of Oduduwa History, and you can confirm it from any Igala person around you.
Source: 1. Igala oral history
2. Dr Jacob Abdullahi, the first Nigerian people
