The relationship between Ozalla, Iruekpen _ Ekpoma

By Dada Ayokhai

The story of the strong economic tie between Ozalla and Iruekpen, both located in Edo North and Edo Central respectively, serves as a good example of how peaceful coexistence can transcend linguistic, cultural and other artificial barriers.

The story of Ozalla and Iruekpen has evolved over the years and comparable to the economic relationship between two adjoining communities.

Whilst Ozalla falls into Edo North senatorial district, Iruekpen, on the other hand, is under Edo Central senatorial district. 

In reality, there is no cultural affinity between both communities, since each belongs to divergent cultural, language, traditional and historical experience. 

However, both communities have still managed to develop a special bond built on trust to the extent these "artificial" differences no longer poses a threat to their economic existence.    

 Ozalla is one of the border towns in Owan West local government area of Edo North. The community stands like a buffer between Edo North and Edo Central, two out of the three senatorial districts in Edo State.  

By its unique position as a boundary community, Ozalla is thus the first point of contact for anyone who is heading towards Edo North from the Benin axis and having to pass through Iruekpen in Esanland. 

The headquarters of  Owan West local government, of which Ozalla is part of, is located in Sabogida Ora.

As a result of proximity, Ozalla is closer to Iruekpen and Ekpoma in Esanland than it is to Sabogida Ora, its council headquarter. 

This closeness has helped to forge an enduring economic tie between Ozalla and its neighbouring communities in Esanland.  

Though it is instructive to mention that the strong tie which exists between Ozalla and Iruekpen and Ekpoma is strictly economic, their cultural dissimilarities are also strikingly visible. 

For various economic reasons, an average Ozalla man sees  Ekpoma as a business hub. With its plethora of banks, schools and    a university campus, an Ozalla man would prefer to commute daily to Ekpoma to transact his business and return later to sleep in his community.   

The sweet tale of Ozalla and Iruekpen  represents a metaphor on the bourgeoning economic tie between Edo North and Edo Central. 

Economic considerations is at work in creating the bond between two neighbours in a situation where geography and culture attempted to put a wedge.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unuigboje drums support for Shaibu

Image
By Dada Ayokhai  A politician and technocrat from Owan West Local Government of Edo State,  Barr. Frank Dix Unuigboje has urged the  Edo North indigenes to cast aside whatever differences that may exist among them and come together as one indivisible entity to support their son, Hon Shuaibu and his principal, Gov. Godwin Obaseki, as they grapple with the challenges of bettering the life/ welfare of the people of the Edo State.  BARR. Unuigboje, who is still playing a vital role in the meteoric popularity of the PDP in Owan West and by extension, Edo North, is one of the party's leading lights and great mobiliser.  He made this clarion call in a chat with journalists  in Benin city, the Edo State capital.  Barr. Unuigboje singled out Hon. Shaibu for praises on account of his untainted loyalty to his principal, stating they hold the key to unlock the greatness and potentialities of Edo State. According to Barr. Unuigboje ,who was a former Edo...
Read more

Auchi Microfinance Bank groans under high customers debt profiles

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI  The management of Auchi Microfinance Bank (AMFB), yesterday, decried the high indebtedness of customers to the bank just as it urges customers to pay up in order to remain in business. Chairman of the financial institution, Hassan Momodu, expressed his resentment at its 22nd and 23rd joint annual general meetings of the bank in Auchi, Edo  According to him "We are using this medium to appeal passionately to our shareholders and the general public that are indebted to us to pay up to reduce our yearly provisioning and improve our profitability”,  Momodu also said that the increase in the fund in the period under review represented a 29 percent improvement on the fund. He maintained that the bank’s gross earnings within the period was N143.8million as against N131.1million in the 2018 financial year. The financial boss went further to say that the 2019 financial year’s profit before tax was N52.8million as against N11.125 million in 2018 while p...
Read more

Who is Governor Obaseki 's candidate for PDP National Deputy Youth Leader 's position?

Image
By DADA AYOKHAI The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, will soon engage in another political battle over the choice of candidate to fill the position of the National Deputy Youth Leader  microzone to the state by the party to be formalized at the National convention slated for October 30 and 31st. The Edo State PDP chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi according to source unanimously  conceded the choice of who occupied that position to the state governor in tune as the Leader of the party in the state. The state chairman's  action is said not to go down well with party leaders in the state who felt a meeting should be convened  to  draw necessary prerequisites  for the choice candidate. According to the group, the title  Leader of the party  bestowed on governor by the PDP arrangements,  does  not intend in any way makes  the governor a   sole administrator . Again, the  party leaders said the...
Read more