14/08/2025
The Truth About the Factional Ogiamien and Their Fabricated History.
The crisis within the factional Ogiamien family began with their own division and their rejection by the Palace of the Oba. Today, their distorted history conveniently aligns with the dishonest political narrative of certain Yoruba historians.
Let’s set the record straight: this is the same Ogiamien that never welcomed Oranmiyan as the grandson of Ogiso Owodo. Ọba Erediauwa never altered the original story of Oranmiyan. From Oranmiyan came Oba Eweka I, who, despite being young, was fully supported by eight out of the nine gates of Igodomigodo. These eight gates nurtured him until the fifth Oba, Ẹwẹdọ, defeated the third Ogiamien in succession at the historic Battle of Ekiokpagha.
If eight out of nine gateways stood against Utantan (Ogiamien’s gate), how can anyone claim Utantan was “more Idu” than the rest? The majority of Igodomigodo preserved the truth of Ekaladerhan’s story not an invention, but a history recorded in both oral tradition and written accounts, as early as 1906, from foreign researchers who interviewed the people of Benin.
Why then does this Ogiamien faction push a false narrative, when they never supported Oranmiyan from the start? Having been defeated for centuries, they cannot now be regarded as the voice of Benin history.
We must also remember: the Benin Empire once extended into parts of today’s Southwest long before British incursion and the artificial creation of the Southwest Province. Yet Yoruba historians attempt to deny this, rearranging history to suit themselves even though their own chronology is incoherent.
Many Yoruba commentators who defend this fabricated Ogiamien version don’t realise that Ogiamien never welcomed Oranmiyan because they reject the fact that Ekaladerhan became Oduduwa, whose son was Oranmiyan. Even if Oranmiyan had Yoruba roots, was he ever welcomed by Ogiamien? The answer is no.
A true Benin historian does not distort facts. We acknowledge that Oranmiyan came from Ife but before Oduduwa or Oranmiyan, where was their origin?
Why are there traces of Idu influence in Ife?
Why does Ife have Ikedu-Orisa?
Why the title Ọghẹnẹ in their tradition?
Why would a cockerel be the symbol of Oduduwa if he descended from heaven?
Why is the Oduduwa “heaven descent” narrative so similar to the Ogiso “sky kings”?
These questions expose the deliberate erasure of the Ogiso dynasty by Yoruba historians. But the truth of Benin history remains unbroken, undeniable, and stronger than any manufactured tale.
Oba ghator-kpere, isee 🙏
Source: Edigin Progress