LET’S REVIVE THE PHILOSOPHY OF ‘ANEGBEMU’
…We need each other-PROF IZIBILI
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
Esan people in Esanland, Nigeria and Diaspora has been called upon to revive the philosophy of ‘Anegbemu’, as “…there are no two ways to make it work better than for the owner of a luggage who request for a helping hand to lift such to his or her head, to be the first person to bend down towards the luggage before the person who is to give a helping hand will add his or hers...”
The above call was made by Professor Matthew Izibili of the department of Philosophy, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, in his keynote address delivered at the inauguration and special award ceremony organized by Esan Akugbe for Good Leadership Unity Forum that held today, 24th September, at Esan West Secretariat hall, Ekpoma, Edo State.
Speaking, Professor Izibili said; ‘The more supportive we are to each other as a people, the more progress we will eventually make….’
Continuing, he said; for Esan Agenda as it relates to keeping and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Esan race, and sustain same in spite of the challenge of modernity, Esan people must be very mindful of their “preferential treatment for strangers, above brothers or sisters, as strangers have taken undue advantage of such “good Samaritan disposition”.
Professor Izibili went on to say that Esan culture has been drastically eroded and replaced by foreign culture and that has in no small measure, affected our cultural heritage.
“Anegbemu” as practiced in time past, Professor Izibili, said, implies that, no man is an Island as we are all differently endowed, and harnessing our various endowments will eventually give Esanland a greater comparative advantage.
Professor Izibili, who said the “Anegbemu” philosophy is a call on all Esan sons and daughters to be committed in making things work, especially in this crucial time of our political, social and economic history, added that, the gains of ‘Anegbemu’ includes the eventual ability of those that are relatively financially disadvantaged to be able to do things that they wouldn’t have been able to do on their own, such as ‘Life’ support to widows and even the bearing of children to the impotent. These are some of the beauty of the “Anegbemu” philosophy that was practiced by Esan people of old, that he said, must be revived.
Finally, Prof. Izibili called on all Esan people to be more committed than ever before to ‘Project Esan’, to attract the needed development in the Spirit of Anegbemu way of life of our forebears, but advised that we need to be more patient with ourselves and learn to listen more than speaking, as we need each other.
Enijies of Esanland present, include the Onojie of Igueben, Onojie of Emu, Onojie of Ubiaja and Onojie of Ewosa. Others are the Onojie of Ewosa, Onojie of Okalo amongst others.
Also, eminent Esan Personalities, including Hon. Godsent Akhabue, aka Joefel, Mr. Joel Aidamabor, Proprietor, Mindcast Hotel, Ekpoma and the coordinator of Atanakpa, Esan security network, Chief Ulifun and a host of others, were also present.
