10 INTERESTING FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT KOGI STATE.
Kogi,
one of the 36 states in Nigeria located in the North-central
geopolitcal zone in the middlebelt (central) region of the country.
The
state occupies a total landmass of 29,833 km2 (11,519 sq mi) and was
created in the year 1991 from old Kwara and Benue states.
Here are some factors that make this state quite unique amongst other states in Nigeria.
1)
THE NAME NIGERIA - Many people do not actually know that the name of
our dear country Nigeria was coined in Lokoja, the kogi state capital by
Flora Shaw, the British journalist who later became the wife of Lord
Lugard (first governor general of Nigeria), when she was gazing at the
magnificence of the greatest river in Nigeria, the river Niger.
2)
THE JUNCTION STATE - The nickname of Kogi state should have been called
the 'junction state' because this state connects/has a boundary with
the highest number of states in Nigeria.
10 states Anambra, Enugu,
Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo states and the FCT are
all joined together by this great state.
I think the federal capital
territory would have been best situated in this state for complete
centralization and unification. Nonetheless the FCT is just a stone
throw away from Kogi and infact part of Kogi state was also carved to
form the FCT.
3) CONFLUENCY - Kogi state is so significant
because this state houses a very remarkable handwork of mother nature
-The confluence of the two greatest rivers that run across Nigeria, the
river Niger and river Benue in the city of Lokoja.
Anyone who has
travelled through Lokoja and has seen the captivating scenery of this
confluence would agree with me that it is indeed a spectacular sight.
4)
AJAOKUTA STEEL & IRON INDUSTRY - The multi-billion dollars steel
& iron industry, the largest of it's kind in Nigeria was established
in 1971 on a 24,000 hectare land. This mighty industry has
unfortunately been left moribund for a long period of time, but recently
over the years, concerted efforts has been made by the Nigerian
government to ensure its full capacity functioning.
This industry is viewed as a potential bedrock for the industrialization of Nigeria.
5)
FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE - Infact this city called Lokoja is just so
important in Nigerian history and it is really terrible to think how
much it has been neglected over the decades by past and present
administrations in Nigeria.
Lokoja was the first administrative
centre of Nigeria because it was the first settlement of the british in
Nigeria. It served as the first capital of the old northern protectorate
and even after amalgamation of the northern and southern prectorates it
also remained the admininstrative centre for a while.
1, Kogi and it's boundary states
2, The great confluence
3 Ajaokuta steel industry
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6)
ETHNO- RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY AND MELTING POINT - Kogi state is one state
in Nigeria which can really be classified as truly diverse and the same
time unifying. The state comprises mainly of 3 ethnic groups which are
the Igalas, the Igbirras and the yoruba speaking Okun people, together
with other minority groups like Ogori magongo, Gwari, Agatu/idoma and
nupe speaking tribes, Bassa, Kakanda and Kupa.
Kogi state is one
state that it is extremely difficult to determine between muslims and
christians who is more in population. Take for instance the Okun people
in the state are predominantly christians, the Egbirra people are
predominantly muslims while the Igalas, the largest tribe in the state
are somewhat 50/50.
Among the minority groups, the Ogori magongo and
the Bassas are dominantly christians, the Kakanda and Kupa are
dominantly muslims while the Agatu and Gwari are somewhat 50/50.
Kogi
state is the only state in Nigeria which shows true WAZOBIA influences
of the 3 major groups of Nigeria, Hausa, yoruba and Igbo (owing to it's
location).
Firstly, One of the major groups in Kogi state is yoruba speaking (Okun) with yoruba origins from Ile-ife.
Secondly,
you almost cannot seperate Igala and Igbo history apart (especially the
southern part of Igala). Some say according to history Igala and Igbo
have the same father, some say one of the tribes begat the other.
Nevertheless the cultural diffusion and oneness of the igalas and igbos
can be seen through their days of the week, names, language vocabulary
similarities, masquerades, intermixed communities e.t.c. There are many
igala communities with Igbo origins and vice versa in igbo land, and in
some places on both sides, the natives are fully billingual, giving rise
to some igbo speaking igalas in Kogi state and vice versa on the other
side.
Lastly, the ethnicity of the King (Maigari) and ruling
families of Lokoja is one that can hardly be ascertained and this is
because of over a hundred years mixing of hausa-fulanis and the
aboriginal Nupes in Lokoja. Many of the Nupes in Lokoja are of hausa
origin and till date many speak hausa and even identify as hausa. This
was clearly what influenced the name of the state KOGI which means
'river' in hausa language.
7) GREAT IGALA KINGDOM - Kogi state is home to one of the great kingdoms that existed in pre-colonial Nigeria.
The
kingdom was founded in the 7th century by Abutu-eje and lasted until
the late 19th century when it was subjugated by the colonialists. It
would take another full thread or series of threads to fully explain the
great influence, spread, wars, descendants and sacredness of this great
kingdom in details.
8 ... IGALAS OF YORUBA HAUSA AND IGBO
ORIGINS - Many igalas themselves probably do not know that their ethnic
group is very unique in the sense that it is the only minority tribe in
Nigeria which has clear influences and people of (Wazobia) yoruba, hausa
and igbo origins.
For the igbo influences, In the 6th point i
highlighted a little about the interesting igala/igbo relationship. Both
groups share a great deal of boundary , culture and history together
and have been heavily inter-mixed for over centuries now.
For the
yoruba Influences, Igala language is basically classified as a yoruboid
language, due to it's linguistic structure which is basically yoruba.
Yorubas and Igalas have been neighbours for hundreds of years before the
Egbirras migrated from Kwararafa kingdom, settled in between and cut
off igalas from yoruba groups. A yoruba speaker who understands various
yoruba dialects will be very much likely to understand igala language to
a good extent.
Also, according to igala oral history, igalas agree
with the Benins that Oduduwa migrated from Benin to yoruba land but
passed through igala land where he formed a chiefdom Ife (a town and
chiefdom in Igala land till date) before further migrating to Ile-ife in
yoruba land and that this is why yoruba and igala languages are so
similar. There is a title in Igala land known as the Ojogba of Ife and
this is the only king that cannot bow to the great Attah of Igala land
till date.
For the hausa influence, Ankpa, the most populated LGA
in igala land (2006 census) has communities that clearly acknowledge
their hausa-fulani ancestry e.g Angwa town, who are descendants of hausa
traders who came to trade with igalas centuries ago and were later on
igalanized. This is believed to be the window of islam into igala land.
This is quite evident with the fact that Ankpa has the strongest islamic
populations in Igala land.
9) VERY RICH CULTURE - I honestly
believe that in the north-central geopolitical zone, the people of Kogi
state arguably have the richest and most undiluted culture, due to
their cultural history, migrations, historical relationship with all the
3 major tribes of Nigeria and even other great kingdoms like the Benin
kingdom. Kogi state masquerades, cultural dances, attires, traditional
music e.t.c are really wonderful.
Despite being in the north with a
large muslim population, there is no single islamic emirate in Kogi
state. The Attah of Igala is said to be one of the northern kings who
can never bow, stand up or show respect to the Sultan of Sokoto. Kogi
state arguably has the largest population of traditionalists in the
North-central zone (due to the power of their culture).
1, Great Attah of Igala land
2, Egbirra women in traditional attire
3, Okun traditional dancers
4, Igala masquerade
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10) Kogi state is also well known for its tourist attractions, some of which are:
The late Ohinoyi of Egbirra palace, an ancient and modern architectural wonder.
The
Inikpi statue built in memory of Inikpi, the daughter of the first
Attah of Igala kingdom who was buried alive on the instruction of the
Oracle to restore peace and freedom in the land.
Iron of Liberty which marks the spot where slaves that were rescued from slave traders were set free.
The confluence of River Niger and River Benue.
Osome
Falls located in Ukpogo. Osome is a stream that makes its way through
rocks of different heights before sharply descending in a valley about
50 metres below. The sound the water makes when it hits the ground below
can be heard from about 100 meters away.
Mount Patti, Lokoja
which is a massive hill towering Lokoja. The Confluence point of Rivers
Niger and Benue can be seen from the flat top.
Holy Trinity
school Lokoja. This school was established in 1860 by Bishop Ajayi
Crowther. It is the first primary school in Northern Nigeria.
Awo
tunnel, a former refuge for the royal family in times of war dug during
the reign of Onoja Obari. It is about 1 kilometer long.
Lord Luggard’s first residence and office in Nigeria.
European colonial cemeteries.
World war cenotaph
Agbaja plateau.
Eganja warm spring
Royal Niger company flag e.t.c.
1 & 2 Ohinoyi of Ebira palace
3, Inikpi statue
4, Lugard guest house
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