CHANGING IDENTITIES AND INTER-GROUP RELATIONS AMONG THE AROGBO-IJO AND APOI OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA, 1915-2007

Abstract

The Arogbo-Ijo and Apoi are sub-groups of Ijo of the Niger Delta, located in the Western Delta region of Ondo State, Nigeria. Existing studies on the Arogbo-Ijo and Apoi have focused largely on issues of origins, economic and political developments of each group, but paid little attention to how the changing identities of these two groups have affected their relationship. This study was, therefore, designed to examine the changing identities and inter-group relations among the Arogbo-Ijo and Apoi from 1915, when they were brought under Ondo Province, to 2007, when a violent conflict occurred between them, with a view to analysing the economic and political dynamics of their relationship. The historical method was adopted, while the interpretative design was used. Primary and secondary sources were utilised. Primary sources included archival materials, namely, government gazettes, Intelligence Reports, magazines and newspapers from the National Archives, Ibadan. Oral interviews were conducted with 96 purposively selected key informants from Arogbo-Ijo (58), Apoi (26), Okitipupa (3), Ondo (2) and Akure (7), comprising 28 community leaders, 29 civil servants, 18 politicians, nine fish traders, three palm wine tappers, four religious leaders, four lecturers and one canoe-carver, aged between 40 and 97, due to their knowledge of Arogbo-Ijo and Apoi relations. Secondary sources included books, journals, and doctoral theses, sourced from the libraries of the University of Ibadan; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Benin; and University of Port Harcourt. Data were subjected to historical analysis. The Arogbo-Ijo migrated to their present location with the Gbaraun identity, which later changed to Ukparama, and thereafter to Arogbo-Ijo. Though still Ijo-speaking, they also became fluent in Yoruba. While the Apoi and Ijo cultural traits remained intact, the linguistic identity changed to Yoruba. The British rule, which brought them under the same administrative umbrella, namely, Ondo Province (1915) and Ese-Odo District Council (1955), introduced new changes that affected their hitherto existing economic and political relationship. In 1955, the Arogbo-Ijo wards, Ukpe and Erubiri, changed to ‘Ijaw-Arogbo’, while the Apoi wards, Kiribo and Barate, changed to ‘Ijaw-Apoi’ in 1976. From the colonial period, the Arogbo-Ijo and Apoi were entangled in economic and political conflicts. There were conflicts of ownership and control of resources. For instance, the Apoi’s claim of rights to fishing ponds located in Arogbo-Ijo resulted in seizure of fishing traps between 1970 and 1980. In 1998, 2004 and 2007, there were boundary conflicts occasioned by Apoi’s claim over Osari-Ugbo and Igangbo, which are Arogbo-Ijo’s communities. The creation of local government areas in 1955 and 1976 led to conflicts on the sharing of political offices that were conceded to the two groups. This necessitated the 1979 Accord which collapsed in 1983 due to mutual distrust. The 1996 Accord sustained the peace until 2007, when a violent conflict led to the destruction of houses. The historical and linguistic homogeneity of the Arogbo-Ijo and the Apoi, from 1915 to 2007, proved to be insufficient unifying factors that could prevent political rivalry over contestation for space and power.