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Igbo History: Here’s why there is a possibility that this tribe is from Israel

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However, apart from the story of how they came into being, the Igbos also shares some similar practices with the biblical Jews.

To believe that the Igbos is one of the lost tribes of Israel might sound ridiculous to a lot of people.

But upon factual analysis, one is forced to rethink the possibility of this claim.

Known to be third largest of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the typical Igbo communities are found in the southeastern part of Nigeria.

And according to oral tradition and many writers of Igbo history, Eri is to the Igbos, what Oduduwa is to the Yoruba.

But unlike Oduduwa whose father is unknown, Eri was the fifth son of Gad, the seventh son of Jacob (Genesis 46:15-18 and Numbers 26:16:18).

He was said to have migrated from Egypt with a group of companions just before the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt thousands of years ago.

Eri and his group were said to have traveled by water and finally arrived at the confluence of Ezu and Omambala Rivers, located in present-day Aguleri, Anambra State.

We were not told how long their voyage took to get to their promised land, what we were told is that Eri and his group was divinely instructed to make the confluence of Ezu and Omambala Rivers their final destination.

They would move into the hinterland and make a settlement in the present-day Aguleri. It was here that Eri lived and died.

Meanwhile, amongst Eri’s children was Agulu, the eldest son who took over from his father after his demise.

It was him who appended the name of his father, Eri, to his name and founded Agulu-Eri (Aguleri) by calling the settlement where his father Eri died and he (Agulu) lived AGULERI.

However, apart from the story of how they came into being, the Igbos also shares some similar practices with the biblical Jews. And among the Igbos, these traditional practices predate the coming of the Christian missionaries.

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Examples of shared traditional practices between the Jews and the Igbos include circumcising male children eight days after birth, refraining from eating “unclean” or tabooed foods, mourning the dead for seven days and celebrating the New Moon.

Supporting this belief is Daniel Lis, a foremost researcher on Jewish Identification among the Igbo from the University of Basel, Switzerland.

He affirms that there has been a clear continuity of Jewish identity among the Igbo. “It’s not just something that happened yesterday,” he said.

In addition to the shared practices between the Jews and the Igbos, there is a striking evidence that forces one to see a link between the Igbos and the ancient civilization of Egypt: It is the Ancient Igbo Pyramids, which is also known as the Nsude Pyramids.

The Ancient Igbo Pyramids or Nsude Pyramids is a testimony of ancient civilization among the Igbos.

Nobody knows when it was built, but archeologists have said that the pyramids have lasted centuries and are believed to have been built at the same time the first or second wave of Egyptian pyramids were built by the Nubians.

With similar features to that of the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, Egypt, one is forced to contemplate on the mystery behind their resemblance.

And without exaggeration, it can be suggested that the knowledge of one must have led to the building of the other.

Be that as it may, it should be stated here for the purpose of clarity that the word Ndi Igbo/ Ndigbo mean the “Ancient People.” And according to them, the British called us IBO or (Heebos): A word synonymous to Hebrew.

There are other interesting arguments, with regard to the topic of this article, that has been presented by concerned Igbo scholars.

Notable among them is the claim that the following Igbo words/phrases were used in the bible.

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Known to be the first book in the bible, some Igbo scholars believe that the word is a corrupted version of the Igbo phrase “jee na isi isi” which when translated in English means “go to the very first”.

Known to be the fifth book in the Bible, the word “Deuteronomy” is from Latin Deuteronomium, from Greek Deuteronomion and originally from Igbo phrase “detere nu umu”.

The Igbo phrase, “Detere nu umu” means “written down for the children”. And actually, the book of Deuteronomy was words written down to serve as laws for the children of God.

According to the biblical story of creation, God rested on the seventh day. Sabbath is a day set aside for rest and worship. The word is said to be thesame with the Igbo phrase “asaa bu taa” which means “today is seventh.”

Described in the Bible as a winged angel and represented in ancient Middle Eastern art as a lion or bull with eagles’ wings and a human face, Cherubim is regarded in Christian angelology as an angel of the second highest order of the nine-fold celestial hierarchy.

However, the name is believed to be a distorted version of the Igbo phrase “chere ubim” which means “guard my home.” And of course, angels are guardians.

According to the book of Mark 5:41, Jesus was storied to have raised from death- the daughter of Jairus. And “Talitha cumi” were the words he used.

“Talitha cumi” or “Talitha kum” or “Talitha koum” is an Aramaic phrase and believed to be an Igbo phrase “nta lite kuo ume” which means “little child wake up and start breathing”.

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Education

Ogun Assembly promises justice for slain OOU graduate preacher

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Ogun Assembly promises justice for slain OOU graduate preacher

The Chairman of the Ogun State of House Assembly Committee on Information, Culture and Tourism, Olusegun Kaka, has appealed to the students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, to remain calm as all their grievances in respect of the circumstances surrounding the alleged murder of their colleague, Oluwatosin Onadipe, a Computer Science graduate, were being addressed.

The lawmaker made the appeal on Monday at a peace parley with the OOU Student Union representatives led by the Vice President of the OOU Student Union Government, Taofeek Quadri, at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Onadipe, a Computer Science graduate of the university, was alleged to have been attacked at Ago-Iwoye Motor Park around Chips filling station, Ago Iwoye on December 17 while preaching the gospel.

He was said to have been allegedly hit with an iron by a former chairman of the motor park who felt disturbed by the young man preaching.

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The police were said to have intervened by taking the injured Onadipe away from the scene perhaps for medical care.

However, in a twist of events, which Ogun State Police Command is still working to unravel, the mangled body of Onadipe was later found around Ijesa Ijebu Road, about 20 minutes’ drive to where the police had picked him up.Commiserating with the family and colleagues of the deceased, the lawmaker noted that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Abiodun Alamutu, had promised to ensure that the police officers alleged to have been involved in the murder alongside other culprits would be prosecuted.

Kaka, in the company with another legislator, Damilola Soneye, enjoined the students to continue to engage in peaceful dialogue to get justice for their late colleague, assuring that anyone found culpable in the heinous crime would surely face the wrath of the law.

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He promised to intervene by getting across to stakeholders involved in the other issues raised, including the recent hike in school fees, transportation and other sundry issues.

Earlier in his presentation, the Vice President of the OOU SUG lamented the alleged murder of their late colleague at the Ago-Iwoye Motor Park in connivance with some policemen, calling on the relevant authorities to ensure the prosecution of those involved in the dastardly act.

Quadri also sought the attention of the lawmakers on the need to intervene in the recent hike in their school fees, requested increment in the subvention to their institution and provision of more buses to ease their movements.

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Be hopeful for divine positive turnaround, Cleric tells Nigerians

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Be hopeful for divine positive turnaround, Cleric tells Nigerians

Nigerians have been urged to remain hopeful and faithful to God for a positive turnaround of events in the country in spite of the uncertainty of the economic climate.

The assertion was made by the Chairman of North-East Baptist Conference, Rev Ezekiel Oyebode in his sermon to mark the first Sunday of the year 2024 at GoodNews Baptist Church, Wuntin Dada, Bauchi..

Taking his text from Jeremiah chapter 18 verses 1-5, the Clergyman expressed confidence that things will get better but only if Nigerians will look up to God for divine intervention in the affairs of the country.

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He said “Just as God remoulded the vessel shown to Jeremiah in the text, He is ready to remould the marred situation of Nigeria both economically, politically and most importantly, security-wise.

“The new year 2024 holds a lot of positivities for Nigeria and Nigerians but the only thing required is faith, hope and obedience. God has promised and He will never fail. He is still in the process of remoulding our future positively.”

Ezekiel Oyebode called for prayers for all leaders in the country stressing that the importance of effective and fervent prayers cannot be overemphasized in the existence of any nation.

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The Clergyman further expressed confidence that the Church will triumph over any form of persecution warning however that, “God will not spare attackers and persecutors of the Church unless they have a rethink and repent.”

He also challenged leaders at all levels to be fair, just and equitable in the discharge of their duties reminding them that they put in place for a purpose which they must diligently discharge.

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Shun Ethnic, Religious Divisions, Obi Urges Nigerians

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Shun Ethnic, Religious Divisions, Obi Urges Nigerians

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to tear down the walls of ethnic and religious divisions, stating that these barriers have continuously impeded the nations’ unity and progress.

He wrote, “Today, we join the global community in celebrating the International Human Solidarity Day which is dedicated to strengthening our global unity in diversity, and to help in fostering international cooperation on the eradication of hunger and diseases at the global level.

“On the national level, Nigerians need to solemnly remind ourselves of the need to tear down the walls of ethnic and religious divisions that have continued to divide us and instead emphasize our unity and leverage our diverse and rich cultural and ethnic identities and strengths to advance our national progress.”

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Obi stated this while celebrating the International Human Solidarity Day in a series of tweet on his X handle on Wednesday.

The former Anambra State Governor further stated that Nigeria, as a “result of bad politics and elite insensitivity”, has become more divided than ever, making it difficult for people to work together for national development.

He wrote, “Unfortunately, we have, today as a nation, become more sharply divided than ever. Our dear nation is more polarised today than it has ever been, fueled by overwhelming tribal and religious sentiments among the people resulting in the unwillingness of Nigerians to cooperate and work together towards achieving national growth and development. This is clearly the result of bad politics and elite insensitivity.

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“I, therefore, wish to use this occasion to remind Nigerians that the problems of hunger, poverty, and inequality are not specific to a particular ethnicity or religion, but cut across the nation. Thus, the task ahead of us, as political leaders and as citizens, is to continue to beat the drums of unity, social justice, and social equality to form one united front that will stand in solidarity against the many challenges that confront our nation.”

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