By Lucky Isibor
A university don and Professor of Philosophy at the Edo State owned Ambrose Alli University, Prof. Matthew Aziegbemhin Izibili has called on Esan people at home and the Diaspora to close ranks and present a united front on all kinds of issues in the contemporary society particularly against backwardness, insecurity and lack of development in Esanland. The erudite scholar pointed out that there are deep-seated suspicion and unfortunate patronising attitude among Esan people that need to be uprooted from the land.
Prof. Izibili made the submission while delivering the 128th Inaugural Lecture of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma on Thursday, 15 May titled “Philosophy in the Service of Society: The Esan Model of Aihebholo-Oria,
and questioned the usefulness of one’s wealth and achievement in foreign land if he/she cannot make positive impact in his home land.
Izibili examined development and cultural ethics in the context and needs of contemporary Africa from the Esan lens and noted that “Esan cultural ethics of Anegbemu, (Support system to ease the challenge of loneliness and load of care), Arekpaegbe (Redendering of assistance as and when due to deserving persons), and the likes calls for attention and acceptance as a pragmatic philosophy to be promoted” adding that “The Aihebholo-Oria is an aspect of African philosophy that is strongly rooted and situated in the Esan approach to development”.
Izibili paid glowing tributes to those Esan sons and daughters who defiled the challenges confronting the spirit of Anegbemu and Arekpaegbe encapsulated in the Aihebholo-Oria philosophy to attract human and infrastructural development to Esanland.
“There is an urgent need for Esan people to learn to close ranks and present a united front on all kinds of issues these days, especially against backwardness, insecurity, and lack of development in Esanland. There are deep-seated suspicions and unfortunate patronizing attitudes among us.One is tempted to ask the question at this juncture: of what use is one’s wealth and achievement in foreign lands if one cannot make a positive difference in one’s home land?
“No doubt, our proverbs encapsulate our philosophy clearly thus: A first son cannot be wallowing in an abject poverty while his father is boasting everywhere of his affluence. After all, your candle loses nothing when it lights another.
“It Is on record that there are Esan sons and daughters well placed that have done marvelously well for Esanland. Among them are: Late Prof. Ambrose F. Alli, late Dr. Igbelokotor C. Okojie, the doyen of Rural Medical Practice in Nigeria, Late Admiral Augustus Akhabue Aikhomu, Sir, Chief. (Dr.) Ezekiel A. Ainabe, Dame (Mrs.) Caroline Ewohime, Bishop Matthew A. Okpebholo, late Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, late Chief (Dr.) Tony Ahakon Anenih, Chief Dr. F. E. Ulinfun (JP), Prof. S. A, Okogbeni, late Paul Ehizokhale, Rt. Hon. Chevalier Engr. Dr. E. J. S. Uujamhan, Engr. Basil E. Omiyi, Dr. G. A.T. Oboh, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe, Chief Dr. Peter Ozua, Chief Leemon Ikpea, Elder P.O. Omofuma, Hon. Godsent Akhabue, Elder Patrick Agbator, to menton but a few.
“It is a truism that when one does not sweep and scrub a dwelling place, sleeping in a filthy environment is inevitable. To have a better and peaceful society, we have to learn to channel our energies and resources towards the courses for the development of personal goals and responsibilities. The imports of peace and development demand that we avoid unnecessary involvement in the affairs of others and neglecting ours, This is the basis of the cultural philosophy of Aihebholo-Oria in Esan as a cultural ethics of authentic and integral living.
“The king owns the people and the people own the king. Mutual respect begets mutual coexistence. We have to learn to respect and promote the values of other people’s worth of living and the courses of their personal privacy and autonomy of will. We have to remember that the fundamental ethical principles that guarantee peace and harmony is the recognition of the other’s subjectivity in respect to ours. Therefore, we have to respect our humanness in order to foster mutual trust and healthy relationships.
“The ethics of Aihebholo-Oria guarantees the knowledge of social harmony and the reduction of social conflicts. This is in line with the philosophy of “live and let’s live.” Therefore, we have to learn to respect each other’s boundaries of interests and values, and strive to align our personal interests and values with that of our collective and common values.
“The ethics of Aihebholo-Oria also guarantee the care to overcome the causes and effects of social and emotional exhaustion, given that an individual as a subject of lived-experience, might encounter or develop as a result of societal challenges. Therefore, we have to learn to listen to others and be ready and favourably disposed, to ‘helping each other in ways that will help us to overcome our challenges so that we can maximize our individual’s essence, suggestively, if you cannot readily be of help, do not be a hindrance on the way of others who truly deserved to be helped in the spirit of Anegbemu and Arekpaegbe.
“We have to develop the consciousness with which we encourage – ourselves on the needs for self-reliant, capacity building. In other words, we have to be accountable and enthusiastic in developing the values of interdependency so that individuals can know and realize their worth and learn how best to handle issues with others. This requires loving and pursuing the interests that will benefit everyone which involves embracing the collective wellbeing of our immediate society.
Welcoming guests earlier, the acting Vice-chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Prof. Sunday Olowo Samuel pointed out that Prof. Izibili’s lecture will assist to explore the intersection of society and philosophy and thereby engender a deeper understanding of philosophy in shaping the society.
The acting Vice-chancellor congratulated members of academic staff of the University who were recently promoted to the ranks of Professors and Associate Professors, adding that 57 academic staff were promoted to the rank of professors, while 56 were elated to the rank of Associate Professors.
Prof. Matthew Izibili whose lecture is the 4th in the Department of Philosophy and the 128th in the Inaugural Lecture series of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma holds a Ph.D in Philosophy from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; M.A. Philosophy from the University of Ibadan; B.A. Philosophy from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.
Prof. Izibili specialises in African Philosophy and Philosophy of Culture. He’s a resource person and authority in Esan Native Laws, Customs and Traditions. He is married with children.