By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – STAKEHOLDERS from the traditional, political and intellectual sector of the society have expressed displeasure over dieing reading culture and the understanding of the people’s history which they said are needed tools for development.

Speaking as the chairman at the launch of a book, “The History of an African Community (Ikhonmioto) The History 0f Onicha-Olona Kingdom” in Benin City, the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe urged parents and guardians to cultivate reading habit on historical books so that the knowledge can be passed to the new generation. The book was written by Prince Ephraim Nwabuokei

He said “it is when we read books that we will be able to pass the knowledge to our children.”

Igbe said,” I am glad that the author has written a book. I like reading and writing books. It looks as if the author has read some of my books. I have read some of the history of his forefathers.”

He commended the author for going down memory lane to write the historical book that talked about the details of the Benin Kingdom.

In his review of the book, My Tony Abolo, a lecturer at the Benin Centre of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), described the book as well researched.

He said the cultural norms were not left out which the Onicha-Olona Kingdom copied from the Benin Kingdom.

Stating what prompted him to write the book, Prince Nwabuokei said history has been lost because people were not being told what they should know about themselves which he said have made people create new history that would suit their own purpose and narrative.

He said “In the face of the institutionalized falsehood, the emergence of a truth is often perceived as rebellion. But, the righteous and upright man will defy institutionalized falsehood and speak the truth no matter what, even in the face of danger.”

“There has been so much bastardization and modification or revision of our ancient histories. Some of our histories have been lost because people have not been told about them. For that reason, some people have gone to create a new history that would suit their own purpose and narrative.”