The Progenitor (Founder)

The Progenitor or founder of Gelegelegbene or Gelegele is PA. IKPITI OLUGBO. Gelegelegbene or Gelegele was founded several Centuries ago.

1. IKPITI OLUGBO had several sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters. Some of them were canoe carvers, others were fishermen and women and traders. PRINCE AMATEME was one of the sons of PA. IKPITI. PRINCE AMATEME was a canoe carver/builder. The Business of canoe carving /building involves the use of very big, hard wood, such as Mahogany, Obeche, Iron wood, Mastonia wood, and Wallnut trees, PRINCE AMATEME founded a canoe building / carving settlement which he called “ UGOUDOU / UGUOTAN”.

“UGOUDOU,” is an Ijaw root word which means searching for a path, road or way, on sighting a suitable tree, big enough for the building or carving of canoe, PRINCE AMATEME would search for a path-way or road to the tree. Thus the settlement was called “UGOUDOU”.

 UGOUTAN is also an Ijaw root word which means, clearing and maintaining a pathway, or road. After searching for a pathway or road to the tree suitable or big enough for canoe building / carving, PRINCE AMATEME would maintain and clear the pathway or road to enable him move the canoe he has constructed to the nearby river.

This was the nature of the business of canoe carving / building of PRINCE AMATEME.  Canoe Traders/ Merchants from Ilaje, Itsekiri and other Ijaw communities usually meet PRINCE AMATME at UGUDOU or UGOUTAN canoe carving/building settlement to buy canoe for their fishing and trading businesses.

The name UGHOTON is gotten from either of the two Ijaw roots words “UGOUDOU” or “UGOUTAN”. UGHOTON is an adulteration of the Ijaw root words “ UGOUDOU or OGOUTAN. PRINCE AMATEME lived at his newly found canoe carving/ building settlement called UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTON for several years doing business with Ilajes Itsekiris and other Ijaw canoe traders/ merchants. Some of these Ilaje, Itsekri and Ijaw canoe traders, / Merchants also lived and settled with PRINCE AMATEME at UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTAN.

PRINCE EKHALADERAN, the son of one of the Ogisos of Benin was banished from Benin and wandered through the forest and met PRINCE AMATEME at UGHOTON – UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN. When the defenseless and armless PRINCE EKHALDAERAN met the heavily armed PRINCE AMATEME – the progenitor or founder of the canoe carving settlement called UGHOTON- UGOUDOU or UGOUTAN, PRINCE EKHALADERAN begged and pleaded with PRINCE AMATEME not to harm or kill him. PRINCE EKHALADERAN explained his ordeal to PRINCE AMATEME, PRINCE AMATEME took pity of PRINCE EKHALDERAN and took him into his settlement at UGHOTON-UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN. PRINCE AMATEME fended for PRINCE EKHALADERAN. PRINCE AMATEME protected PRINCE EKHALADERAN from any form of harm. PRINCE AMATEME was very hospitable to his guest, – PRINCE EKHALADERAN. To further assure PRINCE EKHALDARAN of his friendship and protection, PRINCE AMATME entered into a “covenant of friendship, protection , peace and security” devoid of any form of aggression with PRINCE EKHALADERAN, his guest, Thus PRINCE AMATEME and PRINCE EKHALADERAN lived peaceably as friends at UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or UGOUTAN.

The Canoe carving settlement of PRINCE AMATEME called UGHOTON OGOUDOU or UGOUTAN continued to grow with the arrival of more Ilaje and Itsekri canoe traders and merchants and other traders.  The Economy at UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or UGOUTAN was that of “barter”. Trade at UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or UGOUTAN was by barter. Soon, farming activities started at UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or UGOUTAN.

The “covenant of friendship, protection, peace and security” entered into between PRINCE AMATEME and PRINCE EKHALADERAN was sealed by killing a she goat, whose blood was used in sealing the covenant. The covenant was made in a “sacred land” at UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or UGOUTAN.

The “Sacred Land” is called “OVUOKIRI”. OVUOKIRI is an ijaw root word which means, “Covenant land”. The covenant between PRINCE AMATEME and PRINCE EKHALDERAN was renewed by ancient Gelegele people and ancient Ughoton people, as a mark of respect and honour for the Initiators of the covenant: PRINCE AMATEME AND PRINCE EKHALADERAN. OVUOKIRI is still at UGHOTON till date.

A set of Binis arrived UGHOTON, UGOUDOU, or UGOUTAN to take PRINCE EKHALADERAN back to Benin, on hearing that he was at UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or UGUOTAN, and after searching through the forest. PRINCE EKHALADERAN refused to go back to Benin, instead PRINCE EKHALADERAN decided to go with the Ilaje and Itsekiri canoe traders and merchants to their own country. This was how PRINCE EKHALDERAN, the guest of PRINCE AMATEME left UGHOTON, UGOUDOU, or UGOUTAN.

PRINCE AMATEME too also grew old and decided to come home to his father – HIS PA. IKPITI OLUGBO at GELEGELE-GBENE or GELEGELE, leaving his canoe carving settlement called UGHOTON UGOUDOU or UGOUTAN for people of other ethnic extraction, including Ilajes, Itsekhiris and Binis. This was how PRINCE AMATEME founded UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or UGOUTAN and hosted PRINCE EKHALADERAN. 

Other Binis migrated to UGHOTON, “UGOUDOU” or “UGOUTAN” in their numbers apparently in search of greener pastures and settled with PRINCE AMATEME  at UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or UGOUTAN.

“UGHOTON” is an adulteration of the original Ijaw, root word UGOUDOU” and UGOUTAN. Ancient UGHOTON people and GELEGELE people renewed this covenant of protection peace and security, several years ago, as a mark of respect and honour for the initiators of the covenant. OVUOKIRI is a common knowledge to both GELEGELE and UGHOTON people. It is a “covenant land of protection, peace and security” which is binding on both GELEGELE and UGHOTON communities. Any violation of the covenant of protection, peace and security by any of the communities is visited with grave consequences.

Traditionally, UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN, or UGHOTON is a canoe carving settlement founded by PRINCE AMATEME THE SON OF IKPITI. It thus stands to reason that UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTON, is a satellite community to GELEGELE COMMUNITY – the parent community.  UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTON is an extension of GELEGELE-GBENE or GELEGELE. UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTON is not a Bini community but an Ijaw community in Ovia North – East Local Government Area of Edo State just as GELEGELE-GBENE or GELEGELE COMMUNITY. Presently however Bini people are resident in UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN, UGHOTON Community. The Bini people presently resident at UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTON are doing so at the benevolence, magnanimity, hospitality, peace loving and covenant keeping disposition of GELEGLE-GBENE or GELEGELE People. More importantly, GELEGELE-GBENE People respect, honours and adhere to the covenant of protection peace and security entered between PRINCE AMATEME AND PRINCE EKHALADERAN at OVUOKIRI in UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTON.  Contemporary Bini people resident at UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN, or UGHOTON have provoked GELEGELE-GBENE or GELEGELE people in several ways at several occasions, perhaps because they are oblivious and ignorant of the covenant which exist between the two communities or perhaps out of sheer arrogance and wickedness. Whichever is the case, there are great consequences for violating the covenant on the part of the Binis at UGOUHTON.

Contemporary Bini people at UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTON in complete violation and disregard for the covenant of protection, peace and security entered between PRINCE AMATEME the SON OF PA. IKPITI and PRINCE EKALADERAN have invaded and attacked GELEGELE-GBENE or GELEGELE COMMUNITY, severally, but the peace loving and covenant keeping GELEGELE-GBENE or GELEGELE people have refused to retaliate as a reprisal because of the covenant between PRINCE AMATEME and PRINCE EKHALADERAN. Ironically, contemporary Bini people at UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTON, have engaged the peace loving and covenant keeping Gelegele-Gbene or Gelegele people in several court cases, thus turning around to claim ownership of Gelegele-Gbene land, since the commercial discovery of Oil and Gas at Gelegele Community in 1963. Contemporary  Bini People at Ugoudou, Ugoutan, Or Ughoton are now paying back the peace loving and covenant keeping GELEGELE-GBENE people with ingratitude for the favour PRINCE AMATEME, the SON OF IKPITI did for PRINCE EKHALADERAN by protecting and providing food and help. Contemporary Bini people at UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN, or UGHOTON are repaying the peace loving and covenant keeping GELEGELEGBENE people with ingratitude for the favour PRINCE AMATEME the SON OF PA. IKPITI did for PRINCE EKHALADERAN when PRINCE AMATEME refused to kill PRINCE EKHALADERAN instead cared for and provided for PRINCE EKALADERAN. UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTAN is an Ijaw community not a Bini community. PRINCE AMATEME the SON OF PA. IKPITI is the progenitor / AMANANAWEI / AMABAWEI / AMA-OKOSUWEI of UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN or UGHOTON

Out of sheer wickedness or mischievousness and with intent to hinder the fast growing and developing GELEGELE-GBENE  or GELEGELE Community, contemporary Binis at UGHOTON, UGOUDOU, UGOUTAN have unilaterally “Jettisoned and violated the covenant of peace, protection and security entered between PRINCE AMATEME  AND PRINCE EKHALDERAN. Several centuries ago, and have gone ahead to concoct all forms of lies and false claims on GELEGELE-GBENE or GELEGELE land. The truth still remains that UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or OGOUTAN was founded by PRINCE AMATEME, the son of PA. IKPITI, the Amabawei/ Amananawei and Progenitor of GELEGELEG-BENE or GELEGELE Community.

UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or OGOUTAN as an Ijaw community is a satellite community to GELEGELEGBENE or Gelegele. This is an uncontestable and incontrovertible fact known to both GELEGELEGBENE (Gelegele) People and the Binis at UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or OGOUTAN.

 The “OVUOKRI” “or” covenant land still at UGHOTON, UGOUDOU or OGOUTAN   till date gives clear evidence to this fact.