*The expectations of humanity for a world in which all relationships are harmonious, where ethnic nationalities co-exist in tranquility, influenced by a sense of common human brotherhood under the fatherhood of God, has remained very potent in human consciousness as it surfaces time and again in human historicity.
Man's quest for this El-dorado, is evident in the copious references made thereto in the Plato's Republic, Francis Bacon's New Atlantis, Thomas More's Utopia and in several other Ideological persuasions.*
*In the interim, why waiting for the emergence of such a new world order, competitive tribal endeavours, were on the increase globally with ethnic consciousness remaining insurmountable even in Europe and the Americas, where the Jews, began to remember Zion with the formation of the Diaspora Movement after nearly 2000 years of statelessness.*
*Back home here, the ORO people of Southern Nigeria, ever conscious of their Oroness, made several attempts to safeguard Oro's peoplehood and shield the land from a possible absorption by the larger Ibibio neighbour as well as the territorially ambitious and expanding Efik Kingdom.*
*The corollary of this, was that, the first organised and known ethnic union, was formed in Nigeria, the Oron Union, was born in 1925, through the threesome initiative of Chiefs E. E. Odoro, J. A. Esin and O. E. Isong.*
*April 26th, 1925, was historic. On that day, Chiefs Ekpu Edubio Odoro and John Anwana Esin, went visiting Okon Eyekunyi Isong, in his office, then a court clerk, Oron Native Court. While conversing, Chief E. E. Odoro, opined on the need to form a union to address issues of Oro national interests from time to time. This was quickly adopted by J. A. Esin and O. E. Isong, whereupon Chief J. A. Esin, immediately, brought out money for stationery to produce circulars and posters which were distributed to all Oro villages through the local churches to send their prominent leaders to the meeting fixed for the 23rd of May, 1925, at the country home of Chief John Anwana Esin, Esin Ufot, Oron, where 88 Oro patriots, attended, thus marking the inauguration of ORON UNION.*
*These 88 Oro Patriots, who met on this day, 92 years ago, I hereby venerate!*
*1) E. E. ODORO,
2) O. E. ISONG, J. A. ESIN,
4) E. E. AFAHAENE,
5) EKENG EDET ETA,
6) ESANG ENYEKUNG,
7) E. EKPO,
8) O. B. UWE,
9) E. MKPANDIOK,
10) H. E. ENYENIHI,
11) THOMPSON OSUYAK,
12) PETER ENENYI,
13) J. E. UMO,
14) W. N. UMOH,
15) JOSEPH UDO,
16) O. E. ADAMS,
17) EYO ITA EFRETI,
18) THOMAS AFIAKEKE,
19) UWE ITA,
20) F. ATA EBIEKPE,
21) JOHN EBIEKPE,
22) J. U. BASSEY,
23) R. E. BASSEY,
24) JOHN OSUNG,
25) J. E. ESIN,
26) J. H. EFRETI,
27) D. E. EKPENYONG,
28) UNONE ATIN,
29) RICHARD NSA BASSEY,
30) OKPO ENYEKUNG,
31) J. BASSEY UKO,
32) R. I. BASSEY,
33) ANDREW AMANA,
34) JOHN AFAHANAM,
35) JOHNSON OBUKHO,
36) BASSEY OKU,
37) OTU ETIESE,
38) EDWIN ENYENIHI,
39) NKPEREDEM AFANKAN,
40) NTAKIKAM MBA,
41) SOLOMON UWE,
42) OKON ONOBO,
43) JOHN NDEKEDEHE,
44) HENRY OTU,
45) ASUQUO EYO,
46) BASSEY ABASI,
47) AKAN UWE,
48) OKON INYANG,
49) ETAN OTIORO,
50) WILLIE OFONG,
51) JESSIE UMIOM,
52) EDET EKPO,
53) EDET OKPO,
54) JACOB MKPA,
55) THOMPSON OKON,
56) N. ATE ENYENIHI,
57) EMMANUEL BASSEY,
58) EFIONG ANTIGHA,
59) MAGNUS ADATANG,
60) ABIAOBOHO EMANA,
61) EFIONG EYO,
62) EWEKERE ABAK-ATAN,
63) ABANG AMIN,
64) AFIA ABASI,
65) ABASI ENYEKUN,
66) J. A. OROK,
67) J. I. ATE,
68) B. E. UNO,
69) ISIKONG EKPOT,
70) OQUONG ABASI,
71) MOSES E. ISONG,
72) JOHN UKPONG,
73) ROBIN ESI,
74) PETER USO,
75) EDET UDO,
76) ATE OSUNG,
77) OKON ANTE,
78) S.P.N. UNANAOWO,
79) FRANK EDEKE,
80) JOSHUA NSINA,
81) PHILIP ANTE,
82) T.N. CHRISTIE,
83) LUKE BASSEY,
84) RICHARD ESE,
85) ANWANA MBA,
86) O.J. OQUONG,
87) E.E. MANSON AND
88) EFIONG ONOBO.*
*ORO, MY MOTHERLAND; Founded by Abang et al between the 11th and the 13th centuries; The Home of The Uquong, Okpo, Idua, Ibighi, Okiuso, Effiat, Ebughu, Ubodung, Odu, Eta and Atabong,*
*Home to the rest of Nigerians and earliest Hostess to the Amamisimisim (Pygmies of Congo basin), Portuguese, Germans, French and Anglo Saxons;*
*Oro will rise again!*
*ORO, MY MOTHERLAND; Most coastal, but not waterlogged; though beautified by the Antlantic, overlooking the Gulf of Guinea;*
*The gateway to the Nigerian-Cameroun maritime corridor,*
*Mother to Bakassi and the islands of the Tom Shott;*
*ORO WILL RISE AGAIN*
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