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The farthest north reached by the BENIN armies was the town of OTUN,which became the border between BENIN and OYO speres of Influence.
The campaign to these northern areas was led by EKPENEDE,the IYASE(Prime Minister of BENIN.EKPENEDE's monarch,OBA EHENGBUDA had earlier discontinued the habit of leading his troops physically in battle because of an injury he had sustained during a campaign in AKURE.
OTUN town in northern Ekiti,determined the boundary between the spheres of influence of these two African Powers.
"It was said that at the ceremony of the marking of the territorial boundary between the two powers,the ceremony which brought the hostilities between them to an end.Ekpenede,the Commander of the BENIN armies stood,his back towards BENIN his home,and his face towards OYO,the erstwhile enemy.
He planted an Ikhinmwin tree at the agreed spot of demarcation.It was the turn of the Commander of the OYO armies also to mark the spot.He likewise stood,with his back towards OYO his home and his face towards BENIN.he Planted and Ewanmwen Erinmwin tree by EKPENEDE'S Ikhinmwin tree.
The posturing of the two Commanders during the boundary demarcation Ceremony was probably in obedience to the military ethos of never turning one's back to the enemy.
"To ensure that a struggle for the control of Benin-City did not arise between the Oba (King) and an over-mighty Iyase,it was arranged that no Iyase,fresh from a great military victory,would be allowed to return to the City.Instructions were then usually sent to him to move into any town or village of his choice in the Benin Kingdom,and there to live out the rest of his life
Iyase s'okhuen; ei ghi gu Oba di evbo ya:
"The Iyase has attained the upper limits of Mightiness he can no longer inhabit the same city with the Oba (King)
Iyase gha s'okhuen,a ghi giere ode ekhuarha;
"When Iyase reaches the limits of mightiness,he is sent along the ekhuarha (exile) way"
" This policy was in support of an effort to ensure that no coups d'etat were contemplated in Benin."
Ekpenede of Oba Ehengbuda and ODE of Oba Ewuakpe and Akenzuwa 1.300 years ago are the two Iyases who went sent to "Ode Ekhuarha" in Benin history.
The Uhunmwode district of the kingdom seemed to have been the favorite choice of domicile by the few Iyases of Benin who attained the "Okhuen"status.What probably accounted for this geographical preference was because the Uhunmwode district was the main gateway of Old Benin to the the wider world of Africa:Yorubaland through IDANRE,to IDAH and the famous markets of IDOMA-land through ETSAKOR,and to NUPE-land through UKPILLA and the INEME territories"
"In the earlier part of Ehengbuda's reign,in a campaign in the AKURE territories,the Oba had sustained some burns,which healed to leave the scars which healed to leave a scars which were later systemised in the IWU,the body markings of the adult Benin citizen,acquisition of which made participation of Court life of the Kingdom possible.
Consequent upon this accident the warrior responsibilities of the Oba(King) was transferred to his IYASE(Prime Minister)Chief Ekpenede was elevated to the position of the first soldier of the Kingdom,Ekpenede prosecuted the wars in the Yoruba territories,and concluded a treaty with the head of the opposing OYO ..." Ekhaguosa Aisien
Excerpts from The Benin City Pilgrimage Stations by Dr Ekhaguosa Aisien
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