15/04/2024
ORIGIN OF UZAIRUE MARKET
The establishment and sustainance of the Uzairue market in Jattu was due to the military and organizational power of the Kings and leaders of uzairue kingdom down the history of the "Kukuruku Land". The great men were the personalities of Ikpe the eldest son of Uzairue, Oshiowe, Ekame, Aleonokua, Omogbai, Afelenoka. Kadiri (Ogieneni) who had formidable grip on the entire sphere of "Kukuruku" land through military might, good governance and diplomacy.
The only weak link in the chain was Afeleokai during whose reign the resolve of his forebears were weakened. However, the bridges built by King Omogbai, the great were strong enough to maintain the status quo even after his death in "Kukuruku" land which comprised Okpe, Ibilo, Otuo, Igarra, Usomorika, Imeri, Sabogida-Ora, warrake,sebe Agbede, Ughiagbe, Anegbette, Ewa, Weppa, Wano, all Ekperis, all ibies, all Unemes, Auchi, Okpella, Avianwu and the rest of them. In 1918, the Kukuruku Division had its Headquarters at Fugar transfer from Ubiaja. Also the administrative and military Headquarters were transferred from Iddo (okpella) to Fugar.
The development in the political and social spheres that elevated the status of Fugar found true and thorough interpretation and meaning in the social, economic and political climate built long ago by the powerful King Omogbai. Thus the economic activities of the era were determined and directed by King Omogbai. The Great King who had established the Jattu Uzairue market. The market became a tonic and mediation of all other forms of trading especially the slave trade. Thus with the establishment of the Jattu Uzairue market came the end of both Nupe and local slave trade.
There was a slave trade and human trafficking market in Jattu Ikpe called Aki-abhe ordered by the supreme power that at that time in the Kukuruku land. There was no slave taken and sold in the land that was not accounted for to the great king Omogbai. Although he did not trade and deal in slaves, he however allowed the trade to go on because he did not want to counter and fight the Nupe slave traders.But he could order the release of any slave taken or sold out. He avoided further hostilities with the Nupes after tedious wars in which he defeated the Nupe warriors.
However, when Omogbai the great got feed up with the Nupe menace in slave trade, he developed strategic ways to halt the slave trade. He established the Jattu-uzairue market, making the Aki-abhe, a pre-market to the Jattu-uzairue market. This means that whoever wanted to attend the Jattu-uzairue market could come a day before the market for refuge till the next day of the big market. King Omogbai ordered that no slaves should be raided or taken two days to and two days after the Jattu-uzairue market and the days of the week were named to reflect this. This indicated days for farming and days for resting and days for preparing for the Jattu-uzairue market. Any slave that set his foot on the soil of the market was freed and the owner readily accepted that or else he faces that the wrath of the Omogbai the great. These were days of peace and no strife whatsoever was in the land. By this market, Omogbai the great was able to unite all the incongruous elements of the Etsako division into one harmonious whole irrespective of tribes, clans, or creeds of those districts.
The king's deep devotion to duty knew no bounds. Thus he introduced justices of peace to render judgement with equity in the market. He further adopted other conciliatory measures by instituting itinerant justice whose duty was to investigate the cases and issues surrounding the market and particularly on issues of price fixation of various commodities ( Omo -Ananigie, 1946)
ANCIENT LOCATION OF THE MARKET.
According to sado (2012) both historical and traditional facts and figures showed that the Jattu Uzairue market does not only provide foodstuffs cheaply to it's immediate inhabitants, but also to all other local government, the states and the nations at large. This is the good reason why from time, traders as well as other business men and women trade in different foodstuffs and commodities to different parts of our nation and beyond.
The history and origin of this weekly market is as far back as 15000 AD. This weekly market history states that it was first situated in former St. Angela's Girls Grammar school, Uzairue, and this is the present day Eid prayer ground, and extends to retired C.A Uwemi Residence in and out along the road. History has it too that after a long period of history of it existence as well as towards the end of the reign of His Royal Highness, Afeloakhai Omogbai who saw good reason of moving it to it's present day location in 1921 and since then it remains where it is today. It is clear in the history of the market that on every eight days, all roads lead to Jattu Uzairue kingdom for this weekly market.
The economic advantages, this weekly market has for all individuals, groups, other organizational traders, particularly Etsako west local government council area and Nigeria, can not be quantified, rather than this is God blessing for all generations.
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