Esan calendar and on the market days of the various villages and towns that make up Esan. Igbabonelimhin could be danced annually to mark end of year celebrations, new yam festivals and organised social functions, like burial ceremonies. Today, the dance is taken as a unique symbol for Esans everywhere. Notable Esans in Nigeria Anthony Enahoro, journalist, politician, former Federal Commissioner, former Chairman NADECO, raised the motion for the independence of Nigeria in 1953 at the age of 30 Augustus Aikhomu, Navy Admiral and former military Vice President of Nigeria Ambrose Folorunsho Alli, professor of medicine, Governor of Bendel State and the founder of Bendel State University, later posthumously renamed Ambrose Alli University Anthony Anenih, police officer, politician, former Chairman Social Democratic Party, former PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, and former Minister of Works and Housing Tom Ikimi, architect, politician, former chairman, National Republican Convention and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Festus Iyayi, writer Stella Obasanjo, the First Lady of Nigeria from 1999 until her death Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, Cardinal and former Archbishop of Lagos Sonny Okosun, musician Chris Oyakhilome, evangelist and president of Christ Embassy Fidelis Oyakhilome, former Lagos State Police Commissioner and former Governor of Rivers State Amb. (Dr.) Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi, former President of the United Nations Human Rights Council Victor Ehikhamenor, artist, writer, and photographer. Peter Enahoro, journalist, writer, columnist, and author of the book, How to Be a Nigerian. Julius Okojie, former executive secretary, National Universities Commission Religion and folklore Esan folktales and folklore, like the igbabonẹlimhin and akhuẹ, serve as forms of learning and entertainment. The Esan have prominent traditional rulers who keep order in a society where beauty and manners are intertwined. Despite the long-term impact of Christianity, the Esan are largely traditional and a large number practice traditional beliefs in the form of worship of ancestral spirits and other gods. A large percentage of Esan are Christians, mostly Catholic and recently of other denominations. Esan has various dialects all of which stem from Bini and there is still close affinity between the Esan and the Benin people, which led to the common saying "Esan ii gbi Ẹdo" meaning, Esan does not harm the Ẹdo (i.e. Bini). There have been other translation of that saying, Esan gbe Edo which means Esan have conquered Bini.<ref></ref> Traditional Esan religion has many similarities to traditional Edo religion, due to the Esan migration to the northeast during