Famous Ibusa Family: The Historical Wealth of the Chigbue

By Emeka Esogbue

(Pen Master)

The story of the Chigbue family shows that from time immemorial, the Ibusa community is known to be rich in human resources. The Isieke family especially, to which this author ancestrally belongs, connected by the long, thin piece of land and divided by the narrow path called "Isieke High Street", is known for the great number of men and women famoused for achievements in their particular fields.

On the other hand, as typical of most African societies, the people of Ibusa are rarely known to document biographies, autobiographies or provide documented family histories for the study of such families hence, the greater part of this story is derived from oral sources available to the author.

The Chigbue family of Isieke in Umuekea Quarters of Ibusa enjoys fame within and outside the community. However, like the Ajufo family of Umuehea of the same community, the Chigbue family seems more to many a 'colonial legacy' of some sort having beautifully and positively made great historical impacts in the colonial years of Ibusa and other neighbouring communities of Anioma. The way it is difficult to document the history of emergence of Christianity in Ibusa without the mention of Obi Osele Augustine Ajufo, is the way it is difficult to document effectively the colonial administration of Ibusa without the mention of the Chigbue.

The family was so great that it enjoyed fame among the white colonialists of the time. Beyond this, Obi Tenu and Obi Chigbue, father and son individually and outstandingly carved a niche for themselves, rising to fame through sheer hard-work and high regard for cultural enthusiasms.

The history of family relationship of the Chigbue is best derived from the writing of Dr Anthony Nwaezeigwe, a trained professional historian and scholar from the community. Providing insight into this relationship, he wrote:

"Obi Tenu was the father of Obi Chigbue Ajie who was one of the famous colonial native court Judges".

"Obi Chigbue Ajie was the father of the late Appeal Court judge, Justice V. J. O. Chigbue who was in fact his last child". He was the grandfather of Chief A. W. O. Inugonum whose father was Obi Chigbue Ajie's first son, the historian further mentioned.

Since the days of Obi Chigbue Ajie as a Native Colonial Judge, the first and most famous to be produced by Ibusa community,

the Chigbue family have been producing several practising lawyers. It is the Ibusa family with the highest number of lawyers perhaps and one of the highest in the country. The family also produced Justice V. J. O. Chigbue, the only Justice produced by Ibusa so far.

For one, Obi Chigbue Ajie cannot be discussed without the stupendous wealth acquired by him. One may not ably imagine the astonishing, excellence and stunning wealth of Obi Chigbue Ajie until he has grasps it as captured by Andy Isioma Ogbolu in his work, "The Obuzo Institution: Conflicts and Resolutions" where the author reported him as rich and fortunately, among the first wealthy Ibusa chiefs. He wore Odu Ukwu and Odu Aka from the elephant tusks on his wrist and ankle being a noble aristocratic paternoster of enormous wealth.

Chigbue Ajie rose to become so popular that he was appointed a Warrant Chief on Nov 10, 1920, a position he held till death. Unfortunately, Obi Tenu, his father, was one of the prominent Ibusa people that drowned on the River Niger in 1882 during their trade voyage to the South East of the country. In relation to this, a cenotaph, now deteriorating though was established in a part of Umueze Quarters of the community as a reminder of the incident, "Ahor Mmili Li Umuaka Igbuzo" also listed in the traditional age grade preservation of the community. Obi Chigbue Ajie died in 1945.

Emeka Esogbue is the 2021 Enuani Writer of the Year

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