I HAVE WORKED HARD TO PRESERVE THE OMUSHIP OF MY ANIOMA PEOPLE

 I HAVE WORKED HARD TO PRESERVE THE OMUSHIP OF MY ANIOMA PEOPLE

Read What the Omu Anioma Said on Omuship

"When I became Omu, I met five elderly women and they were convinced that the Omu Institution would go into extinction after six of us finished our earthly journey.

So, in 2005, I went to Prof E. A. C. Nwanze from Asaba, the then Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, and pleaded with him to set up a committee of Anioma sons and daughters from the Department of Anthropology and Sociology to look into Omuship so that we can have something for future generations since the Omu Institution was going into extinction while I go on the ground to talk to some of our elderly people before they pass on.

Prof Nwanze graciously obliged me and set up a Committee headed by Dr. Ikechukwu Enwenwa from Ogwashi-Uku who was the then Head of the Sociology Department. The Committee worked extensively with the research of world-renowned and famous Anthropologist, the late Prof Mike Angulu Onwuejiogwu from Ibusa. That research came up with a booklet. Our Great Anioma Historian Emeka Esogbue followed it up with the only book on Omuship today.

Today, my activities and actions on Omuship have been recognized worldwide. The University of Chicago has almost concluded its research and will come up with its own book in the future.

I have humbly requested Pen Master to do a second expanded historical book which he has graciously accepted. A team of researchers from Cambridge University has also put out their own research and information for the general public.

I have done a lot to sensitize our Anioma people on the need not to allow the Omu Institution to die.

Today, we have about 15 Omus, who are young and educated and what I have tried to do is to fuse the good of the old and new, for what will definitely come, a bright new day. From the original six Omus, only myself and one other Omu are remaining.

I have been campaigning for Permanent Palaces for the Omus. After all, the Palaces belong to the Towns and not the Omus. They could become tourist attractions and bring in revenue for the Towns. There's nothing we can do about the information we don't have but to work with what is available. For example, the two oldest men in Okpanam are the Diokpa of Ogbeozoma and the Diokpa of Obodogwugwu. They are between the ages of 96 and 99 years.

The photograph of Omu Okpanam (1912) was taken 111 years ago. These two men are blind and can hardly hear or talk much less, recall events of 12 years before they were born. It is called old age and we all pray to get to their age.

God's abundant blessings and protection!

- HRM Obi Dr. Martha Dunkwu, the Omu of Okpanam/Anioma

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