Emeka Esogbue

 “I Will Speak the Truth in Ibusa” — Chief Lawrence Okolie, The Okpala Nwaisi Ezemese and Father of World Boxing Champion Chief Barrister  Lawrence Okolie is a prominent UK-based Nigerian legal practitioner, seasoned tax expert, and a distinguished traditional titleholder, holding the revered title of Okpala Nwaisi Ezemese of the Ibusa community in Delta State. A highly accomplished professional, his academic and corporate credentials include: Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), Barrister-at-Law (B.L), and Master of Laws (LL.M). Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCTI) and former Chairman of the CITN, UK District. In this exclusive interview with media personality, PEN MASTER (EMEKA ESOGBUE), Chief Barrister Lawrence Okolie opens up about his background, the profound events leading to his traditional installation, and his sacred roles and responsibilities to the people of the Ibusa community. Excerpts:  *Pen Master: Chief Barrister Lawrence Okolie, it is a ple...

 Filling the Historical Gap: Northerners Appreciated Late Major Nzeogwu, Writes Historian, Nwankwo Anthony Nwaezeigwe By Emeka Esogbue Renowned historian and scholar, Dr. Nwankwo Anthony Nwaezeigwe, has argued that many Northerners held Anioma's late Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu in high regard and regarded him as a committed Nigerian nationalist rather than an ethnic partisan. The respected historiographer made this assertion in a recent historical commentary that has attracted widespread attention across major social media platforms. According to Dr. Nwaezeigwe, Major Nzeogwu's political and military actions should be understood within the broader context of Nigeria's turbulent post-independence history rather than through the narrow lens of ethnic politics. He maintained that Nzeogwu was, first and foremost, a nationalist who believed in the unity and progress of Nigeria as a nation-state. The historian contended that Nzeogwu's eventual participation in the B...

 Lawrence Okolie, the Top-Ranked British Boxer from Ibusa: Why Nigerians Should Follow His Career Closely By Emeka Esogbue What do you know about Lawrence Okolie, the former two-weight world champion and one of boxing's leading heavyweight contenders? Historically, Ibusa, an Anioma community in Delta State, has produced accomplished sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in diverse fields. From law and business to academia, public service, and sports, the community has continued to make significant contributions both within Nigeria and internationally. In this edition, PEN MASTER presents one of Ibusa's most celebrated sporting figures on the global stage, Lawrence Okolie. Although Lawrence Okolie is a British professional boxer, his roots are firmly in Ibusa, Delta State. Born on December 16, 1992, in Hackney, London, to Nigerian parents, Okolie traces his ancestry to Ibusa. His father, Chief (Barr.) Lawrence Okolie, from Okponta, Umuezeagwu, Ibusa, holds the tra...

 K. B. C. Onwubiko’s Legacy: Reflections of a Student He Inspired By Emeka Esogbue The study of history is shaped not only by the books we read but also by the scholars who guide our intellectual journeys. Among the historians whose influence has left an indelible mark on generations of West African students is K. B. C. Onwubiko, a distinguished scholar whose contributions to Nigerian historiography continue to resonate long after his passing.  For those of us who encountered his works and drew inspiration from his scholarship, Onwubiko was more than an author; he was a mentor from afar, a paragon of rigorous inquiry, and a source of enduring intellectual encouragement. This reflection is both a tribute to his legacy and a personal acknowledgment of the profound impact he had on my development as a historian.  *The Agboju Secondary School Journey*  My journey began at Agboju Secondary School in Lagos, a proud institution that drew its student body from several public...

 Nigeria’s Kidnapping Epidemic Cannot Be Divorced from Politics, Legal Luminary, Ike Ofuokwu Tells The Nation Newspaper The recent abduction and tragic death in captivity of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar has once again brought Nigeria’s worsening kidnapping crisis into sharp national focus. The incident has reignited public debate on the effectiveness of existing laws, government policies, and security strategies aimed at combating the menace. Amidst these discussions, renowned constitutional lawyer and legal luminary from Ibusa, Chief Ike Ofuokwu, has added his voice to the national conversation in an insightful article published by Joseph Jibueze, Deputy Editor of The Nation Newspaper. In the article titled “Can Tougher Laws End Kidnapping?”, published in The Nation Newspaper on June 16, 2026, several legal experts examined the root causes of kidnapping in Nigeria and assessed whether stricter legislation alone can solve the problem. Among the contributors was Ike Ofuokwu, ...

 Strategic Dimensions of the Ekumeku Resistance to Colonial Rule in Southern Nigeria: A Comparative Study of Anti-Colonial Uprisings Emeka Esogbue The Ekumeku Resistance in Southern Nigeria represents one of the most sustained and strategically sophisticated forms of anti-colonial opposition in West Africa during the formative years of British imperial expansion. Emerging among the Anioma communities in response to increasing colonial penetration in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the movement combined guerrilla warfare, decentralized organization, and deep-rooted communal mobilization in its determination to resist foreign domination. Although often treated as a localized episode within Nigeria's broader colonial history, the Ekumeku struggle assumes greater historical significance when examined alongside other anti-colonial uprisings across Africa. This essay situates the Ekumeku Resistance within a comparative framework, assessing its strategic dimensions in r...

 Coming Soon! Does Ibusa, an Urbanizing Community Require a Cemetery?  *Arguments For:*  Yes, the establishment of a cemetery in an urbanizing society like Ibusa is becoming increasingly necessary. As Ibusa continues to expand, land is becoming more contested, and burial spaces that were once easily allocated within family compounds or communal areas are now under pressure from housing developments, roads, markets, and other infrastructure projects. For these reasons, a regulated public burial space is essential. A formal cemetery helps ensure orderly land use, supports public health standards, and provides a designated space for dignified and properly managed burials within a growing urban environment.  *Arguments Against:*  Despite the practical need brought by urbanization, Ibusa is not a Western society, and burial practices are deeply rooted in indigenous beliefs, customs, and lived experiences. In many local perspectives, cemeteries are approached with cau...

  The Crisis of Institutional Decay: The Case of the Ibusa Youth Council By Emeka Esogbue Despite being a global hub of elite achievers—boasting professors, doctors, lawyers, and some of the most vibrant youths in the Anioma region, the Ibusa community has long suffered under a defunct Youth Council with all lips sealed. While local businesses and traditional institutions thrive, this critical youth body remains entirely inactive. It is a stark reality that embodies the traditional proverb, “Onye ga ji oku, oku ji anyu” —the search for who will hold the fire ultimately quenches it, as the Ibusa people themselves say it proverbially. The crisis confronting the Ibusa Youth Council reflects a recurring, yet uniquely complex, communal challenge. Trouble began when the previous youth leadership delayed in handing over power after their tenure expired only to begin the process long after. Compounding this, the council operated without a reliable constitution, the very legal found...