OBI AJUFO, THE FIRST OBI IN IBUSA TO EMBRACE CHRISTIANITY
In that particular year, Obi Ajufo became the most discussed or talked about personality in Ibusa, his popularity had soared through to the villages of the settlement though unknown to him he had made history.
By 1888, the British Missionaries had established a Catholic in nearby Asaba hoping too, to repeat the feat in neighbouring Ibusa. However, all efforts aimed at actualizing it were prevented by the Ibusa people who rejected the new faith. Then there was the Ekumeku Movement, the resistance of European imperialism which involved the entire towns and communities of Anioma. The first phase of the movement started with the Anglo-Ibusa War in 1898 with casualties on both sides and eventual defeat of Ibusa after the British that ordered reinforcement from Lokoja gained upper hand in the battle thereby defeating Ibusa. The defeat of Ibusa was a big relief to the British, which also afforded them the opportunity to establish their dream of the Catholic Church in the town which Rev Carlos Zappa established in that same year (1898) and named St Augustine's Catholic Church. Still the Ibusa people refused to embrace the new faith. Many Ibusa chiefs had been killed in that war, so the chiefs of the town worked secretly hard to ensure that it was rejected at all cost.
In that particular year, Obi Ajufo became the most discussed or talked about personality in Ibusa, his popularity had soared through to the villages of the settlement though unknown to him he had made history.
By 1888, the British Missionaries had established a Catholic in nearby Asaba hoping too, to repeat the feat in neighbouring Ibusa. However, all efforts aimed at actualizing it were prevented by the Ibusa people who rejected the new faith. Then there was the Ekumeku Movement, the resistance of European imperialism which involved the entire towns and communities of Anioma. The first phase of the movement started with the Anglo-Ibusa War in 1898 with casualties on both sides and eventual defeat of Ibusa after the British that ordered reinforcement from Lokoja gained upper hand in the battle thereby defeating Ibusa. The defeat of Ibusa was a big relief to the British, which also afforded them the opportunity to establish their dream of the Catholic Church in the town which Rev Carlos Zappa established in that same year (1898) and named St Augustine's Catholic Church. Still the Ibusa people refused to embrace the new faith. Many Ibusa chiefs had been killed in that war, so the chiefs of the town worked secretly hard to ensure that it was rejected at all cost.
In 1901, Obi
Ajufo embraced the new religion as well as the Catholic Church thereby
becoming the first Obi in Ibusa (Eze) ever, to be converted to
Catholicism in the settlement. His conversion was resisted by both the
chiefs of the town and his family but he was bent on it. As his family
protested, he ignored them. Petitions were put up against his personal
decision on the ground of his title but the Obi was adamant. His
children announced that they would no longer assist in cultivating his
farms but he ignored them; his eldest son threatened him with an axe but
he was not shaken. His 12 wives openly threatened him, vowing that they
would sleep with other men in public, still he was unshaken. Ibusa
chiefs excluded him from the Council of Chiefs because according to
them, his mouth could no longer speak the language of their forefathers
but Obi Ajufo remained cool in the Catholic fold and in Christianity
till his death. And when he died, he was buried in St Augustine's
Catholic Church cemetery in Umuafene, Isieke.
Written by: Historian Emeka Esogbue
Written by: Historian Emeka Esogbue
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