OBI CHIGBUE AJIE, THE INFLUENTIAL IBUSA CHIEF APPOINTED A WARRANT CHIEF BY THE BRITISH
Born to Obi Tenu, Obi Chigbue Ajie was born in 1850 in Isieke, Umuekea, Ibusa in the then Asaba District of Western Region, Nigeria. Obi Chigbue was one of the most Ibusa influential politicians of his time. But together with Obi Bakwu of Ogbeowele, his father, Obi Tenu was accused by Ibusa of making moves to revive and assume the Obiship (kingship) of the community, a move later foiled by the same Ibusa people. Obi Chigbue was very wealthy, influential and powerful and as a result of the influence and authority that he commanded, he was conferred with two of the most revered chieftaincy titles by his Ibusa people; he was the 'Ajie of Ibusa' and 'Anya Afu Oba' (the eyes that never sees Oba). So stupendous was he in wealth that he was remembered for wearing odu aka and odu okwu around his wrists and legs, two very expensive and valuable traditional objects made from elephant tusks. Chigbue was arguably among the earliest wealthy Ibusa chiefs which included Obi Tenu, his father. Due to the enormous influence he commanded in his time, he was in Nov 10, 1920 appointed a Warrant Chief in the indirect rule system of the colonialists by the British, an appointment that made him become feared and respected in Ibusa and beyond. The Chigbue family is one of the respected families in Ibusa having produced a judge and the late Chief Chike Chigbue, once the youngest Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in Nigeria. Not only that, this family also appears to be among the families with the highest number of qualified lawyers in the world. Virtually every member of this family is a lawyer and Guiness Book may just look the way of the family to ascertain whether they have made world record. One will easily see that despite the influential and noble roles the Ibusa multiple Obi system played to shape sociopolitical and economic Ibusa during the colonial period in the historical figures of Obi Ajufo Osele, Obi Tenu, Obi Bakwu, Obi Chigbue, Obi Okonma of Ogbeowele, Obi Nwadei of Umuodafe and many more, influence of these Obis have completely waned and maybe no more. Ibusa has has had influential politicians in its early history. These politicians laid foundations for the present ones.
Born to Obi Tenu, Obi Chigbue Ajie was born in 1850 in Isieke, Umuekea, Ibusa in the then Asaba District of Western Region, Nigeria. Obi Chigbue was one of the most Ibusa influential politicians of his time. But together with Obi Bakwu of Ogbeowele, his father, Obi Tenu was accused by Ibusa of making moves to revive and assume the Obiship (kingship) of the community, a move later foiled by the same Ibusa people. Obi Chigbue was very wealthy, influential and powerful and as a result of the influence and authority that he commanded, he was conferred with two of the most revered chieftaincy titles by his Ibusa people; he was the 'Ajie of Ibusa' and 'Anya Afu Oba' (the eyes that never sees Oba). So stupendous was he in wealth that he was remembered for wearing odu aka and odu okwu around his wrists and legs, two very expensive and valuable traditional objects made from elephant tusks. Chigbue was arguably among the earliest wealthy Ibusa chiefs which included Obi Tenu, his father. Due to the enormous influence he commanded in his time, he was in Nov 10, 1920 appointed a Warrant Chief in the indirect rule system of the colonialists by the British, an appointment that made him become feared and respected in Ibusa and beyond. The Chigbue family is one of the respected families in Ibusa having produced a judge and the late Chief Chike Chigbue, once the youngest Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in Nigeria. Not only that, this family also appears to be among the families with the highest number of qualified lawyers in the world. Virtually every member of this family is a lawyer and Guiness Book may just look the way of the family to ascertain whether they have made world record. One will easily see that despite the influential and noble roles the Ibusa multiple Obi system played to shape sociopolitical and economic Ibusa during the colonial period in the historical figures of Obi Ajufo Osele, Obi Tenu, Obi Bakwu, Obi Chigbue, Obi Okonma of Ogbeowele, Obi Nwadei of Umuodafe and many more, influence of these Obis have completely waned and maybe no more. Ibusa has has had influential politicians in its early history. These politicians laid foundations for the present ones.
My grandfather obi Vincent Ezeamaka inugonum chigbue told us,my elder siblings,this same story about obi chigbue,my great grandma father.thanks the author of this write up... Charles Inugonum Chigbue
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