A CALL FOR THE HONOUR OF IBUSA HEROES AND HEROINES

 A CALL FOR THE HONOUR OF IBUSA HEROES AND HEROINES

* NAME A MONUMENT AFTER IKPO

-       Emeka Esogbue

Although Ibusa, a community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State is rich in human resources, the same community suffers languorous attempts to initiate honours or immortalize her heroes and heroines. For this reason, the greatness of notable men and women of Ibusa extraction are known to have lived and died unrecognized. As the Ibusa people say it, “Agwu bulu onye obulu onyuyue na anaa”. In Ibusa, the almighty death has a serious way of ending the life of man and obliterating permanently his deeds. Since existence, the Government whether colonial or indigenous; Federal or State has never named any monument after any son or daughter of the community. This is strange but true but admittedly, it is consistent with reality. It is undesirable to believe that until March 2021, the Ibusa people have never made any formal attempt or presentation to the any Government to name a monument after their deserving son or daughter dead or alive neither have they named one after their own. It is not that none of them is worth it but probably because of the difficulty to stand up in unison.

From the living to the dead, the community has legendarily produced famous people in history. If Isu-born Umejei, one of the founders of the community is lucky to have a statue in his memory, it is not so applicable to his likes. Ishite legendarily held to be his elder brother, founder of Anyallaobum that comprises today’s Ezukwu and Achala does not boast of any, not even in Ezukwu does the cenotaph of the first Ikwele of Ibusa expectedly stands. Although Ezemese is lucky to run away with a secondary school in the community, the same cannot be said of Isagba of Umuidinasagba or Dagbua, the first Ibusa man to predict the coming of white men to the community. Although matriarchy of Madam Ekea is retained in “Umuekea” and “Isieke”, the same cannot be said of Omuoha, the Umejei sister, also believed to have arrived present Ibusa site with Prince Umejei and Ishite, her biological brothers. Luckily again, a statue remarkably stands tall by Umueze Junction in memory of Nne Eze, the Umueze descendants have immortalized their own. The Nne Eze appears to this writer, the only heroine statue in the community where several women have legendarily contributed her making.

Historically, Ibusa has produced a number of monarchs in her history, two of who hailed from Umu-Eze (Omeze), the custodians of kingship and the other one from Umuekea but none of these kings royally have a monument named after them in the community hence, they are living in oblivion. There was the dynasty of Eze Beke who was later seceded by Ezekwem. Ezekwem was himself, the grandson of Oshe-Nta. It was King Ezekwem that established Ashia Eze Market later renamed Ashia Nta by the people of Ibusa. That market despite its small size is still stands today. The Ashia Eze Market, a royal gift to the Ibusa people, is the oldest market in the community today and also one of the oldest in existence in Anioma. The third and last dynasty in the history of Ibusa, and probably the best known, is the Ezesi reign. The era of King Ezesi who hailed from Umuogwo, Umuekea is better known in Ibusa history as “Eze Ofu Ani”. Incidentally, none of these three Ibusa monarchs has any monument or road in the community named after them. If it is that bad that Ibusa has lost the knowledge of her dynasties, it looks more terrible that those retained in the history of the community do not have any monument named after them. What manner of people do not immortalize their own legends or even recognize them?

The inability of Ibusa to recognize the labours of her heroes past continued with lack of honour for Chidi Nwaoji, her historical figure known in history to have battled the British imperialists. Heroic Chidi Nwaoji battled the British until they, the British surprisingly and wickedly had a net cast on him in an act to arrest him and exiling him thereafter with Idabor, his Akwukwu-Igbo compatriot. They were exiled to where they found themselves inside the Calabar Prison. The cynic British did not also mark Chidi Nwaoji’s grave in Calabar though the colonial prison is preserved.

In the 19^th century, Obi Ajufo emerged the first Ibusa Obi to submit himself to the Christian missionaries, abandoning the religion and culture of his Ibusa forefathers. The now renamed “Augustine” died and was buried inside the St. Augustine’s Church, Ibusa Cemetery. One would have wished to find the Obi Ajufo statue standing in Umuehea but that is not to be. More strange is that not even the St Augustine’s Catholic Church, Ibusa would name a monument or hall inside the church after the Ibusa legend that surrendered the ancestral ways of his forefathers to follow their faith. To think that no Ibusa son or daughter particularly the Umuehea have thought of initiating the idea with the Catholic Church or constructing one in the historic church is best imagined.

Countless number of Ekumeku fighters existed in Ibusa. They committed their lives to freeing the community from the imperial hands of the British but not a single cenotaph of Ekumeku is found in the community. Despite enjoying the fame of being the first Anioma community to go to war with the British, Ibusa has nothing in memory of Agbambu Oshue, Chidi Nwaoji and the rest of their warriors who fought the British colonizers tooth and nail. The word, “Ekumeku” only appears retained in the age-grade chronology of the community and nowhere else.

Prof Buchi Emecheta was in her lifetime, Africa’s richest female writer. The novelist and playwright at the height of her career turned out to be the most popular Ibusa woman but she has no monument named after her. Worse still, she was buried in faraway United Kingdom by her family. Although the Ibusa Community Development Union, conferred a post-homous award on her in 2017, the Ibusa heroine will rest perfectly and permanently in peace in a foreign land until her community decides to immortalize her. Prof Chike Onwuachi was the first Head of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs that Nigeria ever produced and also the Chairman of FESTAC ’77 but in spite of this, there is nothing to remember this one of the world's biggest scholars either in Festac Town or Ibusa, the land of his birth. Biafran warlord, Col Michael Okwechime, enjoyed good status with the Nigerian Army. He is noted to have hoisted the Nigerian Green-White-Green on October 1^st to mark the nation’s independence. He also enjoys the position of being Nigeria’s first Army engineer. When Col Ojukwu invaded the Midwest Region, the man he favoured to head what he pronounced the Republic of Benin was Ibusa’s Major Albert Okonkwo. By his headship, Major Okonkwo became the Head of State of the short-lived state that lasted only days. It stands to reason that Ibusa man, Major Dr. Albert Okonkwo is the world’s shortest reigning Military Head of State. This is not properly put on record because his people have done nothing to announce him. It is certain that the Nigerian Civil War cannot be discussed in full without the mention of the roles played by these duos.

Would it be out of place if Uche Nwalama that musically promoted Ibusa be honoured? Travelling far and wide, Uche Nwalama’s musical voice carried Ibusa far in promotion of the people’s cultural dance. He played unique songs, unique from what was previously known and every time his song played, they resonated the Ibusa name. A societal should help her own to climb honourably and effortlessly irrespective of wealth exists or not. Any man that gives to his society should receive in return. The Uche Nwalama of Ibusa should not die vainly. Outside politics, the Ibusa society should find ways and means to remember everyone that contributed to her growth and development.

Frank Onwuachi was a member of the 1980 Green Eagles squad that won the African Nations Cup in that year, winning the most glamorous African trophy with the likes of Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Muda Lawal and the rest of them. At the time of the victory, the nation’s President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari honoured them with national award, cars and also gave out houses to them in Festac Town, Lagos. It is interesting to note that while some of his colleagues received several honours from their people in their hometown, Frank Onwuachi has not been honoured in Ibusa, his hometown despite remaining the only indigene to win the Nation’s Cup. USA-based Frank Onwuachi is shuttles the USA and Nigeria.   

Kingsley Obiekwu is the only Olympic gold medalist of Ibusa extraction that can boast of having won a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games in football competition. In contrast, Anthony Joshua, the British-born international boxer has a street named after him in his hometown. Although the Nigerian-British boxer fights in the nationality of the British, the Chairman of Sagamu Local Government Area in Ogun State, Gbenga Banjo announced the naming of Cinema Road in Ijebu after the world boxing champion. The same cannot be said of Kingsley Obiekwu who brought pride to the community, something unexpected at the time yet not publicly acknowledged; at least not in the knowledge of this author. It would seem that Ibusa needs to understand that honour or heroic act does not always equate wealth. The rich and poor invite glory to their society and both statuses are deserving of wholesome rewards. In this case, Gbenga Banjo, an Ogun State Councilor took an unexpected step to honour one of their own.

Bishop Lucas Olu Chukwuka Nwaezeapu remains the first Ibusa indigene to be ordained a Catholic Bishop. Born December 23, 1925 to Ibusa parents and in Ibusa, Delta State, he was ordained Priest on February 2, 1958. Subsequently, he was appointed Bishop of Warri, Nigeria on May 10, 1958 and his episcopal ordination as Bishop of Warri was on May 24, 1964. After some fruitful religious service to God, he resigned as the Bishop of Warri on September 10, 1983 and died Bishop Emeritus of Warri on April 21, 1996. Whereas there is Bishop Lucas Nwaezeapu Secondary School in faraway Aboh of Delta State, no monument is named after the highest ranking Ibusa clergy in Ibusa, his hometown. Sad to say, Ibusa son, Bishop Lucas Olu Nwaezeapu from Umuanula, Okponta in Umuezeagwu has never received any posthumous honour from among his Ibusa kinsmen or organizations. Ironically, two retired military men, Jerry Useni and Ibrahim Kefas enjoy Ibusa roads named after them. The several kilometer-road, strategically tied to Umejei Road with its head hitting the busy Ashiaeke is named after Jerry Useni. It runs through Umuisagba and connects to Umueze, which is Ibusa’s largest quarter. It is pretty busy with busy shops lined side by side it. The other road given out to a former Military Administrator of the state is Kefas Road. The road is also strategic, runs through Umuodafe with its source also taken from Umejei Road and also connecting several viable businesses in the community. It is one of the best roads the community can boast of in terms of free flow of traffic. Next is a monument called Kefas Park in the community. It is a sort of resort centre, occupying a large portion of land in the community also named after Ibrahim Kefas who commissioned it.

Much difficult as it seems for the people to name a monument after one of their own, Useni and Kefas successfully found their immortalization in the community. However, since charity should begin at home, Ibusa will do well to begin the immortalization of their legends in their community. Where this begins to happen, it will be easier for the State Government to occasionally complement it in other parts of the state. To achieve it, the people will have to drop politics, self-interest and disunity, three major factors that compromise the recognition of individuals when it is time to honour them or duplicate any such honours where at all they manage to agree. As it is, the community has no Odogwu and does not also look capable of giving herself Omuship, an age-long institution of women enjoyed around the Anioma area including Asaba, the state capital.

Out of the five core traditional titles that Ibusa enjoys being the Ikwele, Odogwu, Uwolo, Iyase and Omu, only three of these titles are enthroned at the moment. All of these titles are important for the smooth and effective running of the Ibusa society. In these modern times, they remain relevant. The Odogwu must discharge his duties like his Uwolo and Iyase counterparts and the Omu being the core traditional vehicles for Ibusa women movement and development must be set in place lest the Ibusa community continue to miss among the comity of Anioma women. The women are as important as the men in the running of their society. The Omu of Ibusa is pertinent to the social growth and development of Ibusa and Anioma as a whole.     

In March 2021, Philip Elueme, the Legislative Aide to Senator Nwaoboshi reported that the Senator who also hails from Ibusa had moved a motion at the Nigerian Senate, requesting the Delta State Government to consider naming a monument after Obi senator Nosike Ikpo, the Nigerian Elder Statesman. Since the announcement, silence pervading. Archetypical of the people of the community, voices have not been raised in advocacy of the canvassed honour for the Ibusa compatriot. It will be recalled that the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa was one of the dignitaries that paid the community a condolence when the news of Ikpo’s departure broke. In spite of this, nothing is heard of the monument request.  

The news of the same monument hint was not mentioned at the graveside of the departed legend who is also regarded as one of the fathers of Anioma, a mentor of many politicians in and outside the Ibusa community and one of the fathers of Delta State. In the community that almost everything waits, who will speak for Ibusa? Who is capable of bailing the cat where personal interest is high? Will Obi Senator Nosike Ikpo die the silent and permanent death of what his compatriots in other parts of the country have enjoyed? Can the Ibusa natural space, this time, prove to springboard her legend? These are some of the questions to be answered by the leaders of the Ibusa community. Until these questions are answered, one can only fold his arms and watch.

That notwithstanding, the Ibusa people should learn to honour deserving indigenes beyond “silver and gold”. They should do away with political might and measure of wealth in considering candidates of honour. Wealth is not entirely a means of honour and awards are not entirely for political heavyweights. Honours they say, should be given to those deserving of them whether they are rich or poor.