The Ibusa Quarters and the Community’s Organized Military Strategy

By Emeka Esogbue

Modern Ibusa, a community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State has grown from the union of Ogboli and Igbuzo settlements to a community of ten quarters natively referred to as “Igbuzo Ebe Ili” (meaning the ten quarters of Ibusa). the community, in his social transformation, moved from ‘Igbuzo Ebe Ite neni” (without the Ogboli Quarters) to “Igbuzo Ebe Ili” without the addition of the Ogboli.

Prof Onwuejeogwu, a renowned Anioma Historian from the community submitted that a ‘friendship of alliance developed into a complicated political union. The union he refers to, is the Igbuzo and Ogboli settlements. Ogboli was founded by Edi while Igbuzo was founded by Umejei. However, the Igbuzo and Ezukwu, also founded by Ishite were closely related, coming from Isu while Edini journeyed from Nri. Umejei and Edini were biological brothers.

This political union has undergone many processes which today constitutes the unwritten constitution of Ibusa.

Today’s Ibusa quarters are listed below:

1. Umueze (the largest in terms of land mass)

2. Umuekea (the second largest in terms of land mass)

3. Umuodafe (comprising Oda-Ukwu and Oda-Nta)

4. Ogbeowele

5. Umuidinasagba (comprising Umuidi and Umuisagba)

6. Anyallaobum (comprising of Ezukwu and Achalla)

7. Umuwagwu (formerly Ogbeogwugwu)

8. Umuehea

9. Umuezeagwu (comprising Umuisor and Okponta)

10. Ogboli (formerly a different settlement from Ibusa before the British merger)

The totality of Igbuzo quarters are classified under three broad categories presented below:

1. Otu Odogwu

Umueze

Ezekwu/Achala

(headed by the Odogwu of Ibusa)

2. Otu Uwolo

Umuidinisagba

Umuodafe

Umuwagwu

Ogboli

(head by the Uwolo of Ibusa)

3. Otu Iyase

Umueazeagwu

Ogbeowele

Umuekea

Umuehea

(headed by the Iyase of Ibusa)

The Otu Odogwu is headed by the Odogwu; Otu Uwolo is headed by Uwolo while Otu Iyase is headed by the Iyase. The Odogwu, Uwolo and Iyase are known as War Lords and have been listed here in order of seniority. By traditional ranking, the Odogwu is the senior, followed by the Uwolo before the Iyase.

The Warlords were in pre-colonial times, commanders of their various “Otu” who led them to wars. They were to Ibusa what the Bashorun was to the Oyo empire of the Yorubas and rarely returned from such wars defeated. Although the community has lost so much in terms of documentation of the accounts, strategy and achievements of the Warlords in wars birthed the people with victories which also resulted in the defence of the community. It must be understood that Ogboli is only regarded as part of Otu Odogwu since the quarter was not initially a part of the Igbuzo settlement having been founded by Edini, a distinct progenitor.

Beyond commanding soldiers at the war front to ensure that victories were made certain, the Warlords also guaranteed peace. One of the ways by which they achieved it was to unite the various quarters under their control. They also found a way to win back persons who in their thinking could rebel against the constituted authority of the settlement.

The Ibusa community is one with a people with one destiny.

DIAMOND JUBILEE AGE: 20 THINGS THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT FRED AJUDUA

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Emeka Esogbue

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