Augustine Anonyai Ojei, Seasoned Accountant Shares Insightful Recollections of Historical Bond Between Ibusa and Issele-Azagba

- Emeka Esogbue

Chief Augustine Anonyai Ojei, a Lagos-based Chartered Accountant (ICAN) and Economist from Issele-Azagba community in Delta State has shared with Pen Master, the healthy relationship shared between Ibusa and his Issele-Azagba, community.

According to him, Issele-Azagba and Ibusa share relationships in diverse ways and have related in different socio-cultural means including marriage and trade.

He pointed out that the paternal grandmother of the immediate past traditional ruler of the community, Agbogidi Obi Francis Jidouwa Ijei II, was from the Ibusa community specifically from Ezukwu.

The Ibusa-Issele-Azagba is also a cemented link of marriages between the people of both communities - linking Aniocha South and Oshimili North, two local government areas. The Ugbome lineage, Obi Ijei Nwaegbune, Nwabudike, Ubabudike-Arinze, all from Issele-Azagba have maternal homes in Ibusa. He went down the memory lane to explain his father's friendship with Bishop Nwaezeapu, Col Mike Okwechime, Obi Prof Chike Onwuachi, Elder Augustine Inugonum, Obi Col 'Animal' Nzekwue, Dr. Austin Nonyalim Izagbo and several others. His father was Alhaji Lasisi Ojei and these Ibusa figures were wonderful friends because they left his family with good memories that still live with them.

During the golden jubilee ascension anniversary celebration of the late Obi, the Ezukwu people from Ibusa were well-represented.

He further said, "prominent Igbuzo sons like Admiral Dele Ezeoba were very supportive during the event. Chief Frederick Ajudua is a Chief in the palace, conferred around 2007."

Indeed, Chief Fred Ajudua holds the chieftaincy title of Ochendo of Issele-Azagba, a title conferred on him in 1992 in a prestigious ceremony by the same subject thereby confirming the words of Chief Augustine Anonyai Ojei.

Chief Augustine Anonyai Ojei recalled that the traditional road linking Ibusa and Issele-Azagba was an earth road where commercial activities thrived with Achala-Igbuzo women often coming to sell 'nmaya oku' also called dry gins. The trade was patronized by indigenes of both communities. The trade opened up the area at the time. The Ibusa-Issele-Azagba trade was so buoyant and popular that it got a mention in the fictional works of Prof Buchi Emecheta, Ibusa's brightest and best known novelist.

The Ibusa community has a history of good relationships with other Anioma communities. Rev Fr. Kunirum Osia reported in his book, "Anioma in Contemporary Nigeria," that during the Nigerian Civil War when a lot of Ibusa people were being kidnapped with quite a number of Nigerian soldiers, guarding the camp ending up dead, St. Augustine's College in the town was temporarily relocated to Onicha-Olona while St. Thomas College was moved to Issele-Uku.

In fact, the two refugee camps in Ibusa were also moved to St. Patrick's College, Asaba where another refugee camp started with 1,500 Ibusa indigenes. After operations against Biafrans in the bush by Nigerian soldiers, other refugees from Ewulu, Oko Anala, Oko Ogbele, Okwe and Asaba were brought to the camp by the soldiers while others came voluntarily. In the end, the number of refugees reached 5,000.

Relationships among the people of the various communities peaked. War had united them inside the refugee camps where they exchanged foods and other domestic needs.

In the case of relocations of the two prominent schools from Ibusa, both Onicha-Olona and Issele-Uku catered for Ibusa students with the staff in their communities as they would of their own indigenes. This also defined the relationships with both communities.

Chief Augustine Anonyai Ojei, the Ugwu'Eze of Issele-Azagba was recently honoured on September, 2024 at the Palace of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Areole Enitan Ogunwasi II, the Ooni of Ife, as an Icon of Intercultural Relations.

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