Anioma State Debate: Prince Onyema and Dr. Nwaezeigwe's Historical Perspectives

 Anioma State Debate: Prince Onyema and Dr. Nwaezeigwe's Historical Perspectives 

By Emeka Esogbue

Not a few Anioma indigenes took the recent warning from the revered Asagba of Asaba, HRM Obi Prof Epiphany Azinge against the location of the proposed Anioma State in the Southeast likely. The Asagba had advised against the relocation of the proposed Anioma State to the southeast, warning that the people have their historical and geographical place in the South-South where they have always existed.

However, what tended to make more interest to students and enthusiasts of the Anioma history was the recent debate between Prince Onyema Okonjo from Ogwashi-Uku and renowned Nigerian historian and scholarly giant, Dr. Ntony Nwaezeigwe. 

The debate was revealing to enthusiasts of Enuani history in particular with Dr. Nwaezeigwe towering with some historical establishments on the making of Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa and a few other Enuani communities in a single argument. 

As a reference to the argument of the duo, in 2022, an Nri Conference was convened in Issele-Uku community with delegates from Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Illah, Issele-Uku and Akwukwu-Igbo, all presenting accounts on the formation of their respective Nri settlements. The oral accounts from the participants were later documented in the book, "The History of Ogboli Community Issele-Uku and Nri Defendants in Some Anioma/Enuani Communities" authored by Ifenna Leonard Azomani, the convener.

Be that as it may, relevant to this topic is the account on Ogwashi-Uku formation in which the Ogwashi-Uku narrator, Diokpa Benjamin Utulu, an elderly man from the community delivered an oral account of the foundation of Ogwashi-Uku with a full Nri influence to the audience. 

He submitted that the Adaigbo-led Nri migrants met the Ikelike on ground and went on to explain how the Ogwashi-Uku kingship was formed. His account at the conference supported the Ogwashi-Uku and Ibusa long held legends and that of Dr. Nwaezeigwe that two biological brothers founded both communities and that Ogwashi-Uku was the senior. 

What will make interest to the Ibusa community is that while the Ibusa legend holds that the founder of its Ogboli community was retained as "Edini," the Ogwashi-Uku account recognizes his name as "Ogboli." Thus, in the legend of Ogwashi-Uku, Ogboli, the younger brother of Adaigbo was the founder of Ogboli-Ibusa. If Ogwashi-Uku's argument is valid, it is possible that the term "Ogboli" originated from Ibusa and spread to other Anioma communities, given its presence in Nri Kingdom, their ancestral homeland.

On the contrary, historians have noted that Ogboli is an Igbo generic name for sacred forests, often used for ritual cleansing during Ozo title initiation. This suggests that "Ogboli" might not necessarily refer to a specific founder's name but rather a place of ritual significance. Indeed, there is an existence of an Ibusa sacred shrine in Ogboli called "Ani Udo." This is where the cadidates of Obiship (a title similar to Ozor) visit to complete the initiation. This may as well, explain the discrepancy in the name between Ibusa (Edini) and Ogwashi-Uku (Ogboli). However, this gains possibility if only Edini was not Ogboli.

According to Diokpa Utulu, the Nri migrants of Ogwashi-Uku met the Ikelike Benin migrants in the present Ogwashi-Uku settlement. But it was the Nri migrants who introduced the Obiship (monarchy) system in the settlement. The Ogwashi-Uku historian narrated how the kingship emerged with the first Obi on the throne. 

He conceded that apart from Adaigbo and the Ikelike, there were also other settlers in what later became Ogwashi-Uku. This confirms the argument of Dr. Ntony Nwaezeigwe that Ogwashi-Uku is a multiethnic settlement that was first inhabited by the Ikelike people from Benin before the arrival of Adaigbo and his co-migrants.

Utulu further acknowledged, "we might not be sure how and when some of these migrations happened, but the right of the first settlers into Ogwashi-Uku has been conceded to the Ikelike."

"They assumed responsibility for amicable settlements of disputes but Adaigbo took charge of administration and other external affairs relating to or affecting the community. It was obvious from what happened at the time that Adaigbo must have come from a superior civilization. Of course, the Benin Empire was also very advanced at the time with far-reaching influences as well, but we do know that most of the people who fled Benin and settled in other places were mostly economic migrants, slaves or people who were ostracized. They were basically, people who had to flee the Benin monarchy for one reason or the other."

The Ikelike people continue to reside in Ogwashi-Uku, proudly asserting their claim as the community's original settlers. This assertion is visibly evident on a large signpost at the entrance of their quarters, serving as a historical marker for visitors interested in the town's rich heritage. This claim is supported by historical accounts suggesting the Ikelike people's Benin origin, with the Odionwere (Diokpa) of Ikelike Quarters playing a significant role in the traditional crowning of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku. The Ikelike's distinct identity within Ogwashi-Uku reflects the community's multi-ethnic history, shaped by interactions with Nri and other influences. Here is another argument, rightly held by Dr. Nwaezeigwe.

In contrast while the Ikelike believed to originate from Benin hold the claim of being the original settlers of Ogwashi-Uku, the Ogboli from Nri are also believed to be the original settlers of the present Issele-Uku. The Benin migrants only introduced kingship but the original settlers as confirmed by Ifenna Leonard Azomani in the book, "The Kingmaker" are the Ogboli from Nri led by Enwei.

The conference emphasized the diversity of Anioma's cultural landscape with various communities having distinct histories and migrations. The Benin Empire and other influences on the region are also acknowledged. There lies the valuable arguments of Dr. Ntony Nwaezeigwe, the Nigerian professional historian. It is also on this strength that the Asagba issued his warning