My Father Did His Best to Document Onicha-Olona History and I Have Taken Over, Felix Nwabuokei, Historical Researcher and SWADAA Regional Commander – Part One

 My Father Did His Best to Document Onicha-Olona History and I Have Taken Over, Felix Nwabuokei, Historical Researcher and SWADAA Regional Commander – Part One

Rev Felix Ifeanyi Nwabuokei is a historical researcher, clergy and Regional Commander of the Social Watch Anti-Drug Abuse Advocacy (SWADAA). Nwabuokei has remained in the forefront of the documentation of his people’s history and has been heavily relied on by other researchers. Recently, he authored the book, “A Historical Account on Onicha-Olona Kingdom,” now one of the widely sought-after books in the community. In this interview with media personality, EMEKA ESOGBUE (PEN MASTER), Rev Felix Nwabuokei tells readers the history and origin of Onicha-Olona settlement with names of the founders, why the community is of Ezechime Clan even though it did not originate from the Ezechime ancestry, and why the people of the community have hardly documented the community’s history in books. Nwabuokei further explains the reasons behind the Obiship crisis that tore the kingdom apart, holding it back for decades. Excerpts:   

Pen Master: Felix Nwabuokei, it is the second time we are having our interview and that’s quite commendable. Thank you again for agreeing to join me once more. Please introduce yourself to our readers. 

Nwabuokei: Thank you very much, Pen Master. I am Felix Ifeanyi Nwabuokei from Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. I am a clergy with an interest in historical research and that was my interest in doing this book. I am from Idumu-Ugbe Quarters in Ogbe-Obi Village. I must begin by saying that Onicha-Olona is a well-known community in our Delta State. Well, I became deeply interested in digging into the history of Onicha-Olona community because I discovered that there were no written books on Onicha-Onicha aside from the few reports recorded by the early Europeans and also my father when he was assigned to work with the kingdom’s traditional head to keep records of my people. The result of my efforts is this book you find with me here (points to his phone). 

Pen Master: Thank you, Nwabuokei. First, you struck me with this book on your people and second, the mention of Ugbe drew my attention. The name, "Idumu-Ugbe" in my understanding, stands out as “the clan of Ugbe.” 

Nwabuokei, I know Ugbe is also associated with a particular clan in Ibusa. Who was this figure in history? 

Nwabuokei: According to history, he was a Benin prince, actually the younger brother of Orhogbua. They were the children of Esigie who ruled in the 6th century. Ugbe and his brothers who were princes came down from Benin to take over the Ika-Oru region (present Anioma). We are further told that on arrival, they formed some settlements. Ugbe settled and formed the Onicha-Olona with his descendants making up the quarters called Idumu-Ugbe today. Ugbe would later become the king of Onicha-Olona. Idumugbe is a royal family or royal quarter. It is in fact, a dynastic quarter in Onicha-Olona. 

Pen Master: …this account rendered by you may lead one to further ask whether Onicha-Olona is a monolithic settlement.

Nwabuokei: …Onicha-Olona was founded by different people because we were told that the migration from Benin was headed by an individual called Ogbele who was the eldest man among them. It happened when Ogbele led some princes delegated by the Oba that included Orhogbua, Ugbe and Ado. It presents an account in which the Oba delegated his children whom you already know were princes on that mission and they eventually founded different villages of Onicha-Olona as we have them today. Pen Master, in summary, the Onicha-Olona settlement was founded by different progenitors led by Ogbele. We are told of two Ogbele on that mission. One was Ogbele Agwusa who settled in Onicha-Ugbo and the other was Ogbele-Idugbami who settled in Onicha-Olona.

Pen Master: It presents interest to note that this account is negligent of Onicha-Olona as a member of the Ezechime Clan. Is Onicha-Olona of Ezechime ancestry? 

Nwabuokei: (Raises his head with a smile) Well, Pen Master, this is quite a good question from you, a delicate historical subject. Let me say that Onicha-Olona is of Ezechime Clan but it does not owe its origin to Ezechime in any way. 

Pen Master: (interrupts) …

Nwabuokei, before you go further, let us clarify this: how is Onicha-Olona of Ezechime clan but not of Ezechime ancestry?

Nwabuokei: It is interesting but this was due to the British classification. The British did classify us as one even though nothing suggested us as one. You know it was typical of the British to group communities into what they termed ethnicities. On creating the Ezechime Clan, Onicha-Olona was classified as a member of the clan and even made the headquarters at the time before it was moved to Issele-Uku due to an incident I would not want to go into now. The founders of Onicha-Olona were unarguably Benin princes and nobles. It will interest you to know that as of today, no single Onicha-Olona family anywhere can trace his ancestry to Ezechime. 

Pen Master: Can you help out with the names of the founders just to buttress your argument?

Nwabuokei: The founders of Onicha-Olona are Ogbele-Idugbami, Ugba, Ugbe, Ugba, and Orhogbua who later left Onicha-Olona to assume the throne of his forefathers as the Oba of Benin. You also have Olo and her husband, Okoh and others and none of them is linked to Ezechime. Ezechime was a rebel who fled Benin with the Oba consequently sending his people to capture him to ensure that the territory remained subject to Benin. The founders of Onicha-Olona were not of Ezechime but were delegated to capture him. It is important we understand this though you will find it documented in my book.

Pen Master: Rev Nwabuokei, you have constantly mentioned your book which is “A Historical Account of Onicha-Olona Kingdom.” You want to tell us about this book?

Nwabuokei: …Yes, the book is a content of Onicha-Olona foundation. It tells you when the community was founded and how. It helps readers to understand how this happened in history. When I started the work, I titled it, “The Exodus from Benin” because I went deeper. The book will help readers to know Onicha-Olona, their culture and other events that shaped them. 

Pen Master: Something is puzzling to Anioma researchers about your Onicha-Olona history. I must tell you this. They often complain about lack of historical documents on your people or that there are usually no reliable books available to interested readers. Even now, I couldn’t lay my hand on a single one before this interview much hard I tried. Sometimes too, what you find are hardly rich or historical. Why is it that your people don’t take interest in documenting your history? Let us start with this.

Nwabuokei: (Laughs) Okay. I would not know why several of our elites of the time would not document our history. Okay, but let me say it was maybe due to the fact that they lacked the knowledge of our history. I say this because I came across a letter written to my father, Erasmus Nwabuokei in 1965. The letter from the elites appealed to him to help publish a history book for my community. He did his best to put something together but unfortunately, the book was never published. This was one of things that challenged me to action because Onicha-Olona as rich as it is in history cannot exist without documented history. When I started to release some teasers on the history of the community in 2013, some people including those closely related to me, took the opportunity to run to the press for their own books but I never challenged them because I knew they were not deep in the knowledge in our people. I was deep in my research before coming up with this book. I do not arrogate perfection to my work but I did my best to diligently come up with the publication. The book will speak to Onicha-Olona. 

Pen Master: Does this account for several reactions from your enthusiastic people on social media on announcing your book?

Nwabuokei: I think it was about what they know of me. It was all about my interest in the history of my people and they know it. Several of them who follow my social media activities have always approached me, asking that I put together my sources and come up with a book and I did promise them even though I did not want to jump into it. Yes, they trust me.

Pen Master: Away from scholarship now. You are a noted leader of SWADAA. What is it about? 

Nwabuokei: SWADAA is an anti-drug abuse organization, registered with the Federal Government of Nigeria and also affiliated with NDLA. It has its security arm so we carry out security operations. We work with communities to free the society from drug abuse.

Pen Master: Any accomplishment yet? 

Nwabuokei: Yes, I am the Commander of Delta State and only recently promoted to the Regional Commander in charge of Ondo, Edo and Delta States. Our command is doing well. We have carried out sensitive programs to make people understand the effects of drug abuse. We track the peddlers because no matter how much you fight to free the people from drug abuse, as long as there are sellers, there must be abusers. We track the dealers to dissuade them from promoting it. This year (2025), we tracked a major dealer and we hope to do more. 

Pen Master: Let me ask you the usual question I pose my guests. How is Onicha-Olona performing in terms of socio-infrastructural development? Are the Anioma political representatives doing well to help the community?

Nwabuokei: I actually do not appreciate passing political comments but Onicha-Olona is a self-help community even though some people may find something to point to the government in the community. There are no much efforts from the government as our people do these things for us. The representatives do not show as much political interest as expected in Onicha-Olona.

Pen Master: Are you also speaking for your neighbouring communities?

Nwabuokei: I may not be well situated to speak for them but not much of government efforts are seen in these other communities. Maybe we may applaud the present Local Government Chairman because he seems to be doing his best since coming onboard. 

Pen Master: Back to the socio-cultural life of your people. How much of your cultural system have your people preserved?

Nwabuokei: Well, we have been doing everything possible to revive the culture of our people because the Obiship crisis troubled our community. We are doing everything possible to preserve them especially the kingship system which now comes with differential opinions from my people. Anyway, that’s part of what I have done in this book.

...continue on Part Two