Emeka Esogbue

  Ubulu-Uku is Blessed and I Cherish our Inheritance from Ezemu -        Anthony Awunor, Journalist and Ubulu Ezemu Founder   Ubulu-Uku-born Anthony Awunor, a Journalist, Linguist and founder of Ubulu Ezemu speaks to PEN MASTER (EMEKA ESOGBUE) on a number of issues pertaining to his beginning, lifetime successes in journalism, sole foundation of Ubulu Ezemu, the platform with which Ubulu-Uku and other sons and daughters of Anioma are now honoured, loss of Omuship in the community and perceived identity crisis of the Anioma people. The brilliant and intellectual Deputy Business Editor of Leadership Newspaper speaks on these and more in this ‘hot’ interview. Excerpts:       Pen Master: Anthony Awunor, after the long chase, you have found time for this scheduled interview. Before anything, our teeming readers will like to meet you.   Awunor: (Smiling) Thank you my brother. I am Anthony Awunor, the publisher of Ubulu ...

My People Are Behind My Omu Ibusa Ambition And My Age Is My Advantage   -        Josephine Nwannabuogwu   PEN MASTER (EMEKA ESOGBUE) went in search of Josephine Nwannabuogwu, the Mazone Foundation and much publicized or reported hopeful of the revered Omuship of the Ibusa people to hear from the Umuodafe-born former music performer. In this interview, the music producer, philanthropist and Head of Mazone Stitches speaks about her career in the entertainment industry, the intention and interest in the Omuship of the Ibusa people, foundation, welfare of the youths of the community and the Igbuzo Singles Meet experience. Excerpts:      Pen Master: Who's Josephine Nwannabuogwu? Please permit our readers to meet you.   Nwannabuogwu: Thank you very much sir, Pen Master. I am Josephine Isioma Nwannabuogwu and I hail from the quarter of Umuodafe in Ibusa, Delta State. Happily, I am a product of Enugu State University of...

 10 THINGS THE IBUSA COMMUNITY MISSED IN LEGENDARY WILLY IKOLODO - Emeka Esogbue At exactly 3:45 pm of Saturday, August 7, 2010, he gave up the ghost inside the hospital at the age of 74 but he had been his community's traditional Warlord being the Uwolo of Ibusa. Hon Chief William Ukadike Ikolodo who hailed from Umuisagba, Ibusa was one of the greatest Ibusa personalities of his time. He was certainly one man that his community benefitted immensely and selflessly from as an illustrious son and political representative.  The huge gap that Willy Ikolodo left in Ibusa resonated with the ceremony organized in his memory by his family to mark his ten years of demise in Lagos. This article serves as a reminder of the life and times of the legend and all that the Ibusa community lost in him. 1. He was perhaps the most popular Ibusa figure of his time and he utilised it to the latter. The name, "Ikolodo" was like the name of a Roman god, feared by some, loved, respected and vene...

Ezechime and Ezemu of Ubulu-Uku Rebelled Against Benin Felix Ifeanyi Nwabuokei He had helped Benin historical researchers to explain the missing link in their history regarding an Onicha-Olona personality who was taken from Onicha-Olona by Prince Orhogbua (later Oba Orhogbua) to become the Iyase of Benin and Benin historians had wondered why and how a non-indigene became an Iyase until he was able to supply answers to their puzzle. Once this development unfolded, Pen Master continually chased him until he was caught. In this interview with EMEKA ESOGBUE (Pen Master), Felix Ifeanyi Nwabuokei renders account touching on Onicha-Olona history. He speaks on the rarity of finding Onicha-Olona historical documentations, the journey to the foundation of Onicha-Olona, the over two-decade kingship tussle that the community had to face and many other subjects that are of interest to watchers of the Onicha-Olona history. However, it would seem that the biggest of them all the revelation that Onich...

CHIEF WILLY IKOLODO LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR GOOD WORKS IN IBUSA COMMUNITY Chief Willy Ikolodo in Uwolo regalia FAMILY PLANS POST-HUMUS HONOUR FOR THE LEGENDARY PHILANTHROPIST AND LATE UW Chief Willy Ikolodo with his wives OLO OF IBUSA By Emeka Esogbue "The kernel of truth is in Chief Willy Ikolodo, a leading protagonist in the social history of Ibusa". - Pen Master Many would agree that the history of philanthropism in Ibusa started with the foundation laid by him. Hence, the legend was Igbuzo and Igbuzo was him.  In 2010, the Ibusa community in Delta State lost one of her greatest legendary  assets in history, the man who goes beyond the traits to establish true character of passion and honour; an enigma and an Igbuzo name that cannot be wished away and the first among equals in selfless service to Ibusa. Hon High Chief Willy Ukadikebunazua Ikolodo was a man who believed in Ibusa and Ibusa people, a commander and exerciser of control over the community's affairs, one who...

THE OKPANAM JUDGMENT DID NOT ENCOURAGE THE USE OF RED CAP BY EVERY CHIEF IN THE COMMUNITY. Emeka Esogbue To the people of Okpanam who have started to peddle the rumour that the recent High Court judgment favours the use of Red Cap by every Chief in Okpanam. At no time did the judge mention red cap in this judgment.  What transpired was that an Obi who has the Asagba of Okpanam as his title wanted the court to restore him as the traditional ruler of Okpanam. It is understandable that the case is dead on arrival. Judge ruled that it was not possible due to the gazette establishing the Ugoani position.  No mention was made of red cap. The people of Okpanam are yet to hear the last on the red cap issue which Okpanam citizens are still protesting. Bastardization of our cherished tradition is unwelcome. This is to set the record straight.  In 1920, every Chief in Okpanam was not known to wear the Red cap. Why must westernization bend that rule now? Those seeking to basterdize w...

THE ANIOMA SOCIETY RESPECTS THE SENIOR BEFORE THE JUNIOR The Yoruba are one of the Nigerian groups that believe that by age, the junior must accord the senior necessary attitudes of high consideration or high regard. It is not therefore uncommon to hear the "Aunti mi" or "brother mi" prefixes before the names of their seniors are pronounced.  As for the the Anioma people especially the Enuani subgroup, they also believe in seniority. It is the  cultural belief of the people that the junior should respect the senior. They have some particular unique ways they groom their children to achieve this in their society.  In the traditional Enuani society, when siblings have finished eating from the same plate, the parent shares the meat then he asks the senior to pick his own share of the meat before the junior. This is when you hear "hali".  When the junior spanks the senior first, you hear the mother scream, "Ina eji aka nta ahata aka ukwu?" The mother...