Emeka Esogbue

 Usurpation Shifted Our Onicha-Olona Kingship System from Hereditary to Okpalabisi, Prince Joseph Dumbili Nwadiajueboe, Eze Dibia of Onicha-Olona—Part One It was a long walk to Ogbe-Obi in Onicha-Olona Kingdom, Delta State, where this interview was conducted, but the journey was worth it. In this interview with PEN MASTER (EMEKA ESOGBUE) a Media Persinality, PRINCE JOSEPH DUMBILI NWADIAJUEBOE, an octogenarian who is the Eze Dibia of Onicha-Olona, Obunze of Ogbe-Obi, Onicha-Olona, and author of several books, delivers oral accounts on the history of Onicha-Olona. He speaks on the foundation of Onicha-Olona, the authorship of several books on the Anioma communities accommodating Onicha-Olona, Obior, Onicha-Ugbo, Obior, Obomkpa, and others, all of which are Ezechime, makes startling revelations on the identity of Ezechime, whom he holds as the patriarch of Onicha-Olona, and ventures into the age-long Obiship crisis ravaging the community.  Pen Master: Nwadei, sir, all the way fro...

 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 behin...

 From Anioma to Igbo Heartland: Tracing the Cultural Diffusion of the Title Odogwu By Emeka Esogbue Today, the word Odogwu is widely recognized across Igboland as a title signifying greatness, influence, or exceptional status. However, very few people are aware that its earliest linguistic, cultural, and institutional roots lie in Anioma, particularly within the Enuani-speaking communities of present-day Delta State. In its original environment, Odogwu was not a casual praise name—it was a highly formalized title with a precise meaning tied to the military structure of the people. Originally, Odogwu functioned as a distinct war title in Anioma society and formed part of the region’s structured hierarchy of martial leadership. It was earned through exceptional service to the community, not granted for wealth, age, or social prominence. To be called Odogwu in ancient Anioma societies was to be acknowledged as a proven warrior, strategist, and defender of the people. Oral histories in...

Interview with Pen Master (Emeka Esogbue)  ...continue from Part One Don't Drag Me into the Obsession that Issele-Uku and Anioma are Monolithic or Only Benin Creations, Ifenna Azomani, Writer of History and Convener of Nri Descendants Conference - Part Two Pen Master: Shouldn’t one wonder why Benin established its monarchical system in a society already in existence and thriving? Azomani: The whole essence of establishing the Benin kind of monarchy in Issele-Uku was to establish the Benin strict kind of monarchy but to a large extent, I don’t think that this was achieved even with Obi Oligbo because there was still so much of the republican way of life. This republican way of life came with the migrants from Nri who had been in the area before the Benin migrants came. So, while that monarchical system was in place, Benin was also looking for the opportunity to strengthen its hold. That opportunity came following the death of Obi Odia in about 1730 and the Heir Apparent who was sent...

 Ethnic Nationality Not Forcefully Imposed, Igbanke is Ika, INPA Initiator, Gloria Adagbon Asserts - Emeka Esogbue Barr. Gloria Adagbon, a prominent Igbanke leader and initiator of the Igbanke Nationals Progressive Association (INPA), has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the suspension of six Igbanke monarchs by the Benin Palace.  In a statement posted on her Facebook page, she asserted that Igbanke is an Ika community with a distinct culture and language, emphasizing that ethnic identity cannot be imposed. Adagbon pointed out that despite being located in Edo State, Igbanke people speak the Ika language and maintain Ika traditions. She noted that having Bini names doesn't necessarily mean they are Bini, just like an American with English names is not English. She highlighted that most Igbanke people don't speak or understand the Bini language, further emphasizing their Ika heritage.  "Majority of our people who were born and brought up in Igbanke do not speak or...

 Interesting Discourses on Pre-colonial Hausa States and the Neglect by Students - Emeka Esogbue Historians in Nigeria rarely talk about the history of the people living in the northeast and northwest region around Lake Chad and the Hausa states, which are extremely near to Oyo and Benin, two kindred kingdoms in modern-day Southern Nigeria.  It is somewhat unexpected that the southern civilizations of Igbo, Yoruba, Anioma, Benin, and Igala are what typically conjure up images of historical figures on social media. Strangely, professional historians in Nigeria have not done much to direct their attention toward the pre-colonial Hausa cultures that existed before Nigeria was founded.  Students studying history in secondary schools also have a tendency to steer clear of Hausa history. This also extends to university history classes, where aspiring historians have a tendency to gently stray from historical narratives of the Hausa societies.  The tripartite Nigerian ethni...

 Obaseki: How a Nsukwa Family of Anioma Ruled Benin Empire as an Oba - Emeka Esogbue The Obaseki family of Benin is indeed of Anioma ancestry from Nsukwa Kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State. Other communities lying close to Nsukwa are Umute, Aba Ukwu, Adonte, and Ejeme Aniogor. According to J. P. Nkem Onyekpe, "Nsukwa" is an Anglicization of Nchukwa. Since its foundation, Benin and Anioma communities have enjoyed relations in the form of trade, marriage, diplomacy, and wars but these particular Benin-Nsukwa relations are a relationship that defines cultural association. As was the cultural practice within the period under discussion, Agho who was the Crown Prince to the throne of Nsukwa Kingdom was sent to Benin for training on administration and he struck a friendship with Overamwen Nogbaisi, the other Crown Prince to Benin Kingdom. With time, Overamwen ascended the throne as the Oba of Benin and conferred the title of Obaseki of Beni...

  The Enuani People in Perspective By Emeka Esogbue Enuani is one of the subgroups that make up Anioma with Ika and Ndokwa as the other two. It is the combination of these three subgroups that make up Anioma. As a whole, Anioma is a group of people geographically located in Delta State, South-South Geo-political Zone of Nigeria. Since the history of the creation of what is now Nigeria by the British, the people of Enuani have not only had their destiny tied together as one but given different names at different times depending on the geographical location they are made to find themselves. Incidentally, together with the wider Anioma nation, they have occupied the defunct Western Region, Midwestern Region, Edo State, and now Delta State and are proposing Anioma State where they hope to be situated in the South-South of the country. The Urhobo, Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri, and Anioma are the five major ethnic groups that makeup Delta State, a state created by the Ibrahim Badamosi Bab...

Obomkpa-Ugboba Crisis: Historic Claims, Counter-claims and Government Recognition of Ugboba as an Anioma Autonomous Community in Delta State By Emeka Esogbue INTRODUCTION The above topic, an investigation of this author who is a fervent and wholehearted writer on the people of Anioma, geographically located in the Northern part of Delta State of Nigeria into the shared legal, historical, and colonial claims; offensive and defensive assertion of the people's communal right and geography, makes scholarly interest for several reasons, part of which is captured in the conclusion of this piece. One of the reasons is that the controversy bedeviling Obomkpa and Ugboba, two sisterly communities with common boundaries and a common claim of homestead source of migration, is nearly a hundred years old, and even with various interventions by the local organs of both communities with strong affirmation and the intercession by the nation's highest court with final appellate jurisdict...