Emeka Esogbue

 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 referen...

 Facts About Rev Fr Carlo Zappa and His Christianization of the Enuani Area  - Emeka Esogbue Perhaps, no Christian missionary played a greater role in the evangelization of the Enuani Region of Anioma as did Rev Fr. Carlo Zappa. Fr. Zappa played a significant role in Christianizing the Enuani area of Anioma. * He was born in Milan, Italy on December 23, 1861 and was ordained a priest on June 8, 1884.  * Fr Zappa was sent to Asaba by the Poirier because Sir Robert Marshal, an official of the Royal Niger Company with its headquarters in Asaba insisted that he was needed. * He served in the Society of African Missions.  * He was later appointed the Prefect of the Upper Niger * He established the St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the first church in Asaba in 1888. * Rev Fr Zappa moved the Roman Catholic mission headquarters from Lokoja to Asaba * The Asaba site was purchased for the missionaries by Sir James Marshal. * He was in Issele-Uku, Ibusa, Illah, Ogwashi-Uku, Okpanam...

 The Iwu Festival: Leveraging Satire, Sarcasm, and Social Commentary to Address Societal Challenges in Anioma By Emeka Esogbue Beyond its vibrant dance and music, the Iwu Festival, celebrated by the Anioma communities of Ogwashi-Uku, Ibusa, Ubulu-Uku, Ubulu-Unor, and Illah, employs satire, mockery, and social commentary to confront societal ills and promote positive change. This unique approach is not isolated to the Iwu Festival, as various African festivals, such as the Akan Festival of Ghana, Egungun Festival of the Yorubas, Kwagh-hir Festival of the Tiv, and Ovia Osese Festival of the neighbouring Urhobo in Delta State, Nigeria, also utilize satire, sarcasm, and mockery to address evil doers and societal ills. During the Iwu Festival, celebrants dance to traditional rhythms infused with satirical messages, using gestures, movements, and facial expressions to convey their message. The festival serves as a platform for community participation, encouraging individuals to join in r...

 Obiship: Like Asaba, like Ibusa; Like Obi Ajudua, Like Obi Azinge - Emeka Esogbue Two beautiful Enuani communities in Anioma; two sisterly communities and two neighbouring communities.  Like Ahaba (Asaba), like Igbuzo (Ibusa). Like Chief Prof Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge (now Obi Chief Prof Epiphani Azinge), like Chief Dr. Henry Chukwuma Ajudua (now Obi Dr Henry Ajudua).  Asaba, Ibusa, and Okpanam have a long history of relationships rooted in trade, marriage, and war. In addition to their shared physical location, these groups also have dialectical linguistics, shared cultures, and traditions.   It is pertinent to understand that only five communities—Asaba, Ibusa, Okpanam, Illah, and Okwe—all of whom are of Oshimili, follow the Obiship practice. As a stage of advancement in the people's way of life, Obiship is magnificently preserved by these communities, who work so hard to protect the long-standing tradition that their predecessors have passed down to them. Tod...

 Appointed, Removed and Reinstated: The Story of Engr Vincent Maduka, the NTA DG Do you know that Eng Vincent I. Maduka, OFR, the first Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority is from Illah an Anioma community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State?  What is typical of Nigerian politics is reflected in the life narrative of Vincent Ifeanyichukwu Maduka. Caught up by the Nigerian political system, he tasted the good, the bad and the ugly but survived the tide in the end.  Maduka was born to Maduka in Epetedo, Lagos in 1935. He received a good education, attending Leeds University in England and Kings College in Lagos.  The retd ace broadcaster made his memoir, "The Reel Life: My Years Managing Public Service Television," available to the public in 2022. The unveiling took place within the Onikan, Lagos, MUSON Centre.  Cruising to success was never an easy one for the Anioma man from Illah who faced travails.  The drama started i...

 How Issele-Uku Kingdom United the Ogboli Families of Anioma in a Conference, Issues a Communique  - Emeka Esogbue The Anioma people are becoming more socially united as Ogboli Quarters in Anioma communities met recently in Issele-Uku and were hosted by Diokpa Okonkwo Nduka Nwajei, the Onishe of Issele-Uku and Okpalabisi of Ogboli Quarters.  The Ogboli people in the Anioma communities of Issele-Uku, Ibusa,  Illah, Obior, Ogwashi-Uku, Akwukwu-Igbo, and Atuma Iga all came together to chart a socio-cultural course that will advance their well-being.  After the meeting in which a communique was issued on the way forward for the Nshi (Nri) migrants, they promised to unite more among themselves and also unite more with their kit and kin from the present Anambra State.  The Ogboli are migrants from Nishi (Nri Kingdom) in Anambra State. They are all related. Legends of these various communities show this relationship.  Edini (of Ibusa) and Adaigbo (of Ogwashi-...

 Punish Hoarders of Petroleum Products, Frank Ofili Advises FG  - Emeka Esogbue In the face of frequent impasses in the nation's petroleum sector, renowned Public Affairs Analyst, Frank Ofili, has advised the Federal Government to criminalize the hoarding of petroleum products by petrol station owners in the country.  Ofili considers it wickedness and economic sabotage and calls on the Government to compel offenders to suffer for the crime and face disciplinary action for the act.  He wondered why Nigerian petrol station owners engage in the act to punish consumers.  "You own a gasoline station, you have stock, and you sell at N280 per liter,  which is high enough. Yet, you choose to hoard it just so that you create the impression of scarcity, and needlessly drive people to desperation. All in a bid to further jack up your price, he queried." The Public Affairs Analyst from Illah community further believes the practice is severe in his home state when he no...

 Innocent Esewezie, Bigger than Local Government Chairmanship Position - Emeka Esogbue Accolades are pouring in for Hon Innocent Ifeanyichukwu Esewezie, the Executive Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State following his display of massive delivery on his mandate to his constituency.  PEN MASTER can report that since voted into office, the Council Chairman has carried out people-oriented projects that have re-situated the Council with its people. However, the achievements of the Council Boss within a few periods in office have not gone unnoticed.  Reacting to a publication made in Anioma Watch, an online community forum of the Anioma people, by McDonald Ofili Ashinze, Awele Oranye, a Media Consultant singled out the PDP Council Boss when he wrote, "This is the only PDP man I can trust. Oshimili North enjoy while we wait for him to go for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency or Delta North." Accompanying comments from other members were torrential ...

 OSHIMILI NORTH POLITICAL SPACE QUAKES AS IBUSA PHILANTHROPIST, OMELORA CHUKS OKONJI JOINS DELTA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY RACE  - Floats Omelora Movement to advance his political career - Emeka Esogbue There are very clear indications that Ibusa philanthropist, and the Omelora of Ibusa, Sir Chuks Okonji has convincingly joined politics with the ambition to gun for the Delta State House of Assembly race. Pen Master on Monday, met with the young virile philanthropist who was full of laudable ideas, inside his Lagos office where they sat down to have discussions to this effect. Worried that things are not really as they should be, he believes that the youths carrying something to offer the society should come onboard to introduce new tactics which will help change the people's destiny.  The Omelora of Ibusa who hails from Umuodafe in Ibusa is a respected business tycoon with investments that cut across different sectors in the country.  Hailed by Oshimili North youths and call...

 EKUMEKU OF THE ANIOMA PEOPLE INVOLVED DIVISION OF LABOUR - Emeka Esogbue Do you know that Ekumeku as carried out by the Anioma people characterized division of labour according to Anioma's erudite scholar from Obior community, Dr. Joseph Egwu and as published in Anioma Essence Magazine, a publication of the Organization For the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC)?  With the Ekumeku Movement of the Anioma people, West Niger (1883 - 1914), the longest resistance to colonialism in Africa, the Anioma people struggled against the British imperial conquest of Southern Nigeria. For the first time in history, and since the existence of the people, the Anioma communities, hitherto disunited, became united by the Pan-Anioma Resistance against the British colonial conquest of Southern Nigeria with particular reference to Anioma territory.  After the 19th century scramble for Africa, the British won what became Nigeria, and what they faced from African traditional rulers was resis...

 EBU, THE IGALA- SPEAKING COMMUNITY IN ANIOMA By Emeka Esogbue Located in the midst of other Oshimili communities and sharing the same Oshimili North Local Government Area in Delta State with Ibusa, Akwukwu-Igbo, Atuma, Okpanam, and Illah, Ebu is one of the most culturally influenced Anioma communities in existence today. The community, a border town that stands on the road to Benin, is further bordered by Illah and Ezi, among others.  The Ebu geography of contiguity continues. The people migrated from Idah in today's Kogi State from where they settled in the present Delta State site amid Igbo-speaking Enuani communities of Oshimili extraction. It is historically said that they migrated all the way from Idah to settle in their present location in search of a prime fishing area. The Igala-speaking Ebu is noted for its agrarian nature due to the fertility of the community in growing food crops, especially rice and yam. Their settlement on the bank of the majestic River Niger is ...

 Betta People of Oshimili North Celebrates End-of-Year party in Grand Style All roads led to Ibusa, a community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State on Tuesday when the members of Betta People of Oshimili North, an interactive organization with the object of the promotion of Enuani culture took over the community for their 2nd Annual End-of-Year party event.  Betta People of Oshimili North, an initiative of Mrs. Nneka Edith Obiechie had distinguished members of the Association from ranks and file, and from different parts of the country in attendance with guests describing it as colourful and accommodating of the Anioma people of Enuani extraction with similar interest.  The program started with the recognition of members of the organization who introduced themselves. It was followed with joy, laughter, and happiness as members described themselves in pleasant manners. Opening prayer was said by Paster Iwebo, clergy, and one of the members who were also ...

 vanishing Multiple Eze System in Anioma Cultural Space and Accompanying Challenges: A Case Study of the Ibusa Community Emeka Esogbue   According to Gideon Ikenwe, “a society or community without stratification or authority, functions, and social ladder will enthrone disrespect, disorderliness and even anarchy, at which stage the community becomes ungovernable. There must be levels in every society and extant rules and regulations that will control these different levels and by and large, bring discipline to the entire community.” The Ibusa society with ladders of statuses and stratifications falls within the establishment of Gideon’s theory of social stratification as elucidated above. The Ibusa society recognizes that everyone in the society does not enjoy homogenous or equal rank or eminence, as individuals with different beliefs, desires, and aspirations will always want to rise beyond the other by climbing socio-political ladders to find their way to the top. The Ib...

  Nwada Anioma: Our Pageant Will Resuscitate the Role of Umuada in Anioma   -        HOM International CEO, Patrick Okolie   In 2011, he came up with the Nwada Anioma Cultural Beauty Pageant inside the prestigious Orchid Hotels, Asaba, Delta State which Ogwashi-Uku-born Miss Chidinma Obiechie won. The event shook the Anioma cultural space with several wonders and it was one of the biggest and richest in the history of the people. The event featured the people of the nine Local Government Areas that make up the Anioma Nation in Delta State including Igbanke in Edo State that also featured in the event. A decade after,  he is set to hold another edition of the contest in a grandest style. In this interview, Patrick Okolie, the CEO of HOM International speaks to EMEKA ESOGBUE (PEN MASTER) on the success of the beauty pageant and expectations of the upcoming edition. Excerpts:     Pen Master: (Laughing aloud) Mr. Patric...

 St. Thomas College Ibusa: The Establishment, Attempts to Liquidate it and the Fate of Survival Emeka Esogbue “It is ironical for the people of Ibusa that rather than pinnacle St. Thomas Teachers Training College to the elevation of a polytechnic or university eminence that it should expectedly be, it was downgraded to a same-sex school that it is now. If it is a bit of sardonic laughter that an institution of this magnitude, the senior, better equipped and first-conceived higher institution in the whole of Mid-West Region was downgraded, the policies of the government in which they have been spreading the birth of higher institutions across the state to the detriment of this one with quality facilities, ready for upgrade, is ill-starred in the modern educational history of the community and social advocacies of the people”. Emeka Esogbue Despite the historical enjoyment of the status of the first higher institution in the whole of the former Mid-West Region, the history of St. Tho...