Opobo

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Opobo
City state
Map
Interactive map of Opobo
Coordinates: 4°30′41″N 7°32′24″E / 4.51139°N 7.54000°E / 4.51139; 7.54000
Country Nigeria
StateRivers State
Founded byJaja of Opobo
Government
 • AmanyanaboDandeson Douglas Jaja V
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

Opobo is a community in Rivers state, South South region of Nigeria.

Opobo is divided into 14 sections ("polo"), made up of 67 War Canoe Houses. The 14 sections are Adibie, Biriye, Diepiri, Dapu, Dappa Ye Amakiri, Epelle, Fubarakworo, Iroanya, Jaja, Kalaomuso, Ukonu, Kiepirima, Owujie, and Tolofari.[1][2]

History

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Further information: Jaja of Opobo
King Jaja of Opobo Memorial

Opobo is located to the east of the Kingdom of Bonny. Bonny and Opobo are of the same origin, both associated with the Ndoki people.[a][3] Jubo Jubogha rose from slavery to lead the Anna Pepple chieftaincy house of Bonny.[4] In 1870, Jubo first arrived in what is now Opobo, having moved there due to a civil war in Bonny between his followers and those of Chief Oko Jumbo, the leader of the rival Manilla Pepple chieftaincy family.[5][6]

Rulers

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The rulers of Opobo were:[7]

Start End Ruler
25 December 1870 September 1887 Jubo Jubogha "Jaja I" (b. 1821 - d. 1891)
September 1887 1891 Perekule (chairman Council of Chiefs)
1891 1893 "Cookey Gam" (political agent)
1893 12 October 1915 Obiesigha Jaja II (Frederick Sunday)
1916 1936 Dipiri (Arthur Mac Pepple)
1936 1942 Sodienye Jaja III (1st time) (Douglas Mac Pepple) (d. 1980)
1942 1946 Stephen Ubogu Jaja IV (acting)
1952 31 July 1980 Sodienye Jaja III (2nd time) (Douglas Mac Pepple)
1980 2002 Vacant
1 October 2004 14 June 2025 King Dandeson Douglas Jaja V (b. 1947)

Notable people

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Notes

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  1. ^ For more on the Ndoki and inter-relationship, see Umuagbai and Akwete, two major settlements of the Ndoki.

References

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  1. ^ "Ikot Abasi". Encyclopædia Britannica. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  2. ^ "About Opobo". Opoboregatta.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  3. ^ "See the most dreadful masquerade in Opobo land - Opera News".
  4. ^ "General Minimah, his Opobo ancestry and the burden of history, By Eric Teniola | Premium Times Nigeria". February 21, 2014.
  5. ^ G. I. Jones (2001). The trading states of the oil rivers: a study of political development in Eastern Nigeria. James Currey Publishers. p. 15ff. ISBN 0-85255-918-6.
  6. ^ "The Izon of the Niger Delta by Onyoma Research Publications - Ebook | Scribd". Archived from the original on 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2022-01-20 – via www.scribd.com.
  7. ^ "Traditional States of Nigeria". World Statesmen. Retrieved 2010-10-17.

Further reading

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  • Burns, Alan. History of Nigeria, George Allen & Unwin, 1929.
  • Dike, Kenneth O. Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta, 1830-1885, Oxford University Press, 1956.
  • Annang Heritage Preservation, article on Annang
  • Britannica article on Ikot Abasi
  • Nair, Kannan K. (1972). Politics and Society in South Eastern Nigeria 1841-1906, Frank Cass, London.
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