By Dan Ogiriki
Aboh: The entire area was enjoying relative peace in Aboh division, but a feeling of disconnect occasioned by the widening influence of the Obi of Aboh was brewing up among members. The Ukwuani people had no king. The oldest man in any community referred to as Okpala- Uku is divinely enthroned, but the Obi of Aboh in contrast is a royal institution. His influence was riding high and the concept of Aboh division for the geographical entity, which covered Ndosumili, Ndoni and Ukwuani, indicated that all towns, villages and people within these entities were subject to Obi Oputa II.
People felt bad about this and demanded the replacement of the label “Aboh Division” with a more universally acceptable name. This issue received attention on 4th February 1954 at a joint meeting of Ukwuani, Ndosumili and Ndoni native authorities with the Resident, Delta Province.
The meeting now produced what is today known as Ndokwa, which was with the representatives of each native authority.
At the meeting was the following information:
Present were:
R.J.M Curmen Esq. Resident Delta Province Warri
C.J Davies Esq. District Officer (D.O) Aboh Division Kwale
F.H Butcher Esq. A.F.C. Assistant District Officer (A.D.O) Aboh Division Kwale
Representing Ukwuani District native authority was:
Chief Anoka Alumona (Ogume), President Ukwuani District Native Authority.
Chief A.B Emeni MHC (Obiaruku), Vice President Ukwuani District Native Authority.
J.O Oriaku of Obiaruku
J.O Osademe of Abbi.
Ukeke Ogbajinigwe of Utagba-Uno
J.O Ado of Utagba-Ogbe
J.O Iwegbue of Emu-Uno
Osumili Alumona of Akoku
Ose of Ogume
Ochonogor Ikeagu of Emu- Uno
Azubike Osaneku of Abbi
J.O Ozoma of Umuebu
Omili Anamali of Umutu
Paul Chukwuma of Onicha Ukwuani
Representing Ndosumili District Native Authority was:
I.E Emegwari of Ase; President Ndosimili District Native Authority
T.O Osaeke of Afor – Vice President Ndosimili District Native Authority
W.F. Oki (MHA) of Ashaka
J. Ogwu Ochia of Aboh
P.I Ndanenu of Ashaka
J.C.S Walker of Aboh
J.O Onwuneme of Ushie
M.A Gbiaye of Igbuku
Udema Nwanegbu of Igbuku
Tom O.C Ajeh of Afor
Obi Obuzor of Ossissa
Boy Otobo of Ibrede
J.O Uzor of Akarai
S.A Odigwe of Afor
Jack Osifo of Onyah
J.I Oforboh of Ashaka
Edward Ijeomah of Aboh
J.O Ugboma of Aboh
Representing Ndoni District Native Authority
R.O Morrison Obi of Ndoni
D.U Enebeli of Ndoni
In attendance was L.G.C Asibelua, clerk of the council. The Resident addressed the joint house and informed them that he had received the report of the Local govt inquiry committee which was earlier set up to advice on the possibility of establishing the joint Divisional Council. He informed them that he was yet to recommend the finding to the Minister of Local Govt at Ibadan but wished to rub minds with them. He then asked,
a) “Do you want a divisional council or not.
b) If not, why not?”
At this junction, Chief Anoka of Ogume suggested a recess to enable the representatives consult one another. He was supported by W.F Oki of Ashaka and by 11:20am they stood off to discuss when they eventually reconvened by 12: 40 pm. J. O Iwegbue stood to present their resolution to the resident. The seven point’s resolution was presented thus:
1) I thank the resident, we have all consulted and I have been asked to speak for all.
2) The Ukwuani people, the Ndosimili people and the Ndoni people have agreed today to have a divisional council.
3) The name of the proposed Divisional Council has been agreed upon should either be Ukwuani/Ndosimili divisional council or Ndosimili/Ukwuani divisional council.
4) The name of this division should thereafter be called Ukwuani/Ndosimili division or Ndosimili/Ukwuani division
5) We do not want Oputa II, the Obi of Aboh to become a member or possibly the president of the proposed divisional council. This has been the reason why it has been difficult in the past to join the three native authorities in this division together. The Ukwuani people have no king and they do not want the King of Aboh to rule them.
6) We want the Resident to make future position of the Obi of Aboh quite clear to all and to promise that Obi would not at any time wangle his way into the divisional council either as traditional ruler or an elected member.
7) It was because of the fear of the Obi of Aboh that we have all refused any form of federation many years ago.
THE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL PRINCE L.G.C ASIBELUA BROUGHT A DECIPHER THUS:
NDONI NATIVE AUTHORITY N
NDOSHIMILI NATIVE AUTHORITY DO
UKWUANI NATIVE AUTHORITY KWA
Hence the name NDOKWA which means “PEACEFUL PLACE” or literally Heaven, a name that remained on the drawing board since 1954 only to surface twenty two years later in 1976, through the Local Govt Reform Edict NO 13 of the Military administration.
Curled from: A developmental survey of Ndosimili people (Ndokwa east L.G.A) pages 11, 12 and 16 this was written by His Eminence Ap. Gen (Dr) A. Oku Oguafor.
Okwa – Ukwu L.G.C Asibelua joined his ancestors early this month after leaving to a ripe age of 110. He has since been buried in Awe according to the burial right of an Okwa.
