History | okpoama-kingdom

HISTORY

The Okpoama Kingdom comprises of eight main villages and sixty settlements including the Okpoama metropolis and ranks among the most ancient Kingdoms in the Nigerian Niger Delta. The radio carbon dating of the first settlement Saikiripogu (the present location of Okpoama Ewoama) has indicated a settlement dating back to AD 1000. Only a few Niger Delta communities could boast of such antiquity. Example: Ke in Kalabari and Okochiri in Okrika all of Rivers State dated AD 800 and AD 860 respectively (Alagoa 1999:4,5).

ORIGIN

Several historians and authors have unavoidably testified to its antiquity in the historical accounts of Kingdoms. Notable among these is Owonaro (2006: 14,15,31,32) who made Okpo the son of Ijo (Ijaw) the progenitor of the Ijo (Ijaw ethnic group. E.T. Mina and Chif D.W. Opugulaya of Okirika named Okpo a contemporary of several founders of the most ancient Kingdoms in the Eastern Niger Delta. Similarly, the standard tradition states that Okpo and Ogbolo (Obolo the founder of Ogbolomabiri) who were kins (munaongu) left Obiama ( a major dispersal centre in the present Southern Ijaw area) together. Okpo after trying several places finally settled at Saikiripogu. He later had to move because at a time when kidnapping and other raids were rife, the place was exposed to external attacks.

Accordingly, Okpo moved the people to Kaiko, a place that met all their yearnings. His satisfaction with this move is expressed in his drum praise poem (kule) presented below, sometimes played out on the drums as that of the collective spirit (Amatemesuo) of the Kingdom.

Okpokiri - City founded by Okpo

Koroyo sigha sigha sigha, tubotugu child that never lands on ill-fated soil. Thus at its earl state, Okpo was ruling over not less than six settlements from the Kaiko metropolis.

Okpoama was also a mini dispersal centre in the Niger Delta. The Lubia, Azuzuama and Ikubie communities in the Bassan area migrated to their present locations in Southern Ijaw originated from Okpoama Kingdom.

GREAT KING ORUKARI Okpo XII (circa 1700 AD)
All accounts agree that he became the King during the reign of Basuo of Nembe before the division into Ogbolomabiri and Bassambiri.
King Goli, Okpo XIV reigned from 1770-1780. He was famous for his prowess in wars.

King Obasi Okpo XV reigned from 1845 to 1862. He was followed by King Obu who reigned from 1881-1896. The 20th century saw KING NELSON OKIRINGBO TAMUNUBERE, Okpo XVII (1924-1927) rule for a short period but his time was marked for its peacefulness. He was followed by RICHARD OKPARAN TUBU, Okpo XVIII (1929-1945), a contemporary of Anthony Ockiya.

KING ROWLAND MARSHALL POUTE ELEI TAMUNOBERE, Okpo XIX (1957-1972): He served as a Regent for several years before being installed as King. During the reign of Okparan he was the spokesman of King Okparan representing the King in Court. His era saw Teneco Oil carrying out exploration in the area. Accordingly, the Kingdom became an oil and gas bearing community.

KING STEPHEN KESIYE SAGBE Okpo XX, (1978-2007): He was a respected legal luminary and jurist whose reign saw the establishment of several religious bodies in the Kingdom and their neighbours. A believer in peace and very unassuming, he directed the affairs of the Kingdom according to the laws of Nigeria.

HRM KING EBITIMI EMMANUEL BANIGO, OFR
Okpo XXI (2010 to present) A direct descendant of King Orukari