Browsing: Culture

The Market Leaders from various states of the Federation, who were led by their National President, Hon Chief Mrs. Chinwe Monu-Olarewaju on a courtesy visit to the Palace of Omu Anioma in Okpanam community of Oshimili North LGA, Delta State, on Wednesday 23rd November, 2022, described the institution of Omu as not only unique but key in the affairs of the market within the Anioma extraction of Nigeria.

Her words, “I am happy. I feel honoured, especially with the people who have come to be with me. I thank my king and father, Obi of Obior Kingdom, our Anioma mother and my mentor, Omu Anioma, Chief Baje from Idumuje-Unor Kingdom and many others. May God richly bless you for your presence, assistance and support”, said Omu Obior.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Council, Her Royal Majesty Obi Martha Dunkwu (Omu Anioma), the group affirmed that in as much as it would continue to pray for the sons and daughters of Anioma Nation that are embarking on election come 2023, it would be expedient to also advise them against the temptation of wanting to use violence to achieve their desire.

She took time to explain how fathers were revered in those days as real men and true heads of the family. She stated that even when a man married more than one wife, he still allowed each a reasonable percentage of independence in terms of making their own decisions, had what they wanted and could do what they needed to do to support themselves and their direct children.

Presently, Isheagu is ruled by HRM Lt. Col. Obi Onyema 11 (Rtd), Obi of Isheagu Kingdom.
The Isheagu community is known for its rich cultural heritage; it is widely known with the Nze Festival which has remained exceptionally unique and celebrated annually. This festival appears weird in nature and only the lion hearted can muster the courage to watch it, let alone participating in it. It is one festival that prides in the excessive use of cutlasses to display and demonstrate the act that led to the institutionalisation of the festival. It is also celebrated with the rain; no matter how the weather appears to be bright and scorchy with the sun, as soon it is time for the festival to commence, rain must fall.

The story of NDDC and the issue of the Niger Delta region when placed side by side is very disturbing to those of us in the Niger Delta Region. Yes, the Willinks Commission in 1956 recommended that a special attention should be given to the Niger Delta Region because of the difficulty in developing the area. After the Willinks Report, there was this Niger Delta Basin Authority, saddled with the responsibility of developing the Region. But were those things achieved? The answer is NO, not until the youths of the Region began to agitate, the elites started to agitate for a better deal to the Niger Delta Region and that prompted the emergence of OMPADEC, from 1.5 to 3% OMPADEC; little was achieved but when we had this democratic dispensation under General Olusegun Obasanjo, he created the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2000, with a statutory board to manage the affairs of the commission