History of Umudim Orioha by Chief Augustine Anene

7/29/2019 History of Umudim Orioha by Chief Augustine Anene

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CHIEF AUGUSTINE ANENEQ: As you are aware, Umudim is finally together again how do you feel aboutthis?Ans: Yes I am aware, since the Umudim misunderstanding started I have beeninvolved in settlement talks indeed I have played very prominent role but what

really makes it so spectacular is that I remember the day we the Okpara Ukwu

village were to meet with Umudim at Elder Edums compound, Edum then was the

eldest person in Ubaha Okpara Ukwu.

Unfortunately, we all gathered at Edums house that day only to learn that

Edum had been rushed to the hospital in Onitsha so everyone felt with respect to

his sickness that the venue of the meeting should be changed and my house then

chosen as the new venue. Everyone present for the meeting then trooped over to my

compound and we all sat under my house decking to discuss. So many notable

personalities were present for the meeting. What I know and spoke of, right from

the beginning was that Umudim is not two villagesthat is the truth and it was on

that basis that I pleaded with all the people present especially Umudim to sheath

the sword and join hands as a united Umudim not as Umudim Ebe or Umudim

Ukpor. It is clear that if our elders have explained our histories to us satisfactorily

it would be clear that Umudim cannot allow itself to be called Umudim Ebe because

Ebe is our son, Umuohamadike is our son. They are Nwadiana to Agbuana and by

extension Nwadiana also to Umudim and Ubaha Okpara Ukwu.

Okpara Ukwu and Dim Orioha are brothers. They are the sons of Ovuegbe,

Okwutuo Ovuegbe. So I pleaded with Umudim to forget their differences and come

together as one. Many agreed and many still refused but what baffles me is why

those that refused had to hold out till almost the end of the world.

However, I was encouraged when the eldest in Umudim Elder David

Obiajulu sometime ago convened a meeting of both parties in Umudim; I was

invited to the meeting though sick I could not but attend the meeting at Elder

Obiajulus compound. I arrived early, after presentation of kola nuts by David; he

told all present his reason for summoning the meeting. According to him, he was

using the forum to beg all Umudim home and abroad that Umudim should be puttogether. According to him: Umudim ga asu ofu mpio. He explained that Umudim

was losing a lot by their lack of unity.

I was so happy and satisfied. Then Caesar Nwachinemere who you know is

the one that has been spear heading this Umudim emancipation since he came back

from Benin Republic around 1978, he has been so consistent and focused on this

Umudim question, because of his industry and desire for Umudim, I developed a


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special liking for him. I visit him occasionally when the occasion calls for it and he

also visits me here. He had visited several times since my wife died was also there

at that meeting.

At last I thanked Elder David Obiajulu and also echoed his opinion that Umudim

cannot be two villages, I told all present that they have heard what David said. I

reminded them that Elder David is the oldest person in Umudim. Ezike Okonkwo is

holding the sacred staff Ofo-Okpu because Elder David Obiajulu is not interested in

serving as chief priest to Onyekwu. But that does not mean that Ezike Okonkwo is

the eldest person in Umudim. I reminded Umudim that they should ear mark a

period to formally present Ofor-Okpu to David because though he said he is not

interested in Onyekwu it has to first be presented to him before he can have the

option of turning it down. It was that day that David stated what he expected from

Umudim. He told us that Umudim should present him with a Bible in lieu of Ofo-

Okpu. This will afford all and sundry the opportunity to recognize David Obiajulu

as Isi Ikere Umudim and all village parleys would take place in his house. Everyone

agreed that it was okay before we ended the meeting.

It was not long after that I heard that Umudim both home and abroad has

settled their lingering differences and agreed to come together as Umudim Orioha.

I was so happy the day I received the news. Now is our honour and prestige

complete. You know that some of the younger ones do not know that Okpara Ukiru

was the last son of Ovuegbe while Dim Orioha was his first son. Dim Orioha was

senior to Egochukwu who married into Obodo Ukwa into the family of Ezike

Ufuakwamdaa. Then they beget Agbuana and Eririnje. Thats how it happened.

Ovuegbes children were three in number, two boys and a girl. The girl Egochukwuis the mother of Agbuna and Eririnje, so how can a man called Ezika who was on

the run with one woman called Onuma be senior to Dim Orioha, this Ezika and his

wife were found at Okpara Ukwus farmland. They were apprehended but when

their captors discovered that the couple were petrified by fear, they assured them

that they would not be killed. The couple was brought into Okpara Ukwus

homestead where they stayed. They procreated and gave birth to Dara Akorianam.

They lived with Okpara Ukwu, they were not allotted any land or property but were

free to remain and live in Okpara Ukwus home stead. Akoriam was later to take

the Ozo title Dara and become known as Dara Akoriam Ezika and Onuma alsohad Kamnabochi. Ezike fully settled down with his family at Okpara Ukwus home.

After a while he became interested in Eririnje Okpara Ukwus niece born to his

senior sister Egochukwu. He married and brought Eririnje into Okpara Ukwus

home as well and it was here they spent all their lives.

Now Eririnje and Ezika begot Ebejeremonye (called Ebe today) you see why

Umudim cannot be Ebe because Ebejeremonye is the son of Eririnje who is Dim


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Oriohas niece born to his junior sister Egochukwu. Eririnje also begot Ohamadike

so these two brothers Ebejeremonye and Ohamadike are Nwadiana to Umudim and

Okpara Ukwu. They are Ovuegbes great-grandchildren. So you can see that

someone from Umudim cannot claim that someone who is his nephew will suddenly

become his father, it does not make sense anyway, you look at it. It is somehow, it is

not right even to hear it.

That is why I insisted right from the beginning that it is not right for

Umudim to refer to themselves as Ebe. Now that our children have understood who

they are, our problems are gone, the next thing is that Umudim will go to Umudim

and Ubaha will go to Ubaha. The two are brothers born of same parents. They will

now continue to cooperate as brothers ought to do whether you are in support of

such or not is immaterialyou can never wish your brother away.

Those who have the strength will continue to cooperate and those that are

weak would rest there is no misunderstanding here but we must recognize the

fact that we are brothers.

I remember when I was growing up, I saw a lady I wanted to marry and I

went and told my father and he asked me the identity of the girl. I told him the girl

is Ume Nnahibes daughter in Umudim. My father shouted at me and asked me not

to repeat such, that Umudim is our relation and we can not inter-marry.

So it was my father that told me that we are related to Umudim and that

Okpara Ukwu cannot marry from Umudim or vice versa. That is why I am sure of

what I am saying because I heard it right from my fathers mouth. Thats all I know,

if within Okpara Ukwu there are people who are still dividing Okpara Ukwu into

camps, I am not part of that.So I was satisfied the day that all Umudim agreed to come together. I slept

that night so soundly. You know if things are done the way they ought to be, one

cannot help but be happy and fulfilled.

I am particularly thankful to all Umudim that at last they were able to come

together as one. They would see the wind of progress and development that will

come to Umudim because of this. Asi na ikwu amaghi ibe ezi ya.

Umudim you are our father first son and weve been coming to you and you

welcomed us and we have been relating with you since as brothers ought to. This is

the kind of interaction that helps to strengthen the fabric of society.Well, we are living separately instead of together as one group but this is

because Dim Orioha somehow lived in the midst of Ebe people. You remember that

Ebejeremonye is our son but because they are populous it looks as if they are the

father of Dim Orioha but it is not so.

We Ubaha Okpara Ukwu based on where our fathers gave us our own

inheritance live amongst people called Nzagha (Nze aghana Ibeya). We live with


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them while Umudim lived in the midst of Ebejeremonye and Dara Akorianam, you

know because of their population, political rulership resided with Ebe but there was

clear recognition and respect for all component villages that make up the society

then, usually when the Ekwe Ebe is to summon all to meeting, its message would be

Ebeteghete!, Ebeteghete!! I remember, I once asked what is this Ebeteghete and

was told that Ebeteghete means: Ebejeremonye Chima, nebo na Nakwai, Ezengwu

and Diji that is five kindreds.

In Umudim there is Umuahize and Umuanyakpa thats 7 kindred together

and in Umudara we have Umudiokpara and Umunaga that is nine altogether

(thats the political union called Ebeteghete once you hear Ebeteghete you know

Umudim, Umudara, Ebe and Ezengwu Nadiji are being summoned.

But if truth be told we all know Ebe is not made of 9 villages you cant

rebaptise your father and call him your son, there is no truth there. Even how can

they call their fathers first son Ebe. It is not historically accurate. Ezikes first son

is not Ebejeremonye but Dara Akorianam so how can you turn around and call Ebe?

What I am saying is how I understand it maybe I should stop a while.

Q: Thank you ; is there any plan underway to document these historical facts?Ans: well you know the Elder can tell the young one these facts just as I try to dobecause any forum where I have opportunity to speak to young people, I trace these

historical traits for them. Those that are interested will learn. But you know the

elders that have these knowledge may not be lettered enough to document them in

written form. I cannot for instance write any more on account off my eyes and otherbody pains but then it is over to you younger ones to make efforts to document these

histories so that they do not get lost. One bad thing that I find very regrettable is

that some people that have this knowledge are not using it to up lift the society, but

are rather using it very negatively distorting things instead of saying it as it is.

Some historians for instance have not been straight with the facts even sometimes

hurting themselves by their writings.

Q: Now let us look at the lives of individual players. You do recall that Dim Nnakifewill be celebrating his 70th birthday on December 30, what do you have to say aboutthis?Ans: Yes Caesar, well a proverb says a person can only speak according to hisknowledge. Usually it is not an elder that knows much about a younger person but

the other way round. But when a child begins to act and comport himself like an

elder, then the elder will develop special interest in the life and activities of the


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child. You know among Caesars age mates I cannot claim to know any of them but

it was the way Caesar acts and comports himself that drew my attention to him.

Look, when you talk about Umudim I recognize Caesar as the Ide in Umudim

but he is still a young person. He is only just turning 70 years. David Obiajulu is

ninety something.

When we were young school children I use to visit Elder Obiajulus house

around 1945, 46 or 47. It was in their house that I saw gramophone for the first

time. He use to play it for us then because his elder brother went abroad earlier and

then sent home all these different gadgets that was not common then. But coming

to Caesar, I cannot tell you how he went to school but I recall that there was a time

it was said one of our people was in Cotonou. Later he came back and started the

construction of his house. People use to visit him and I also went. I recall that he

always had a constant supply of wine which had such wonderful aroma. He was

very liberal with it and people will stretch out on chairs sleeping in his compound

after a bout of wine imbibement. Well I made a personal promise to myself in 1954

never to consume alcohol to the extent of drunkenness again. So I usually drink

whatever is ok for me and no more.

I remember during the construction of his house, that I gave him a little

technical advice because of the shape of the ground where he was doing the

construction and he later did it so, it was his foundation. So I see him as very

intelligent and focused person. His opinions always mean much and show his depth

of understanding of issues.

He does not pretend, let me tell you, if we can get a good number of his kind,

they would revolutionalise our community and make it a place to reckon with.Since he came back, he has been very active in all activities that concern his

community as well as Ukpor.

At Ukpor level he is also a force to reckon with. Dont forget he is also a

politician as well as a farmer and a businessman. A very successful person at that.

He does not draw back but always in the forefront. We should keep praying

for our community to produce more people like Caesar. Not people that are not

willing to sacrifice their time like Caesar for their communities. So anytime I see

Caesar, I recognize him as my brother, nothing less. Anytime he represents us in

any forum I would be sure that he would not only play a prominent role, but that hewould also be able to follow events at the forum. He is a good representative and

will not allow his people to lose their share or position wherever he finds himself.

Caesar does not attend events latehow many people can you say the same

about I really thank God this man comes from my community.

BIRTHDAY MESSAGE


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I wish him many more years of Happiness, wisdom in humility, patience and

serenity with prosperity grace for the good progress of his family

I pray that he lives long to mentor others.

History of Umudim Orioha by Chief Augustine Anene

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