Opobo is a community in

Rivers State Rivers State, also known as Rivers, is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed in 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region, Rivers State borders include: Imo to the north, Abia and Akwa ...

, in the

South South The South South (often hyphenated to the South-South) is the one of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria representing both a geographic and political region of the country's eastern coast. It comprises six states – Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross ...

region of Nigeria. The kingdom was founded in 1870 by Jubo Jubogha, popularly known as JaJa, an Igbo man who owned slaves. The native language of Opobo is the Ibani language that is spoken in Bonny. A greater part of the city state is still referred to as Opobo in Rivers State. Opobo is made up of several

island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An isla ...

s and communities which is in Opobo–Nkoro Local Government Area in the

Senatorial District of Rivers State Nigeria. The communities include Opobo Town, which is its headquarters, Queenstown, Kalasunju, Oloma, Ayaminimah, Iloma, Minimah, Okpukpo, Iwoma, Ekereborokiri, Kalaibiama, Epelema, Ozuobulu, Muma Down Below, Inokiri and Abazibie. Opobo's geologic setting is similar to the coastal and estuarine settlements of the Niger Delta region. It is located at the mouth of the Imo River, one of the main estuaries that break the Nigerian coastline. The approximate geographical co-ordinates of the kingdom are 04°34'N latitudes and longitude 07°12'E, located about from the Atlantic Ocean. Opobo is two meters above sea level and the very close interfaces between the sea water. Opobo is located about from Port Harcourt and has been accessible by sea and air and only recently by land. Opobo is divided into 14 sections ("polo"), made up of Sixty Seven War Canoe Houses. The Fourteen sections are Adibie, Biriye, Diepiri, Dapu, Dappa Ye Amakiri, Epelle and Fubarakworo. Others are Iroanya, Jaja, Kalaomuso, Ukonu, Kiepirima, Owujie and Tolofari.

History

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 Ndoki may refer to: * Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park * Dzanga-Ndoki National Park The Dzanga-Ndoki National Park is located in the southwestern extremity of the Central African Republic. Established in 1990, the national park is . The national pa ...

. an Igbo subgroup. Jubo Jubogha rose from slavery to lead the Anna Pepple chieftaincy house of Bonny In 1870, Jubo first arrived in what is now Opobo, having moved there due to a

civil war A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polici ...

in Bonny between his followers and those of Chief Oko Jumbo, the leader of the rival Manilla Pepple chieftaincy family. The king named his new state after Amanyanabo Opubo "Pepple" Perekule the Great, a Pepple king in Bonny that had reigned there from 1792 to 1830. Jubo Jubogha became involved in palm oil trading with Europeans. He started a trading post at Opobo Town, close to Ikot Abasi and 4 miles southwest of the Opobo river. Due to his dealings with them, he soon acquired the trade name ''Jaja''. Jubo Jubogha was never on good terms with the

Annang The Anaang (also spelled Annang) are a sub-ethnic group of the larger Ibibio people, whose land is primarily within 8 of the present 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State: Abak, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Oruk ...

and the Ibibio the east, as he declared himself as the middleman in palm oil trading, thus asking them to stop trading directly with the Europeans. This resulted in a war (the Ikot Udo Obong War) between Jubo and the Annang and Ibuno people as recorded by Nair.Cf. Nair, 1972, page 183 In 1887, he was deceived when he was told to go and negotiate with the Queen of the United Kingdom by the British. He was captured upon his arrival on the consul's flagship, and was sent into exile in Saint Vincent in the

West Indies The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greate ...

thereafter.

Traditions

The following are a few of Opobo's unique customs: * Dogs are forbidden. This tradition, which has its roots in ancient times, is one of the most important taboos the people of this coastal town hold on to. While the people are free to bring in dog meat to eat in their homes whenever they feel like it, they are not allowed to keep dogs as pets or bring them into the community. * Shooting a gun is not allowed. Such a thing is only to occur by royal sanction during a war. * Individuals are forbidden from wearing caps while passing through the gateway linking one compound to another. The gateways are small roofed passages, essentially a series of tunnels, connecting one compound to another. On the floor of such gateways is a crossbar, which those passing are forbidden to set foot on. Adhering to this rule while passing through the place is a mark of respect for the high chief of a particular compound, which is also referred to as a war canoe house. * Making noise, pounding or quarrelling at night is forbidden. Making any form of noise at night is one of the biggest offences anyone can commit in this island community. You could be labelled an enemy of the town. Similarly, quarrelling and fighting at night is taboo here as well. Regardless of how provoked you are, you must wait till the break of dawn to vent your anger on whoever has provoked you. Breaking any of these rules attracts a fine each or a serious punishment by the compound heads.

Initiation into womanhood

A certified wife who has not been initiated into womanhood with the appropriate initiation ceremony, known as the ''Egerebite and Bibite'', is not allowed to tie a special wrapper called 'George'. Such a woman would also be denied many other rights: there are sacred places that she cannot enter and she will not be entitled to mix freely with women that have been initiated. In fact, she can be traditionally disgraced by the other women in the community at any time. King Jaja of Opobo's Palace

Rulers

The rulers of Opobo were:

Notable people

* Kenneth Minimah, CFR, a Nigerian infantry soldier and the former Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff * Atedo Peterside, CON, a Nigerian entrepreneur, investment banker and economist. *

Dakuku Peterside Dakuku Adol Peterside is a Nigerian politician. He was formerly the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency since March 2016. Prior to his role at NIMASA, he was a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives ...

, former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. *

Adawari Pepple Adawari Michael Pepple was elected Senator for the Rivers South East constituency of Rivers State, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He took office on 29 May 1999. E ...

, businessman, and former senator. * Amaopusenibo Sim Fubara Rivers State 2023 PDP Governorship candidate

Gallery

File:An Antique bell at Jaja of Opobo Palace, Opobo, Rivers state.jpg File:An Antique bell at Jaja of Opobo Palace, Opobo, Rivers state3.jpg File:Cyprian Jaja Royal Family House, Opobo, Rivers state.jpg File:A statue of Jaja of Opobo at Jaja of Opobo Palace, Opobo, Rivers state3.jpg File:Jaja of Opobo Palace, Opobo, Rivers state.jpg File:Jaja of Opobo Palace, Opobo, Rivers state2.jpg File:Jaja of Opobo Palace, Opobo, Rivers state3.jpg File:King Jaja of Opobo Palace, Opobo, Rivers state2.jpg File:King Jaja of Opobo Palace, Opobo, Rivers state3.jpg File:Nigeria Legion signpost, Opobo, Rivers state.jpg File:Opobo Local Government Secretariat, Opobo, Rivers state.jpg File:Opobo road, Opobo, Rivers state2.jpg File:Queen Osunju Jaja Compund, Opobo, Rivers state.jpg

Notes

References

External links

* {{Nigerian traditional states Populated places in Rivers State City-states 1870 establishments in Africa