By Larry Happiday
When Delta State of Nigeria was created, the proposed capital at Asaba was found to be developmentally inauspicious. Though blessed with very influential Nigerians like the then first lady, Mariam Babangida, Chief Sonny Odogwu, Ide Ahaba, the Spiropolouses, Azinges, Edoziens etc, the then proposed state capital was considered a minuscule in both population and land mass. With a sleight of military strategy, it was thought that given the state capital to Warri at that time would jeopardise the peace the more because that city was on the boil. The solution was either to take Agbor or Obiaruku but these other towns, strategically better placed were jettisoned in view of the military's preference for the historical relevance of Asaba as an ancient host of the colonialists and paternal home of the then first lady. In any case, the Anioma people had also mounted a very credible campagin for their own state right from the days of Mid West.
In order to shore up Asaba's credentials, it was decreed that contiguous communities such as Okpanam and Ibusa should be incorporated into a State Capital Territory, in reminiscence of the county's Federal Capital Territoey FCT, making Delta the only other Capital Territory in the geopolity called Nigeria. What that meant was that Asaba, Okpanam and Ibusa were joint hosts of the State Capital but what do we have? Asaba has been conspiratorially proclaimed capiatal and the boundaries of Okpanam with Azagba Ogwashi and that of Ibusa with Ogwashi posted with a notice calling these other joint hosts the name ASABA I shall be providing pictures to show evidence of a dangerous game that can turn the State Capital into an inferno in future unless the conspiracy to undermine Okpanam and Ibusa are checked in its maturing abnormality.
Okpanam is older than Asaba and this is a matter of fact. Okpanam is also older than Ibusa. The latter claim is validated by the tradition that although Ibusa and Okpanam hold their New Yam festivals on the same day every year, Ibusa must customarily wait on Okpanam to conclude hers before she can start.
Besides, there are ancient records validated by superior courts rulings showing that some of the vast lands available to Ibusa and Asaba were released to them by the consent of Okpanam. Hence, Okpanam is sometimes called Okpalani, "the first born or first dweller in the land".
Alas, through a history of many socio-political mishaps and miscalculations, Okpanam was to lose her pride of place which resulted in the quantum lift of the other two related communities in the area of education and modernisation. Okpanam was also very prominent in the Nigerian Civil War into which she sacrificed the careers of distinguished officers like Majors Chukwuma Nzeogwu and Azum Asoya, Captain Cyril Azubuogo and countless others who died in reprisal attacks for the firt military coup led by Nzeogwu.
But it seems that the war has yet to end. Since the creation of Delta in August 1991, no project of note has been located either in Okpanam or Ibusa. The only State government presence in Okpanam is the half constructed road through Asaba to the Centre of the town to the Express way. It has remained poorly maintained and is already crying for attention. Yet, the two towns bear a disproportionate load of the geographic development of Delta. The Governors office, the High Courts, Delta Broadcasting Corporation and State Secretariat as well as the Federal Secretariats are projects sited on well known Okpanam land but credited is never given to Okpanam. Insultingly, these projects are proclaimed as being in Asaba, thereby validating the fear that there is a plan to obliterate Okpanam in due course. The new Asaba Airport is another case in point. It is sited almost opposite the former Christo Motel owned by the late Andrew Nwabuoku, of Okpanam and yet the airport is named after Asaba.
There are countless other such projects that are located in Okpanam and named after Asaba.
I just hope that some people are not laying the foundation for another civil strife amongst hitherto, cordial communities. Just hoping though!
When Delta State of Nigeria was created, the proposed capital at Asaba was found to be developmentally inauspicious. Though blessed with very influential Nigerians like the then first lady, Mariam Babangida, Chief Sonny Odogwu, Ide Ahaba, the Spiropolouses, Azinges, Edoziens etc, the then proposed state capital was considered a minuscule in both population and land mass. With a sleight of military strategy, it was thought that given the state capital to Warri at that time would jeopardise the peace the more because that city was on the boil. The solution was either to take Agbor or Obiaruku but these other towns, strategically better placed were jettisoned in view of the military's preference for the historical relevance of Asaba as an ancient host of the colonialists and paternal home of the then first lady. In any case, the Anioma people had also mounted a very credible campagin for their own state right from the days of Mid West.
In order to shore up Asaba's credentials, it was decreed that contiguous communities such as Okpanam and Ibusa should be incorporated into a State Capital Territory, in reminiscence of the county's Federal Capital Territoey FCT, making Delta the only other Capital Territory in the geopolity called Nigeria. What that meant was that Asaba, Okpanam and Ibusa were joint hosts of the State Capital but what do we have? Asaba has been conspiratorially proclaimed capiatal and the boundaries of Okpanam with Azagba Ogwashi and that of Ibusa with Ogwashi posted with a notice calling these other joint hosts the name ASABA I shall be providing pictures to show evidence of a dangerous game that can turn the State Capital into an inferno in future unless the conspiracy to undermine Okpanam and Ibusa are checked in its maturing abnormality.
Okpanam is older than Asaba and this is a matter of fact. Okpanam is also older than Ibusa. The latter claim is validated by the tradition that although Ibusa and Okpanam hold their New Yam festivals on the same day every year, Ibusa must customarily wait on Okpanam to conclude hers before she can start.
Besides, there are ancient records validated by superior courts rulings showing that some of the vast lands available to Ibusa and Asaba were released to them by the consent of Okpanam. Hence, Okpanam is sometimes called Okpalani, "the first born or first dweller in the land".
Alas, through a history of many socio-political mishaps and miscalculations, Okpanam was to lose her pride of place which resulted in the quantum lift of the other two related communities in the area of education and modernisation. Okpanam was also very prominent in the Nigerian Civil War into which she sacrificed the careers of distinguished officers like Majors Chukwuma Nzeogwu and Azum Asoya, Captain Cyril Azubuogo and countless others who died in reprisal attacks for the firt military coup led by Nzeogwu.
But it seems that the war has yet to end. Since the creation of Delta in August 1991, no project of note has been located either in Okpanam or Ibusa. The only State government presence in Okpanam is the half constructed road through Asaba to the Centre of the town to the Express way. It has remained poorly maintained and is already crying for attention. Yet, the two towns bear a disproportionate load of the geographic development of Delta. The Governors office, the High Courts, Delta Broadcasting Corporation and State Secretariat as well as the Federal Secretariats are projects sited on well known Okpanam land but credited is never given to Okpanam. Insultingly, these projects are proclaimed as being in Asaba, thereby validating the fear that there is a plan to obliterate Okpanam in due course. The new Asaba Airport is another case in point. It is sited almost opposite the former Christo Motel owned by the late Andrew Nwabuoku, of Okpanam and yet the airport is named after Asaba.
There are countless other such projects that are located in Okpanam and named after Asaba.
I just hope that some people are not laying the foundation for another civil strife amongst hitherto, cordial communities. Just hoping though!
I think that happen everywhere not only in Delta State, it happens in Abuja, Akwa, Umuahia, Ikeja etc. Due to development in State Capital, it will Swallow neighboring Villages and Towns, everywhere will be refereed to as the capital town, like any project sited in those other town i.e like project sited in okpanam should also have its address as Okpanam, Asaba, Delta State. this is how it work in other state capital. I wish I could explain better though, this supposed not bring strive and war.
ReplyDeleteTrue but it could be done in a fair and equitable manner. Why shouldn't the communities retain their identity as far as projects cited in them are concerned. For instance, the GRA in Asaba is on Okpanam ancestral land. Couldn't the area have been identified as GRA Asaba Road, Okpanam? Rather than the way it is now: Okpanam Road, Asaba? I hope you get the difference?
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