Igbuzo

"Igbuzo" is an Igbo speaking town in Delta state, in the Southsouthern part of Nigeria with a population of 452,000 people (estimate) The Igbo dialect of this people is referred to as Enuani. Its geographical coordinates are 6˚ 11' 0" North, 6˚ 38' 0" East and its original name (diacritics) is Ibusa. “Ibusa” is an anglicization of “Igbuzo” by the early British missionaries and visitors to the town as a result of difficulty in pronunciation. The "Ibusa" was considered more distinct and distinctive by the British thus adopted as the official name of the town and made to appear in all the official documents of the colonial government. The name “Igbuzo” (Igbo bi na uzor) meaning the Igbo living along the way or road is however the native name of the town.

This is the preferred name of the town by the indigenes. The Nickname of the town is however "Isu na mba Ogu" (Warriors from Isu) or colloqually Igbuzo-Isu (The Igbo-uzo(r) from Isu) Ibusa town is uniquely addressed with different names and even made noticeable with different spellings such as Ibusa, Igbuzo, Igbuzor, Ibuzor and Ibuzo. This is believed to have been necessitated by the strategic location of the town along the busy roads.

Ibusa is the home of many prominent personalities and individuals who have distinguished themselves in different walks of life. Ibusa indigenes appear to have unexplainable special closeness, bond and love for themselves which create very high level of trust and relationship among them. This would reflect in the policies and ways of life of the natives, for instance, surrounding the house or any structure with fences in the town is forbidden. In the recent past, arresting a fellow Ibusa man or woman with the police was banned and only recently did the town take reconsideration and allowed its indigenes to dispose off personal landed properties situated in the town to non indigenes. some indigenes of the town though still consider arresting fellow Ibusa indigenes with the police or resorting to the court of law as taboo. The reason being that the town was established by a family. The way of life in this town has been described as closely knit, a legacy which continues.

For many centuries, Oboshi, Atakpo, Oduche, Asiama streams etc have remained major sources of water to the people of the town but Oboshi and Atakpo stand out as streams venerated and held as deities. While Oboshi is believed to be a goddess, Atakpo is held as a god. These two streams are venerated because of the powers with which they have protected not only the people but the town in entirety in the belief of the people. The priest of Oboshi is “Ohene” popularly called Ohene-Umuogwo (he Priest of Oboshi) and still living.

Geography

Historians believe that the Ibusa were the first to settle around the Asaba-Ibusa-Ogwashi-Uku axis hence the other name of the town, Ibuzor (Were you the first to settle?) Ibusa is wonderfully located with close proximity to busy towns such as Asaba, (the state capital) Ogwashi-Uku, Ubulu-Uku, Ilah, Ebu, Oko, Issele-Asagba, Okpanam etc thus considered one of the fastest growing and developing Anioma (Delta North) towns and villages

History

Ibusa is a federation of two units known as “the Umejei and Ogboli Factors. According to the oral history of the town, Umejei Nwa Eze Isu (Prince Umejei of Isu) at Isu in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria killed his opponent in a traditional wrestling bout, an act considered “Alu” (Abomination) in the land and punishable by death. However, his death was commuted by his father who was also Eze Isu) the king of Isu and he was encouraged to go on exile with a charm and pot given to him by his father. Umejei was emphatically instructed to settle wherever the pot dropped. The pot however dropped at the present site where he founded Ibusa.

The Ogboli factor has it that at Nshi (Nri) Odaigbo slept with one of his father’s wives but rather than face the mandatory death sentence Eze Nshi commuted the death sentence to exile. His father, mother and younger brother, Edini voluntarily opted to accompany him. Odaigbo and Edini were given one pot each and charms by Eze Nshi with the instruction to settle wherever the pot fell and on crossing the River Niger, Edini’s pot fell at Ani-Oshe the present site of Ibusa while he founded Ibusa. Odaigbo’s pot was to fall at the present site of Ogwashi-Uku where he also settled. The groups (Umejei and Edini later became one and known as Ibusa)The Ogboli of Ibusa are thus regarded as part of the larger Nri (Nshi) community.

Ibusa is today constituted by ten (Ogbe) Quarters thus the common reference to the town as “Igbuzo ebi Ili” These ten Quarters have different native greetings and are Umuekea, Umuodafe, Umuidinisagba, Umueze, Umuehe, Ogbeowelle, Ezeukwu and Umuwagwu, Umuezegwu (Umuidinisagba is sometimes counted as two i.e. Umuisagba and Umuidi) Greetings in Igbuzo is quite remarkable and usually follows a pattern of whether one is an indigene of that Quarter or as a woman being married in that Quarter. In Umuekea Quarter for instance, while an indigene is greeted with "Omogwu", a woman being married in that Quarter is exclusively greeted with "Oliofe." Familiarity is therefore necessary before salutation is paid in the native way of the town.

Igbo Historians such as Emeka Esogbue (of Ibusa origin) and C. N. Ugochukwu (Nnewi origin) share the opinion that some weak and tired groups who left Benin with Ezechima and journeyed Eastward might have settled in Ibusa considering the geographical location of the town [Ugochukwu, C. N. (2000) Isu Factor in Nnewi History. Tabansi Publishers] . The implication of this therefore is that this new set of settlers could have been sick or generally lacking in interest in furthering their journey, this could also have resulted in their final settlement in not too distant Onitsha. This new group of settlers in Ibusa might have become assimilated by the Umejei and Edini groups.

Emeka Esogbue in his writings have advocated for more insightful researches aimed at actually determining the particular Isu town in Igbo land Umejei originated from. This he argues will help Ibusans ascertain their true kiths and kin. Authorities of Igbo History and sometimes prominent sons and daughters of different Isu towns have been laying claims to series of Isu towns and communities in Igboland where they argue that Prince Umejei may have originated from.

Prince Umejei, because of his brilliance and agility in traditional wrestling,was loved by his powerful king father Uwagaram of Isu town of modern Imo state in eastern Nigeria . During the civil war, Ibusa refugees in Isu town were treated as Royals and indigenes of the town.

The Igbo and Anioma people of Delta state, regard and praise Ibusa as group of people who often refuse food in other to prosecute wars (Isu (Igbuzo) fu ogu ju nni). This statement authenticates the bravery of these people in wars.

Precolonial Life

How the Ibusa people carried wars into Nnewi in defense of Isu and Nri people of the town considered their ancestral brothers and sisters until the coming of the British are well recorded by C. N. Ugochukwu. Ibusa played a prominent role in Ekwumekwu movement (1898-1910) an uprising directed against the British imperialism in Anioma, Southern region of Nigeria and attempts by the Royal Niger company to impose trade and taxation on the people of Anioma. Ibusa was to play very prominent roles in prosecuting the wars in favour of Anioma and was the first of such Anioma towns to engage the British in the war in 1898. Fearing what befell the great Benin Empire in 1897; Ibusa fiercely came all out to defend itself and other Anioma towns against the British’s Royal Niger Company forces commanded by Major Festing. Ibusa was though subjugated after long standing battles but the British forces sustained casualties this led to the emergence of "Ibusa" in the Dictionary of the British parliament as what punitive measures to mete to the town was for weeks debated in Britain [Anioma Essence Magazine, No. 1, Vol. 4, 2008] .

After the battles, Roman Catholic Mission in admiration of the stoutness of the town established St. Thomas’ College, the first Higher Institution of Learning in Delta state in 1928 which made Ibusa an important educational centre from where missionary evangelism were spread to other Anioma towns and communities and even beyond. This won several Ibusa souls for the Catholic denomination in the town and neighbouring towns and villages. The establishment of St. Augustine's Catholic Church still lying along Umejei Road and St. Thomas' Catholic church, Ogeowele attest to this.

Culture

As noted above Ibusa people are largely Christians (Catholics) but adherents of traditional religion traditionally referred to as ("Omenani") also exist. It is therefore not uncommon to find the people placing high priority on observation of traditions during funerals of their loved ones etc. The Eternal Sacred order of Cherubim and Seraphim, Winners Church, The Redeem Christian Church of God, Christ Embassy, Ngozi sabbath Mission, Deeper Life Bible Church, The Apostolic Church are some of the churches located in the town.

The people of Ibusa celebrate several festivals such as 'Iwu', 'Ine', 'Ulor', 'Ichu-Ekwensu' but 'Iwu festival' annually celebrated by the Umuadafe and Ogbeowelle Quarters of the town is the most popular of them all. That of Umuadafe is celebrated annually in December (around the Christmas period) drawing the attention of numerous people from far and near to the town. The festival is aimed at cleansing and purifying the Ibusa town as a whole and songs and to thank the Almighty God for abundant harvest which the farmers of the town may have experienced all through the year. During this festival, traditional songs are also composed to ridicule defaulters of the norms traditions of the society no matter their social standing in the town. Ohene (chief Priest) and Eze-Iwus are expected to perform some rituals the cleansing of the town to properly take place.

The people like the general Igbo race place high cultural value on kolanut in discharging their traditional responsibilities. For instance, a visitor who rejects the acceptance of kolanut may have slighted his host. Kolanut is also used in observing traditional prayers and may be the first item used in welcoming guests at social gatherings before commencement of discussions.

Taboos

It is highly forbidden for an Ibusa indigene to eat or come any where near "Eyi" (Rabbit) Bringing the animal anywhere near an Ibusa man or woman may also be taken as a serious slight, abuse of rights or an act to particularly undermine him/her. some Quarters of the town such as Umuekea and Ogbeowele may also forbid "Nmanya Nkwu" (Palm wine) perhaps because it is believed forbidden by the Oboshi stream.

Dispute in traditional leadership/Supreme Court Ruling

Following a declaration in a letter by certain people who identified themselves as kingmakers to the government of Delta state, requesting that the approval and appointment of Professor Louis Chelunor Nwaoboshi be made as the Obuzor of Ibusa and staff of office given to him, the Delta state Government in a letter dated June 20, 1995 confirmed the appointment of Professor Louis Nwaoboshi as the Obuzor of Ibusa but this was soon protested against by Obi (Professor) Emmanuel Onwuachi who would also commence a certiorari proceedings in which he asked the court to quash the declaration. He called on the state government to prevail on Nwoboshi to stop parading himself as the Obuzor of Ibusa, claiming that he was foisted on the people. [This Day Newspaper, November 6, 2004] The Supreme Court in its judgment held that three Ruling Houses existed in the town in other of seniority as follows: Otu Odogwu, Otu Uwolo and Otu Iyase. Justice Samson Uwaifo in his leading judgment however declared that the Obuzor title of Ibusa should rotate in other of seniority.

Thus, by Legal Notices numbers 6,7,8 and 9 of 1995 published in the Delta State of Nigeria, Extraordinary Gazette No.28 VoI. I 5 of June 1995, the Delta State Government stated the customary law regulating succession to the title of Obuzor of Ibusa. Professor Nwaoboshi's appointment as the traditional Ruler of Ibusa town in Delta state was consequently confirmed by the Supreme court ruling⁵ Though this has come to split the town, producing two separate camps with almost two distinct cultural differences and beliefs with each trying to champion, validate make imposition of its course on the other. The members of these two distinct groups are today called "Otu Diokpa" (The Senior Diokpa Group)and "Otu Obuzor" The Obuzor Group). The members of Otu Diokpa have constantly maintained that the notion leading to the conception of the Obuzor title was merely to see such a candidate act as "Onu-Diokpa" (Messenger of the Senior Diokpa) The senior Diokpa was until the appointment and confirmation of the Obuzor the traditional head of the town. This controversy has remained unaddressed till today with both parties not wanting to shift grounds.

Ibusa in Present times

In 2008, Nonyelum Nvene Ogbodo the 2008 Miss Nigeria in America representing Delta State announced her intention to take part in the adoption of the village of Ibusa. She pointed out the legacy of extreme pride in the importance of family by the people of Ibusa, the annual local event that takes place in the town such as "Iwu Festival" as her reasons for doing so. she however, described Ibusa as underdeveloped without administrative presence, machanical energy, good roads that could contain multi-numbered vehicles for both incoming and outgoing traffic. She would seem determined to make adoption of Ibusa to lend a helping hand because of the great potentials that can be seen as far as development advancing goes and also help bring the Iwu Festival of the town to the attention of the world. Finally she submitted that it "as technology advances and time progresses, it will be a matter of time until the village of Ibusa reaches a good level of its potentials. One day it could be a major attraction of greater area of Asaba, maybe even a capital village"

Ogbogu Okonji, Agility Okonji, Nwanze Nwabuwa (AKA agbodi) and Uche Nwalama are four of the greatest musicians of Ibusa extraction. However, Ogbogu Okonji by far remains the most prominent.

Some notable personalities from Ibusa

The following are some personalities of Ibusa origin:

*Barr Peter Nwaoboshi, the current Chairman of People's Democratic Party (PDP) Delta state Chapter
*Prof. Buchi Emecheta, British-based Author
*Prof. Augustine O. Onwuyali, NASA Scientist and Mathematician
*prof. Fidelis Odita, (QC) Former Gubernatorial Candidate, Delta state
*Prof. Pat Utomi, Former Presidential Candidate and co-founder of Lagos Business school
*Mr Frank Atuche, MD/Chairman of PlatinumHabib Bank
*Chief Sabastine Adigwe, MD/Chairman, Afribank Nigerian Ltd
*Mr Peter Eloka Okocha, Former Action Congress Gubernatorial Candidate and Businessman, Delta state
*Chief (Bar) Fred Ajudua, Lawyer and Businessman

References

External Links

*http://www.articlesbase.com/news-and-society-articles/ibusa-igbuzo-people-410007.html Ibusa (Igbuzo) People
*http://www.ibusa.net/mysite/aboutibusa.html Ibusa Home Town, History of Ibusa
*http://www.missnigeriaamerica.org/mnia2008/assign/a4delta.pdf Do it for the People
*http://www.maplandia.com/nigeria/delta/oshimili/ibusa/ Ibusa Map-Satellite Images of Ibusa