By Gregory Austin
OTUOKE, meaning Oke Family (Otu is family in Ogbia language, while Oke is name), occupies a small,
but strategic position in Ogbia Kingdom. It is one of the few towns that a tourist can go to by road and
on water.
The town is made up of three major families, namely: Emom, Akatim and Akiniama. But it is also divided
into seven political compounds —Asuka, Ebele, Eluan, Apolo Tama, Apolo Ogbo, Okporein and
Obebhegbolom.
From a small, impoverished community sitting on the road to Yenagoa, it has really changed into a busy
town. It is one of the towns that make up Ogbia, sometimes, referred to as Ogbinya, which numbers a
little over 266,000, according to the 2006 census.
With the revocation of the chatter of the Royal Niger Company and the establishment of the British Rule
in Nigeria in 1900, the British ventured into Ogbia Kingdom, and Oloibiri was made the seat of
government.
The first thing the colonial government did was to recognise some warrant chiefs such as, Apata
Amangala, Chief Amakaro Onwiga and Chief Obonin. Subsequently, three customary courts were
established at Oloibiri (1929), Emeyal (1936) and Amyama (1937). Later, these three courts were
recognised as clan centres.
Oloibiri clan consists of Oloibiri, Otuabo, Otnogidi, Otuabi, Otakeme, Otabagi, Otmegila, Opume,
Emakalakala, Akipelai, Idema, Oturabala I, Oturabala II, Ewoi, Otuaba, Otuoke and Idema.
The Guardian gathered that after a meeting of communities in Ogbia, it was resolved that Otuoke should
be made the centre. It was gathered that as a result of politics and perceived jealousy, some elders and
high networth children of the kingdom, which included a former governor of Rivers State, decided that
Otuoke should not be made the headquarters, instead, a new town should be developed from the scratch
called Ogbia.
Initially, houses were built with mud and roofed with raffia until some people began to use the
corrugated sheets. As a matter of fact, the then high chief, Obanema (king), was resident in Otuoke as
agreed by the entire Ogbia kingdom. He began the development with construction of the first road into
the community, which today, is known as Ebele Street. Otuoke is the only community that is connected
by road and water in the kingdom; this was why the entire Ogbia community agreed that it be made the
centre. However, the new town that emerged was called Ogbia, which was built from the scratch by the
Ogbia Brotherhood in 1972, as ‘a centre to unify all Ogbia people’.
The Ogbia language isn’t a dialect of Ijaw, as many people believe. In other words, President Jonathan
is not of Ijaw stock.
Traditionally, Ogbia men are palm cutters, while their women are subsistence farmers. Fishing is not a
major occupation of the men. The belief of the Ogbia man about the creator is that the Almighty God
created the kingdom. This is the reason for the kingdom not having a national deity.
Since the Ogbia do not have a national deity, they have no common festival. However, the Odinade group
celebrates the Eyala Otudul, signifying the desertion of Ebela kingdom, and also, Eyal Odemi by Otuoke
at Iyiakpokizo, which is celebrated to show unity in the kingdom.
Like other places, Ogbia kingdom had similar beliefs about bush and water spirits. Generally, in Ogbia,
people do not go to bush every fourth day called Ake. It is believed that spirit like Egbafido moves about
on that day. This belief started at Ebela bush where the deserted Ebala kingdom stationed. On that day,
the dead people of the kingdom emerged to plant about. However, such beliefs are gradually dying
because of the rapid spread of Christianity.
www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/05/what-you-dont-know-about-otuoke/

See as me sef dey rush view thread..I wonder what I ll be needing facts about otuoke for

Was is it the City in Delta??

Its all from the great Benin Kingdom.
#NigerDelta