Issele-Uku originates from Benin

By Chukwudi Abiandu

In April this year, Banner Media Network published the story of the visit of the Issele-Uku crown Prince, Engr. Nduka Ezeagwuna to Benin to visit the Edaiken of Uselu, and Crown Prince to the Benin traditional stool, Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa in his palace. Scores of our readers have written and called to know what relationship exists to make the Issele-Uku crown prince to visit the Edaiken in Benin. And we promised to go and search out for historical background to this so as to satisfy the curiosity of our readers. It is against this backdrop that our editors are pleased to present to you the material hereunder, titled: “Brief History of Issele-Uku.” It was culled from in a Directory published by the Issele-Uku Development Union (IDU), Asaba branch. Now read on:

Engr. Nduka Ezeagwuna, crown Prince
of Issele-Uku

“Issele-Uku was founded by the Binis under the leadership of Prince Uwadiei, second son Oba Ehenmihen, brother of Oba Ewedo in about 1230 A.D. On inception, Issele-Uku was called “Isi-Ile Uku” which means belonging to Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin or another provincial kingdom of Benin.

The main objective of founding “Isi-Ile Uku” was to check the influx of people from across the River Niger and to establish Edo presence in the area. Oba Ewedo then crowned Ogie Uwadiei and sent him to rule “Isi Ile Uku” (Issele Uku) in the company of Benin warriors from Ogbe, Ehaekpen, Idumu-Inele Ibiwe, Idumu Igun, Idumuiken, Uselu, Ogbe Eribo and Ugboka. The quarters they occupied still exist at Issele-Uku as Ogbe Ofu, Ishiekpe, Idumuinei, Idumuzu (iron casters), Ogbeidibo and Edemoka.

Ogie Uwadiei gave birth to Ogie Okhania, Okhania gave birth to Osamala. Osamala died without a son bringing about an interregnum. Consequently, Eze Ise, a Benin Prince took over . He was the father of Eze Ikhimi Ezechima. Ezechima gave birth to Princess Obior (woman), Prince Onicha and Prince Oligbo who became Obi Oligbo at the death of Ezechima because the elder brother, Onicha had died while Ezechima was still on the 

The Edaiken of Uselu (sitting), with Issele-Uku crown
 Prince (middle) when the latter visited the Edaiken at Usele,
 in Benin

throne of Issele. The death of Onicha while his father was alive was regarded as an abomination and he was buried in the “bad bush”, Onicha Ofia at Issele-Uku.

When Ezechima eventually died at a very ripe age, his surviving children, Princess Obior, Prince Oligbo and the eldest son of Onicha, Prince Ohaeze struggled for the right to the throne of Issele. When it could not be settled at Issele-Uku, the case was referred to Oba Esigie, the reigning Oba of Benin for final adjudication. Princess Obior, although the most senior, was disqualified by the Oba on the ground that it was unheard of for a woman to ascend to the throne in the Benin Empire. Prince Ohaeze lost the race on the ground that his father, Onicha had died prematurely thereby losing the right to the throne. Prince Oligbo was approved for the throne as the only surviving  direct son of Ezechima. He was called Ovbi Ise (meaning the direct son of Ise). This was what gave rise to the title of our kings as “Obi”.

The verdict of Oba Esigie marked a turning point in the history of this area for it led to the migration of Ezechima’s children from Issele-Uku without which the clan might not have come into being. The situation gave rise to two things: First was the position of Issele-Uku as the head and origin of the clan and secondly, was the position of the incumbent of the seat of the Obi of Issele. If Onicha had lived to bury his father, Ezechima, he could have taken over the throne at Issele-Uku and the question of migration by his children might not have arisen. The position of Issele-uku, therefore, has remained unchanged for over eight centuries.

The decision of Oba Esigie was not taken kindly by Ohaeze and Princess Obior. They felt they would not live in the same town with Obi Oligbo any longer. On their return from Benin, Princess Obior and her husband, Ukpali, left Issele-Uku and settled in a place now known as Obior while Ohaeze left Issele-Uku and settled at Onicha Olona. Ohaeze later continued his flight and went across the Niger to found Onicha Ohaeze now Onitsha in Anambra State. He left one of his wives who was in labour at Ezi with his royal escourt, Ifitor and some of his other followers. On giving birth to a son, he named the son Ezi-Uzor now known as Ezi town.  

At the death of Ohaeze at Onitsha Mmili (Onitsha on the Niger), his younger son Anali (now called Alori) became very powerful and ousted his elder brother, Agba. Agba fled Onitsha Mmili and came back to Onicha Olona and later to Issele-Uku. He finally settled down at the grandfather’s farm land and called it Onicha-Ugbo (Onicha on the farm). This is how Onicha-Ugbo derived its name. One of the followers of Ohaeze who settled down at Onicha Olona is called Ikike. Ikike later left some of his children at Onicha Olona and went to settle at Ogwashi-Uku. His quarter at Ogwashi-Uku is called Ikelike till this day.”