Oba, Idemili, Nigeria

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Oba is a town in Nigeria. It was formerly the headquarters of the Idemili-South Local Government Area in Anambra State and lies approximately 8 kilometers south of Onitsha along the old Owerri-Onitsha Trunk A Road.

The present traditional ruler of Oba town is, his Majesty, Igwe Peter C Ezenwa, Eze Okpoko 1. Oba has a landmass of approximately 15km².

Bounds

*North: Idemili River and the neighboring towns of Ukpor and Umuoji.
*South: Ekulu River and the towns of Oraifite and Akwa-Ukwu.
*East: Towns of Ojoto and Ichi.
*West: Ose River and towns of Obosi and Odekpe.

History

There is no comprehensive documentary record of the origin of Oba. There is basically one version of the origin of Oba as gathered from raconteurs and what few available records there are.

Early Igbo mythological history has it that the first settler in Oba was dropped by a large bird, called Okpoko. This man married and had nine sons namely: Urueze, Umuogali, Isu, Okuzu, Abime, Ogwugwu, Ogbenwe, Aboji, and Ezelle. These are the present nine villages of Oba. Uruaeze was the eldest and Ezelle the youngest.Prominent family names in Oba include Oraedu, Animalu, Ogbogu, Onwuamegbu, Ezenwa, Ebenmelu, Ikedilo, Nzelu, Obi n'Aboji St Paul's Church, Ugwunze, Ochuba, Ejikeme, Ozumba, Oli, Obienu, Etoniru, Nsofor and Maduekwe, Enechukwu Nwadike, Anyadiegwu, Momife,Ugonna,Ekwenchi,Ndefo,Iwuchukwu,Njeakor,Onwualu,Ikokwu,Ibeneme, Okeke n'Urueze, Emelumadu,Obumselu, Emekekwue, Amazu, Moronu, Chiwuzie,Nzelu, Obi.

Oba also produced the second University graduate in all of Igboland after the late Dr. Alvan Ikoku, in the person of Enoch Ifediora Oli, the first Ide -Oba. Dr. Oli established Eastern Nigeria's privately owned High School, Merchants of Light School in 1946. During the second republic, Oba had an enviable record of having two of its sons as members of the Federal House of Representatives in the persons of Dr. Emmanuel Emekekwue who represented Onitsha South Federal Constituency and Dr Ifeanyi Ufondu, who represented Enugu Central Federal Consitutency. In addition Ifeanyi Enechukwu who later became the Oba Of Oba traditional Prime Minister of Oba; was as also elected the first Speaker of the Old Anambra State House of Assembly in Enugu. Chief Guy Ikokwu a one time National Legal Secretary of the NPP; was later elected Chairman of NPP in the Old Anambra State. These were great achievements in the political arena of the state at the time.

Chinenye Ochuba, who won the "Most most beautiful girl in Nigeria" paegent 2002, emerged as "African queen of beauty" in the miss universe paegent of 2002 which was held in Puerto Rico and a top ten finalist of the "miss world" competition of 2002 in London also hails from Oba.

His Royal Majesty, Igwe P.C.Ezenwa has been on the throne for 32 years and has encouraged significant community development efforts in Oba within that period. The most outstanding is the Oba Community Hospital which since has been amalgamated into the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital.

Famous Oba Indigenes

Enoch Ifediora Oli, Oxford Graduate, Educationist, Minister Eastern Nigeria, Founder Merchants of Light School, Ex- Principal Okrika Grammar School

HRM Igwe Peter Chukwuma Ezenwa, Traditional Ruler, Industrialist, Politician for member Eastern Nigeria Regional Assembly,Founder of Movement for The Creation of New Anambra State. Statesman and leader. Philantropist.Co-Founder Ohaneze Ndi Igbo(Pan Igbo Pressure Group).

Professor Alexander Animalu,Professor Alex Animalu, former research Scientist at Stanford University and MIT, a graduate of Cambridge University in Physics and an author of a Cambridge University citation classic with over 729 citations.

Chidi Mokeme, famous Nigerian Nollywood Superstar!

Dan Nzelu, Eminent Petroleum engineer

Ifeanyi Enechukwu, 1st Speaker Old Anambra State House of Assembly, Politician;ExPresident Ohaneze Ndi Igbo.

Professor John Maduka Oli, Professor of Medicine

Professor Basil Oli, Professor Of Physics ex MIT Scholar

Professor Ben Obumselu, Professor of English and Politician.

Justice Obumneme G. Onwuamaegbu, Attorney General East Central State, High Court Judge Co-Author Official Igbo Othography.

General Emeka Onwuamaegbu, Nigerian Army Decorated Hero of Nigeria's peace-making role in Liberia.

Ucheora Onwuamaegbu, International lawyer, World Bank

Ms.Ijeabalum Onwuamaegbu, High Court Justice

Obiajulu Chukwuka Ekwenchi, Perhaps Nigeria's greatest Painter and Sculptor; Lecturer IMT Enugu Nigeria.

Godwin Chukwuka Okeke OFR, Barrister, International Legal Draughtsman at least 10 different National Constitutions.

F.M.Moronu, Lagos Politician, member for Lagos in The Federal House of Representatives 1ST republic.

Prof Bob Ejikeme, Writer, Poet, Singer, Actor, Movie Producer.

Landmarks

These include Grundtvig Institute set up in association with the Danish Government and Grundtvig Association Denmark. It was founded by a foremost Nigerian Educationist Dr. Kachi Ozumba. Rojenny Tourist Village is a holiday resort with a FIFA standard size football pitch which hosts some Nigeria premier league matches. Eze Okpoko's Palace which is the official residence of Igwe P. C. Ezenwa. Other tourist attraction include Ose which are tributaries of the River Niger, Idemilli River, Ekulo River and an underground water fountain at Okuzu village.

Role in the Nigerian Civil War

The Biafran Republic army settled in Oba as their last frontier following the fall of Onitsha. Oba was never in the hands of the Nigerian Army until the end of the war.