CULTURE
Brief History of Agbon Kingdom
By Professor Onigu Otite
HRH Ovie of Agbon kingdom, Okpara I
Agbon Kingdom is constituted by six main town-units. These are Okpara, Uhwokori (kokori), Eko (Eku), Orhoakpo, Igun (a settlement of mixed people) and Ovu (founded mainly by descendants from Eregbe quarters in Okpara). They all believe that they have descent or kinship links with a common ancestor called Agbon, who is a son of Ukonurhobo (or Oduma) an Urhobo migrant from Udo, an Edo-speaking territory beyond Benin city. Agbon people remember vividly their history of migration with temporary stay in places including Kwale, Ewen, Irri, Ughweru Ighwreko, Ekiugbo, etc. They were guided by experienced hunters in search of peaceful fertile territories with plentiful food and economic resources. Agbon people fought to defend themselves against enemies, settled quarrels, and lived together as one people along their route. Eventually, they found and decided together to settle in Otorhor 'Agbon. Naturally, descendants of the same father lived together in four main wards named after Okpara, Uhwokori, Orhoakpo and Eku. The government of Agbon at that time was by the elders. It was accepted that Okakp r'Agbon Oye Ovie r'Agbon, meaning literally, that the most senior elder is the king of Agbon, assisted by the council of elders. This government was strengthened by the belief and common involvement of all Agbon people (except Igun) in the worship of their deity called Isiokoro. Agbon town is wrongly called today by the name of this deity. The right name is Agbon town, not Isiokoro. It was in this Agbon town that our people met for important occasions, held their market every four days up to the 1920s; and also worshipped their deity, Isiokolo. These events provided opportunity for the assertion of their unity and oneness. Some misunderstanding and disagreements occurred as Agbon people lived together. This resulted in quarrels and consequent desertion of their capital, Agbon. The centralized government thus crumbled. People departed from the town and settled in different locations with their new villages as we know them today in Agbon territory. Each town-unit was ruled by their elders. However some individuals from the different towns, for example, Isaba of Okpara, Itoje and Oziegbe etc of Uhwokori, Itade and Ogagifo etc of Eku, and others made attempts to "buy" kingship from Benin and other places and returned home successfully or unsuccessfully to rule as kings over their own towns or sections of them' Osifo who posed as a descendant/emissary of the Oba of Benin attempted to rule all over Agbon people. But he was opposed and removed as an impostor. There was no overall king of Agbon before and after Osifo and others, until the 1950s when processes were begun and completed for the installation in 1958 of the present king, His Royal Majesty Ogurime Rime, Okpara 1, Ovie of Agbon. He has power and jurisdiction over all Agbon people and towns. While Okpara, the senior descent group, produced the king, Uhwokori produced the Otota of Agbon now in the person of Chief Patrick Bolokor. When in future it is the turned of Uhwokori to produce the king, Eku will produce the Ototal, and when Eku produces the king, Orhakpo will produce the Otota. When it comes to the turn of Orhakpo to produce the king, Ovu will produce the Otota; when Ovu produces the king, Igun will produce the Otota; and when Igun produces the king, Okpara will produce the Otota, and the rotation starts again. This rotatory succession ensures that every Agbopn town, unit and every citizen of Agbon ha a stake in the kingship. All of us are stakeholders in the kingdom. The consciousness of this commitment to our unity was strengthened in the 1950s through the formation and activities of bodies like Agbon Community, Agbon Clan Union, Agbon Clan Society of Gentlemen, Agbon Clan Council of Chiefs. However, these bodies have become non functional. One event organized towards Agbon unity after deserting the capital was spearheaded and managed by Uhwokori. After these event Agbon unity was promoted by.!' The British Colonial Government. Here Agbon Clan court and Clan Council were constituted with members from all the component units of the kingdom, a means by which the kingdom was reunited. In 1955, Agbon was made part of the Western Urhobo District Council, and in 1976 it was placed under the Ethiope Local Government Area. Agbon became the headquarters of the Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta State. Today, the unity and progress of Agbon Kingdom is being promoted by Agbon Progress Union sponsored by our youthful citizens whom we have an obligation to support. We need unity and peace to achieve further development.