History of Utagba-Ogbe (Kwale)
Utagbe- Ugbe , Ukwuani origin researched by Ugboh ikechukwu Emmanuel of Umusadege, Utagba-Ogbe. Ukwuani is latterly called ukwani was original owner of Benin land. Ukwani means the land owner. Which I called Homo-ukwuani. During the expansion of Yoruba to form edo kingdom, they met Ukwuani and became one people and this means that edo language is a mixture of Yoruba and Ukwuani. They live in the same place so it was called Idu, ukwuani has developed to an extend with Eweka 1180 -1246 as their oba or leader at the present of ogiso who was Yoruba leader or edo (ubinu), Dahomey…kingdom, dynasty and through Ewaka, Agboh and Onicha was founded, this was during idar war. After the death of Eweka of Idu kingdom presently known as Benin, the oni of ife sent oranyan to took over from Eweka that was how power and history of Ukwuani was sealed, during the reign of Oba Ewuare known as Egwuara (1440-1473) who was the 12 oba of idu, he revoted against the indigenous of ukwuani to speak only edo language but main while edo language is a mixture of Yoruba and Ukwuani. So fight broke up between edo, Yorubas were edo, itsekhiri, ijaw, urhobo , isoko and Ukwuanis were ukwuani, Agboh and onicha. The Ukwuanis remain united and fought against the yorubas and the interior ukwuani fled out of Idu to their blessed land, flowing with milk and oil. This erra of new settlement give birth to Ukwuani state, latterly refers to as Anioma in 1951. Before they arose the ekumeku war between the white men and Ukwuani state, the new settlement is on this fact that egwura chase ukwuani family in different time, utagba-uno,Ugume,Amai, Aluku, Ugba-ani, Emu, is then called enu-ani which was later extended to all anichas and agboh and Aboh ,Opkai, Ndoni , Ase ,Askaka are called nde oshimili. Nde oshimili first settled at Afor and by cut Utagba-Ogbe which is the first head quarter to river side which Aboh became their headquarter which finally found the igbos at 17 century. Utagba-Ogbe was founded as Ukwani central headquarter which was founded by Utagba-Uno , majority and Ugbe-ani so we have Utagba and Ogbe at 1500, in total Ukwuani state was form between (1440-1555). Till today edo, itsekhiri, urhobo,ijaw, isoko remains Yoruba origin. Looking at Ukwuani state critically, you will see that the unity of ukwuani started from origin as united nation and that is why in 1868-1898 during ekumeku war the while couldn’t find it easy with them and they accredited Utagba-Ogbe to be strong people like the people of southern Mumbasa Kenya, so utagba-Ogbe is then called kwale in combination to other ukwuani town e.g Utagba-Ogbe, Utagba-Uno, ashaka,ogume,emu,efor ugba-ani. Hon. Dennis Osadebay, found it ideological to come with Anioma name , A..anicha, n…ndokwa, I…ika, ma…nma..beautiful,blessed, anioma is good during bendel state in 1951 but it hide the history behind Ukwuani people. Ukwuani still remains one of the oldest ethnicity in Nigeria. Conclusion: anioma later get mixture with non ukwuani to derive a state name.hence, Ukwuani remains the true origin of Anioma people.
