British Royal
OBI NZEKWUE: WAR OGWASHI-UKU/BRITISH 1909, NWA Nwabuzo IYOGOLO AGBAMBU Anika AND THE WAR OF LEGENDS
OBI NZEKWUE: OGWASHI-UKU/BRITISH WAR 1909, NWA Nwabuzo IYOGOLO AGBAMBU AND ANIKA, legends WAR. By Chris Okafor
Nzekwue, the younger brother of Dieyi took the mantle of leadership as the 12th monarch of the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in 1888 to an advanced age. It was just the king and more efficient than the clan ever had, and was recognized as a catalyst and an architect of modern Ogwashi-Uku.
Shortly after his accession to the throne, Obi Nzekwue was confronted with the allegation that he buried the late Obi Deyi with a human being, by the colonialists white colonial office in Asaba. Obi Nzekwue denied the allegation before the white men who came to the palace to ongoing investigation that has been asked to open the grave of the deceased king of. He flatly refused arguing that it was an abomination, as he said "Anya adi afu nti" means the eye can not see the ear.
The white men have no choice but to recommend a fine for the monarch. He, who was Obi said Nzekwue giving the fine to a son Okechukwu payable to Major Harper, the officer in charge at Asaba and instead of accepting the fine, Major slapped Okechukwu. This caused his father who had to divert the money for the fine to buy gunpowder in the preparation the war that was inevitable for him as he also rejected the claim that he must come personally to Asaba to pay the fine.
In the absence of an acceptable solution to the disagreement between the British and Obi Nzekwue to Asaba, across the two cities were a war atmosphere was imminent. The king summoned his warlords that included Nwabuzo Nwa Iyogolo Agbambu and Anika from quarts Azungwu Umudei and others, and Ubu Ogbe Agidiahe who been renowned for their bravery .. On June 16, 1909, when the meeting was raised, he informed his generals and war leaders of what become its relationship with the white colonialists to Asaba. One after another, the generals have opted for war rather than the monarch is to Asaba pay the fine. Nwa Nwabuzo Iyogolo standing and damned the consequences of the white man `s power, as it supports the monarch to declare a state of war around in the clan in preparation for the great battle.
The next day, June 17, 1909, the monarch issued a diploma authorizing the clan to go to war if the white men attacked from Asaba. As the subjects did not like the treatment to Okechukwu and his father, their king, they gave the monarch full support to war should the United attack. All men were called in the army while traditional women were instructed to war in order to survive assaults from the white man `s imminent. Five days later, the monarch met his war, the commander of the Odogwu and his security adviser Chief, the Ihonor to enable them to discuss military strategies that could match those of the British army of occupation who was armed teeth with conventional weapons.
One of the wars with general skills tested to the charms offered food poisoning banana would be freely maintained at Isi Uzo Ani (gateway to the Kingdom). He had guessed that the white man could not resist the banana and the proposal was adopted along with the other.
Major Stephen Harper does not have a good eye nonchalance Obi Nzekwue `s connection with the administration to Asaba in particular as regards its non-payment of the fine was imposed. He ordered the royal army to attack Ogwashi-Uku June 26, 1909, intending to capture Obi Nzekwue and the arrest Nwabuzo Nwa Iyogolo who had earlier killed a muzogi, a native of Igbuzo.
The British Army, however, were postponed to Asaba in their attempt to capture the king in his palace. They came and reinforced by through Iguzo and Isi Uzo, Ogwashi-Uku traditional fixed army ambush that precipitated a war before they could reach the palace once again to a show down. Losses on the side of the British army were enormous and there was a determination on the side of Ogwashi-Uku fighters to continue the war, even on a large scale.
The British strengthened in the wake of what they perceived as intended rebellion against the government of His Majesty `s (HMG) in London. Following this, the people of Azungwu, Umudei Ogbe Ubu and also strengthened and invited the Omu (Queen) of Ogwashi-Uku to equip them with the charms of war which it did. The Omu two pots connected with strands of cotton and said that anyone who climb the strands of cotton and not would not have fallen in war. All but one Udu who fell and died. Meanwhile, the poisoned banana have been moved to the road to the Palace and they suspected that the British were to follow.
The obi `s palace was finally stormed by the British when they met a young lady with her throbbing breast and inviting. The scenario was stranger than fiction, the British dispersed the Palace as Obi Nzekwue disappeared. Outside the palace, they met lots of banana attractive they eat and before sunset of the 160 fighters (4th Regiments) died as a result. This made the British Royal Army withdraw from the market to identify Abu Ano and camped there. Threatened by their presence near the wing Azungwu of the traditional army prepared for the final round of battles. Lots of young men's body was found able to bury the remains of British soldiers who have died as a result, while the likes of Nwa Nwabuzo Iyogolo, Isiekwe Odogwu, and Ubaka Adudu Agbambu Anika became bloodthirsty as they advanced to Abu Ano for collisions with the Royal Army. They crept through the bush and shot most of the soldiers, who suffers from disadvantages of military rule not to respond to fire, except by order of the commander, this invariably cause them some form of defeat at the hands of the traditional army for a second time.
Perhaps, representing the victory of the Home Army to that of Her Majesty `s soldiers was the system of guerrilla warfare (Bush War) that was designed that was very detrimental to British soldiers that the system was unknown to them.
As the war escalating, Major Stephen Harper has sent another battalion to overcome the rebellion in Ogwashi-Uku. In arrival, the information reaches the attackers army commander in Ogwashi-Uku Nzekwue that Obi was hiding in Ikemkpu Olor Ubu Ogbe and all traditional military training, it was the Azungwu `s that were invincible and had to be attacked and defeated based on elements of saboteurs that led to Abodei British soldiers, two months after their arrival from Asaba. As the soldiers came to the captain commanding Abodei Apper they vandalized every nook and cranny of the village, leaving nine children died while many more deserted the camp for a period of high prices. They then burned the whole village and on the way back as the captain looked Apper ant-unknown to him that they had Nwabuzo Nwa Iyogolo ambushed, he was shot and died immediately. This caused the soldiers to panic and stampede, crushing the head of their captain `s in the process. It was followed by a Song of the house band, saying "Afulu Egbu Onye Ocha KPE Me Soy-Sens (bullet killed a white man, let alone a soldier.
Yet the British were determined to bring the kingdom to his knees, and again to reinforce a decisive battle as they stormed Ikemkpu Olor, Mkpolo Enyi and to overcome Akpoma Azungwu. The war, however, out of control as it grew in intensity and spread. The guerilla tactics employed by Ogwashi-Uku native Army used to further hamper the British military action at a point of frustration because they could not understand how Bush's war.
The war raged until the news came on the death of King George V and Major Stephen Harper was made to call off the war and to declare an amnesty for prisoners of war as a prelude to the coming peace talks with Obi Nzekwue. The British commander of the war in Ogwashi-Uku asked Obi Nzekwue out of hiding as the war was over, but people Azungwu dismissed the appeal and the peace offer, insisting the fact that the war must continue until the last man. A native in the British service were then asked to meditate between the people of Ogwashi-Uku and invaders. He managed to bring people of the clan and the representatives of the British in Obi `s Palace to allow each state their grievances. Present Ogwologite Onochie, Agbambu Anika, Nwabuzo Iyogolo Nwa, Nwa Uba Adu and Okaeme Mordia who were all in high spirit with songs, drums and dancing the peace talks.
Finally, the investigator and all parties to the conflict signed an agreement to suspend all hostilities and allow for peace to reign. In recognition of Ogwashi-Uku military strength and great courage, the head of the Division, then was moved to Asaba Ogwashi-Uku in 1910 while Obi Nzekwue joined his ancestors on December 3, 1913.
About the Author
Chris Obiajulu Okafor was born in Ogwashi-Uku in Delta state of Nigeria few months before the outbreak of the protracted Nigeria civil war. He had both his primary and post primary education in Ogwashi- Uku and later studied Mass Communication in the University Of Lagos.He came to Ireland in 2002 where he is presently living with his wife and 3 children. Chris is a journalist and a creative writer that has participated in many comtemporary issues both here and in Nigeria. At the moment, Chris is a Law Student in Nottingham Trent University in England as well as the current President, Anioma Union, Galway Ireland
