NAIJACLIFF:HOME OF EDUTAINMENT

*By Steven Clifford - I dream of united, stable and peaceful nation.  - I dream of a nation where citizens will reclaim their humanity and insecurity challenge will be a thing of the past. - I dream of a nation where public servants will be servant and not lords over citizens. - I dream of a nation that is wholly liberated and thus, Free from tyranny, corruption and greed. - I dream of a nation driven by politics of ideas rather than godfatherism. - I dream of a nation with reduced teenage pregnancy rates. - I dream of a nation where there is hope and bright future ahead of us. - I dream of a nation that will take her rightful place among other tribes. - I dream of a nation that is not ravage by poverty, war and diseases. - I dream of a nation where our youths will realise their worth and stop killing their brothers for selfish politicians and cultic belief. - I dream of a nation that rewards hard work and excellence. - I dream of a nation where their is no sentiments and discri

The former Executive Director, Projects, of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Architect E. I. I. Ettah has urged the people of Obolos in the Niger Delta and diaspora to work out modalities towards strengthening their unity. In a lecture titled “Unity, a panacea for Sustainable Development of Obololand” Architect Ettah said that the Obolos must be united to become relevant in the scheme of things. The former NDDC director described the present effort of the summit organizers as a re-enactment of the Obolo state union of old which comprises Oron, Eastern Obolo, Ibeno, Andoni as well as the Ohafia nations. While tracing the origin of the Obolo nation to East Africa, he noted that long year of migration has led to the establishment of Obolo communities across Nigeria and decried the marginalization of Ibeno and Eastern Obolo Local Government Area by the Akwa-Ibom State Government. Also speaking, the representative of Oron nation, Chief Nko Asuquo Offiong said that th

EASTERN OBOLO LOCATION It is located in the Niger Delta fringe between Imo and Qua Iboe Rivers estuaries and lies between latitudes 4° 28` and 4° 53 ` and longitudes 7° 50` and 7° 55` East. It is bounded in the North by Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, North East by Onna, West by Ikot Abasi, South East by Ibeno Local Government Areas and in the South by the Atlantic Ocean. CULTURE The cultural heritage is not restricted to the people. Rather the entire Niger Delta with unique traditional dressing synonymous with “Etibo” and “ Wurkor“. The Nwantam masquerade of Eastern Obolo celebrated every first January is one of the highlights of Obolo festivities, which they share with the Opobo, Nkoro , Bonny Ijaws. Their ancient practices includes a writing system known as nsibidi , ofiokpo cult and the war dance. NATURAL RESOURCES Abundant mineral deposits with onshore and offshore oil wells at Elekpen, Iko Town, Otunene and Iko-Nta/Obianga. Eastern Obolo host several multinational oil f

Obolo consist of twenty-one ancient foundations usually referred to in the ritual phrase: Obolo etip ijon mijon ge. However, the phrase is not only in reference to the twenty-one physical villages but also to the mystical and spiritual forces inhabiting the areas. Thus, the unity referred to in the phrase is also the unity of Yok-Obolo with the other deities that sustained the individual villages, which together constituted the nations s uch as: Ewitaraba of Ekede, Otuburu of Anyamboko, Adumu of Ichiama, Okpolodo of Agana, Adigide of Okoroete, Ofiokpo of Alama, and so on. Obolo was now a fusion of these deities of the people. Therefore, etip ijon mijon ge is not just the unity of the villages, but also the spiritual forces that held them together. Hence, other villages emerged and it's added to these ancient ones. 

MAJOR TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN OBOLO NATION (Exception of Oro) ---EASTERN OBOLO L.G.A: Akpabom Ama-Ngbuoji Ama-Nglass Ama-Uka Amadaka Atabrikang Atauko Ayama Bethlehem Elekpon Elile Emere Oke I Emere Oke II Emeremen Egwenwe Iko Ikonta Iwofe Kampa Obianga Okoro Inyong Okorobilom Okoroete Okoroiti Okorombokho Okoromobolo Okwon Obolo Otunene Otuawaji Ozugbo ---ANDONI L.G.A : Afradigi Agana Agafor Agbadam Agbakoroma Agbalama Agbama Agbanchichama Agwut Obolo Ajakajak Akaradi Akpakam Alaocha Ama Ekpu Ama Friday Ama Meri Ama Miller Ama Nmereke Ama Omuso Amankwu Amautile Anyamboko Asarama Asaramaija Asuk Ama Asuk Oyet Ataba Ayama Agana Ayama Ekede Ayama Unyengala Chiama Dema Dimama Ebukuma Echirichon Egbomung Egendem Egwede Emen Uko Emenudong Eppelema Galilee Gold Coast Ibot Ama Ibot Irem Ichama Ikuru Town Ilotumbi Inyong Edek Ukwa Inyong Nchicha Inyong Oron Isiama Isiobozien Isiodum Isioke Iwogono Iwokiri Iwoma Iw

BRIEF HISTORY OF OBOLO PEOPLE  The OBOLO (Andoni ) people are a distinct tribe Living in the Niger Delta region of Rivers (Andoni L.G.A), Akwa Ibom State (Eastern Obolo, Ibeno and Oro) Prior to the British Colonial Era the Obolo's were among the first to come in contact with the Europeans and traded mainly with the Portuguese. Far back, Obolo people worshipped a national diety (god) called Yok-Obolo , Who is the founder /Spiritual head of the Obolo people elevated to a god upon death. Christianity was already Accepted in Obolo land long before 1699 ( As recorded when John Barbot visited Dony Town (Andoni) in 1699, he observed that the King of Dony Town accepted Christianity and Priests were regularly sent in from Sao Tome and Brazil, to minister to him, The king of Dony town also spoke Portuguese ) Despite Christainity The Yok-Obolo was still feared among neighbouring tribes (Bonny, Opobo, Ibibio/Efiks, Ogonis e.t.c ) Which made them to spread terrifying new

MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CHURCHES IN OBOLO NATION   In Western Obolo  (Andoni), Christianity started spreading from the two earlier established center of influence: Bonny and Opobo. A Christian mission was first established at Bonny in 1864. And the first Obolo converts seen to have been traders from Ataba, who went there to sell palm oil and fish. Although this fish convert were made as early as 1870, their impact on the society seems to have been small. However, in 1895, a group of traders who hailed from Agwut-Obolo were converted, but suffered persecution as They were forced to swear various oaths to the effect that Yok-Obolo (The National gods) would kill them if they continue with Christian worship. Despite the beatings and the forced oaths, however, members of the group sail through. After the punitive expedition in 1904, many Christians became scared as this almost lead to total failure in establishing Christianity in Western Obolo. In 1910,