Ebonyi community decries move to rewrite its history

The Umunwosibe kindred in Umuobuna, Uburu, Ohaozara Local Council of Ebonyi State, has decried a move by some individuals to rewrite its history, describing the development as mischievous and malicious.

They, therefore, issued a statement to set the record straight.

The statement was signed by Head of Secretariat, Umunwosibe Vanguard, Apostle Michael Udeh; Secretary, Elder Sunday Onu (Bash); Convener, Umunwosibe Vanguard, Elder Kingsley Obasi Ngene; Co-convener, Chief Ogbonnaya Obasi; Chairman, Umunwosibe Kindred, Elder Nelson Akpa; and Secretary, Umunwosibe Kindred, Deacon Robert Ogbonnaya Agwu.

According to the statement, Umunwosibe are descendants of Nwosibe, the eldest son of the progenitor or ancestral father of Umuobuna, Omata Evi.

Nwosibe, being the eldest of the four sons of Omata Evi, took care of their father very well, and his father blessed him from the depths of his heart.

It stated: “Due to the swampy nature of their main compound, Ibe Nwiyi, Nwosibe built a house for their father at a place now known as Ibe Omata Evi where their younger brother, Ngwuta, stayed with their father and took care of him.

“It was necessary to move their father to Ibe Omata Evi because he was old and was being affected by the cold and damp nature of Ibe Nwiyi. The new compound built for him (Ibe Omata Evi) was upland and warm compared to the humid nature of their main compound, Ibe Nwiyi.

“When their father, Omata Evi, died, he was buried in the house he lived,
which was built for him by his eldest son, Nwosibe, and this is the reason the place is called Ibe Omata Evi to date.

“Umunwosibe consists of descendants of Nwosibe while Umuokpara, Umungwuta and Umunjoko are descendants of Okpara, Ngwuta and Njoku, respectively.

“The history of Umuobuna village, which has been transferred from generation to generation through sound and detailed oral tradition till this present day, asserts that Nwosibe, Okpara, Ngwuta and Njoku were four brothers from the same parents. The four brothers lived in peace and harmony with one another.”

It continued: “They were great warriors, hunters and farmers in their time, and that was the reason why they took up strategic entry locations into Umuobuna with Nwosibe, the eldest son occupying the first compound at Ibe Nwiyi which is the border location between Umuobuna and Amenu village, while Okpara the second son built his compound at a border location at the entry point from Umuaneketa village in a place now known as Ibe Orienta, while Ngwuta the third son was asked to stay close to their aged father, Omata Eve, at the time, to take care of him, and Njoku, the last son, built his compound at another border location with Umuegwuoke village, at a place now known as Onu Ogwu Njoku.

“Umuobuna is a peaceful village which has, in the past and present times, produced brave warriors who fought gallantly to defend the entire Uburu during inter-community wars. This was why the title of Oke Nwa Uburu and Ekwe Eburu was conferred on Umuobuna by the entire Uburu Adu Kingdom.

“Within Umuwosibe kindred, there are also four families that descended from Nwosibe. They are Umuchita, Umwegunwegwu, Umuoti and Omuegwunwigwe.”

These families have metamorphosed into different dynasties in Umuobuna with great men and women who have contributed to bringing Umuobuna and Uburu to the limelight. Umunwosibe is the most populous kindred in Umuobuna, with prominent sons and daughters doing very well locally, nationally and internationally.

“Umunwosibe kindred are known for being friendly and peace-loving, using their population and wealth to promote love and unity in Umuobuna and Uburu as handed down by their great patriarch, Nwosibe, a great man of peace, valour, honour and influence in his time.

“It is noteworthy that Umunwosibe has diverse and accomplished sons and daughters who are performing exceptionally well in various fields like public service, civil service, commerce and industry, agriculture, and academia, among others. This shows the strength, character and sound foundation laid by the fathers and forefathers of Umunwosibe kindred.”