12/01/2022
HOW "SOUTHERN IJAW" GOT HER NAME
In 12 September, 1947 when Oporoma was made district headquarters under Rivers province of colonial era. Rivers province was created in 1947 out of Imo's province.
The Provinces of Nigeria were administrative divisions in Nigeria, in use from 1900 to 1967 in Colonial Nigeria and shortly after independence [I leave this discussion for another day]....the Southern name was in existence as a geographical name to present Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
Before 1960, before Nigeria becomes independence, before even creation of old Rivers state, Ijaw Nation/land was divided into Southern Ijaw, Northern Ijaw, Western Ijaw and Eastern Ijaw Division by colonial masters for their own administrative convenience.
Here comes the division as stated below:
1. Southern Ijaw Division = comprising the whole of the present Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
2. Northern Ijaw Division = comprising the whole of the present Yenagoa/Kolokuma.
3. Western Ijaw Division =Comprising the present Sagbama Local Government Area, Ekeremor LGA, Patani LGA, Burutu LGA, Bomadi LGA, Warri-South and West LGA.
4. Eastern Ijaw Division comprising the whole of Ogbia LGA, Nembe, Brass, Kalabari, Okrika, Engenni etc.
Their headquarters were:
1. Southern Ijaw =Oporoma.
2. Western Ijaw = Forcados.
3. Northern Ijaw =Okolobiri.
4. Eastern Ijaw = Degema.
The name Southern Ijaw had been in existence before Chief N. A. Frank Opigo became a Parliamentarian in 1964 of Prime Minister Tafawa Belewa led government.
Let those who have ears should hear.
The establishment of Southern Ijaw Secondary School, Oporoma which acronym is commonly called SISSO will be another case study as relating to Southern Ijaw name. Before SISSO was established the school system in existence of class division was called "class 1,class 2, class 3, class 4 and class 5. SISSO was established towards the ending of 1968 against 1969 when Nigeria civil war is almost ended.
The Nigerian Civil War was between 6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970.
The pioneer students graduated in 1973 counting from 1969 since it was the class 1 to class 5 arrangement; not the present type of Junior Secondary School, JSS 1 to JSS 3 or Senior Secondary, SS 1 to SS 3 arrangement. The second set of admission was 1970 where the likes of Sir Selepere Williams of Angiama/Oporoma ~ a retired principal was a product of SISSO. Sir Selepre Williams followed the footsteps of his father, my grandfather Chief M. A. Williams ~ a headmaster/principal during his stay on earth. He loved teaching and guiding students then.
The name SISSO was named after the old divisional map of Ijaw where Southern Ijaw was used to address from Tarakiri, Ogboin, Oporoma and down to Koliama clan respectively. By this explicit explanation above SISSO was established in 1968 and begun academic works in 1969 analytically. Its first principal name was ***.
Let those who have eyes should see.
Moving further, Southern Ijaw despite named after a geographical location was officially created as a local government name by Ibrahim Babaginda on the 27th August, 1991.
Note: Ijaws were not mainly seeking for LGA creation but States. It was that period Delta state, Abia state etc were created by IBB. The military regime created a Local Government Area to reduce the pressure of Ijaw agitation of Ijaw states.
Chief Frank Opigo and others who had earlier outlined 4 to 5 homogeneous Ijaw state was not pleased with Federal government only creating a Local Government Area, instead of a state of Ijaws, especially an homogeneous Ijaw state.
Witty quotes by Ken Osede.
1." The struggle continues..."
2. "Everyone has his ups and downs just like Opigo but a lie when mixed with truth the whole story appears untrue."
3."A lie can't out shine the truth no matter how it is presented or stay long or protrude."
In photos; HRH Nicolas Abo Frank Opigo ~ the Elder Statesman, Administrator, PM, Educationist and Traditional Ruler.
When I saw those image denting posts some months ago in 2021, against Chief N. A. Frank Opigo and a cooked story of Southern Ijaw name, all in the name of my post I made calling/ appealing to Bayelsa state government to consider Pa Frank Opigo's name as a road name of the ongoing " ", I wish the air need to be cleared. That is why this write up is coming up to set the records straight.
Who even love Ijaw and Ijaw people pass Chief Opigo among his peers? If I may ask what have you lost or given out in respect to Ijaw struggle as a youth, as an elder? I leave you to answer this question.
High Chief Nicholas Abo Frank Opigo a one man's struggle had an eye operation in 1952 ~ because of his persistent interests for Ijaw people. The eye problem was as a result of advising a fellow Ijaw man to be coming for meetings in Lagos. The man punched his eyes which resulted to cataract that disfigured his eyes.
What of his Niger Grammar School, or participation in creation of provinces, Rivers province to Rivers state, Bayelsa state creation.
Let those who have hands should write it down.
Have not you heard in American Civil Rights struggle, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and others were inspired by Frederick Douglas ~ a senior activist, his book which they read gave them the courage to champion the civil right struggle for the blacks. If I may ask if Chief N. A. Frank Opigo was not your role model nor inspiring you who is at your door steps will you not also allow Ken Osede who sees great icon Opigo as his role model? Of course, I will breath. Or a person who is in stage 1 of the struggle will make a statement against Frederick Douglas has done nothing in American Civil Right Movement. Is like a teenager talking in a bleep and blep who didn't know his biological parents that gave birth him or her. Hence, in making such a statement against Opigo who was a pace setter in taken the Ijaw struggle and education to another dimension in your Oporoma clan, Southern Ijaw LGA,Bayelsa state Rivers state and Nigeria at large, is same teenager who didn't know his parents nor origin.
If you don't know, know today their are some of your retired parents or great parents in Oporoma or Angiama that stayed in his house in Rivers state while going to colleges.
The man even helped and sponsored some of your parents and grandparents educationally.
In summary, the name Southern Ijaw is like a great parental name which had been in existing addressing to
"a geographical area, a school name and a Local Government name". I believe with this rich explanation any doubting Thomases who feel to continue in believing and making prejudice posts/statements of the name Southern Ijaw or Frank Opigo's name should have a rethink if wish to.
Let those who have ears should hear.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I will not be in a hurry to close this research work without acknowledging the two great men who assisted this historical write up such as, Sir Selepere Williams, an uncle, retired Principal;and, Barrister Ernest Brisbe, my friend and my leader, our revered Founder/Administrator of Ijaw Language Clinic.
Even to the readers and commenters, thank you and God bless.
~ Ken Osede.
