Early Disputes

Warant Chief versus Onotu-uku - ;

 The earliest visible dispute began with the government recognized chief and the traditional prime minister [Onotu-uku] of the town, and for this, their relationship had not been cordial because of tussle of power.

INEH WAR – 1914 AGHA INEH

The coming in of the British government in the local area of Abbi changed many things as District officers was sent to the areas. As for Abbi, the Yoruba man sent as district officer had no good relationship with the people. HOW IT ALL HAPPENED.

The Abbi war of October 15^th 1914 is known and called “AGHA INE” [INE WAR] by the natives because Chief Ine Ogude was the central leading figure in the war. In fact the history of Abbi war of 1914 is essentially an important part of the biography of CHIEF INE OGUDE. At the time of the war, Chief Ine Ogude of Eba-ekele section of Ejakita Street in Umia quarter Abbi was the ONOTU-UKU [TRADITIONAL PRIME MINISTER] of Abbi. CHIEF EKESHILI ECHI of Ogbe-mkpu Street Umia quarters of Abbi was the Okpala-uku [TRADITIONAL RULER] of Abbi, while CHIEF OGBODO CHUKUMA of Umu-onowu Street in Okwele quarters of Abbi was the WARANT CHIEF of Abbi. This was the administrative structure.

The war was caused by many proactive events – remote and immediate.

THE REMOTE CAUSES OF THE WAR

The remote cause of the war could be traced to the snobbish treatment meted to the Abbi people by the Court Clerk and his officials, the messengers. The messengers with the full knowledge and consent of the Court Clerk were in the habit of attending the market place on the market days to collect yams, plantains, fishes and other articles of trade displayed for sale without payments. This was done with impunity to the annoyance and anger of the natives who could not challenge or resist the court officials for the fear of being arrested and imprisoned. Rather they complained to Chief Ine Ogude who in company of his chiefs [INOTU] complained in vain to the court clerk. The court messengers did not stop at this, as they would go to the outskirt of the town and seize the biggest fish [fishes] from Abbi people returning from their ponds. Abbi people as usual complained to Chief Ine Ogude who in company of his chiefs protested vehemently to the court Clerk, who rebuffed them snobbishly.

The Court Clerk, his daughter and the court messengers, went further to violate ABBI NATIVE LAWS AND CUSTOMS. The court clerk’s daughter with the help of the messengers was in the habit of playing on the “ABBI TALKING WOODEN DRUM” [OGWE ELISHI] contrary to Abbi native laws and customs which forbids a woman from touching the drum not to talk of playing on it. History has it that one Mr. Akudo was on one occasion ordered out of the DRUM by the court clerk’s daughter to enable her play on it.

During the UKWATA FESTIVALS and other important traditional ceremonies, when MASQUERADES appear to dance, the court clerk’s daughter use to unveil them and glance contemptuously on their faces. This is a mockery and violation of the custom that forbids the UNVEILING and calling of MASQUERADES by name. It is an abomination. In fact there is a native saying that a person may know the name of the MASQUERADES but dare not call it [ALUGBE NA AMALI ELISHI BU OKPO EFA YA]. Such was the position of things which Abbi people endured painfully and to which the court clerk paid deaf ears despite repeated appeals and requests for a change by Chief Ine Ogude and his Chiefs who the court clerk usually turn out with acerbity.

Chief Ine Ogude’s relationship with the court clerk and his messengers became strained beyond reconciliation. The court officers and their supporters then conspired and accused Chief Ine of slave dealing. He was arrested, detained and exited to Calabar. Chief Ine Ogude did not stay long and returned. It is sad to note that some Abbi Chiefs and Chief Ine’s relation, Mr. Oboduku supported the nefarious deeds of the court clerk. That was the situation, when the court clerk, the messengers and those who supported them once again, on learning of his return, planned to arrest and get him imprisoned. Chief Ine got the knowledge of the plan and left in company of his wife Mrs. Inaye Ogude to settle at Aluaka a village near Abraka. After sometimes his wife became pregnant and he decided to take her back home for circumcision and ‘OUTING’ as required by custom. On arrival at Abbi, his adversaries learnt of it and immediately informed the court clerk and his cohorts who decided to get him arrested. Once again, Chief Ine Ogude learnt of the plan and went back to Abraka. The court clerk and his supporters then decided and arrested Mr. Abbianyaka the first born of Chief Ine Ogude as they failed to arrest Chief Ine Ogude. Mr. Abbianyaka was then detained in the court custody at Ogbe-ole Street in Elovie Quarter of Abbi.

The news of the arrest and detention of Abbianyaka spread like wild fire and reached Chief Ine at Aluaka. He could no longer bear or endure the humiliations, insult and deprivation of his personal liabilities. He immediately moved to Abbi to seek for the release of his son, who he believed was arrested and detained without any just cause, damn the consequences. Every challenge in human affairs elicits a response greater or lesser in consequence than the challenge. Chief Ine Ogude, felt he has been challenged enough and reacted.

On arrival at Abbi and after confirmation of the arrest and detention of his son, he contacted and invited some important personalities to his house. Those he contacted and invited were EGBONUGBOCHI of Eba-ekele off Ejakita Street, CHUKUMA of Uduogbe street: UKOBA of Ogbe-eti street and GEGELI of Umuezuku street. In his house, chief Ine informed them of his intention to secure the release of his son from the court custody and reminded them of all the atrocities of the court clerk and those who supported him.

The violation of Abbi law and customs and the personal humiliations and degradations he had suffered. The infuriated chief Ine Ogude spoke like Shakespeare HAMLET thus:  

To be or to be that is the question

Whether it is nobler in mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Or take arms against a sea of trouble and by opposing ent them? Unquote.

                Chief Ine Ogude decided to take arms’ to secure the release of his son and implored his invitees to support him in his efforts to free the town from further humiliations, intimidations, bondage and perpetual servitude.

                After hearing from Chief Ine Ogude, all those present without a single exception, recollecting all that the court clerk and his officials have been doing, supported chief Ine’s decision and agreed to accompany him, the following day to secure the release of Mr. Abbianyaka from the court’s custody at Ogbeole street, Elovie quarter Abbi. There now exist a very highly precarious and inflammable situation throughout Abbi as people heard of Chief Ine’s decisions. On the following faithful day, that bloody day, very early in the morning, those men, who in the preceding night, vowed to accompany Chief Ine, assembled in his house, combat ready. Chief Ine brought a bottle of drink which all took and which hardened their determination to secure the release of Abbianyaka.

                Chief Ine Ogude made a very powerful and moving speech which could be likened to theenraged NORTHUMBERLAND’s speech in Shakespeare’s HERRY IV thus

“Let heaven kiss earth! Now let not nature’s hand

Keep the wild flood confined! Let order die

And let this world no longer be a stage

To feed contention in a lingering act;

But let one spirit of the first born Cain

Being in all bosoms, that each heat being set

On bloody courses, the rude scene may end!

And darkness be the burial of the dead? Unquote

                Immediately after chief ine ogude’s speech, those present became more and more enranged and embarked on their movement to the court’s custody at Ogbeole street with Cutlasses, horned to razor sharpness. Chief Ine Ogude leading.

The atmosphere became tense and charged. On arrival, the custody door was forced open and Abbianyaka released. This was the spark that set the inflammable tinder alight. As could be expected, the messengers attacked Chief Ine Ogude, and his followers. Without wasting time, chief Ine and his son fought back in self-defense. The war started. It was a bloody clash and many lost their lives including the court clerk and messengers. Chief Ine then told Abbi people “NDIBENYI, OLUSHI HI O” meaning in effect my people, the die is cast’ so started the war against INJUSTICE, HUMILIATION, INTIMADATION, VIOLATION OF FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS, NATIVES LAWS AND CUSTOMS. A war against an absolutism riding rough shod over individual liberties. Chief Ine Ogude knew he was sitting on a keg of gun powder to which a burning is attached. But with skill and consummate optimism and determination hardened by obstinate courage, he moved into the war. On the day following the release of his son, chief ine summoned the generality of Abbi, and narrated once again the atrocities committed by the court clerk and his officials against Abbi people. The pathetic narration of the events leading to his action could be likened to the speech of Maria Theresa Queen of Austria to the Bulgarian Diet thus:-

“Forsaken by friends, persecuted by enemies, attacked by my nearest relatives, I have no resources left but your faithfulness, your courage, and constancy. I place in your hands the daughter and the son of kings. We look to you for our safety”.

The barons were touched and inspired drew their sword and cried “Moriamur pro rege nostrai Maria Theresa! Meaning in effect let us fight in defense of our queen Maria Theresa”. In like manner, chief Ine’s speech touched and inspired Abbi people and hardened their determination to go on with the war. They vowed to fight in defense of the town and Chief, and never to surrender.

In anticipation of government intervention, molts were dug around the town. True to expectation, government soldiers arrived and found surprisingly and to their dismay that Abbi people were prepared for the war, and could not take the town as planned. When it became clear to the government that the conquest of Abbi was a hard nut to crack, reinforcement was sent to deal with Abbi. It was punitive action. It is interesting to note the bravery and courage of a woman called OCHUDUME of Umugbo street in Umia quarters, Abbi. This woman of courage used to mount the molt sug at the present junction of Umu-onyegba and Umugbo streets, back the government’s soldiers, and asked them to fire on saying ‘BATUNI EGU WE, MGBOR ADI NE EGBE WE’ meaning DO NOT FEAR THEM, THERE ARE NO BULLETS IN THEIR GUNS”. This in no small measure encouraged Abbi people to fight o and prolong the war.

                                                                           

Mention is also to be made of a man, called USHE, of Ukanabor-uku Street in Elovie quarters Abbi. This man of courage had a locally made LOUD SPEAKER [OKWO] which he sounded every morning and wherever the shooting started encouraging Abbi people to fight on saying “OYIBO DI ULE, MGBOR ADI NE EGBE WE, IKE N’EJE AGUWE” meaning the soldiers weaklings. There are no bullets in their guns, they will soon be tired” this also stimulated more and more men into action. Both OCHUDUME and USEH were not killed during the war.

After sometimes the government soldier were shown entrance into the Abbi side of the molts by Chief Ine Ogude’s detractors. On one occasion the government soldiers having entered Abbi through two opposite entrances started shooting themselves both sides thinking they were shooting Abbi people. There was a heavy loss of lives among the government soldiers before realizing their mistake. In further defense of the town, MINES were laid at the entrances into Abbi and this caused heavy casualties among the government soldiers and helped to prolong the resistance. Abbi could no longer resist and went into hiding in the nearby bushes and the neighboring towns. The town virtually became vacant, but Abbi people did not surrender.

The government was not satisfied with the situation and therefor decided to look for Abbi people particularly Chief Ine Ogude and capture him alive. The British could not order cease fire until Chief Ine was captured. By this time, Chief Ine was looking for his son Abbianyaka who also left the town along with others into hiding. In course of the search of his son, Chief Ine learnt that his son was seen at OKILOKI ABBI and he immediately moved to Okiloki bush area if he could see him. The British then learnt that Chief Ine was at Okiloki and detailed two natives to escort some soldiers to Okiloki. The journey was not easy and shot as expected and the soldiers became suspicious, thinking that the escorts were taking them to Abbi people to be killed. Under this false impression and belief, one of the escorts was stabbed and the other seriously warned that if Okiloki was not reached in time, he would equally be killed. On this very day, an unlucky day for Chief Ine, he decided to take his bath in a pond at UKPEKU area after searching in vain for his son. After taking his bath, and was preparing to start his search for his son, he heard the screaming of the stabbed native. He then rushed towards the direction of the cry. Unfortunately, as he was rushing to the place, he accidentally met face to face with the soldiers who gunned him down. The surviving escort named EMETULU identified him as Chief Ine Ogude. The soldiers regretted their actions as they were asked to arrest and not to kill Chief Ine Ogude. His body was taken to Abbi for further identification after which the government ordered cease fire and asked one EGBA of Ogbenami street to place one white cloth round his fist and invite Abbi people to return to town, thereby ending the war. So ended the life Chief Ine Ogude and the Abbi war of 1914.

On the day Chief Ine Ogude died, Abbi sun lost its splendor and shone no more for some time. Chief Ine Ogude did not live to witness other result of his efforts, as no other succeeding clerk dared behave as the former court clerk and his messengers. It is fate.

On their return to the town, Abbi people started the work of reconstruction. Chief Ine Ogude was a man of courage who along with the other people fought for the town, against injustice, deprivation of fundamental human right, intimidation and flagrant violation of native laws and customs. He died a hero and will always be remembered by the natives.