2016 ANNUAL NEW YEAR RESOLUTION/DIRECTIVES
In keeping with the tradition of Avhianwu the relevant authority has announced that the date for the commencement of the New Year (Aduikukwa) for 2016 New Year celebration will hold on 11th March, 2016. Since Ogbona is an independent part of Avhianwu who will be part of the event; Chiefs, Elders, Itadis and other opinion leaders met at the Palace of Okphe-Ukpi of Ogbona on 12th February, 2016 to review some existing customs and traditional rites of the people in conformity with the present day reality.
The following decisions were taken at the meeting which was presided over by His Royal Highness Chief Willy Idode and moderated by Pa. Jacob Egbu Ateghie, the Senior Adi holder in Ogbona.
- Installation of Adi for the Kindred:
10 existing senior Adi ad 21 new ones were approved in line with the present 31 villages’ structure in Ogbona. The 21 new ones shall come below the first 10. Matters affecting Adi administration shall be jointly decided by the 31 Adi holders.
- Burial Ceremony of Adi Holder:
In case of demise of an Adi holder, his funeral should take place within three months. The next in rank shall take over and install Adi for his kindred.
- Burial fees:
Burial fees shall be as follows:
| VILLAGE LEVEL | QUARTER LEVEL | ||
| Husband & Wife | N2,800 | Husband & Wife | N740 |
| Single | N1,400 | Single | N370 |
The money shall be disbursed as stated below:
| TOWN LEVEL | AMOUNT |
| Eldest Otadi | N200 |
| Okphe-Ukpi of Ogbona | N200 |
| 9 Other Senior Itadi | N100 each |
| 21 Other Itadi | N70 each |
| VILLAGE LEVEL | AMOUNT |
| Senior man in Village | N100 |
| Okhaemho | N100 |
| 2 next senior men in the village | N70 each |
| 6 next senior in the village | N50 each |
The fees must be collected enblock at the point of announcing the date of burial rites in the house of senior man of the village Chief or his representative and others appointed to collect the levies for the elders.
Burial ceremony is prohibited on EVIA DAY. Anybody who contravene this order shall pay N50, 000 and a mother-goat.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH:
The land will be appeased through the Chief Priests of Ebo. Items needed for the exercise shall be follows:
a). N5,000; (b) Mother Sheep; (c) One bottle of red oil; (d) One bottle of palm kernel oil (Udemi); (e) snail (f) Alligator pepper (h) One jerry can of palm wine.
MANHOOD/WOMANHOOD INITIATION
Adolescents’ man/woman of 17 years and above shall be eligible to be initiated into manhood/womanhood ceremonies. This is to enable the celebrant appreciate the beauty and glamour of our custom. Initiation fees shall be as follows:
| A. | IZOEGBE (ENROLMENT) | N2,000 |
| B. | IKWUIKUMI | 200 |
| C. | UKPADEMI (FOOD) | N1,000 |
| D. | CERTIFICATE | N1,000 |
| TOTAL | N4,200 |
INHERITANCE (UKU)
It is not the wish of parents (man and woman) to have same sex of children. It is the Lord’s wish which nobody can alter. Female children can now inherit their father’s property. Also daughters married to outsiders can also inherit their mother’s property. The female child will now appoint an Administrator to look after the properties. Where possible parents are encouraged to write Will or gather their children together and share their properties to them before their demise.
INTERNAL MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS:
A separate paper which contains internal marriage requirement in Ogbona has been approved.
ADULTERY (OFIH)
Couple should love themselves and do desist from any act that may endanger their lives and that of their children. However punishment will be on the head of the woman who commits adultery.
The above decisions take effect from 11th March. 2016.
H.H. Chief Willy Idode, Chief George Kadiri
The Okphe-Ukpi of Ogbona and Secretary, Okphe-Ukpi in Council
Sub-Clan Head of Avhianwu
Chief Pa Jacob Egbu Ateghie,
The Eldest man-in-Ogbona
REVISED CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS
The marriage is between Anwu Sons/Daughters and it is therefore applicable in Avhianwu Federation, especially in Ogbona.
- FOR THE FATHER-IN-LAW
- Anyio epe-one carton of beer and one hot drink (first day of introduction)
- Five Jerry cans of Palm Wine
- Five Cartons of Beer-Two cartons out of the five cartons of bear mention above belong to the brother-in-law (Ivierah), others are for the quarter (Ede).
- IZISOMHI (Engagement) N500 (Five Hundred Naira)
- BRIDE PRICE N5,000 (Five Thousand Naira)
- FOR THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
A). ISOMHI-IGBIGHU N20, 000 (Twenty Thousand)
b). IKA AND EKO or N10, 000 (Ten Thousand)
c). TWENTY-ONE (21) Tubers of Yams
d). EGWU-EKA (One she goat for the Mother-in-law)
- OTHERS REQUIREMENTS
- a) AKPOGEGE TWO PERSONS FIVE HUNDRED NAIRA EACH (N1, 000)
- b) IDI-IBIE (BODY DESIGN) N1, 000
- c) IBETO (PLANTING OF HAIR) N1, 000
- d) IRODE (2 WOMEN ESCORT) N1, 000
- e) INWOBOVHARE (Handing over the girl to the bride) N1, 000
- COSMETICS FOR THE GIRLS
- A box of clothes of the girl’s choice
- 3 Big Saturday Night Powder
- 8 bottles of pomade (AVIOBO)
- One Umbrella (AKPAKPA)
- 2 Up sticks (ALUEUNO)
- AKHEIRODE (APPRECIATION FOOD TO THE BRIDE FAMILY)
All the cooking should be done according to the custom and tradition.
- AMHO-OYA (IPABUA) Bride price is N7,000 (Seven thousand Naira)
- Any man who impregnate a female and had a without paying the bride price for a period of one year shall pay N50,000; One carton of beer and one Jerry can of palm wine to the community. Thereafter, the man shall negotiate marriage requirements with the Bride’s family to claim the child/children.
- Any man who denies pregnancy and medical doctor’s report prove otherwise, the man shall pay N65, 000.00 (Sixty-Five Thousand) to the community and thereafter negotiate marriage requirements with the family of the woman. If 9 and 10 above are rejected by the man the child/children belongs to the woman family.
H.H. CHIEF WILLY IDODE CHIEF GEORGE KADIRI
THE OKPHE-UKPI OF OGBONA SECRETARY, OKPHE-UKPI-IN COUNCIL
AND SUB-CLAN HEAD OF AVHIANWU
PALACE OF OKPHE-UKPI OF OGBONA APPROVED VILLAGES (3RD EDITION)
| S/N | OTADI | VILLAGES | VILLAGE HEAD |
| 1 | PA. JACOB ATEGHE | OTOTO | CHIEF MOSES OGBOALO |
| 2 | PA. MATHIAS OSHAWO | AGBAI | CHIEF RICHARD OTSE |
| 3 | PA. IMOAGENE APEBU | ANYIA | CHIEF FRANCIS IRENE |
| 4 | PA. JULIUS IGBADUMHE | ATEGIE | CHIEF DAVID OMOGHIE |
| 5 | PA. PIUS OKOZI | OKOZI | CHIEF JOSEPH OKOZI |
| 6 | PA. OSHIOKE AGBEPUE | IMHONIGHIE | CHIEF THOMAS AGBEPUE |
| 7 | PA. JOSEPH AMIEKHAMHE | ANWUKPE | CHIEF JACOB ORBIH |
| 8 | PA. ERUA ALUOGHOR | OGIHE | CHIEF AZELAKE AKABELI |
| 9 | PA. PAUL IKHUMHI | ERAGBHE | CHIEF VINCENT OTSOI |
| 10 | PA. ALASA OSIGBEMHE | UZOBONWU | CHIEF MUSA ANETEKHAI |
| 11 | PA. ANTHONY AIGBA | AGIAMHESOR | CHIEF JOSEPH EDOGAMHE |
| 12 | PA. EMITSE ILEGA | AIKPABEGHIE | CHIEF BERNARD IKHANOBA |
| 13 | PA. IKIELU OMIAWA | AKPHIOKHAI | CHIEF OKPOBISA OMIAWA |
| 14 | PA. UNOADE AKO | ALEGHE | CHIEF CYPRIL OKHAKUMHE |
| 15 | PA. PAUL S. ELETA | ANYORIA | CHIEF BERNARD DAMAZA |
| 16 | PA. ANTHONY OGHENA | APEKHORE | CHIEF MATTHIAS ESUE |
| 17 | PA. INNOCENT ITSUOKOR | ATOGWE | CHIEF LAWRENCE IYEVHOBU |
| 18 | PA. MOMOH OMAKHIA | EMHOEPO | CHIEF GEORGE I. KADIRI |
| 19 | PA. CHRISTOPHER EKHASEMOMHE | ENAMINO | CHIEF NOEL IMHODEMHE |
| 20 | PA. JOHN IKHANE | IKHANE | CHIEF PATRICK IKHANE |
| 21 | PA. OSIMEGA OGAH | IMELA | CHIEF SUNDAY OGAH |
| 22 | PA. BENSON KASIMI | IMHOMOH | CHIEF FRANCIS UMAGOR |
| 23 | PA. SALAMI OPIKHARA | IKIHINAEDE | CHIEF JOSEPH OBEAKEMHE |
| 24 | PA. SIMEON OKOMILO | INNIH | CHIEF JOHN OGEDEGBE |
| 25 | PA. RUFUS BELLO | IRUME | CHIEF JOHN IKEKU |
| 26 | PA. MUSA ITAKU | OKHAKIA | CHIEF VITAL ANAVHEOKHAI |
| 27 | PA. ANDREW OKHAMERA | OKHATIE | CHIEF LAWRENCE IKHIAGWA |
| 28 | PA. MICHAEL KANO ABU | OSIMUA | CHIEF MATTHIAS AKPAIBOR |
| 29 | PA. KAYODE OKHOTOR | OYEMHEUNO | CHIEF STEPHEN APAKHADE |
| 30 | PA. JOSPEH OSHITSE | UKHAMI | CHIEF DANIEL OSHIOTSE |
| 31 | PA. MATTHIAS ISEDE | UMOGBA | CHIEF MATTHIAS ISEDE |
| 32 | NON-INDIGINS | REPRESENTATIVE | CHIEF ABDULLAHI ESHEIEMOGHE |
| 33 | NON-INDIGINS | REPRESENTATIVE | CHIEF YAYA YUSUF |
H.H. CHIEF WILLY IDODE CHIEF GEORGE KADIRI
THE OKPHE-UKPI OF OGBONA SECRETARY, OKPHE-UKPI-IN COUNCIL
AND SUB-CLAN HEAD OF AVHIANWU