This Abridged History Of The Asekomhe Dynasty was written By Wilson Asekomhe Based On Oral Tradition/Findings
HISTORY OF ASEKOMHE EKHAEGBAI DYNASTY
Pa Asekomhe was the first son of Pa Ekhaegbai, whose father, Pa Ereghi, was the patriarch of today’s Asekomhe Dynasty. Pa Ereghi, or his father, is believed to be a direct offspring of the great Imhakhena, the legendary founder of Ogbona.
For clarity, it is important to give a little background information to authenticate this great historical link before coming to the specifics. The Asekomhe Dynasty alongside it’s associated families, is known today in Ogbona as the Oghie Descendants (Apoghie, meaning origin).
According to history, Imhakhena, upon his relocation from the sacred Utorokhiye groove, settled in an ancestral home that he built at the site of the present-day Asekomhe family compound. There he lived
and died.
An indisputable proof of that ancestry was the remarkable Covenant of Stones, popularly called Azido, which Imhakhena made with his siblings, Arua Unone and Uralo. It would be recalled that a bitter feud had brewed among them arising from some irreconcilable disagreements.
Principal among these was Imhakhena’s effrontery to migrate from Fugar to Ogbona with their mother, Aleukoko. As if that wasn’t enough, he single-handedly buried her at Ogbona when she died, without their consent, which explains why the totemic mother-Alokoko is permanently domiciled at Ogbona.
Remarkably, the Azido that followed was performed in front of the modern day Asekomhe family compound. The historic covenant-stones were buried at the front of the Asekomhe compound, adjoining the Ilega Orvini’s, at a spot that is still discernible till date.
THE DESCENDANTS OF ASEKOMHE
Pa Asekomhe mantle of royalty was Imhakhena’s symbolic blessing which he directly bestowed on Erekhi. Pa Asekomhe was said to be a prominent hunter and commodity trader, who was feared by his subjects for his closeness to colonial slave masters.
Pa Asekomhe Ekhagbai was a great popular herbalist and was prominent in healing people bitten by snakes and a Seer. He bequeathed these skills to his firstborn son Pa Itsisor, skills he practiced till he passed on to the great beyond. He was also a seer and power broker whose towering influence robbed on several traditional and customary matters. His legendary role in the palace of the then Okphe-Ukpi of Ogbona, the great Pa Okozi readily comes to mind.
CHILDREN OF ASEKOMHE:
Pa Asekomhe gave birth to seven surviving children among whom were five sons and two daughters. They were: Pa Itsisor, who was his first son, followed by Pa Ikhane, Pa Imhonikhe, Pa Apemheye and Pa Charlie. The two female children were Uwomha Ikhuenena, mother of Samuel Okomilo and Uwomha Ebepogwa (aka Nwanwa) first daughter Asekomhe, who got married to the Oluwe royal father in Iraokhor.
PA ITSISOR’S DESCENDANTS
Pa Itsisor was a great farmer, hunter, native doctor, and herbalist. He was famous for his efficacious treatment of snake bites for which patients were brought to him from across the village and beyond. Pa Itsisor was the pioneer custodian of the traditional costumes used by the ILO Ebatutu masquerade of Ivhiobore.
The native doctor cum herbalist married three wives: Uwomha Eladi Amiebamhe of Ivhiagboghidi quarters, Iraokhor, Uwomha Aminetu from Dunia family in Ivhido, Ogbona, and Uwomha Adishetu Oyomhi (Maami) from Ileile family, also in Ivhido.
Pa Itsisor had 7 Children with his First Wife Eladi. Namely, Madam Omholua, Pa James Itsisor, Enemhiaka, Anayibo, Titilayo, Itsabuma, and Isaac
Pa James is the present Otadi and Oghie-Ebo of Apoghie and is the first Pentecostal pastor to be ordained in Ogbona way back in the early sixties. He is also the pioneer pastor of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Ogbona.
Pa Philip Itsabuma was a renowned tobacco farmer and trader, as well as Eramha Isaac, who lived all his productive life in Benin City.
The marriage between Pa Itsisor and Uwomha Aminetu produced Pa Peter Inaughe, an oil magnate who retired as a Depot Manager in Total Oil, serving last in Ore, Ondo State. Madam Sabiti was Uwomha Aminetu’s only daughter, followed by Eramha Raphael Uloghobu. Raphael, before his death, was the Deputy National Co-coordinator (Special Marshal) of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
Baba’s other wife, Adishetu gave birth to twin-brothers: Eramha Jacob Odior and Johnson Omoh, who in their latter days became famous apostles of Christ. Eramha John Enezuno, the third son, is an aluminum roofing specialist who retired in 2002 from Aluminium Manufacturing Company (ALUMACO Plc) where his elder brothers, Johnson and Raphael had also worked.
The other children are Madam Ekpedotse, married to Chief Osimhega Ogah, Madam Rhoda Onosuaimhe, and Madam Grace Adomo.
Pa Itsisor died in 1968 and was buried in the ancestral family compound.
PA IKHANE’S DESCENDANTS
Pa Ikhane was the second son of Asekomhe. Ikhane left the shores of the village early in life. He was trained in the early 50s as a civil engineer and worked with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). He served in Offa, in today’s Kwara State, Ibadan, Oyo State, and Minna, Niger State.
In the course of his career in the NRC, his path crossed with that of a prominent son of Ogbona, Pa James Odalumhe, both of whom worked together at the NRC. Ikhane children and Odalumhe children; Pa Augustine and Eramha Raphael grew up together in the Railways residential quarters.
But for that privileged relationship, Ikhane children would never have had a reunion with their siblings back home, especially as he died prematurely at the age of 48 years. His wife, a princess from the Ibadan royal house had discouraged the children from bonding with the extended family.
Pa Ikhane marriage produced seven children among whom was Dr Francis Apeakhuye. Francis, who graduated in 1966, was the first university graduate in Asekomhe family.
He was also one of Nigeria’s delegates to the popular Aburi Accord in Ghana, which was Nigeria’s botched attempt to broker peace in the build-up to the 1967-1970 Civil War. Pa Francis was one-time Principal, School of Business Studies, Midwestern Polytechnic, Benin City campus from 1970-1977.
Ikhane”s other children included Uwomha Ibidun, Eramha Philip and Eramha Patrick, among others. Before his death, the young civil engineer facilitated the employment of two of his siblings, Imhonikhe and Charlie into the NRC.
PA IMHONIKHE’S DESCENDANTS
He was the third child of Pa Asekomhe who also worked with the Nigerian Railways Corporation. It was said that due to hazards of the job, Pa Imhonikhe also died early, leaving behind two children.
They were Uwomha Mary, who married Pa Agbonoga from the Ukpeko area of Ogbona, and Pa Anthony, who lived in Ibadan, having taken his wife from the Akaka family in Ivhido.
THE DESCENDANTS OF PA APEMHEYE
Pa Nicholas Apemheye was a vibrant and enterprising man. He played a prominent role in the founding of St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Ogbona. Pa Apemheye was the first indigenous Ogbona Christian to have a Church wedding at the Church on 5th to November 1932 with Uwomha Egbekhoze Regina, daughter of Pa Odior Okhoghiemhe from Ivhitse quarters.
That marriage gave birth to four children. They are Uwomha Aluta, who married Pa Aikabeli from Ivhido. Pa Vincent, the first son of Apemheye, began his career as a teacher. He later joined the Nigerian Army, and served in several locations including in Zuru, in the then Sokoto State, before retiring from the military at Nicoho, Auchi in the 80s. Vincent Asekomhe after he retired from the Nigerian Armed Forces later joined Seventh Day Adventist church and also as a Pastor for some years. He also did piggery farming and later diversified to other business ventures. Pa Vincent’s other siblings are Madam Utu and Eramha Paulinus Achapere.
Apemheye was to later marry four other wives. They were Uwomha Sametu from the Ako family in Ivhioroke, a union that produced two children; Revered Edward Edegha, a Lagos-based pastor, and Madam Felicia, who married Eramha Alfred Iyevhobu.
Papa’s other wives were Uwomha Uwanomeh (aka Imemu), daughter of Pa Eshiesimua, Uwomha Ulametu from Ivhianyoba Quarter, Iraokhor and Uwomha Sefia Itsefia, nee Oshiokpekhai, Okpella. Uwomha Sefia did not have a child for him.
The marriage to Uwomha Uwanomeh (aka Imemu) produced Madam Onadegu, Eramha Blackie, Eramha Okpo, Madam Egbenyia, and Madam Onokpalo.
The children born into Pa Apemheye’s marriage to Uwomha Lametu are popular Evangelist Godwin Eshiekhai, who’s a Part – Catechist and Lay Faithful Minister in the Catholic Church and is also a none-denominal International Minister
Others are Madam Oniluotse, Madam Queen Omonegho, who’s married to Ajiamha from Iraokhor, as well as Madam Veronica, the last born.
Pa Apemheye was said to be outspoken, objecting to certain actions of the then colonial missionaries for which he was allegedly punished with 14 strokes of the Cain.
Pa Nicholas Apemheye was Apoghie/Apodior’s representative in the palace of His Royal Highness, Chief Patrick Ajayi Oboarekpe, the then Okphe-Ukpi of Ogbona.
PA CHARLIE MOMODU’S DESCENDANTS
Pa Charlie was the last born of patriarch Asekomhe. He was also exposed early to the benevolence of his sibling, Ikhane who assisted him to work in the Nigerian Railways Corporation.
Pa Charlie relocated back home to the village after the death of his elder brother. Pa Charlie’s marriage recorded one surviving daughter, Uwomha Ladie.
PA ASEKOMHE