Ogbona History and Culture

John Odior Anaweokhai, CEO of Paragon Oil Nig. Ltd and Secretary General, Ogbona Elites Forum John Odior Anaweokhai was born into the Catholic family of Pa Joseph Akhaniamhe Anaweokhai of Ivhiosano kindred, Ivhiochie Quarters and Mrs. Victoria Abike Anaweokhai nee Ikhumhi of Ivhianaga kindred, Okotor quarters both of Ogbona, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State. He attended Imhakhena Primary School from 1975 to 1982 and Ogbona Secondary School from 1982 to 1987. He obtained BA Hons English from Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma in 1997, and Post Graduate Diploma in Management, PGDM, University of Calabar in 2002 and Masters in Business Administration MBA, Lagos State University in 2004. He is married to Engr. Mrs. Esther Anaweokhai and is the Chief Executive Officer of Paragon Oil Nig. Ltd, player in the downstream sector of the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria. THE OGBONA THAT FLOWS IN MY VEINS (PART 1) It was an 8-bed room apartment with a big sitting room which served more as store and passage than parlour. The veranda was long and spacious overlooking layers of mounded blocks. Between the layer of blocks and veranda was a big playground where we did our kindergarten chores. There was no electricity, save for the seasonal brightness of the moon which was always short live, it was always dark at night.is this why the quarter was so named? Sandwiched between Ivhiochie and Okotor quarters, is Iviebi quarter, which means, Children of darkness. Thank God, I’m now a child of light, my first known point of contact with the outside world in the height of the Nigeria civil war. On the left side of our compound was the Ako family. Eramha Ako was tall, huge and spotlessly white with sparkly grey beards to the bargain, a reflection of the image of God I had created in my fictional universe. He had this magical aural that magnetised us to him. He had a deep baritone voice that instilled fear and commanded obedience. Everything about him radiated honour and grandeur. He had a large family and everybody called him Tata. I don’t really know what that means. His grandson, Dairus, was my childhood friend. THE OGBONA THAT FLOWS IN MY VEINS (PART 2) Behind the Ako family was the Anetekhai family. But between them was a small hut inhabited by Mr. Anugho and his family. Anugho was dark in complexion, always taciturn with an intimidating physique. He had this terror inspiring look in his eyes and with all sense of modesty, a bit queer and uncanny in his disposition. Unfortunately, he died at his prime. His first son, Oghie was my friend though we have not seen for over thirty-five years now. The Anetekhai family were proud owner of one of the three upstairs in Iviebi Quarters. Eramha Anetekhai was the head of the family. He was old and lanky but with bad sight. He was always seated in front of the upstairs overlooking the Inaede compound, few metres away from the Agbepue compound. Eramha Anetekhai was a good story teller with an acidic sense of humour. He was reputed to have said that he missed life on both fronts. As a young man he was always counselled to wait for his turn. Then, elders were held in awe and honour. Unfortunately, when he came of age, the educated youths took the front seats with the elders relegated to the background. The Anetekhais had expertise in the meddling of broken bones.one of the children who was based at Ikabigbo made a success of the trade. I have my doubt if any of them still ply the trade at home since the death of his first son, Eramha Momoh. There are two experiences about the family I will take to my grave, namely, my first miracle. There was this Alfa who was treating Eramha Anetekhai for his poor vision. All of a sudden, we had that Eramha Anetekhai had regained his sight and to prove this, he went around the whole village unaided. Again, I saw an empty casket for the first time under the roof of his veranda. On enquiry, we were told that he was once sick at the point of death.in fact, it was concluded he would not survive and the children did not want to be taken unaware and as fate would have it, he survived many years. So, Eramha Anetekhai was one of the few people that had the privilege of seeing their caskets while alive. The last son, Francis Ighiegbai was my class mate and he is also my age mate. THE OGBONA THAT FLOWS IN MY VEINS (PART 3) Behind my father’s bed room was an underground tank with projected cover. Still on the rear side of the main building and directly opposite the exit door of our general parlour was another underground tank. It was a common sight then as water was a very a big issue especially during the dry seasons. There was no borehole anywhere. Ugbadeghie or Ekhaebade streams were the closest sources of water. It was not surprising that everything humanly possible was done to store water but how well that need was met is another issue altogether as most of the water was exhausted in the height of the dry season. On the left side of the second tank was a six-bed room bungalow that also served as kitchen. It shared common boundary with Eramha Basel Alabi’s compound. Eramha Basel lived with his two wives, children and younger brother, Didi. Initially, I thought Didi was his son probably because of the age disparity, though they looked strikingly different both in appearance and substance. While Eramha Basel was brief, vivacious and boisterous with native intelligence, Didi was tall, a bit muscular and somewhat reserved. Ordinary, they lived happily as brothers but with the benefit of insight, they at best, tolerated each other. After some time Didi built His house and relocated with his family. Eramha Basel was jovial and friendly. Then, tongues started

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTRE, OGBONA, NOW CHIEF M.C.K ORBIH COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTRE, OGBONA BY DR. FELIX ORBIH AND GILBERT ODIOR It will be difficult to understand the relationship or connection between UBTH and this great educationist and worthy son of Ogbona without a peep into the political antecedent of the man Chief Michael Clement Kadiri ORBIH. Chief MCK equipped himself with a Grade iii Teachers Certificate in 1946, followed by Grade II Teachers’ Certificate in 1948 in the same institution -St John Bosco’s Teachers’ Training College, Ubiaja. He had a very rewarding Teaching career with many of the students who passed through his tutelage as their headmaster in Primary Schools or their Principal at the Blessed Martins Secondary Modern School, Jattu. Uzairue, are now old Professors and distinguished professionals in various fields of human endeavours.  He made his foray into politics in 1954 when he contested and won the election to  represent his Clan at the Etsako District Council at Auchi as headquarters, on the platform of the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroun (N.C.N.C)  Party, led by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.  In 1957, he attended the Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University. Zaria, where he obtained the Certificate in Local Government Administration. Towards the end of the British Colonial era, the Pre-Independence years (1956-1959), Chief MCK Orbih, acceding to the yearnings of his people, joined the Action Group (A.G) Party, under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo from Ikenne, Western Region of Nigeria. In 1957, Chief Orbih was appointed a member of the Western Region’s Advisory Board of Education. On December 12, 1959, Chief MCK Orbih took the big plunge into the vast National political landscape. He contested and won the Federal Elicitation into the House of Representative in Lagos on the Platform of A.G Party, thus becoming the youngest Member of Parliament (M.P) in the House, at Nigeria’s Independence on October I, 1960.  For five years, he represented his people of Afenmai Constituency well.  From his brilliant contributions to debates on the floor of the House, he left no one in doubt that his main reason for being in politics was for the socio-economic development of his people and country.  In and outside Parliament, the young and ebullient Honourable MCK exhibited his attributes of a man of strong and selfless character and infectious amity. With the first Nigerian Military Coup that overthrew the civilian government of Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, on January 15, 1966, the political glamour of the First Republic was over and many politicians went underground while some fled the Country, but Chief Orbih like few others, and went back to his roots to continue his continue his private business among his people unmolested. After a long period of Military interregnum (from 1966, which included counter coups, change of governments, three years civil war and post- war reconstruction; the ban on political activities was lifted. Chief MCK Orbih became one of the founding Leaders of the National Party of Nigeria NPN)-one of the few new major political parties registered to contest elections for the Second Republic. The National Party of Nigeria, NPN presented Alhaji Shehu Shagari as its Presidential flag bearer while the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and the Nigeria’s Peoples Party (NPP) presented Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe respective flag bearers. A confident, courageous, an experienced political motivator, mobilizer and experienced organizer that he was, Chief Orbih decided to return to Parliament by contesting on the platform of NPN in the new elections scheduled for middle of 1979. MCK was fully aware he was going to run against his former Party its Flag bearer, then the Presidential flag bearer of the new Party UPN in the new political dispensation. As a well-known loyal and dedicated party leader, Chief Orbih with other leaders campaigned vigorously not only for his candidacy in his Constituency but also throughout the State for the NPN’s Gubernatorial and Presidential Flagbearers for the State and Country respectively. Election Day came. Voters, turnout was massive and impressive. Field report indicated that MCK. Obviously adjudged the most popular candidate, was coasting home to a very comfortable victory over his main opponent. The result from his constituency, which was awaited with keen interest was delayed for nearly 24 hours; by the time the results were announced the following day, the National Election Commission (NECO), declared MCK Orbih the “loser”, with their figures allegedly concocted by the known chief collating officer and chief returning officer from the area, to the chagrin and consternation of teeming NPN supporters who were spoiling for War. He told them to be peaceful and “leave things to God who knows best.” MCK would insist that Politics should not lead to the flow of human blood; if it does, it is no longer Politics but War! In the final analysis, Ambrose Ali, a Professor of Morbid Anatomy at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).  won as the UPN Governor of Bendel State. Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the NPN, won the Presidency with very impressive showing against Chief Obafemi Awolowo, even in Bendel State. On October 1, 1979 Alhaji Shehu Shagari was sworn in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in a handing-over ceremony by the Military Government of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Early in June 1980, the appointment of Chief MCK Orbih as Chairman of UBTH. Management Board was made, with others. The inauguration and first general meeting of the Boards of all the 10 Federal Teaching Hospitals at that time was held in Lagos under the Honourable Minister of Health in Lagos on 13th June 1980. In an official Congratulatory message to Chief MCK Orbih on his appointment, President Shehu Shagari, on 17th June 1980 wrote: “I feel particularly delighted to congratulate you on your appointment as Chairman of University of Benin Teaching Hospital. While you may not know it, your unsung attributes were more than sufficient to have secured you this responsible and demanding post. It was not