Okobo, Nigeria

Okobo

Aták Oro
Oron North
Okobo Aták Oro Oron North
LGA
	Okobo Location in Nigeria
	Coordinates: 4°50′0″N 8°08′0″E / 4.83333°N 8.13333°E
Country	Nigeria
State	Akwa Ibom State
Capital	Okopedi
Created	1989
Government
• Chairman	The council is currently managed by a transition committee headed by Hon. George Henshaw.
Area
• Land	183.7 sq mi (475.8 km2)
Population (2006)
• Total	102,753
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
Postal code	521
Area code(s)	521101, 521102, 521103, 521104, 521105, 521106, 521107.

Okobo is located in the South South part of Nigeria and is a Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. It is made up of Odd, Eta and Atabong clans. Following the local government creation exercise of the federal government in 1989 Okobo Local Government Area was carved out of Oron, Akwa Ibom same year.^[1]

History

The local government area is bounded by Uruan in the North-West, Oyono Estuary in the North East, Oron, Akwa Ibom in the East, Urue-Offong/Oruko in the South-East, Nsit Atai in the West, Esit Eket in the south, and Nsit Ubium in the South West.

Okobo is one of the five Oron people Local Government in Akwa Ibom State. The local government is made up of Four (4) clans (where some are now known as district) out of the Nine (9) Oron Clans (Afaha) which are Afaha Okpo, Afaha Ukwong, Afaha Ibighi, Afaha Ebughu and Afaha Okiuso with three being the Okobo people clan known as Odu, Eta and Atabong said to be formed during the great migration from Usakedet (Afaha Edit) now Usangele Area in Cameroon.^[2]

Okobo people are friendly and peaceful people. They are very protective of their people. In the Ancient times if any strangers who tried to enter the boundary villages with sophisticated charms or weapon with the intention to harm or cause riots and threatened the peace of the indigenes was being disbanded automatically due to the charms of protection hung across every corner of the community.

Language

Several languages are spoken in Okobo local government area because of the complex constitution of the local government area. Okobo language in spoken in Odu and Eta clans. Oro language is spoken in Atak Oro. Efik language is widely spoken in Atabong clan. Part of Ekeya people in Okobo equally speak Efik. Language in Okobo is more than a means of communication; it is a vehicle for cultural expression and social cohesion. The use of Okobo in songs, particularly recreational and work songs, is a testament to its central role in the community. These songs are not just about music; they are a repository of the community's history, values, and collective memory.

Clans and settlement

The area has Seven Clans (now districts) in Okobo namely Afaha Eta, Odu, Atabong, Afaha Ukwong, Ebughu, Afaha Okiuso and Ibighi. Okobo people are in the first three districts - Odu, Eta and Atabong while the Atak Oro people (a defunct LGA) reside in the remaining four districts. To the North is Esuk Inwang (4° 56' 0" North, 8° 6' 0" East) and to the South is Nda(4° 47' 55” North, 8° 7' 34”East). The Coordinates of Nung Atai Eta are 4°51'0" N and 8°7'60" E and those of Odobo are 4° 49' 32 North and 8° 6' 38” East.

Odu consist of thirteen (13) villages which are ;

Eta consist of Seventeen (17) town and villages which includes;

Atabong consist of four villages which is

Afaha Ukwong Clan consist of fifteen (15) town and villages which includes

Afaha Ebughu Clan consist of five villages which includes

Afaha Okiuso Clan consist of Nine (9) villages which includes

Afaha Ibighi Clan consist of four (4) villages that is

Natural resources

Okobo is endowed with a tropical forest, resources with mahogany for supply of wood for boat, housing and canoe construction.^{[citation needed]} There are significant deposits of clay, fine sand and crude oil. Fishing and farming are common in this local government area.^{[citation needed]}

Culture

The cultural heritage is demonstrated in several traditional dances and masquerades such as Ekpe.

The traditional marriage ceremonies in Okobo are similar to those of the Efiks. The list include:

Knocking drinks (Mmin ukong usung)
Prayer drinks (Mmin akam)
Drinks for expressing intention (mmin ukop iko)
Introduction Drinks (Mmin mbup)
Appreciation drinks (Mmin ekom)

This list is just for the Mbub (introductory) ceremony. The traditional marriage list (Nkpo Ndo) comes with its own set of rites and “gifts.” However, the “bride-price” used to be a standard £12 (bon duopeba).

References

^ Country Profile 2019 [The Local Government System in Nigeria] (PDF). p. 161. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
^ Book A History of the CROSS RIVER REGION of Nigeria Edited by Monday B. Abasiattai <Ph.D.> Professor of History,University of Calabar. date written July 1986 - September, 1988

Sources

Essesien Ntekim (21 May 2013). OKOBO: Story of a Nigerian People. Xlibris. ISBN 978-1-4797-9114-9.^{[self-published source?]}
Okobo LGA | Helloakwaibom
Efik Marriage “Knocking” Ceremony - Mbub Ndo K’ido Efik | Rosemary Aqua
List Of Traditional Marriage Requirements In Calabar/Efik
Okon Uya A history of Oron people of the lower Cross River basin - 1984
Efik and Calabar Traditional Marriage List and requirements

[1] Country Profile 2019 [The Local Government System in Nigeria] (PDF). p. 161. Retrieved February 26, 2021.

[2] Book A History of the CROSS RIVER REGION of Nigeria Edited by Monday B. Abasiattai <Ph.D.> Professor of History,University of Calabar. date written July 1986 - September, 1988

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