Opobo
City state in Rivers State, Nigeria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Opobo is a community, and former city-state, in Rivers state, South South region of Nigeria.
Opobo | |
|---|---|
City state | |
 Interactive map of Opobo | |
| Coordinates: 4°30′41″N 7°32′24″E | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Rivers State |
| Founded by | Jaja of Opobo |
| Government | |
| • Amanyanabo | Dandeson Douglas Jaja V |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
Opobo is divided into 14 sections ("polo"), made up of 67 war canoe houses. The 14 sections are Adibie, Biriye, Diepiri, Dapu, Dappa Ye Amakiri, Epelle, Fubarakworo, Iroanya, Jaja, Kalaomuso, Ukonu, Kiepirima, Owujie, and Tolofari.[1][2]
History
Opobo is located to the east of the Kingdom of Bonny. Bonny and Opobo are of the same origin, both associated with the Ndoki people.[a][3] Jubo Jubogha rose from slavery to lead the Anna Pepple chieftaincy house of Bonny.[4] In 1870, Jubo first arrived in what is now Opobo, having moved there due to a civil war in Bonny between his followers and those of Chief Oko Jumbo, the leader of the rival Manilla Pepple chieftaincy family.[5][6]
Rulers
The rulers of Opobo were:[7]
| Start | End | Ruler |
|---|---|---|
| 25 December 1870 | September 1887 | Jubo Jubogha "Jaja I" (b. 1821 - d. 1891) |
| September 1887 | 1891 | Perekule (chairman Council of Chiefs) |
| 1891 | 1893 | "Cookey Gam" (political agent) |
| 1893 | 12 October 1915 | Obiesigha Jaja II (Frederick Sunday) |
| 1916 | 1936 | Dipiri (Arthur Mac Pepple) |
| 1936 | 1942 | Sodienye Jaja III (1st time) (Douglas Mac Pepple) (d. 1980) |
| 1942 | 1946 | Stephen Ubogu Jaja IV (acting) |
| 1952 | 31 July 1980 | Sodienye Jaja III (2nd time) (Douglas Mac Pepple) |
| 1980 | 2002 | Vacant |
| 1 October 2004 | 14 June 2025 | King Dandeson Douglas Jaja V (b. 1947) |
Notable people
- Kenneth Minimah, CFR, Nigerian infantry soldier and former Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff
- Adawari Pepple, businessman, and former senator
- Atedo Peterside, CON, Nigerian entrepreneur, investment banker and economist