Ibusa (Igbuzo) town

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Ibusa pronounced (Igbuzo) is an Igbo speaking town in Delta state, South-south geo-political zone of Nigeria. “Ibusa” is an anglicization of “Igbuzo” by the early British missionaries and visitors to the town as result of difficulty in pronunciation. Ibusa was considered more distinct and distinctive by the British. The name “Igbuzo” (Igbo bi na uzor) meaning the Igbo living along the way or road is the native name of the town.

Ibusa is the home of many prominent personalities and individuals who have distinguished themselves in different walks of life. Ibusa appear to have unexplainable special closeness, bond and love for themselves which creates very high level of trust and relationship among them. This would reflect in the policies and ways of life of the people, For instance, surrounding the house or any structure with fences in the town is forbidden. In the recent past, arresting a fellow Ibusa man or woman with the police was banned and only recently did the town take reconsideration and allowed its indigenes to dispose off personal landed properties situated in the town to non indigenes.

For many centuries, Oboshi, Atakpo, Oduche, Asiama streams etc have remained sources of water to the town but Oboshi and Atakpo stand out as streams venerated and held as deities. While Oboshi is believed to be goddess, Atakpo is a god. These two streams have powers with which they have protected the not only the people but the town in entirety. The priest of Oboshi is “Ohene” popularly called Ohene Umuogwo.

[edit] Geography

Historians believe that the Ibusa were the first to settle around the Asaba-Ogwashi-Uku axis hence the other name of the town, Ibuzo (Were the first to settle?) Ibusa is wonderfully located with close proximity to bust towns such as Asaba, (the state capital) Ogwashi-Uku, Oko, Issele-Asagba, Okpanam etc thus considered one of the fastest growing and developing Anioma (Delta North) towns and villages though political observers would tend to argue that this is as a result of self-development.

[edit] History

Ibusa is a federation of two units known as “the Umejei and Ogboli Factors. According to the oral history of the town, Umejei Nwa Eze Isu (Prince Umejei of Isu) at Isu in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria killed his opponent in a traditional wrestling bout, an act considered “Alu” (Abomination) in the land and punishable by death. However, his death was commuted by his father who was also Eze Isu) the king of Isu and he was encouraged to go on exile with a charm and pot given to him by his father. Umejei was emphatically instructed to settle wherever the pot dropped. The pot however dropped at the present site where he founded Ibusa.

The Ogboli factor has it that at Nshi, Odaigbo slept with one of his father’s wives but rather than face the mandatory death sentence Eze Nshi commuted the death sentence to exile. His father, mother and younger brother, Edini voluntarily opted to accompany him. Odaigbo and Edini were given one pot each and charms by Eze Nshi with the instruction to settle wherever the pot fell and on crossing the River Niger, Edini’s pot fell at Ani-Oshe the present site of Ibusa while he founded Ibusa. Odaigbo’s pot was to fall at the present site of Ogwashi-Uku where he also settled. The groups (Umejei and Edini later became one and known as Ibusa)

Ibusa is today constituted by ten (Ogbe) Quarters thus the common reference to the town as “Igbuzo Ebi Ili” These ten different Quarters have different native greetings and are Umuekea, Umuodafe, Umuidinisagba, Umueze, Umuehe, Ogbeowelle, Ezeukwu and Umuwagwu, Umuezegwu (Umuidinisagba is sometimes counted as two i.e. Umuisagba and Umuidi)

Some Igbo Historians such as Emeka Esogbue (of Ibusa origin) and C. N. Ugochukwu share the opinion that some weak and tired group who left Bini with Ezechima and journeyed Eastward might have settled in Ibusa considering the geographical of the town. The implication of this therefore is that this new set of settlers could have been sick or generally lacking in interest in furthering their journey, this could also have resulted in their final settlement in not too distant Onitsha. This new group of settlers in Ibusa might have become assimilated bythe Umejei and Edini groups.

Emeka Esogbue in his writings have advocated for more insightful research aimed at actually determining the particular Isu town in Igbo land Umejei originated from. This he argues will help Ibusans ascertain their true kiths and kin.

[edit] Pre-colonial Life

During the colonial period, Ibusa played a prominent role in Ekwumekwu movement (1898-1910) an uprising directed against the British imperialism in Anioma, Southern region of Nigeria. Ibusa was to play very prominent roles in prosecuting the wars in favour of Anioma and have been the first of such Anioma towns to engage the British in the war in 1898. Fearing what befell the great Benin Empire in 1897; Ibusa fiercely came all out to defend itself and other Anioma towns against the British’s Royal Niger Company forces commanded by Major Festing. Ibusa was though subjugated after long standing battles but the British forces sustained casualties.

After the battles, Roman Catholic Mission in admiration of the town established St. Thomas’ College, the first Higher Institution of Learning in Delat state in 1928 which made Ibusa an important educational centre from where missionary evangelism were spread to other Anioma towns and villages and even beyond.