Isoko South | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Delta State |
| Headquarters | Oleh |
| Area | |
| • Total | 258 sq mi (668 km2) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 235,147 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
 | |
Isoko South is a local government area (LGA) in the Isoko region of Delta State, Nigeria. With its headquarters at Oleh, Nigeria, it is one of the two local governments that make up the Isoko region. The other is Isoko North, which has its headquarters at Ozoro.
The Isoko people migrated historically from the Benin Kingdom in nearby Edo State, and therefore share some cultural similarities with this state. The area later formed part of Bendel State, before Bendel State was split to form Edo and Delta states.
The Isoko South and North Local Government Area was established on 23 September 1991, when the former Isoko Local Government Area was subdivided. The area produces a large component of the oil and gas resources of Delta State. [1]
The Isoko South Local Government Area covers a low-lying section of the larger Niger Delta Basin, interspersed with streams, canals and rivers. It is located in a region of deciduous and evergreen forests, with patches of mangrove forest, as well as a forest reserve along the Aviara clan area. [2]
The local population are primarily of the Isoko people. There are eleven communities in Isoko South, and each of them are subdivided into several clans. Communities inhabiting Isoko South include the Aviara, Olomoro, Emede, Enhwe, Erowha, Igbide, Irri, Okpolo, Oleh, Delta, Umeh and Uzere. The Isoko language is predominant in much of the area.
The traditional occupation of the people of Isoko South is fishing and agriculture.
Current population centres include Oleh town - the seat of the Isoko South government - as well as the Olomoro urban community. [3] [4]
The different communities in Isoko South Local Government Area are being governed by a monarch constituted by the Delta State government. Their names and titles are as follow:
Since the creation of Isoko south local government, it has been governed by different officers ranging from divisional officers to residents, sole administrators and chairmen.
| S/No. | Names of Governing Officers | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Hon. J.E. Otobo | Chairman | 23 May 1958 to 19 November 1959 |
| 2. | Mr. F.O. Omodior | Chairman | 20 November 1959 to 3 June 1960 |
| 3. | Mr. J.K. Oziwo | Chairman | 4 June 1960 to 20 August 1961 |
| 4. | Chief J.U.E. Agbaza | Chairman | 21 August 1961 to 30 November 1968 |
| 5. | Mr. F.I. Ikpefan | Divisional Officer | |
| 6. | Mr. J.A. Otutu | Divisional Officer | |
| 7. | Mr. R.A. Okaka | Divisional Officer | 21 August 1971 to 23 September 1971 |
| 8. | Mr. J.O. Uponi | Divisional Officer | 24 September 1971 to 30 May 1974 |
| 9. | Mr. J.Y. Sule | Divisional Officer | 1 June 1974 to 30 November 1974 |
| 10. | Mr. F.O. Ekemike | Residents | 1 December 1974 to 11 December 1975 |
| 11. | Chief S.O. Akpotu | Chairman | 15 January 1976 to 31 December 1976 |
| 12. | Mr. F.O. Aimufua | Residents | 1 June 1977 to 31 August 1977 |
| 13. | Chief J.O. Omu | Chairman | 1 September 1977 to 10 September 1979 |
| 14. | Chief G.O. Akpojene | Chairman | 1 December 1979 to 28 February 1982 |
| 15. | Mr. J.A. Agware | Chairman | 1 March 1982 to 30 September 1983 |
| 16. | Mr. S.O. Okoroze | Chairman | 1 October 1983 to 1 December 1983 |
| 17. | Mr. S.O. Ogoh | Sole Administrator | 1 February 1984 to 11 February 1986 |
| 18. | Major E.U. Uzamere Ex. Na | Chairman | 12 February 1986 to 28 June 1986 |
| 19. | Mr. E.O. Eziashi | Sole Administrator | 31 June 1986 to 31 December 1986 |
| 20. | Mr. J.I. Ukpedor | Sole Administrator | 1 January 1987 to 31 December 1987 |
| 21. | Mr. M.C.O. Eto | Chairman | 11 January 1988 to 31 July 1989 |
| 22. | Mr. L.E. Ejohwomu | Chairman | 1 September 1989 to 31 December 1990 |
| 23. | Mr. P.O. Oju | Chairman | 1 January 1991 to 16 September 1991 |
| 24. | Mr. P.F. Fuludu | Sole Administrator | 30 September 1991 to 2 December 1991 |
| 25. | Mr. J.E. Osima | Chairman | 30 December 1991 to 8 November 1993 |
| 26. | Major G.O. Igbehen | Chairman | 7 April 1994 to 29 March 1996 |
| 27. | Chief Iduh G. Amadhe | Chairman | 30 March 1996 to 23 March 1997 |
| 28. | Mr. Benjamin Ogbalor | Chairman | 24 March 1997 to 20 July 1998 |
| 29. | Dr M. Ebereme | Sole Administrator | 23 July 1998 to 20 September 1998 |
| 30. | Dr M. Ebereme | Chairman | 21 September 1998 to 2 June 1999 |
| 31. | Hon. Mike E.B. Igbuku | Chairman | 3 June 1999 to 2 June 2002 |
| 32. | Hon. Fegurson Onwo | Chairman | 24 July 2002 to 24 June 2003 |
| 33. | Arc. Joe Iroro | Chairman | 26 June 2003 to 26 December 2003 |
| 34. | Arc. Joe Iroro | Chairman | 19 April 2004 to 19 April 2007 |
| 35. | Hon. Joel Onowakpo | Chairman | 17 October 2007 to 13 May 2008 |
| 36. | Hon. (Chief) Askia Ogieh (JP) | Chairman | 13 May 2008 to 13 May 2011 |
| 37. | Hon. Goodluck Idele | Chairman | 27 October 2012 to 27 October 2014 |
| 38. | Sir (Hon.) Itiako C. Ikpokpo | Chairman | 27 October 2014 to 27 October 2017 |
| 39. | Sir (Hon.) Itiako C. Ikpokpo | Chairman | 8 January 2018 to 5 January 2021 |
| 40. | Hon. Victor Asasa | Chairman | 8 March 2021 till Date |
Of the tourist areas, the Araya Bible Tourist Center, the Eni of Uzere and the sandbeaches of Ivrogbo are popular.
The cultural attractions of the area include a range of traditional festivals, crafts (such as the distinctive pottery made from the local kaolin clays), the traditional clothing and a strong culture of hospitality.
The area's festivals include the Oliho Festival of the Oleh kingdom, the Omode festival of Iri, the Ivri of Olomoro, the Idhu and Abarne of Igbide, the Osia of Umeh, the Ogwa-Enwhe of the Enwhe kingdom, the Oniowise of Emede, the Ovore of Erowha, the Uloho of Orie and the popular Eni of the Uzere Kingdom.
Oil and gas exploration activities began in the area in the early 1950s, and the second oil well in Nigeria was discovered in Uzere, Isoko South, in 1958. [5] The massive growth of the oil and gas industries has created significant environmental challenges, and have been a source of much concern for the local government.
Challenges such as gas flaring, oil spills from pipelines, deforestation and waste miss-management have been made more serious by federal laws which centralise control of the oil rich land and allow local government relatively little control over activities. Due to such concerns, in 2001, the Isoko South Local Government joined ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, the first local government in Nigeria to do so.
The local government has since engaged in extensive project work to combat the effects of oil and gas pollution. It has promulgated a law that makes Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) compulsory for all developmental and industrial projects, and has also carried out environmental auditing with environmental regulators and NGOs in the local government area. Large tree planting projects have also been launched in collaboration with community-based organisations and with UNDP GEF/SGP support. [6]
Uro is a town in Nigeria, in Isoko South Local Government Area in Delta State. It has an estimated population of 3,500 people. It is bordered by Ada, Okpe-Isoko, Ivrogbo and Ekpe. Uro is also actively involved in politics, as a result, they produced the incumbent chairman of the Isoko South council in person of Hon. Malik Ikpokpo, headquarters at Oleh. uro has also, at one time produced the councilor representing Irri Ward 2 at the council in Oleh, in person of Hon.Blessing Ese.
Delta State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State on August 27, 1991. Bordered on the north by Edo State, the east by Anambra and Rivers States, and the south by Bayelsa State across the Niger River for 17 km and the Forçados River for 198 km, while to the west is the Bight of Benin which covers about 160 kilometres of the state's coastline. The State was initially created with 12 local government areas in 1991 which was later extended to 19 and now has 25 local government areas. Asaba as its state capital is located along the River Niger on the northeastern end of the State, while the state's economic centre is the twin cities of Warri and Uvwie.
Isoko is a region of Delta State and Bayelsa state in southern Nigeria and is inhabited by an ethnic group of the same name, the Isoko people. The region is divided into two Local Government Areas, Isoko North and Isoko South.
Igbide is an Isoko clan located in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.
Agbassa is the name of one of the two Urhobo kingdoms in Warri South Local Government, Delta State, Nigeria, the other being Okere-Urhobo. The name 'Agbassa' is of British origin derives from its original name 'AGBARHA', which is still in use. The current king is H.R.M Orhifi Ememoh II,.
Ozoro is a city and the headquarter of Isoko North Local Government area of Delta State, Nigeria. It is one of the two administrative units in the Isoko region of [Delta State, southern Nigeria. Ozoro had been incorrectly spelt Usoro in some older maps of Nigeria. Ozoro, the capital city of Isoko North, has a population of approximately 186,000 inhabitants.
Isoko people are an ethnolinguistic group who inhabit the Isoko region of Delta State and Bayelsa State, Nigeria. They are people of southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger delta. Delta State and Bayelsa State are part of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Isoko is one of the languages in Delta State spoken by the Isoko people in Isoko South, North and part of Ndokwa East Local Government Areas of Delta State, Southern part of Nigeria in Niger Delta region. It is also spoken in some part of Bayelsa. The Isoko language has close similarities between them and Edo people with other Edoid language. The Isoko people are “an ethnic nationality made up of people and their ancestral roots can be traced through history to the Benin (Aka) kingdom, attested to by the linguistic and cultural similarities that exist between the Isoko people and the Benin (Aka)people” although a few of the Isoko communities or clans have their origins attached to the Ibo language and Urhobo language. Some 750,000 people consider themselves Isoko. Language is a mark of identity and plays an all-important role in the life of a people. The Isoko language however, is being threatened with extinction as reported by Idudhe (2002), as a result of neglect in teaching, learning and use. The Isoko language has about 20 to 21 dialects, but the Aviara/Uzere dialect is the standard dialect of the language.
Enhwe is a kingdom made up of two main sections which are Otu Enhwe and Uluthe with its center of administration in Uluthe where the Paramount Rulers Emanates from. Enhwe Kingdom in Isoko South migrated from IDU (now Benin) during the end of the 13th Century. Its founder was Oviota Oriro, son of the third Ogiso, in the first Benin dynasty. He was denied the rights to becoming the next King. As a result of this, he ran away from Benin leaving with some loyal followers. Amongst his followers were Uvie, Ediagbon, Ekedi, Afia, Okpolo and many others. They had a brief sojourn at Jesse and later left as a result of war threats from the Oba. They found Uri; a place located in the present-day Isoko South LGA. After a while, they left and settled in their present location, Uruchie, where Oviota Oriro became the first King in 1235 AD.
Oleh is the headquarters of the Isoko South Local Government Area, one of the two administrative units in the Isoko region of Delta State, southern Nigeria.
Emede is a town in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, south of Nigeria.
{{Infobox ethnic group | group = Urhobo people
Ihwo r' Urhobo | image = | pop = c.23 million | total_ref =
Nigerian traditional rulers often derive their titles from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern Nigeria. Although they do not have formal political power, in many cases they continue to command respect from their people and have considerable influence in their community.
Ase is a coastal community on the shores of the Ase River, off River Niger in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Ase River derives its name from Ase town. Ase is an idyllic countryside with a spectacular and breathtaking natural beach, evergreen rain-forest vegetation rich in flora and fauna which overhangs the Ase Creek. Ase is a serene natural tourist resort still waiting to be explored. Ase shares common boundaries with Ibedeni, Onyah, Aviara, Uzere, Patani and Trofani.
The Agbon Kingdom is one of twenty-four subunits of the Urhobo people that have been in existence since before the rise of the Benin Empire in the 1440s and before the arrival of the Portuguese in the Western Niger Delta in the 1480s.
Onogbokor Clan is a clan whose origin is traced to Okpe-Isoko Kingdom, Isoko-North LGA of Nigeria. It is governed by a traditional ruler with the title Odio-Ologbo, who hails from the royal family in Ushie quarters of the town. The first crowned Odio-Ologbo of the clan was His Royal Highness Gideon D. Akporeha (Uloho) I, who is the custodian of all political authority over the quarters and the communities. He was a well-known traditional ruler who was recognised and gazetted by the government of Delta State in 1996 and presented with a staff of office. He was a member of Delta state, Ndokwa-East, and Isoko Traditional Councils. His reign witnessed peace after a protracted legal battle for the throne. He reigned from 1996 to 2017. In 2018, a regent, the first son of Uloho I, HRM (Hon.) Gibson O. Akporeha 1, a former Vice Chairman in Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta State from 1999-2003, was crowned the Odio-Ologbo of Onogbokor in accordance with the Ruling House crowning rites. He reigned from 2018-2020 as a regent and later died the same year his regency ought to have lapsed. Another lineage of the Royal Family in Ushie Quarters presented the current Odio-Ologbo, His Royal Highness, Isaac Onomeyare Ajawobu, Uloho II, who was appointed by the Delta State Governor Ifeanyichukwu Arthur Okowa on August 14, 2021, and was presented with a staff of office on April 13, 2022. The leadership of the Clan is decentralized. Each community has its own leadership structure with balanced gender representation including the youth. The clan's belief system is a combination of traditional worship and Christian practices. Apart from the usual Christian festivals of Easter and Christmas, Onogbokor Clan boasts of three main festivals celebrated annually: the Ogene festival, Ogrigri festival and the Obere-fishing festival which attracts fishermen from different parts of Delta State and other neighbouring states.
Irri is located in the Isoko South local government area of Delta state, Nigeria. It is one of the petroleum producing communities in Nigeria. It is bordered by Uzere, Aviara, Oyede, Idheze and Oleh. Descendants of Irri migrated to form other small villages and towns, such like Ada, Idheze, Ikpide, Ivrogbo, Iwreogboko, Canaan Irri, Ivori, Uro Irri, etc, and they are usually referred to as children of Irri Kingdom. The people are referred to as Emo Irri, which means children of Irri.
Luke Erede Ejohwomu, Adakaji is the Ovie of Abraka Kingdom hails from Ovowodo/Umeghe ruling house. His Majesty was born on 1 June 1936 to the family of Erede Ejohwomu and Aliatete Ejohwomu. Under the watchful eyes of his late but prominent uncle, Patrick Ejohwomu, he commenced his primary school education in 1944 at the Native Authority (N.A.) School, Amai. In 1950, he moved to the N.A. School, Otu-Jeremi; in 1951, he transferred to the Catholic School at Okpara Water Side where he obtained the standard six certificate. In 1952, he gained admission into St. Thomas College, Ibusa from where he obtained Teacher Grade Two Certificate in 1956.
Awah, or Avba, is a town in Delta State, Nigeria. Located on the shores of the Ase River in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area, it is one of the Isoko speaking communities found in the Old Aboh political division. Until the creation of Delta State in 1991, it was formerly with the Ndoshimili Local Government Area with headquarters located in Kwale, in the defunct Bendel state.
State capital: Asaba | ||
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