‘Ugbolu Belongs to Okpanam’: Monarch Reaffirms Ancestral Link

The people of Ugbolu community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State have been reminded of their Okpanam origin, as some indigenous people of Okpanam migrated to found Ugbolu in search of fertile farmlands.

Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM, Dr. Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, who made the revelation in Okpanam during the town’s new yam festival celebration clarified that Ugbolu people were from Amachai and Ugunadagbe Quarters in Okpanam.

He warned that any other historical background for Ugbolu community being canvassed by some individuals to bamboozle the public would be corrected by Okpanam Kingdom with documented historical facts.

The Okpanam monarch said that the quest for the creation of autonomous communities was alien to the South-South region of Nigeria, adding that Ugbolu is part and parcel of Okpanam Kingdom.

He recalled that Okpanam Kingdom was previously renowned for being the food basket of Oshimili North and South but now relinquishing that position due mainly to the unprecedented infrastructural development since the creation of Delta State in 1991.

Dr. Ogbolu asserted that part of the land housing the Asaba International Airport, the Delta State House of Assembly, Delta State Government House and the Asaba Specialist Hospital as well as the International Hockey Pitch used to be Okpanam farmlands, which had been relinquished to pave way for the building and installation of relevant infrastructure befitting a digital State Capital.

He, however, appealed to the youths of Okpanam community to slow down on the rate they were selling their arable land to the public without reservation of space for the citing of social infrastructure to cater for the growing population.

Dr. Ogbolu used the opportunity to appreciate the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for his commitment to transforming the State through the M.O.R.E Agenda of his administration, saying that Okpanam had benefited immensely from his leadership.

He listed areas the community had benefited from the state government to include the constructed 5.3km Okpanam/Ibusa by-pass road, 10.6km drains, award of contract for the Okpanam/Uzor Olu road, among others

He also commended the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ngozi Okolie for building a 500-capacity Civic Centre in the premises of the permanent palace of the Ugoani, and the immediate past Governor of the state, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa as well as the present Governor for transforming Okpanam from a rural to an urban community.