Agwa clan is older than all the institutions it submerged itself. While Nigeria was created in 1960, Imo State was created in 1976, and Oguta L. G. A. was created in 1996, the Agwa clan lived thousands of years before these institutions.
LOCATION
Agwa is located in the Oguta South (Oguta 2), in Imo State, one of the States in the Easter oil-rich part of Nigeria. She shares boundaries with Izombe, an Oil-bearing clan in Oguta, Ohaji-Egbema, another oil L. G. A., Okwu-Ogbaku in Mbaitolu, L. G. A., and Amakohia, in Owerri-West L. G. A., making it 3 local councils she borders all in Imo State. She is the second most single-populated clan in Imo State after Ogwa Mbieri in Owerri-West and the highest in Oguta.
LAND
Agwa has the highest landmass in Oguta L. G. A., Imo State. Her land is flat without any river or stream and fertile.
AGRICULTURE
Agwa is an agrarian clan with 80% of her population being peasant farmers who rely on tilling the land for their survival. She practiced shifting cultivation from 6 years upwards before clearing the bush for farming.
In Imo State, she is one of the food basket-producing products like Cassava stem, Garri, Yam, Melon, etc,
SOURCE OF WATER
The precolonial Agwa sourced water majorly from the stream owned by her Egbema neighbor, and pounds. The development improved from the post-independence era with the digging of the Well around the 1970s and later advancement would see the sinking of water boreholes by individuals, commercial purposes, and the government because of Agwa’s low water table.
LANGUAGE
Nigeria is a country which has the English Language as an official lingua franca. However, this does not obsolete the existence of over 500 language-speaking tribes in the country for which Agwa belongs to the Igbo-speaking nation, the third major ethnic bloc in Nigeria.
Differentially, the Agwa clan speaks a unique version of the Igbo dialect which has tonal, etymological, semantics, phonological, and phonetical variations.
THE PEOPLE
The people of the Agwa clan are not much different from other human creations. They are the same human beings created like others by the Creator but differ in in-born traits which attest to her offspring anywhere you find them as people with a sense of justice, humanity, audacity, courage, and bravery.
Most importantly, an average Agwa born is very intelligent, outspoken, and daring hence they have distinguished themselves in different life pursuits.
NATURAL RESOURCES IN AGWA
Agwa is one of the oil-bearing communities in Imo State and Nigeria with Sterling Global Resources Limited, and Seplat. The primary host communities of the oil in Agwa are Mgbala, Umuofeke, and Umukpo
POLITICS
The precolonial Agwa people were very religious to African social orders and excelled in them greatly, but the invasion of the British via Oguta after spirited resistance boxed her fate as a conquered people just like others with this bitter experience, and as such, surrendered into the British colonial rule.
As a people of positive drive and conviction, the Late Okorie Onunwa, from Ihuoba Obudi, Agwa, was appointed as a Warrant Chief for administrative conveniences. Overseeing as far as Amakohia, Umuguma, etc.
AGWA CLAN IN THE POLITICS OF IMO STATE
Imo State was created on 3 February 1976 by Gen. Murtala Mohammed’s Government and since then, Agwa people have featured in the government of the State, although, Late Hon. Austin Mark Obodo, from Obudi Agwa, had represented at the Uratta County Council and Eastern State House Assembly in the 1960s. He later contested the Federal Seat in the Eastern House of Representatives in 1964 under Dynamic Party led by the mathematician, Late Prof. Chike Obi and Hon. Raymond Njoku, who was also a former Minister of Transport and was adjudged to have won the elections before an otherwise declaration of Hon. Raymond Njoku as the winner.
SOME KEY POLITICAL POSITIONS FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY AGWA PEOPLE IN THE STATE
1979
Shehu Shagari’s administration, and Sam Mbakwe as the first governor of Imo State, Hon. Raymond Ubochi Anumaka, from Mgbala, won the Agwa/Izombe State Constituency on 1 October 1979, under the Nigeria People’s Party (NPP).
1997
Hon. (Lady) Theresa Ejiogu, Aro-Obudi represented the Imo State House of Assembly under the National Republican Party (N.R.C.), however, Senator Evans Enwerem was the governor of the State in the Third Republic.
2003-2007
Hon. E. Nnanna (Watch Out), from Obeama, was elected under the PDP to represent Oguta State Constituency.
1999-2007
Under Chief Achike Undenwa’s government, Sir. Boniface Ejiog, from Aro-Obudi, was appointed Commissioner for Education. However, during the reshuffling of the cabinet, Sir. Ejiogu was moved from Education to Public Utility and Commerce and Industry.
2007-2011
Chief Ikedi Ohakim served Imo State for 4 years. During this time, Dr. Amanze Obi from Obeama was the Commissioner for Information and Strategy.
2015
During the Second tenure of Senator Rochas Owele Okorocha, Barr. M. Onukaogu Nlemedim, from Obudi, was Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Imo State.
LIST OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN
- Dr. (Bishop) G. U. Nwaeze (Elected-Obudi)
- Hon. Chief E. Nnanna (Elected-Obeama)
- Hon. Emma Onwuzua, (Appointed-Umuofeke)
- Hon. Dr. L. N. Obodo (Appointed-Obudi)
- Late Hon. Engr. B. Iregbu (Appointed-Obeama)
- Hon. Barr. G. T. Mgborokwo (Appointed/Elected-Mgbala)
- Hon. H. A. Eberendu, (Appointed-Obudi)
- Dr. Chima Abiaziem (Appointed-Mgbala), present. FORMER DIRECTOR, BOARD MEMBERS, SA, AND ISOPADEC COMMISSIONER
- Late Hon. Engr. B. Iregbu, Chairman, ISOPADEC, (2018-Obeama)
- Hon. Williams Ejiako, SA to the Governor of Niger Delta Affairs(2023-Obeama)
- Sir. Collins Ughala, SA to the Governor on Communication and Public Awareness (2023-Mgbala)
- Late His Eminence Snr. Apostle Aaron Awuzie, Commissioner, ISOPADEC (2015-2018-Umuomi)
- Sir. Churchill Utazi, Commissioner of Local Government Affairs(2015-Umuofeke)
- Dr. Amanze Obi, Former Director of Ahiajoku Institute (2019-Obeama)
- Hon. Smart Anumaka, Commissioner, ISOPADEC (2019-Mgbala)
- Hon. Casimir Ohamara, Commissioner, ISOPADEC, (2020-2024, Obudi), present.
INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) WARD
Agwa is a clan of three INEC wards namely: Obudi/Aro with 16 polling units, Mgbala/Ubah Ward with 12 polling units, and Uwaorie Ward with 19 polling units totaling 47 units out of eleven wards and 184 polling units in Oguta L. G. A.
FORMER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATES
- Hon. Dr. Louis Nonye Obodo, PDP, 2011 (Obudi)
- Dr. Amanze Obi, PDP, 2019 (Obeama)
FORMER HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES
- Hon. Williams Ejiako, PDP, 2015 (Obema)
- Hon. Dr. Louis Nonye Obodo, Labour Party (LP), 2019 (Obudi)
- Barr. Gerald Mgborokwo, PDP, 2023 (Mgbala)
- Apt. Bethel Onumajuru, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), 2023 (Umuomi)
- Hon. J. M. Uchenwoke-Ekperechi, Action Democratic Party (ADP), 2023 (Obudi)
AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES
There are 6 autonomous communities in Agwa with over Ninty-one Chiefdoms viz:
- Obudi Autonomous community under Late HRM Eze Dr. Ignatius Asor, Udi I of Obudi Ancient Kingdom, 21 chiefdoms.
- HRH. Eze H.Chima Azubuike, the Ohanyere I of Ubah Autonomous Community, with 15 chiefdoms
- HRH Eze Sylvester Onuegbu, the Udo Mba I of Mbano Autonomous Community with 31 chiefdoms
- HRH Eze (Sir.) Blaise, Uba, the Olu Oha II of Mgbala Autonomous Community with 12 chiefdoms
- HRH Eze Saviour Utazi, the Uzi I of Umuofeke Autonomous Community and
- HRH Eze Dr. Abanus Ozuruoha, the Ugochinyere I of Uwaorie Autonomous Community.
SOCIAL INSTITUTION
Religion
Agwa is a Christian-dominated clan with so many churches having worship centers. The Roman Catholic Church was the first to register its presence in Agwa in the early 1913s, followed by the Anglican Communion (Church of Nigeria) around the 1927s.
Others were are:
The Assemblies of God Church, Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim (ESOCS), Deeper Life Bible Church, Redeem Christian Church of God, Assembly of the Redeem, Apostolic Church, Apostolic Faith, Baptist Church, The Overcomers Christian Mission, Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM), The Watchman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement, The Jehovah Witness (JW), Life Gate Mission, Mercy Assembly Church, The Holy Sabbath Church, Christ Apostolic, Winner Chapel, Christ Embassy, Omega Power Ministry, The Lutheran Church, the Zion Methodist, Methodist Church, Christ Saint Gospel Church (ACU), The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, the Brotherhood Church (Olumba), Church of Christ, etc.
Education
Agwa clan has eleven public primary schools and over 11 private primary schools.
Agwa Secondary School Agwa (ASSA) established in 1980 is the only public secondary school in the clan with over 12 privately owned secondary schools.
Health
There is no public or government-owned hospital in the clan safe for four primary health centers in Mgbala, Obudi, Uwaori, and Umuomi. However, a gigantic uncompleted General Hospital at Umuekpu attracted by Hon. Engr. B. Iregbu, is laying waste.
Police
Agwa has one of the best Police Divisional Headquarters in Eastern Nigeria and one of the best in Nigeria.
Market
Ogbafor Agwa Market is the biggest of its kind in Oguta. Before these days, the Market operated every four days, that is every “Afor Day Market”, according to the Igbo Weekly Calendar. But as society evolves, it becomes a daily market except for Afor Day which is the heart of the market where it attracts businessmen and women from Onitsha, Anambra State, River State, and Imo State at large. Articles of the trade include yam, gari, cassava stem, palm fruits, plantain, vegetables, snail, varieties of fruits, mushrooms, and Melon. Domestic animals like goats, dogs, Fouls, etc. All of these article are obtained at cheaper prices.
However, the Agwa clan has another makeshift market called “Ogborie” which functions on Eke Market Days. There are mini village markets people go to buy foodstuff whenever they run out of items like Afia-Ama Mgbala, Uzi Obudi, Eke Ubah, Eke Umuomi, Afor Nta Obeama, Orie Ama Obeakuma, Nkwo Umukpo, Nkwo and Nta Umuofeke.
Culture
Agwa is a people defined by her culture. However, the advent of Christianity dents blows to these cultures except for a few like the Okorosh Cultural Mask masquerade festival that comes up yearly from June to 1st week of August. It starts fully from July to August every day except on Nkwo Days.
We have the big masquerade (Okoroshi Ukwu), the small masquerade (Okoroshi Nta), and the beautiful masquerade (Okoroshi Oma).
All of these masquerades are meant to entertain people, and discipline offenders who go against their rules.
AGWA CENTRAL UNION (ACU)
This is the highest sociocultural ruling body in Agwa. What the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo is to the Igbo tribe, is what ACU is to the Agwa clan. It is headed by Barr. Benson Chimezie Akunya, from Obudi, and assisted by Prof. Amanze Unagha, from Umuekpu.
AGWA DIASPORA FORUM (ADF)
The ADF is the apex forum for all Agwa sons and daughters living outside Nigeria. It is a platform for the socioeconomic advancement of the Agwa clan and membership welfare. It is headed by Chief Dr. Humphrey Chukwuemeka Ugo, from Umuofeke and assisted by Hon. Nnenna B. Akabuiro-Ibe
SOME OF THE KEY PERSONALITIES
Education
Prof. G. Ahaoma Obodo
Prof. Amanze Unagha
Prof. Kenneth Ibe
Prof. Kelvin Ihetu
Prof. Innocent Madufor
Dr. (Bishop) Gideon Nwaezs
Dr. Humphrey Chukwuemeka
Dr. Amanze Obi
Hon. Ethelbert Nnanna
His Eminence Jude Obiwuru
Barr. Benson Chimezie Akunya
Mr. Nduka Ozor
Hon. Nnenna B. Akabuiro-Ibe
Sir. Churchill Utazi
Barr. Cajetan Osisioma
Hon. Ugo Jumbo
Sir. Dumebi C. Obodo
Elder Aban Obodo
Barr. Gerald Mgborokwu
Hon. Hillary Eberendu
CSP Cajetan Onwusor
Mr. Cajetan Onuegbu
Chief Chibunna Ubawuike
Engr. Pascal Ekenze Obodo
Dr. Malachi Ebepu, JP
Mr. Peter Dustan Akalador, JP
Mr. Oscar Chima Ukemezie, JP
Dr. Dorothy Utazi
Barr. M. Onukaogu Nlemedim
Rev. Fr. Reginald Egbu
Rev. Fr. Hygenuis Ogbonna
Chief Sir. Sylvester Nlemedim
Deacon Johnbosco Chimokwo Obodo
Mr. Fortune Ukwu
Mr. Ugo Collins Jumbo
Dr. Dominic Akabuiro
Dr. Alwell Maduakolam
Hon. Williams Ejiako
Mr. Marcel Alozie
Mr. Faith Mba, etc.
Mr. Chukwudi Nwadike
Hon. Casimir Ohamara
The information contained here is a glance into Agwa and doesn’t in any way, constitute the body of her history, achievements, or personality found in Agwa.
The purpose of the brief is to arm foreigners who may not be aware of the clan hence this piece becomes a guide to such categories of people.
Importantly, it is subject to tentative reviews and updates.
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