AKWA IBOM STATE UNIVERSITY JOUNAL OF ARTS

The thrust of this paper is the assessment of the socio-economic relations between the Obolo (Andoni) and Opobo from 1869 to 2000. The relations began with the Obolo (Andoni) response to the Ibani (Bonny) Civil War of 1869 which led to the Obolo (Andoni) accommodating the Ibani extraction led by Jaja in Obolo territory. Consequently, Jaja was first integrated into Obolo socioreligious and cultural belief system through swearing of oath of allegiance in the sanctuary of YokObolo; the Obolo national deity at Agwut-Obolo. This oath diplomacy consolidated the foundation of Obolo (Andoni) and Opobo relations in the Eastern Niger Delta. With this development Jaja was eventually allocated the Obolo (Andoni) fishing settlement. He formally established his settlement named after Opubo on December 25, 1870. The European merchants corrupted it to Opobo. The oath sworn by Jaja in Obolo (Andoni) and the 1873 Treaty consolidated the independent existence of Opobo in the Lower Imo River. The treaty of 1873 guaranteed Jaja and Opobo economic hegemony in the Lower Imo River and the Ibibio markets. In the treaty Obolo (Andoni) was not affected by Jaja’s economic hegemony but was granted free participation in the economic activities in the Lower Imo River and beyond. Obolo (Andoni) and Opobo economic relations was strengthened during the palm oil trade. This paper relied on primary and secondary sources to reinterpret this historical development. The findings of this work indicates that Obolo (Andoni) laid the foundation of religio-cultural relationship with Opobo. Oath taken and the 1873 Treaty consolidated economic relations between Obolo (Andoni) and Opobo. The work concludes that the socio-economic relations between Obolo (Andoni) and Opobo facilitated the peaceful international trade in the sub-region.

Open Full Text (PDF)