YOU ARE HEREHistory of Nimo
History of Nimo
Nimo: The Way Forward
(Nimoscope – General Return Edition 1997, Chief B.O. Omile)
Nimo was one of the most thickly populated Communities in the then Awka Division of 82 towns and now the second most thickly populated town in Njikoka Local Government Area.
Owelle, from whom Nimo got her creation, is the eponymous father of Nimo, Abagana, Eziowelle and Abba. Nimo had four children namely, Okpala Dinwenu (Etiti Nimo) Ezenebo (Ifiteani), Ojideleke (Egbengwu), and Ezeabani (Ifitenu). She was earlier ruled by four Ezes (Chiefs), one for each quarter of Nimo. Nimo was notably known as an agricultural town and consequently produced bountiful economic commercial commodities.
Praise worthily and courageously, Nimo met with many inter-community wars against Ozalla, Ezike, Okpo, Owa, etc. and relentlessly defeated the combatants with indomitable might. Because of their strategy and method of fighting, they were called “Ndi ofulu uzo ma fa anua muo”.
Era of the White Man:
In the bid for the British to consolidate Colonial rule in Nimo, the White Man first settled at the part of Nimo called Oliakwukwo from where he requested the Nimo Community to present a person who would serve as a Warrant Chief. In compliance with this demand, Ogbuefi Analikwu of Egbenwgu Nimo was unanimously presented to the White Man as their Eze (Chief). Analikwu was accordingly offered a Warrant. He was reputed to be the first Nimo citizen to plant the Orange tree in the town. For the first time, Nimo had a single leader who operated under the close supervision of the White Man as was their system of colonial governance.
When Analikwu died, his son Muoka succeeded him. This created an opportunity for Mr Ibekwe of Egbengwu to take up the Chieftaincy position.
A period of stalemate and confusion followed, as the other Ndi Eze for the four quarters – Akunatu Nwaelom and Okafor Oji Agbakwuogu (for Etiti Nimo), Obiwelozor and Aro Ezeamii (for Ifitenu) struggled for recognition. Later, sanity prevailed an the stalemate was resolved by the popular selection of Achuamaokwa Onyiuke as the second Warrant Chief to be presented to the White Man for recognition by the people of Nimo.
In order to prevent further claims by the other contestants listed earlier, and in order to maintain peace and stability in Nimo, there was an invocation of a general oath (Itu Iyi) that henceforth, Nimo would endorse only one Chief at a time. The general oath was later revoked when the colonial administration established a Native Court in Nimo and it became necessary to have more Chiefs who would help in the adjudication of cases.
Achuamaokwa Onyiuke ruled for some time without open confrontation with his former colleagues. He was not a harsh ruler and was liked by the people. As age began to tell on him, he presented his son, Michael Onyiuke, to Nimo for consideration as his successor in his life time.
Michael Onyiuke was accordingly, unanimously, accepted by Nimo as the third Chief of Nimo after Analikwu and Achuamaokwa. He rule magnanimously and contributed immensely in checking robbery and forceful snatching of peoples’ belongings (Mpu) which was then rampant and which was spearheaded by the unrecognised contestants to the chieftaincy. His affability and humane disposition earned him the appellation, “Master”.
When Michael Muoyekwu Onyiuke died in April 1937, he was mourned by the entire town. To the people, the death of Muoyekwu Onyiuke was an irreparable loss. He was later succeeded by his brother, Alfred Nkwocha Onyiuke, who took the Chieftaincy title of Owelle III. As a devoted, conscientious, enthusiastic, patriotic and humble ruler. Chief Alfred Onyiuke enjoyed the massive support of the people of Nimo. During his reign, many developmental projects were initiated and executed satisfactorily in Nimo.
Nimo was however blessed early enough with the inauguration of a town union known and called Nimo Brotherhood Society (N.B.S.) at Lagos under the able leadership of the late Chief F.C. Onyiuke and other enthusiastic patriots in 1932.
Consequent upon this noble action, the Society carried its fame to many towns in the North, South, East, West and Central parts of Nigeria where Nimo people inhabited and was inaugurated. The birth of N.B.S. in Nimo, inevitably made civilisation widespread in the community as the headquarters of the society was based at Nimo.
As a result of this innovation, the leaders of N.B.S. embarked on community development projects like building of primary schools, post office, road construction, electrification of Nimo, building of secondary schools, market stalls, town halls, rural automatic telephone exchange, pipe-borne water supply, health centre, hospitals, etc; all achieved through devoted communal efforts.
To manoeuvre problems which encircled the successful completion of those aforementioned developmental projects, men with patriotic, enthusiastic and financial wherewithal fostered and galvanised themselves by the help of the N.B.S. leaders and eventually success followed. After education and tussle for the provision of all these crucial amenities with the spirit of welfare of the people, is the paramount law “Salus populi suprema lex”.
As a matter of fact some Nimo citizens do not respond to payment of development levies for execution of projects. They fail to understand that “good soup na money makam”. It is important and necessary to say in this write-up, that a good number of Nimo people do not attend meetings. They are ignorant that non-attendance to meetings is a great blow and delays progress of developmental projects’ execution. They should learn to attend meetings for onward match to development.
It is noted with the greatest dismay also that Students’ Union and Youth Associations which are the life blood of communities have not prospered or waxed strong in Nimo. It is bewildering that studied leadership in that direction is painfully moribund. The leaders of theses bodies are seriously and definitely solicited to make hay while the sun shines by reviving them to join in the crusade and participate actively in the nation-building effort.
This write-up will highlight that the non-implementation of our byelaws and legitimate decisions burden us beyond imagination. It should be forward ever and backward never if we charge some of the Nimo age grades or create a formidable taskforce to handle those who go contrary to our resolved byelaws. Inevitably this will enhance our achievements.
It is condign at this juncture to relate that Nimo was immersed in a dilemma for some years. Within a matter of some months since the late Owelle, His Highness, Eze Alfred Nkwocha Onyiuke III returned to his ancestors later in 1983, our beloved town embarked upon a most deplorable but steady drift from one crisis to the other. This devastating drift as it involved a series of court actions and round table discussions, progressively deteriorated. It ushered into Nimo an indescribable ill wind of the most dangerous and destructive type. It emphatically generated such bitterness, acrimony, and deep-seated hatred that the once famous and high respected Nimo was thrown into total disunity, utter disorder and a state of strife, near tumult and anarchy. The result is that the one time peace-loving and enviable people of Nimo got torn into various unhealthy antagonistic factions; faction which in no small measure, stultified and frustrated any meaningful social interaction, developmental efforts and even religious practices..
This ghastly situation lingered on from 1985 to 1989, when His Lordship, The Rt. Rev. Dr. A.K. Obiefuna of Awka Diocese (then Archbishop of Onitsha), played a prompt and steadfast role which he resolutely, persistently and exquisitely pursued. The temptation and problems which gripped Nimo then were clear and unequivocal to His Lordship.
On 15th July 1989, the people of Nimo successfully crowned their traditional ruler, Igwe John Chukwuma Ezedinakachukwu Okafor Agilo, Owelle of Nimo, in accordance with the Nimo Chieftaincy Constitution. From that time on, Nimo citizens started working again for peace and better development of Nimo.
Nimo people are usually discreet, meticulously searching, judiciously penetrative and manifest copious wisdom in arriving at decisions in matters threatening the well-being of Nimo. They spare no time in taking the most pragmatic steps in dealing with people who try to cause confusion in Nimo. She is noted for abundantly rewarding good deeds among her people. She gives merit where it is due and punishment when the need arises with utmost observance of the due processes of the law. They are essentially a democratic people who throw matters open to the people before important decisions are taken. Finally, the people are noted for their kindness, hospitality and good neighbourliness. I pray ardently that in future no seed of discord shall be allowed to germinate because such a deplorable background of deteriorating personal relationship and animosity which constitute a time bomb is for sure bound to explode detrimentally any moment and that incontestably, will tantamount to the beginning of the end of a city designed by God Himself. God forbid.
I want to utilise this rare medium of communication, to profoundly implore all the people of our great town, Nimo, to always focus and direct they endeavours towards realising a virile and united Community by exhibiting in all our dealings that genuine, sincere and honest characteristic of being our brothers keeper. For united we stand, divided we fall. The absolute neglect and rejection of an avalanche of rumour, gossip, blackmail, castigation, defamation and the vehement resistance to the agents of all these enumerated maladies and more, would for sure, lead and land us in that promised haven of comfort and everlasting bliss. This is the simplest way forward for us and all.
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