The history of Ogbadibo cannot be complete without mentioning some of the great heroes it has produced. The Late Pa Onogwu Adikwu
(Onogwu Okwo) is one of such heroes who lived a selfless life, doing his
best to help his people. He lived at Ukalegwu Igwu Orokam in Ogbadibo LGA of
Benue State. He was a great warrior who always stood in defense of his people. Onogwu
Okwo served in various roles as a Leader across the Board. He was also the oldest
man of Ai-Ujah, Ai-Adikwu at all levels, and Ai-Orih-Ofugwu residing in
Igwu-Akor Orokam Ogbadibo. He was the eldest man at Ordeche Igwu, comprising all
the villages at Igwu-Akor. He was in charge of Eke-market and even the Head of special traditional masquerades, which earned him the title of "OCHAGWU'.
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| The Late Pa Onogwu Adikwu (Onogwu Okwo) |
LINEAGE (Ancestry):
Agboriko begot Agada-Akpaka, Agada
gave birth to Orih-Ofugwu, Orih gave birth to Ujah, Ujah begot Ameh, Ameh gave
birth to Adikwu and Adikwu gave birth to Onogwu.
Inexplicable deed
His way
of life was a puzzle to others in the community; mysteriously, rainfall does not
touch late Pa Onogwu Adikwu. If he is walking, rainfall will be falling at his
back and front until he gets to his destination. He died in 1985.
Remarkable records:
One of his outstanding records in
his early days was when he single-handedly equipped himself with weapons of Dane-gun,
sword, and bow and arrow and went to Adum-Okoh to rescue his brother's wife (Onche's
wife) from her parents. They refused to release Onche's wife. Neither refunded
the amount paid as dowry. Immediately Pa Onogwu arrived at their compound, he took
position and opened fire. They rushed out and found him well-equipped. Nobody
was able to go closer to him. They asked him what their offense was? He replied,
“I want my brother's wife or the money paid as dowry”. Onche's father-in-law
Agbura Okangwu and other community members pleaded with Pa Onogwu and
immediately released his brother's wife (Ugboh), and he brought her home. The entire family members of Adikwu hailed
and praised him.
He performed many other things to
safeguard Ai-Adikwu sons and daughters both in Igala land and at home in Orokam
Ogbadibo. One of such action was a man called Odubi at Ofante Kogi State
troubling his people, and his intervention brought peace to his people in Ofante.
Further, at Okura in Kogi State, during the early settlement of his people, the Igalas were planting
juju/fetishism(charm), killing his brothers and sisters. He went to Okura to
safeguard his brothers and sisters. Ever Since then, they have been living in
peace in Okura. He protects and safeguards the land both at Ipole Orokam and
Igwu-Akor for the interest of Ai-Ujah and Ai-Adikwu, respectively. He was a
warrior as he leads/led the fighters from the Igwu axis during the war between
Igwu and Akor, and Igwu was victorious.
In June 1966, six hefty men came to
the Late Pa Onogwu’s house after dropping out a series of charms to kill him, but
they were unable. However, he sustained injuries and spent about two weeks in
the hospital and was discharged. In fact, at a time, elders and men of Adupi
Orokam sent to him that Pa Onogwu would not be able or allowed to step foot on the soil of Adupi land; he was declared persona non grata. However, on
a fateful day, he prepared and went to Adupi Orokam to see those who would not
like to see him. He went with a Calabash
of palm wine on the afor-market day. They were shocked to have seen him. He offered
them wine, but they refused as they became afraid. He returned home safely. Later, the elders and men from Adupi Orokam came and paid him homage and said that he was such
a great man.
There
was a man in the Ai-Akor clan whose name was Odo Aanah, and he always steals late
Pa Onogwu's yam seedlings in the night after the ridges/planting of the yams
yet to yield or germinate, which continued unabated. Therefore, one night at
1:00 a.m., Pa Onogwu Adikwu decided to go out to the farm for a vigil to apprehend
the culprit. So, at 2 am towards morning, Mr. Odo Aanah (the thief) arrived for
his usual stealing. So, Pa Onogwu Adikwu approached him and asked him to drop
the stolen yams. The man raised a cutlass to stab or machete Pa Onogwu, and the
man fell. He tried stabbing Pa Onogwu three times, and three times, the man fell.
Thus, Pa Onogwu Adikwu placed one of his legs on the man's head and asked him
to surrender the cutlass, or else he would cut off his head. The man, Odo Aanah
pleaded and surrendered the cutlass. At this point, Pa Onogwu requested him to
return all the yam seedlings he had been stealing within three days, which he
complied with. In fact, the man organized his people and returned all the yams to Pa
Onogwu's house and begged the late Pa Onogwu Adikwu to forgive him. Mr. Odo Aanah (the thief) was warned
severely and forgiven.
When his immediate younger brother
(Late Pa Okwori Adikwu) died, the people of Ofante in Olomaboro LGA of Kogi
state said his corpse must be buried in Ofante for the love they have for Okwori
Adikwu. When the information reached him in Orokam, he prepared and mobilized
men. He then led the men to Ofante to take the corpse by force to Orokam successfully.
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