HISTORY OF OROKAM
The uniqueness of Orokam district out of the current 22 districts in Idoma land cannot be overemphasized as the name Orokam was never chosen after any of the first settlers. The First-person to settle in the present-day Orokam was elder Inamu, who is the father of Ai'Inamu clan, he came from Ankpa in Kogi state; followed by elder Oko, father of Ai-Oko clan, he migrated from Ai-Odeje family in the present-day Ugboju, the third is elder Ona (aka Ona Ogbodor, honorary names because of her population) is the father of Ai-Ona clan, he migrated from Otukpo, while elder Agbo, and elder Akor, who is the father of Ai- Agboriko and Ai-Akor family respectively journeyed down via Enugu state from their kits and kin in Etteh.
The story had it that the first three (3) were much around before the last 2, which gave room to the famous meeting of G3 (Inamu, Oko, and Ona) initiated by elder Inamu. The meeting was always held under Úgba tree, aka umeetini Onchu Ugba, somewhere around the present location of Ukwo market. Later the other 2, elder Agbo and Akor joined them as they continued to meet and charted a way forward in the new environment. Gradually, as their children kept on growing and increasing, coupled with activities of visitors, the meeting venue was renamed Oja -Ukwo, which gave birth to present-day Ukwo-Orokam. Worthy of note was how they cleverly curled their names and would want to be addressed as a community rather than named it after Inamu (the first settler).
Due to its proximity to Igboland and the many presences of Igbos in the new community for commercial purposes in the early days, the name was erroneously pronounced and called Oro-kramu per their mother tongues. Over time the early scholars also shortened it to Orokam. It is with wisdom and patience one could only make a progressive decision in a committee of many hence they accepted to be known and addressed as OKA-AMU.
Reasons for choosing OKA-AMU cannot be farfetched as: Oka - means slow movements but calculative and tactical in approach, while Amu - something is seen as impossible but can be achieved or defeated when approached with pearls of wisdom.
CHIEFTAINCY
Late Chief Okenyi Abah was the first officially appointed Oche' Orokam District by the British colonialist from 1920 to 1948; he reigns for twenty-eight years.
It is on record that during his reign Christianity was brought into Orokam land from Okpo in Kogi State; the likes of James Itodo and other Oko adults were the first set of people who came proclaiming the gospel, telling people to discard their idols and embrace Jesus Christ in the year 1935.
After joining his ancestors, the next Orokam chief came from Ai-Ona clan in the name of late Chief Abah Akochi followed by Chief Daniel Elaigwu Enenche, who is popularly known and addressed as Chief D.E Enenche, father of major general Enenche, pst Doc. Paul Enenche, currently the chief, is said that have gone hunting.
Orokam, which is one of the three districts in Ogbadibo Local Government, is an Agrarian community blessed with fertile land with cash crops like bush mangoes (upi trees), Cashew trees (currently Idoma Cocoa because of its economic values), and Palm tree, which made Orokam home of good palm wine and palm oil in Ogbadibo. Orokam shared a boundary with Enugu Ezike in Udenu Local government in Enugu state, Otukpa in the West, and Owukpa in the South.
The roll call of important personalities in Orokam is endless; late and former minister for Education, Prof Jerry Agada hailed from Ukporo in Orokam, the two Enenches mentioned above, Hon. Moses Oduh from Uture in Ai-ona member Benue house of assembly, former commissioner of Health and Human resources under gov. Ortom, born in 1960, Ms. Cecilia Omale Ojabo hailed from Orokam.
This is wonderful
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