Onopa Community is among the 12 villages that make up the Attisa Kingdom in Bayelsa state,Nigeria. These 12 villages are as follows:
Onopa,Ovom,Yenagoa, Swali, Agbura, Ogu, Akaba, Obogoro, Famgbe, Ikolo, Yenakah and Bebelibiri.
These communities occupy the area roughly between longitudes 6° 16' and 6° 34' East of Greenwich meridian and latitude 4° 50' and 5° 2' North of the Equator. These villages or communities are independent and are not far from each other. The towns and villages are located along the banks of Ekole and the Epie creeks which are tributaries of River Nun.
Onopa specifically lies along the Epie creek, its situated between Amarata ,a community in Epie Kingdom and Ovom in Atissa Kingdom. There is a motor-able road from Onopa to all parts of the country. They have abundant natural resources which make her an Oil Producing Community in Nigeria with three (3) oil blocks.
POPULATION
According to the 2006 National Population Census conducted, Yenagoa Local Government Area where Onopa community is situated had a population of about 352,285 out of which Onopa had.....
LANGUAGE SPOKEN
Onopa community speak the Epie language. The language is not at all understood by the Izon, Nembe or Ogbia people. It is similar to Engenni and Degema languages in Rivers state. According to linguistic experts like Late Professor Kay Williams,it Is one of the six major language groups in Rivers and Bayelsa state.
TERRITORY OF ONOPA COMMUNITY
The Onopa commnunity territories consist of all parcels of land owned by the people of the Community which for the purpose of Identification covers the expense of land running from INEMU land to OBUNAGHA and OKOLOBIRI in GBARAN CLAN in the North to St PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH along Swali market road from the South and SEMINIKPE CREEK from the East and ONU-OTOMU CREEK from the West.
Parts of the land that form Royal House of Grace Church to St Patrick's Catholic Church is owned by the following Families- Danson,Egba ,Obele ,Odudu ,Otoro ,Okuragha ,Suobi ,Tamama.
U.B.A BANK TO JATO GROUPS OF SCHOOL TO THE STATE LIBRARY
Parts of these lands are owned by the following families-
Danson ,Egoh ,Esegi ,Michael Bunas ,Suobi ,Otoro.
MINERAL RESOURCES
There are only two (2) types of solid mineral resources found in the community which are Sand and Gravel. Other mineral resources found in quantity that was discovered by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria are Crude Oil and Gas.
It must be emphasized here, that the Local, State, Federal Government including SPDC has only tangible evidence to show the benefits the host community has derived from this huge mineral deposit. There is no light, Water, Road,Working Modern Health Center, Hospital, Recreational facilities, Ultra Modern Town hall, no Scholarship to deserving student from Secondary to the University level.This is what almost all the Oil producing communities are facing in the Niger Delta today, hence the restiveness among the youths.
Even by this,we are still grateful to SPDC for building an ultra modern two story classrooms to improve the educational sector in our community.
AGRICULTURE
Farming in Onopa is still at subsistence .Traditional method of farming still continues, resulting in low output or production. The following food crops are grown at subsistence level:
Yam, Coco yam, Rice, Cassava, Okra, Sweet Potatoes, Palm Oil Production, Cocoa, Rubber, Palm, Coconut, Pear, Colanut.
The principal occupation of the people was Palm cutting, as abundant Palm trees grew in the forest. The palm oil and kernel was sold to the UAC at Yenagoa town, as at the time which was one of the largest palm production/buying station in Southern Nigeria. Another occupation of the people is Fishing which is at subsidiary level in which both men and women are actively involved up to this time .Fish are caught with different types of Nets, hooks and traps both in the dry and rainy season.
MARRIAGE CUSTOM
Out of the four (4) kinds of marriages that are known to exist, which are Monogamy, Polygamy, Polyandry and Group marriage, only the first two (2) types of marriage exist in Onopa. The system whereby parents choose partners for their children, sometimes involving child marriage has been superseded. Child marriage is now obsolete. The marriageable age of girls is generally not less than eighteen (18) years. A man can marry at any age.
However, parents still have a strong say in uniting their children to partners of doubtful character or partners whose family is of no tarnished reputation.
TREATMENT OF WIDOWS
In Onopa community, widows are not badly treated. They are excluded from paying certain bills like electricity bill. The levirate marriage system which allows a man to marry his late father or brother’s widow and thereby assume responsibility for her and her children is still practiced in the community.
THE ONOPA CONSTITUTION
After the death of the late chief Clinton Egba,the Community Development Chairman "Mr Tedieta Egba" took over the mantle of leadership in the community. In a meeting held in the town hall,it was resolved that before a new Paramount Ruler will be appointed,a viable constitution should be written in view of some challenges faced by the community.These challenges includes
*Poor administration in the community
*Lack of co-operation among members of the community
*Lack of financial rust
*Security
Consequently, five (5) members committee was mandated to draft a constitution suitable for the community. The members are as follows:
The drafted constitution has been adopted.
Onopa,Ovom,Yenagoa, Swali, Agbura, Ogu, Akaba, Obogoro, Famgbe, Ikolo, Yenakah and Bebelibiri.
These communities occupy the area roughly between longitudes 6° 16' and 6° 34' East of Greenwich meridian and latitude 4° 50' and 5° 2' North of the Equator. These villages or communities are independent and are not far from each other. The towns and villages are located along the banks of Ekole and the Epie creeks which are tributaries of River Nun.
Onopa specifically lies along the Epie creek, its situated between Amarata ,a community in Epie Kingdom and Ovom in Atissa Kingdom. There is a motor-able road from Onopa to all parts of the country. They have abundant natural resources which make her an Oil Producing Community in Nigeria with three (3) oil blocks.
POPULATION
According to the 2006 National Population Census conducted, Yenagoa Local Government Area where Onopa community is situated had a population of about 352,285 out of which Onopa had.....
LANGUAGE SPOKEN
Onopa community speak the Epie language. The language is not at all understood by the Izon, Nembe or Ogbia people. It is similar to Engenni and Degema languages in Rivers state. According to linguistic experts like Late Professor Kay Williams,it Is one of the six major language groups in Rivers and Bayelsa state.
TERRITORY OF ONOPA COMMUNITY
The Onopa commnunity territories consist of all parcels of land owned by the people of the Community which for the purpose of Identification covers the expense of land running from INEMU land to OBUNAGHA and OKOLOBIRI in GBARAN CLAN in the North to St PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH along Swali market road from the South and SEMINIKPE CREEK from the East and ONU-OTOMU CREEK from the West.
- USHEN LAND (Owned by the Community)
- SEMENEKPE LAND (Part owned by the Community.
- ENEMU ( Owned by FANDOU Compound)
- PEACE PARK ( land owned by Community)
- JUDICIARY COMPLEX (land owned by the community)
- TREASURY/REVENUE BUILDING ( land owned by the Community)
- BAYELSA STATE FIVE HUNDRED (500) BEDS HOSPITAL now BAYELSA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY (BMU) (Part owned by the community)
- ROYAL HOUSE OF GRACE CHURCH to ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC CHURCH .( land owned by the community)
Parts of the land that form Royal House of Grace Church to St Patrick's Catholic Church is owned by the following Families- Danson,Egba ,Obele ,Odudu ,Otoro ,Okuragha ,Suobi ,Tamama.
U.B.A BANK TO JATO GROUPS OF SCHOOL TO THE STATE LIBRARY
Parts of these lands are owned by the following families-
Danson ,Egoh ,Esegi ,Michael Bunas ,Suobi ,Otoro.
MINERAL RESOURCES
There are only two (2) types of solid mineral resources found in the community which are Sand and Gravel. Other mineral resources found in quantity that was discovered by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria are Crude Oil and Gas.
It must be emphasized here, that the Local, State, Federal Government including SPDC has only tangible evidence to show the benefits the host community has derived from this huge mineral deposit. There is no light, Water, Road,Working Modern Health Center, Hospital, Recreational facilities, Ultra Modern Town hall, no Scholarship to deserving student from Secondary to the University level.This is what almost all the Oil producing communities are facing in the Niger Delta today, hence the restiveness among the youths.
Even by this,we are still grateful to SPDC for building an ultra modern two story classrooms to improve the educational sector in our community.
AGRICULTURE
Farming in Onopa is still at subsistence .Traditional method of farming still continues, resulting in low output or production. The following food crops are grown at subsistence level:
Yam, Coco yam, Rice, Cassava, Okra, Sweet Potatoes, Palm Oil Production, Cocoa, Rubber, Palm, Coconut, Pear, Colanut.
The principal occupation of the people was Palm cutting, as abundant Palm trees grew in the forest. The palm oil and kernel was sold to the UAC at Yenagoa town, as at the time which was one of the largest palm production/buying station in Southern Nigeria. Another occupation of the people is Fishing which is at subsidiary level in which both men and women are actively involved up to this time .Fish are caught with different types of Nets, hooks and traps both in the dry and rainy season.
MARRIAGE CUSTOM
Out of the four (4) kinds of marriages that are known to exist, which are Monogamy, Polygamy, Polyandry and Group marriage, only the first two (2) types of marriage exist in Onopa. The system whereby parents choose partners for their children, sometimes involving child marriage has been superseded. Child marriage is now obsolete. The marriageable age of girls is generally not less than eighteen (18) years. A man can marry at any age.
However, parents still have a strong say in uniting their children to partners of doubtful character or partners whose family is of no tarnished reputation.
TREATMENT OF WIDOWS
In Onopa community, widows are not badly treated. They are excluded from paying certain bills like electricity bill. The levirate marriage system which allows a man to marry his late father or brother’s widow and thereby assume responsibility for her and her children is still practiced in the community.
THE ONOPA CONSTITUTION
After the death of the late chief Clinton Egba,the Community Development Chairman "Mr Tedieta Egba" took over the mantle of leadership in the community. In a meeting held in the town hall,it was resolved that before a new Paramount Ruler will be appointed,a viable constitution should be written in view of some challenges faced by the community.These challenges includes
*Poor administration in the community
*Lack of co-operation among members of the community
*Lack of financial rust
*Security
Consequently, five (5) members committee was mandated to draft a constitution suitable for the community. The members are as follows:
- Elder Wellington Jeremiah (Chairman)
- Mr. God-day Otoro
- Chief Zedie Danson Aputu (Secretary)
- Mr. Tomini Franklin Bunas
- Mr. Felix Wilfred Obele.
The drafted constitution has been adopted.
