Opobo is a community, and former city-state, in Rivers state, South South region of Nigeria.
Opobo is divided into 14 sections ("polo"), made up of 67 war canoe houses. The 14 sections are Adibie, Biriye, Diepiri, Dapu, Dappa Ye Amakiri, Epelle, Fubarakworo, Iroanya, Jaja, Kalaomuso, Ukonu, Kiepirima, Owujie, and Tolofari.
History
Opobo is located to the east of the Kingdom of Bonny. Bonny and Opobo are of the same origin, both associated with the Ndoki people. Jubo Jubogha rose from slavery to lead the Anna Pepple chieftaincy house of Bonny. In 1870, Jubo first arrived in what is now Opobo, having moved there due to a civil war in Bonny between his followers and those of Chief Oko Jumbo, the leader of the rival Manilla Pepple chieftaincy family.
Rulers The rulers of Opobo were:
Start End Ruler 25 December 1870 September 1887 Jubo Jubogha "Jaja I" (b. 1821 – d. 1891) September 1887 1891 Perekule (chairman Council of Chiefs) 1891 1893 "Cookey Gam" (political agent) 1893 12 October 1915 Obiesigha Jaja II (Frederick Sunday) 1916 1936 Dipiri (Arthur Mac Pepple) 1936 1942 Sodienye Jaja III (1st time) (Douglas Mac Pepple) (d. 1980) 1942 1946 Stephen Ubogu Jaja IV (acting) 1952 31 July 1980 Sodienye Jaja III (2nd time) (Douglas Mac Pepple) 1980 2002 Vacant 1 October 2004 14 June 2025 King Dandeson Douglas Jaja V (b. 1947) 26 September 2026 Present King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja VI
Notable people Kenneth Minimah, CFR, Nigerian infantry soldier and former Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff Adawari Pepple, businessman, and former senator Atedo Peterside, CON, Nigerian entrepreneur, investment banker and economist
Gallery
Notes
References
Further reading Burns, Alan. History of Nigeria, George Allen & Unwin, 1929. Dike, Kenneth O. Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta, 1830–1885, Oxford University Press, 1956. Annang Heritage Preservation, article on Annang Britannica article on Ikot Abasi Nair, Kannan K. (1972). Politics and Society in South Eastern Nigeria 1841–1906, Frank Cass, London.
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