Abonnema

Abonnema was founded in 1882 by eleven (11) independent, equal and autonomous founding fathers in 1882. Abonnema has NO MONARCHY but is governed by the principle of “primus inter pares”, meaning first among equals.

History[edit]

Precedence in Abonnema’s affairs is by date of chieftaincy creation and goes in the following order.

  • Owukori Manuel
  • Oruwari Briggs
  • Otaji Georgewill
  • Iju Jack
  • Opubenibo Granville
  • Orubibi Douglas
  • BlackDuke Oweredaba
  • Bestman Ajumogobia
  • Siri Young Jack
  • Kalapkana Donpedro
  • Aribimeari Membere.

All these chieftaincies were created at Elem-Kalabari before the 1879 Kalabari civil war, which led to the issuance of the 1881 decretal order by HM Queen Victoria and consequently led to the fragmentation of Elem Kalabari into three (3) new city-states. Bakana 1881, Abonnema 1882, and Buguma 1883. The following chieftaincy houses were created in Abonnema postmortems by their children after they passed away. They are NOT war canoe houses.

  • Bobmanuel
  • Young Briggs
  • Kalapkana
  • Standfast Jack.

The four chieftaincy stools created in Abonnema can not take precedence over the others that were created in Elem Kalabari before Abonnema was founded in 1882.


Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX is the current Ananyanabo of Abonnema. <Abonnema Centenary brochure - 1982 >

Abonnema today[edit]

Abonnema grew to become a flourishing major Nigerian seaport during the colonial era. It was host to many European companies. One such company was the Royal Niger Company, which later metamorphosed into U.A.C.

Abonnema is the headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State in Nigeria.

Notable people[edit]

Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX, Lawyer, Amayanabo of Abonnnema

Child Neurologist and Academic.

  • Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte, JSC,CON,CFR, Judge,Supreme Court of Nigeria(1984-2002) and Judge of the United Nations (International Criminal Court- International Criminal Tribunal for The Former Yugoslavia- 1993-1998

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Chief Olu Benson Lulu Briggs: Philanthropist with deep passion for development". Vanguard News. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  2. ^ "Disrael Gbobo Bobmanuel". guardian.ng. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  3. ^ "What are the Origins of Nigeria". guardian.ng. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  4. ^ "Dumo Lulu-Briggs". bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  5. ^ "DLBAbout - Chief (Barr) Dumo Lulu-Briggs". dumolulu-Briggs.org. Archived from the original on 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2021-01-04.

Further reading[edit]

4°43′23″N 6°46′44″E / 4.7231169°N 6.7788461°E / 4.7231169; 6.7788461

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