LIFE AND TIMES OF CHIEF OGOLO DIEPIRI

LIFE AND TIMES OF CHIEF OGOLO DIEPIRI

LIFE AND TIMES OF CHIEF OGOLO DIEPIRI

Not until 1869 when he was elevated to a Chief, Ogbulu Annie Pepple was youth in Diepiri House. Chief Ubani acted as the head of the Diepiri house before and during the exodus from Bonny.

Tracing the roots and blood line of Chief Ogolo, Warisenibo Abinye Morgan Ogolo told Opubowatch that Chief Ogolo was born into the family of Diepiri in Annie Pepple War canoe house of Bonny in 1843.

Historically, Diepiri is claimed to be the son of Kala Igoni who came from the lineage of Queen Kambasa by Biriye (genealogical tree of the Bonny Monarchy). He inherited the Duawari house of his father, Kala Igoni and transformed it into a war canoe house during the time of King Perekule (Pepple) his cousin.

According to Warisenibo Ogolo, when Diepiri died, his ex-slave Ayana succeeded him. Diepiri had a daughter who begat Ogbulu (Ogolo), and Ogolo was young when Chief Ayana died. Ayana was succeeded by one of his principal slave called Ubani, who led the house during the time of Jaja’s leadership of Opubo. Chief Ubani fled Bonny with Jaja and other chiefs with Diepiri war canoe house till their temporary camp at Nkoro, where Jaja recognized as an enterprising young and made him a chief and head of Diepiri war canoe houses.

Upon his recognition as chief, the much older Chief Ubani ceased to head Diepiri’s house. Warisenibo Abinye M Ogolo further related that shortly after a war canoe house was also established at Nkoro in the name of late Chief Ayana and Chief Ubani presided over that war canoe house.

From the account given by EMT Epelle (1970), Chief Ubani died at Nkoro and his households took the house to Opobo for permanent settlement.

Account by G I Jones(1963) did not include Diepiri or any of his successor as part of Pepple house, but noted that Diepiri, Ubani and others, were branch of Queen Kambasa. This therefore suggests that the biological father of Ogolo, probably came from Annie Pepple house and he associated with his father’s house, bearing his father’s name and learnt the palm oil trade, which contributed to his prosperity in the house to the level where he was entrusted with the responsibility of store keeper of Opubo house. Actually, it is unknown whether the biological father of Ogolo married the mother .