22/07/2023
HISTORY OF CHIEF OKO SUNJU MINIMA STOOL IN OPOBO KINGDOM
Godwin Oko Sunju (Oko Sunju) as he was popularly called, prior to establishing his personal war canoe in Opobo Town was a founding member of Sunju Minima War Canoe House established at Nkoro in 1869. It should be recalled that while in Grand Bonny, the Ancient village of Minima (the ancestral home of Perekule) and her citizens was not a War Canoe House, but rather a part and parcel of the Big House (Opuwari), under the headship of the Head of Annie Pepple House and later Opubo Annie Pepple House and bears “Annie Pepple” as surname up-to Nkoro. But suffice to say that prior to the final movement to Opobo Town, Chief Jack Jaja Annie Pepple (Jubo jubo-gha) in November 1869, elevated (then) Ada Adibe Sunju Opubo Annie Pepple (a principal slave of King Opubo the Great) to a War Canoe Chief. But most unfortunately and against the overwhelming euphoria of the moment, the cold hands of death became a reality when the founding Adible Sunju Opubo Annie Pepple (now Chief Adibie Sunju Minima) passed on at Nkoro, barely a month after induction without a biological offspring. After his burial at Nkoro, the time was so short between mourning his demise and preparation for the final movement to Opobo Town and therefore, inauspicious for the rigors of burial rites, selection and installation of a new chief of the house till a later date in Opobo Town.
The painful demise of the founding chief, though worrisome and difficult to assimilate, but the reality of the moment (movement to Opobo Town) was not only obvious but equally challenging as it was practical. Consequently, and as heir apparent to Late Chief Sunju Minima, Godwin Oko Sunju Minima (adopted son), on whose shoulder the leadership devolves, successfully navigated and led Chief Sunju Minima War Canoe to Opobo Town on 25th December 1870, along with other elders of the house such as Idafama, Ogbulu,Okpukpo, Sunju Nta, Ibulu, Anidima, Iwobere, Ogonobere, etc. Incidentally though, and for some obvious but prevailing unpleasant reasons, Chief Okpukpo Sunju Minima was finally installed as the succeeding Chief of Sunju Minima War Cance House in late 1876. He ruled for about 20 years before joining his ancestors in 1897. He established the three major Burusu (Administrative units) of the House namely: Ndappa, Ogboloya (nee Sunday Jaja) and Osunju which exist to date.
In all these imbroglio, the ambition of Godwin Sunju Minima to launch his personal war canoe, a burning desire of all successful Ibani leaders and free slaves, was as irresistible as it was vigorous, and thus on 6th January 1886, having satisfied all necessary traditional requirements to become a war canoe chief, he established and launched ‘Chief Oko Sunju Minima War Canoe House’ in Opobo Town and became the founding Chief (Oko Sunju 1), before his final relocation to the present site on the Kalama Island 2 Opobo, in 1887.
As an entrepreneur and merchant, Chief Oko Sunju Minima traded with many European Merchant companies particularly, the African Oil Nuts Company of Kingsway Sheet, London. When European traders were removed front Down-Below to Eqwenga between 1903 and 1907, Chief Oko Sunju Minima brought the African Oil Nuts Company to Minima in Opobo, on a lease agreement and subsequently became their major supplier of palm produce and importer of British merchandise between 1903 to 1931. He acquired and maintained trading posts in such places as: Etim-Ekpo, Essene, Ikpe, Nkpukpuko in present-day Akwa Ibom State and Azumini and Ohambele in today Abia State. In his lifetime, he embraced and propagated an inclusive leadership ideology devoid of class incongruity, a prosperous society through dedication to hard work, and most importantly, fear and obedience to Almighty God. The veracity of his belief and ideologies can be attested to by his large sprawling family with a sense of community growth and development to date. He was indeed a great leader. Chief Godwin Oko Sunju Minima, was a founding member of the King Jaja Group of Houses [now King Jaja Executive Authority] a major player in the stability of Jaja House. He was an ardent believer in King Jaja's struggle for the economic emancipation of Africa and a Provincial Commander of King Jaja's military formation, An Octogenarian of sorts, he ruled over his house from 1886 to 1931 and died at the age of 81. He was a devout Christian, and a man of peace, justice and fair play.
Chief Godwin Oko Sunju Minima was succeeded on the stool by Chief Robert Oko Sunju Minima (Oo Sunju II) who was installed in 1939. He was directly chosen by his adopted father to succeed him because of his penchant for details as well as his success in the handling of the house trading businesses. Even before becoming the Chief of the House, Robert Oko Sunju Minima (Uku-nta) as he was fondly called, signed the 1937 Native Lands Acquisition Ordinance tenancy agreement between Minima and Societe Commerciale de I’Ouest African (SCOA) of France. He was a member of the Executive Authority of Jaja House, and also chaired the Jaja House Committee for the requirement of the Amayanabo, King Douglas MacPepple Jaja in 1943, along with other Jaja House leaders such as; Ezekiel Sunday Jaja, Harvey Jim Jaja and J.A Jaja. He successfully steered the affairs of the house for 7 years before abdicating the Stool in 1946. He died in 1954.
Chief Robert was succeeded by a social and flamboyant leader; Chief Squeeze Oko Sunju Minima (Oko Sunju III) in 1953 after about eight years of vacuum on the stool. He was credited with the signing of the 1947 Native Lands Acquisition Ordinance between Minima and Societe Commerciale de l'Ouest African (SCOA) of France in 1947, though not yet as a chief of the house at that time. Chief Squeeze ruled for about eight years before he was dethroned in 1961 and died three years after in 1964.
In 1962, Chief Gladday Oko Sungu Minima (Oko Sunju IV) assumed the mantle of leadership of the house but was short-lived due to ill health and he passed away on 5th October 1964 shortly after the demise of Chief Squeeze. He lasted only about two years on the Stool. Thereafter, the stool became vacant for about nine years as a result of the unpreparedness of affected persons to ascend the Stool and coupled with the insecurity situation posed by the impending Nigerian Civil War which lasted between 1968 to 1970.
By 1973, Chief Festus (Dobo) Oko Sunju Minima (Oko Sunju V) ascended the stool of his former in a grand ceremony. A jolly good fellow and a friend of all; he was a modest leader that attracted the followership of all and sundry. He served as the Secretary of Opobo Council of Alapu, and was appointed member of King Jaja Executive Authority the same year by King Douglas Jaja (Jeki IV). It is pertinent to recall that under his rule, the Stool of Chief Oko Suniu Minima War Canoe House was formally recognized and certified as a Traditional Ruler and Village Head of Adibie Polo in Opobo Clan by virtue of the Traditional Rulers Edict 1973, of the South Eastern State Government of Nigeria. Chief Festus, with his deep root in Ibani culture and tradition, was an articulate and firm leader who upheld nothing but the truth. He died in 1986 after thirteen years of meritorious service on the stool.
There was another long period of vacancy on the stool until 2002 when Chief T. J. Oko Sunju Minima (Oko Sunju VI) was installed. The colorful Installation ceremony was unprecedented. But most undeniably, his flamboyant lifestyle and philanthropy was short-lived and dearly missed when a brief health challenge resulting in his early demise, shortened his reign in April, 2004,
Between 2004 to 2022 (18 years) the stool again remained vacant until the emergence d the present Alabo Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Oko Sunju Minima (Oko Sunju VII) to the exalted Stool of his forebears. The unanimity of his choice was not only demonstrated by the selection and confirmation of the Seniapu Council, but also the Women as well as the Asawo (Youth) of the House. A great-grandson of Chief Godwin Oko Sunju Minim (Oko Sunju I), a retired Lt. General, former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Nigerian Army, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alabo Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Oko Sunju Minima is an aficionado of Opobo (Ibani) culture, a title holder of Balolo, Amapere and Arusibidabo Opobo Kingdom.
