Eleme Land and Her People

 By Nwafor Oji Awala.


On the one hand, Eleme is a local government area; on the other, it is a native kingdom, which is a unique ethnic group with a distinctive language, traditional leadership, and other lifestyles that are specific to her people. Okirika, Oyigbo, Elelenwo, Ogu, and Ogoni all share borders with the land of Eleme.

 

Eleme Local Government Area

One of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers State, Nigeria, Eleme LGA was created in 1996 from the former Tai-Eleme LGA. Its headquarters are located at Ogale. In 1992, the headquarters was renamed Ogale instead of Nchia. It is a part of the metropolitan area of Port Harcourt. With a population density of over 273,500, it occupies an area of 138 square kilometers (53 square miles). Along with numerous minor towns and villages, Eleme LGA is made up of ten large towns (each of which is a ward): Akpajo, Aleto, Alesa, Alode, Agbonchia, Ogale, Ebubu, Ekporo, Eteo, and Onne.

 

Dr. Gloria Obo-Dibia, an administrator appointed by Rivers State's sole administrator in 2025, now heads the Eleme Local Government Council.

 

Eleme Kingdom

The Eleme people are a separate ethnic group and a kingdom. They speak the Eleme language, which includes dialects in Nchia and Odido. Nchia and Odido are the two ancient districts that make up Eleme.

 

Oneh-eh Eleme XI, King of Eleme Land, is His Majesty, Emere (King) Philip Osaro Obele, who currently rules Eleme. King Obele has remained unwavering in his commitment to upholding the dignity of the seat he holds and promoting and conserving his people's cultural legacy. His kingom's industrial standing causes people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds to come to Eleme every day in pursuit of better opportunities, endangering the cultural equilibrium of his people.

 

Oneh-eh Eleme serves as the chairman of the Eleme Council of Chiefs, which is mostly composed of the ten ancient Eleme towns' paramount rulers. The two ancient districts of the Eleme kingdom are traditionally used to group the 10 towns, which are frequently referred to as clans. Ogale, Agbonchia, Aleto, Alesa, Akpajo, and Alode are all part of the Nchia district. Eteo, Ekporo, Onne, and Ebubu make up Odido district.

 

Eleme language is distinguished from other languages by its idioms, proverbs, and other distinctive features. The Eleme language has a rich legacy thanks to folktales, riddles, and stories of valiant exploits.

 

Eleme Land is home to two of Nigeria's petroleum refineries, a petrochemical plant, fertilizer facilities, and one of the country's busiest seaports—the biggest in West Africa—which is situated in the well-known town of Onne, which is home to a variety of enterprises.

 

A small percentage of Eleme residents still engage in ancient, traditional, or ancestral forms of worship, but Christianity is currently the most popular religion there.

 

A more hardworking economy was boosted by the 1958 discovery of oil in Nigeria's fertile delta, which led to the establishment of fertilizer and oil refineries on the land. All around Eleme territory, there are roughly 100 oil wells in operation. The Niger Delta's political and environmental situation has been impacted by oil extraction, since pollution from Eleme land-based enterprises has increased acid rain and decreased the quality of the air and water.

Since oil exploration is thought to be responsible for over 65% of all foreign exchange gains, It should come as no surprise that for the past 40 years, Eleme land has drawn a lot of political attention because oil exploration is thought to be responsible for about 65% of all foreign exchange profits. The Eleme way of life has been significantly impacted by the subsequent high levels of migration into Eleme territory by other ethnic groups in Nigeria.

 

© Nwafor Oji Awala

TWO & HALF DECADES OF CULTURAL & POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN ELEME

 

Echieta Market Roundabout, Eleme







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