To boost the efforts of the Rivers State Museum Management in the promotion of tourism, the Upata Kingdom has agreed to collaborate and cooperate to make available a documented history of the Kingdom and its people.
The declaration draws from the perceived lack of the proper historical documentation of the Upata Kingdom.
Eze Igbu Upata III, HRM Eze Felix Enene Otuwarikpo made the observation when he received in audience a delegation of the museum’s management at his Port Harcourt residence, led by its Director, Dr. Israel Amaibari.
He blamed historians for not doing enough either because of the intoxicative effect of crude oil which he said, has left many Nigerian to lose their sense of value.
Commending the management for the “giant steps taken in retrieving our past”,Eze Otuwarikpo informed that his Kingdom is blessed with notable historical facts which are noted reported.
He explained that the likes of Ordu Nworisa and Edmund Ashirim Unoshi, Eze Ekpeye Logbo I are supposed to be celebrated given the different historical roles they played.
“Ordu Nworisa, an Upata son fought the Europeans gallantly. He was a contemporary of King Jaja of Opobo. He had a formidable army, he refused their entry into Ekpeye through the Degema river route and was persuaded like Jaja, and eventually a treaty between him and the British colonialist was signed. This great man, from Ogbele in Upata Kingdom has not been mentioned.
“Edmund Ashirim Unoshi, from Ihuaba in Upata Kingdom was another great personality. He was at the then House of Representatives on behalf of the Eastern region. He came home and became the first recognised Eze Ekpeye Logbo. Ashirim during the visit of the then British prime minister, Harold Wilson, read the minority report that gave birth to what we now call Rivers State and the likes of Harold Dappa Biriye worked directly under him.
“Historians are not kind to us and we will work with you to correct these anomaly. There is a Committee working on this aspects of our history and I will like somebody from the museum to join the team. We are working to organise the first lecture series to celebrate the life and times of Ashirim, possibly in March 2019”.
He further pleaded that Upata, made up of 21 towns and villages should be showcased to the world for investment, assuring to partner investors through a coordinated friendly environment.
Amaibari, who in his remarks praised the vision of the monarch for his people however said the museum is on the verge of opening a library that would house photographs of illustrious sons and daughters of the state.
Earlier, Tambi Oboamanu who is the state chief curator said the meeting was initiated to expand relationship and to assist and showcase the culture of Upata people to tourists and the public.
Elder Chukwuneke Esukpa, a retired permanent secretary had advised the museum management to dig deep in order to unravel those important parts of Upata history, warning that the lack of interest by government to place emphasis on archaeological materials is damaging enough.
He noted the visit to the Upata monarch would assist to broaden knowledge.
