Usokun-Degema
people in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have traced their
ancestral home to the Benin kingdom.
The
Ogenam-Ekein/Regent, Usokun-Degema community, Richard Sampson Bruce-Akumngio,
made the revelation in an address read on his behalf by the secretary to the
community, Ransom Latunde Mordekiah, when he led members of the community on a
courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku
Akpolokpolo Oba Erediawa at his palace.
He
said they visited the monarch because Usokun-Degema people do not have a
statutory model of selection of king, adding that what they gathered was that
the founding father, King Ugu and his wife, kparu, died without child, thus
they came back to their root to known how it is done.
The
people also disclosed that the elders and custodians of their culture and
tradition were killed during the Nigerian Civil War, which cut off the transfer
of information to the upcoming generation.
Mordekaih
told informed the monarch that Usokun-Degema comprises four principal families
namely Gboko, Okolo, Kengwo and Minimini.
In
his response, Oba Erediawa suggested that the four principal families should
come together to talk about how they will select their king.