Isoko South

Isoko South is a local government area (LGA) in the Isoko region of Delta State, Nigeria. With its headquarters at Oleh, Nigeria, it is one of the two local governments that make up the Isoko region. The other is Isoko North, which has its headquarters at Ozoro.

Isoko South
LGA
Country Nigeria
StateDelta State
HeadquartersOleh
Area
 • Total258 sq mi (668 km2)
Population
 (2006)
 • Total235,147
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)

History

The Isoko people migrated historically from the Benin Kingdom in nearby Edo State, and therefore share some cultural similarities with this state. The area later formed part of Bendel State, before Bendel State was split to form Edo and Delta states.

The Isoko South and North Local Government Area was established on 23 September 1991, when the former Isoko Local Government Area was subdivided. The area produces a large component of the oil and gas resources of Delta State.[1]

Geography

The Isoko South Local Government Area covers a low-lying section of the larger Niger Delta Basin, interspersed with streams, canals and rivers. It is located in a region of deciduous and evergreen forests, with patches of mangrove forest, as well as a forest reserve along the Aviara clan area. [2]

Demographics

The local population are primarily of the Isoko people. There are eleven communities in Isoko South, and each of them are subdivided into several clans. Communities inhabiting Isoko South include the Aviara, Olomoro, Emede, Enhwe, Erowha, Igbide, Irri, Okpolo, Oleh, Delta, Umeh and Uzere. The Isoko language is predominant in much of the area.

The traditional occupation of the people of Isoko South is fishing and agriculture.

Current population centres include Oleh town - the seat of the Isoko South government - as well as the Olomoro urban community. [3][4]

Names of monarchs and their titles in Isoko South

The different communities in Isoko South Local Government Area are being governed by a monarch constituted by the Delta State government. Their names and titles are as follow:

  1. H.R.M. Ewhiri II,
    The Ovie of Emede Kingdom
    Monarch governing Emede Community.
  2. H.R.M. Udogri I (JP),
    The Ovie of Uzere Kingdom.
    Monarch governing Uzere Kingdom.
  3. H.R.M. Obukeni I (JP),
    The Ovie of Igbide Kingdom,
    Monarch governing Igbide Community.
  4. H.R.M. Ambrose O. Owhe (JP),
    The Odio-ologbo of Umeh Kingdom.
    Monarch governing Umeh Community.
  5. H.R.M. Ovrawah A. Omogha 1 (JP) FCAI,
    The Odio-ologbo of Community.
    Monarch governing Oleh Community.
  6. H.R.M. Samuel Otidi,
    The Odio-ologbo of Okpolo Kingdom.
    Monarch governing Okpolo Community.
  7. H.R.M. Harry Emaviwe,
    The Ovie of Aviara Kingdom.
    Monarch governing Aviara Community.
  8. H.R.M. Anthony O. Efekodha (MNSE, FMHR),
    Ejuzi II, The Ovie of Enwhe Kingdom.
    Monarch governing Enwhe Community.
  9. H.R.M. Kenneth Onomeregwae,
    The Odio-ologbo of Erowha Kingdom.
    Monarch governing Erowha Community.
  10. H.R.M. Josiah Umukoro,
    Aghaza 1, The Odio-ologbo of Olomoro Kingdom.
    Monarch governing Olomoro Community.
  11. H.R.M. Joshua Aghagba,
    The Odio-ologbo of Irri Kingdom.
    Monarch governing Irri Community.

Isoko South Local Government List of Divisional Officers, Residents, Sole Administrators and Chairmen

Since the creation of Isoko south local government, it has been governed by different officers ranging from divisional officers to residents, sole administrators and chairmen.

S/No.Names of Governing OfficersPositionDate
1.Hon. J.E. OtoboChairman23 May 1958 to 19 November 1959
2.Mr. F.O. OmodiorChairman20 November 1959 to 3 June 1960
3.Mr. J.K. OziwoChairman4 June 1960 to 20 August 1961
4.Chief J.U.E. AgbazaChairman21 August 1961 to 30 November 1968
5.Mr. F.I. IkpefanDivisional Officer
6.Mr. J.A. OtutuDivisional Officer
7.Mr. R.A. OkakaDivisional Officer21 August 1971 to 23 September 1971
8.Mr. J.O. UponiDivisional Officer24 September 1971 to 30 May 1974
9.Mr. J.Y. SuleDivisional Officer1 June 1974 to 30 November 1974
10.Mr. F.O. EkemikeResidents1 December 1974 to 11 December 1975
11.Chief S.O. AkpotuChairman15 January 1976 to 31 December 1976
12.Mr. F.O. AimufuaResidents1 June 1977 to 31 August 1977
13.Chief J.O. OmuChairman1 September 1977 to 10 September 1979
14.Chief G.O. AkpojeneChairman1 December 1979 to 28 February 1982
15.Mr. J.A. AgwareChairman1 March 1982 to 30 September 1983
16.Mr. S.O. OkorozeChairman1 October 1983 to 1 December 1983
17.Mr. S.O. OgohSole Administrator1 February 1984 to 11 February 1986
18.Major E.U. Uzamere Ex. NaChairman12 February 1986 to 28 June 1986
19.Mr. E.O. EziashiSole Administrator31 June 1986 to 31 December 1986
20.Mr. J.I. UkpedorSole Administrator1 January 1987 to 31 December 1987
21.Mr. M.C.O. EtoChairman11 January 1988 to 31 July 1989
22.Mr. L.E. EjohwomuChairman1 September 1989 to 31 December 1990
23.Mr. P.O. OjuChairman1 January 1991 to 16 September 1991
24.Mr. P.F. FuluduSole Administrator30 September 1991 to 2 December 1991
25.Mr. J.E. OsimaChairman30 December 1991 to 8 November 1993
26.Major G.O. IgbehenChairman7 April 1994 to 29 March 1996
27.Chief Iduh G. AmadheChairman30 March 1996 to 23 March 1997
28.Mr. Benjamin OgbalorChairman24 March 1997 to 20 July 1998
29.Dr M. EberemeSole Administrator23 July 1998 to 20 September 1998
30.Dr M. EberemeChairman21 September 1998 to 2 June 1999
31.Hon. Mike E.B. IgbukuChairman3 June 1999 to 2 June 2002
32.Hon. Fegurson OnwoChairman24 July 2002 to 24 June 2003
33.Arc. Joe IroroChairman26 June 2003 to 26 December 2003
34.Arc. Joe IroroChairman19 April 2004 to 19 April 2007
35.Hon. Joel OnowakpoChairman17 October 2007 to 13 May 2008
36.Hon. (Chief) Askia Ogieh (JP)Chairman13 May 2008 to 13 May 2011
37.Hon. Goodluck IdeleChairman27 October 2012 to 27 October 2014
38.Sir (Hon.) Itiako C. IkpokpoChairman27 October 2014 to 27 October 2017
39.Sir (Hon.) Itiako C. IkpokpoChairman8 January 2018 to 5 January 2021
40.Hon. Victor AsasaChairman8 March 2021 till Date

Landmarks and attractions

Of the tourist areas, the Araya Bible Tourist Center, the Eni of Uzere and the sandbeaches of Ivrogbo are popular.

The cultural attractions of the area include a range of traditional festivals, crafts (such as the distinctive pottery made from the local kaolin clays), the traditional clothing and a strong culture of hospitality.

The area's festivals include the Oliho Festival of the Oleh kingdom, the Omode festival of Iri, the Ivri of Olomoro, the Idhu and Abarne of Igbide, the Osia of Umeh, the Ogwa-Enwhe of the Enwhe kingdom, the Oniowise of Emede, the Ovore of Erowha, the Uloho of Orie and the popular Eni of the Uzere Kingdom.

Environmental challenges and projects
Local tree planting in Isoko South LGA.

Oil and gas exploration activities began in the area in the early 1950s, and the second oil well in Nigeria was discovered in Uzere, Isoko South, in 1958.[5] The massive growth of the oil and gas industries has created significant environmental challenges, and have been a source of much concern for the local government.

Challenges such as gas flaring, oil spills from pipelines, deforestation and waste miss-management have been made more serious by federal laws which centralise control of the oil rich land and allow local government relatively little control over activities. Due to such concerns, in 2001, the Isoko South Local Government joined ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, the first local government in Nigeria to do so.

The local government has since engaged in extensive project work to combat the effects of oil and gas pollution. It has promulgated a law that makes Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) compulsory for all developmental and industrial projects, and has also carried out environmental auditing with environmental regulators and NGOs in the local government area. Large tree planting projects have also been launched in collaboration with community-based organisations and with UNDP GEF/SGP support. [6]

Notable people
  • Lieutenant General Alexander Odeareduo Ogomudia(rtd)CFR DSS fwc psc(+) MSc FNSE, is a retired Nigerian army officer who served as Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff[7]
  • High Chief Dr. Stephen Onovughakpor Akpotu (JP), former President-General and Grand Patron of the Isoko Development Union (IDU), Chairman, Movement for the Creation of Delta State[8]
  • Kenneth Ogba, politician
  • Christian Aggrey Owoma Apena, Archbishop and Evangelist.[9]
  • John Aruakpor, Bishop of Anglican communion (Oleh, Delta Diocese).[10]
  • Major General Paul Ufuoma Omu(rtd), sole administrator and former military governor of the South-Eastern State[11]
  • Fred Amata, Nigerian actor, producer and director[12]
  • John Odafe Asiemo (alias Daddy Showkey), Nigerian galala singer[13][14]
  • Bovi Ugboma,Nigerian Comedian[15]

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Isoko South.
  1. "ICLEI Africa - Isoko Member of the month". Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  2. "Nigeria: Administrative Division (States and Local Government Areas) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  3. Local Government Councils, Clans, Ethnic Groups and Titles of their Traditional Rulers Archived 2007-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Nigeria local government: Hon. Ogieh and Isoko South LG Development". 16 April 2010.
  5. "How 3 people died,100 injured as community clashes with security agents". Vanguard News. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  6. "ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability". Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  7. "Okowa salutes Gen. Ogomudia at 70". Vanguard News. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  8. 'Former Clan Otota Of Olomoro in Isoko South Local Government Area Of Delta State' "Omo-Agege Mourns Former IDU PG, Onovughakpor Akpotu". Herald News.
  9. "Why I fought Idahosa, Anglicans - Archbishop Christian Aggrey Apena". Vanguard News. 30 November 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  10. "The Rt Revd John Usiwoma Aruakpor on World Anglican Clerical Directory". World Anglican Clerical Directory. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  11. "How Murtala's brashness cost him his life — Gen. Omu". Vanguard News. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  12. "Fred Amata gets chieftaincy title". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  13. "40 Isoko People you must be Proud of in Lagos". Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  14. "Reactions as Daddy Showkey treks from Ojodu to Ajegunle". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  15. "40 Isoko People you must be Proud of in Lagos". Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 9 July 2021.

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