Abonnema

Abonnema is a town in Nigeria that was founded in 1882 by eleven (11) independent, equal and autonomous founding fathers in 1882. Abonnema has NO MONARCHY but is governed by the principle of “primus inter pares”, meaning first among equals.

History

Precedence in Abonnema’s affairs is by date of chieftaincy creation and goes in the following order.

• Owukori Manuel
• Oruwari Briggs
• Otaji Georgewill
• Iju Jack
• Opubenibo Granville
• Orubibi Douglas
• BlackDuke Oweredaba
• Bestman Ajumogobia
• Siri Young Jack
• Kalapkana Donpedro
• Aribimeari Membere.

All these chieftaincies were created at Elem-Kalabari before the 1879 Kalabari civil war, which led to the issuance of the 1881 decretal order by HM Queen Victoria and consequently led to the fragmentation of Elem Kalabari into three (3) new city-states. Bakana 1881, Abonnema 1882, and Buguma 1883. The following chieftaincy houses were created in Abonnema postmortems by their children after they passed away. They are NOT war canoe houses.

• Bobmanuel
• Young Briggs
• Kalapkana
• Standfast Jack.

The four chieftaincy stools created in Abonnema can not take precedence over the others that were created in Elem Kalabari before Abonnema was founded in 1882.

Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX is the current Ananyanabo of Abonnema. <Abonnema Centenary brochure - 1982 >

Abonnema today

Abonnema grew to become a flourishing major Nigerian seaport during the colonial era. It was host to many European companies. One such company was the Royal Niger Company, which later metamorphosed into U.A.C.

Abonnema is the headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State in Nigeria.

Notable people

Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX, Lawyer, Amayanabo of Abonnnema

• Henry Odein Ajumogobia, federal minister of Nigeria
• Tammy Danagogo, De-General E-Processing Center
• A. Igoni Barrett, writer
• O.B. Lulu Briggs, philanthropist, statesman and business mogul
• Nimi Briggs, academic
• Prof. Angela Ine Frank Briggs.

Child Neurologist and Academic.

• Roseberry Briggs, politician
• Disreal Bobmanuel, King of Abonnema
• Patrick Dele Cole, ambassador to Brazil
• Dumo Lulu-Briggs, business magnate, Philanthropist and politician
• Tonye Cole, business magnate and politician
• Reynolds Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, politician
• Sumner Dagogo-Jack
• Rowland Sekibo, Politician and philanthropist
• Prof. Raphael S. Oruamabo. Paediatrician and Academic
• Agbani Darego, first native African to win Miss World
• Ibife Alufohai, winner, Miss Valentine International 2010 and Founder of Miss Polo International
• Alabo Graham-Douglas, politician
• Ibiso Graham-Douglas, Writer and Publisher
• Bikiya Graham-Douglas
• Nimi Wariboko, Renowned Academic and Professor
• Nabo Graham-Douglas, SAN, Federal Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice

• Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte, JSC, CON, CFR, Judge, Supreme Court of Nigeria(1984-2002) and Judge of the United Nations (International Criminal Court- International Criminal Tribunal for The Former Yugoslavia- 1993-1998

Further reading

• Abonnema at Encyclopædia Britannica
• https://okadabooks.com/book/about/trigger_happy/29051
• http://AbonnemaFoundation.org/
• https://www.nationalnetworkonline.com/interiews/7524-from-wig-to-crown-celebrations-galore-as-amanyanabo-of-abonnema-marks-10-years-on-the-throne/ Archived 2023-04-08 at the Wayback Machine
• https://www.thenewswriterng.com/2014/04/04/court-confirms-king-disrael-bob-manuel-as-abonnema-monarch/