As the history holds, Oforachi was a virgin land during the reign of HRM Attah Amo Ocheje. According to the history, Oforachi land was named after a tree called ‘Orachi’ which stood very close to the virgin land.
The Orachi tree as the history described served as a place of rest for oil traders who passed under it to Odolu and the name Orachi came to be as a result of which the then traders used in describing to themselves as there was no other big tree closer to it.
The land harbored snakes, scorpions and ants with dangerous poisons whose venoms can kill anybody on the spot. The discovery of the dangerous creatures on the land made people to ignore settling on the land till when the creatures mentioned with instant killing poisons were rendered powerless.
It’s worthy of note though, that ownership of all lands in Igala kingdom is bestowed by our culture and tradition on any incumbent Attah. And therefore, the revered monarch chooses hands over care of any land most preferably, Princes of the kingdom. Prince Amana one of the sons of HRH Ohiemi (Agbaji), the eldest son of HRM Attah Itodo Aduga, moved from Idah eastwards to discover and found the Oforachi land virgin right in the reign of his Uncle HRM Attah Amo Ocheje in the year 1838 shortly after his father HRH Ohiemi (Agbaji) lost the throne to his younger brother and choose to migrate to Emekutu in present day Ankpa LGA.
Prince Amana Ohiemi (Agbaji) could not immediately settle on the land and instead, settled at Ogudobo-Emachi closer to the land. He tried every possible way to get rid of those dangerous creatures to no avail. This fact was made known when each time a hunter goes into the Oforachi forest on his permission to hunt but will die there.
Many hunters have conspicuously gone missing in the forest before Prince Amana got to know this, and later went to HRM to intimate him of his discovery. One day, a man called Okaka, a hunter whose place of abode was shrouded in mystery appeared and was welcomed by the Prince at Ogudobo-Emachi.
Okaka’s mission was for hunting but was told by Prince Amana Ohiemi (Agbaji) that he cannot go beyond his own abode for hunting for fear of the dangerous creatures as earlier mentioned. On his hearing this, Okaka laughed and assured the Prince that he was up to the task, and promised to get rid of the dangerous creatures or better still render them powerless.
Okaka went into the forest and spent some days and came back alive to the amazement of Prince Amana Ohiemi (Agbaji) who thought that he must have died in the forest. Afterwards, Okaka assured the Prince that people could now tap into the resources of the land unhindered. But, the fear of been stung and bitten to death by the creatures was still in Prince Amana Ohiemi (Agbaji) even though, he was assured of free movement across the land.
Meanwhile, Okaka was still very busy preparing some native charms to completely render the creatures powerless as earlier promised and he later, alongside Prince Amana, established an earth shrine on a particular area at OJOKUTA Oforachi for the purpose of guiding the entire land against future problems of any sort. This particular place exist till today and it’s called ERANE which up til the middle of 90s, sacrifices were made to it yearly by the bloodline of Prince Amana Ohiemi (Agbaji).
The Coming of Angwa People to Oforachi Land
The influx of Angwa people into the land was not immediately during the time of Prince Amana Ohiemi. Though, they indicated to farm on the land when they contacted the Prince later on. They first sent in their slaves to farm in the land as test run for fear of the dangerous creatures earlier mentioned and were paying dues from the occupation of the land yearly through Prince Amana Ohiemi (Agbaji) to HRM Attah then. When they finally saw that truly the dangerous creatures have been made powerless since their slaves sent to the farm did not die, this gave them the courage to come into the land fully. Farming continues by them from then. They gave their tributes to Prince Amana Ohiemi (Agbaji).
After the death of Prince Amana Ohiemi, his son EMAKOJI Amana took over the care of the land and the Angwa people were still answerable through him to the palace of HRM.
The Angwa people because of their number agitated for one of them to be recognized as their leader. By this time, it was during the reign of HRM Attah Obaje Ocheje. Emakoji Amana consulted with the palace and made one of them (Adejo Abah) their leader. When Adejo Abah died, Adejo Odoma still from amongst them was appointed to replace the deceased and this time, the northern infiltration of culture and religion has gotten to it’s peak. And so, Adejo Odoma was pronounced the Madaki by Emakoji Amana on the instruction from the Royal palace but without portfolio.
Emakoji Amana died years later and OCHOLI Emakoji his son took over the care of the land for many years and died. OCHEDI Emakoji, younger brother to Ocholi Emakoji took over the care of the land till the death of HRM Attah Obaje Ocheje.
OCHEDI Emakoji took care of the land and forwarded dues to HRM Attah Ameh Oboni till his demise. OCHEDI Emakoji took care of the land till he joined his ancestors in 1991, this time, with the Amodu Ojih as one the leaders of Angwa people.
SHAIBU Ochedi, took over the care of the land from his father till 1993 when dispute over the ownership of the land broke out between him and the group led by Amodu Oji now late. The dispute was reported to HRM Attah Aliu Ocheje Obaje and the matter was brought to the traditional council for trial. This time, a district head’s (DO) appointment was already in the offing. Incidentally, Mr Ocheni Akwu, grand son to Prince Akwu Agahiu was appointed as District Head of Oforachi land.
After series of trials of the case, the report was submitted for final ruling on the matter, and that was yet to be done when Omale Opaluwa (Atakele) of Egbolo came out of the blues with a God knows where claim of Oforachi land. The traditional council of HRM also tried Omale Opaluwa’s claim of the land for some period of time and ruling was done in Omale Opaluwa’s favor in 1994.
Omale Opaluwa, within few years lost the care of the land.
Oforachi land is right now in the care of Isah Atawodi an in indigene of Opu-Ata Ananya Idah whose father Atawodi Ocholi was invited to sojourn on the land by late OCHEDI Emakoji.
Notice:
Oforachi land never had any chief from inception. What is now there as Chief is very recent and alien to the land.
Prince Amana Ohiemi was compelled to take the title of OGOHI Oforachi by his uncle HRM Attah Amo Ocheje but, he refused and instead opted to gun for one of the Royal stools as a Prince preferably Amana Attah, Odoma Attah etc which he never got.
– Ochedi Shaibu Udale
Genealogy of the writer:
Udale Shaibu Ochedi -> Emakoji -> Prince Amana -> HRM Ohiemi (Agbaji) -> HRM Attah Itodo Aduga -> HRM Attah Akumabi -> HRM Attah Ayegba Idoko
