By Zik Gbemre
Okpare was an import and export ancient town. Big vessels offloaded goods and shipped agric products like Palm Kernel seeds in Okpare wharf to Europe.
Prof Darah once described Okpare as a city like New York in one of my discussions with him at Mrs. Deki Agbahovbe’s House in Otughievwen Town some years ago.
As a child, I grew up to see Okpare as a maritime town. I saw John Holt’s group of companies in Okpare and on the other side of the river in Edjophe and Iwhrekan there was African Trading Company (ATC). Europeans lived in Okpare town and in the ATC premises. I saw them with their families.
It is not hearsay but I saw them with my eyes. I don’t know what has happened to that deep river that is now very shallow. Precisely three years ago, myself, Kenneth Gbagi and Boma Brown cruised the river with two boats and another boat with security from Oginibo to Okpare.
Regrettably, we could not get to Otughievwen and Okpare. Immediately after Erhuwaren Bridge linking Erhuwaren to Kiagbodo the river has become too shallow for us to sail so we returned to Oginibo and sailed to Okwagbe and Egbo-Ide before we came back to Oginibo.
Gbagi had wanted to see how that river could become viable again if he was elected Delta governor. Today all of that is history. Okpare river was used by Europeans for their trade.
I also believe that the slave trade took place in that area. In Umolo-Olomu town they had a colonial Court and it was believed one Gidigbo broke open a prison in Umolo-Olomu to release his son who was detained by the colonial Court.
Gidigbo was said to have been arrested and on their way to transport him to Europe around Okwagbe wharf Gidigbo broke chains and jumped into the Okwagbe River.
Till date his corpse was not seen. Gidigbo was a warlord from Agbon clan of Ethiope East LGA according to oral history. Also, according to oral history Gidigbo came from Agbon clan to settle in Otughievwen. Oral story have it that Gidigbo was hired as a mercinary to fight in Ughievwen clan but didn’t return to Agbon clan.
It was not barges that were coming to Okpare Wharf but big vessels. Okpare river was very deep and was a booming ancient maritime town that is now in modern day Ughelli South LGA of Delta state.
His Royal Highness Charles Yagbologha Ugen, Okobaro of Ughievwen clan imported goods/clothes from England and they were being shipped to Okpare wharf. Ugen was a business man and traditional ruler of Ughievwen clan.
Okpare was a commercial maritime town that Europeans used for their trades.
Zik Gbemre
March 3,2025
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