OKPENOKPE , THE SON OF A BENIN KINGDOM KING IN THE PURSUIT OF PEACE AND INDEPENDENCE FROM A TROUBLED FAMILY HOME LEFT HIS PEOPLE TO FOUND THE LAND OF OKPE - ISOKO FROM WHICH ALMOST ALL TOWNS OF THE ISOKOS HAILED.
THAT WAS IN THE 14TH CENTURY. HE FIRST SETTLED IN OREROKPE OF THE URHOBOS. AS IF IT WAS NOT FAR ENOUGH FROM THE TROUBLES OF HIS FAMILY, HE DECIDED TO MOVE INWARD AND SETTLED AT OKELE LAKE REGION IN OKPE - ISOKO. LATER ON HE MOVED HIS FAMILY FROM THERE TO A DRY LAND DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF AFRICAN VORACIOUS CROCODILES THAT WAS TROUBLING HIM AND FAMILY.
THE LAND OKPE - ISOKO HAS FOUR MAJOR FAMILIES. THEY ARE THE OVIE(KING) FAMILY, THE ONO( KING MAKER) FAMILY, THE OTOTA( SPEAKER) FAMILY AND THE UWREMU (SHARER OR DIVIDER) FAMILY. THEY CONSTITUTE THE MAJOR LEADERSHIP AND RULING COUNCIL BEFORE THE COMMUNITY NATIONAL PRESIDENT WITH OTHER SURBODINATES, THE CHAIRMAN, THE CHAIRPERSON LEADING THE WOMEN/LADIES, THE YOUTHS CHAIRMAN WITH FOUR ZONAL LEADERS AND OTHER CLERKS AND SECRETARIES, TREASURERS, ACCOUNTANTS, MEDIATORS/PEACEMAKERS.
THE OVIE FAMILY IS FURTHER SUBDIVIDED INTO FOUR FAMILIES BECAUSE OKPENOKPE HAD FOUR WIVES THAT ALSO GAVE BIRTH TO CHILDREN. THESE FOUR FAMILIES ROTATE THE ROYAL THRONE AMONG THEMSELVES AFTER THE DEMISE OF ONE SITTING ON THE THRONE. AMONG THE OVIE FAMILY, THERE IS THE COUNCIL OF PRINCES WHICH ONLY DO MEETINGS ON THE SUMMONS OF THE SITTING KING'S FAMILY INCLUDING THE ONO FAMILY IN ATTENDANCE. THESE ONES CHOOSES THE NEXT KING FOR THE OTHER FOUR THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER.
ALL ISOKO SPEAKING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES INCLUDING SOME URHOBO SPEAKING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES, HAVE THEIR MAIN ROOTS AND FOUNDATION IN OKPE - ISOKO NO MATTER HOW BIG, GROWN, DEVELOPED, INFLUENCIAL, POWERFUL, WEALTHY THEY MAY BE TODAY.
IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT THE DIFFERENT KINGDOMS AND NUMEROUS CLANS CLAIMS NOW, THEY ARE STILL FROM THERE. THIS IS WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL, FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVE REFUSED TO STUDY DEEPLY AND HAVE OVER THE YEARS DEPRIVED OKPE - ISOKO HER DUE RIGHTS AND BLESSED DIVIDENDS. THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT HAD ALWAYS REFUSED THIS COMMUNITY HER POSITIONS IN THE STATE AFFAIRS.
THE ISOKO PEOPLE SPREAD INTO OTHER NEIGHBORING STATES LIKE RIVERS, EDO, AND BEYELSA STATES.
AMONG THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS COMMUNITIES OF OKPE - ISOKO ARE OZORO, OLEH, EMEDE, OFAGBE, ELU, OREROKPE, OLOMU, OLOMORO, IYEDE, UTUOKO, EZIRO, EROWA, ASABA ASE, IRRI, UZERE, OWHELOGBO, OTOWHE NOW OTOIGHO, ETC WITH ALL THEIR NUMEROUS CLANS AND KINGDOMS. BUT MOST OF THEM HAS DIFFERENT CLAIMS AS TO THEIR REAL ORIGIN. THERE HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR SUPERIORITY OVER THE YEARS AND THE SOLUTION IS ALWAYS BEFORE ALL BUT NON EVER AGREED TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH THAT OKPE ISOKO IS THE REAL ORIGIN OF ALL ISOKO AND SOME URHOBO SPEAKING PEOPLE.
ALL SHOULD KNOW IT NOW AND RESPECT THEIR OSE AND ONI LAND, OKPE ISOKO SO WE CAN ALL MOVE FORWARD IN DEED.
GOD BLESS AND BE WITH ALL ISOKO AND URHOBO PEOPLE. Amen.
WA DO !!!!!!!