Oghara Kingdom

In 1880, the people of oghara left Benin and came to Agbara-otor. On their way to Agbara-otor, dey passed through a land which is now known and addressed as “oghareki”. They got a a big log of wood, cut it into two and tied them together, through which they crossed the river. Gradually, they landed at the other side of the river called Urie-Apele (now known as Sapele). Then they continued the journey on foot until they got to a place called Agbara-otor, before then, many people died on the way. When they got to Agbara-otor, they explained their movement to the people and they were warmly received. After living in Agbara-otor for some years, some of them traced their way back to oghareki. They left Agbara-otor, which is situated in the present day Ughelli North local government area to find a new settlement elsewhere within the vast lands, as in the case of the first and second set of people who left Agbara-otor, between 1200 A.D and 1240 A.D or thereabout. They decided to make a new home in a place that will be a bit nearer to their former home “igodomigodo”. They crossed the Urie-Apele River wIth the means of an Ughovbe (wooden raft) and arrived safely at oghareki.

They expressed a word of gratitude to God and said out loud “OGHARE O” which means the urhobos from igodomigodo have divided. The name “Oghareki” was accepted to be the name of their new home, which was later translated to “Oghara”. After some years, there was a little quarrel amongst them and so, some of them decided to separate at night. Some of them namely; Ogbojere, Ekakabor, Atikpoko, Emeta, Eghoro and his son called Akojevwe landed in a place called Ogharefe. When the others woke up, they couldn’t find them and dey decided to trace dem down to ogharefe and they saw them.

They asked if that is where they were able to run to and the others said yes that the oppression was too much. They settled in oghara but later separated to farm in the surroundings. Ogharefe is made up of five quarters (unoka) namely; Adagboyerin, Edjemounyavwe, Ovade, Ijomi, and Otefe. While Oghareki is made up of two quarters (unoka) namely; Udurhie and Uduaka. The two subclans (ogharefe and oghareki) have their own oguedions.