Ogbunike

Ogbunike is a town in the Oyi local government area of Anambra State, Nigeria.

It is located about 15 kilometers east of Onitsha. The Onitsha-Enugu expressway cuts through its northern border. The town is bordered on the east by Umudioka of the Dunukofia local government area, on the north-east by Umunya and on the north by Nkwelle-Ezunaka (both Oyi local government area). It shares its boundary on the west and south with Ogidi of Idemili North local government area. It has an uneven landscape with fertile soil and sufficient rainfall for a range of biannual plants.

Ogbunike was the first son of Iguedo, daughter of Eri. It is said that Eri canoed down the River Anambra and established a place known as Eri-Awka. Eri had two wives. The first bore four sons and one daught: Agulu (founder of Aguleri); Nri Ifiakuanim; Nri Onugu (founder of Igbariam); Ogbodudu (the founder of Amanuke); and the female Iguedo. She bore the founders of Ogbunike: Awkuzu, Nando, and Umueri who are today known as the Umu-Iguedo clan. Eri's second wife, Oboli, gave birth to Onoja, who left the Anambra area and became the founder of Igala. The people of Ogbunike are known regarding tortoises as deities. They joined Ogidi town in not killing pythons due to intermarriage between them.

Like most Eri-Awka towns of Igboland, Ogbunike is divided into three main parts: Ezi, Ifite and Ikenga. Each section is further divided into villages. Amawa is part of Ezi, Ifite also names its village and Ikenga hosts Ukalor, Osile, Umueri and Azu.

In 1976, businessman John Ositadimma Umenyiora, son of a Protestant pastor, was unanimously chosen as the first Igwe of the town and given the name Eze-di-ora-mma I. He built the market stalls in Oye Olisa (formerly known as Afor-igwe ofuu) that later became the only market in Ogbunike. When Umenyiora assumed office as the Igwe, he suppressed competing markets. These included Eke-Olisa (Ukalor), Oye Ukalor, Afor-igwe ofuu (Ukalor), Oye Olamme (Osile), Afor ilo-akpaka (Osile), Eke Aro (Amawa), Nkwo Amawa, Eke Ogba (Ifite), Oye Umueri, and Eke Azu. Umenyiora built a modern town hall .

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