By Austin Ogwuda
A prominent Okpanam indigene, Ogbueshi Patrick Igbeka has raised a fundamental question bordering on the preservation of Okpanam’s autonomous identity.
He expressed fears that “While growth and proximity to the State capital bring development, they also bring a silent threat: the gradual erosion of our distinct identity. If we do not act decisively now, Okpanam risks becoming a mere “geographical expression or neighborhood” of a neighboring town rather than the proud, autonomous community it has been for generations”.
He stated this in an Open Letter to the traditional ruler and All Stakeholders of Okpanam community in Oshimili North local government area of Delta State, Nigeria.
It reads:
A CALL TO ACTION:
PRESERVING THE IDENTITY AND SOVEREIGNTY OF OKPANAM
To: The Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM Dr. Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, The Ugo Ani in-Council, and All Stakeholders of the Okpanam Community.
SUBJECT: URGENT NEED TO ASSERT OKPANAM’S AUTONOMOUS IDENTITY
Distinguished Leaders and Elders,
I write this letter with the utmost respect for your leadership, but also with a heavy heart regarding the future of our beloved homeland. It has become increasingly common for Okpanam to be referred to, addressed as, or subsumed under the name of our neighbour, Asaba.
While growth and proximity to the state capital bring development, they also bring a silent threat: the gradual erosion of our distinct identity. If we do not act decisively now, Okpanam risks becoming a mere “geographical expression or neighborhood” of a neighboring town rather than the proud, autonomous community it has been for generations. It is worrisome and at the same time embarrassing, for places like Asaba Specialist Hospital, School of Midwifery, Marble Hill, Nzeogwu Road (Okpanam/Asaba Road), Obi Cubana Millennium City etc. (all in Okpanam) to be refered to as Asaba and we are quiet about it. Maybe because Okpanam is supposedly within the Delta State Capital Territory. But that assumption is absolutely wrong. A town does not automatically lose its legal status, boundaries, or it’s existence simply because it is included within a designated “Capital Territory” (such as the Delta State Capital Territory). While inclusion in a capital territory often brings the town under special developmental regulations, it does not dissolve the traditional/administrative autonomy of the town itself.
THE RISKS OF INACTION:
LOSS OF HERITAGE: Future generations may grow up identifying as residents of Asaba, losing touch with the specific traditions, history, and lineage of Okpanam.
ADMINISTRATIVE OVERLAP: Without clear branding and boundary assertions, we risk losing autonomy in urban planning, postal addresses, and political representation.
EXTINCTION OF NAME: Historical records and maps are being updated daily. If we do not insist on our name today, “Okpanam” may eventually vanish from the common lexicon.
PROPOSED STEPS FOR PRESERVATION:
STRICT BRANDING: Ensure all official businesses, estates, and government projects within our borders are strictly labeled as “Okpanam,” not “Asaba.”
BOUNDARY AWARENESS: Erect prominent “Welcome to Okpanam” landmarks at all entry points to visually and legally distinguish our territory.
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY: Engage with media outlets and mapping services (like Google Maps) to ensure correct geographic labeling.
CULTURAL EDUCATION: Strengthen our local festivals and youth programs to instill a fierce sense of Okpanam identity in the next generation.
We are a people of honor and independence. Let us not be the generation that allowed the name of our fathers to be swallowed by the shadows of our neighbours. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.
Respectfully,
Ogbueshi (Eziokwubundu)
Patrick Osadebe Igbeka
-Concerned Citizen of Okpanam.
