King Jaja of Opobo was the wealthiest and one of the most powerful monarchs in the Niger Delta and the founder of Opobo Kingdom. He was a native of Umuduruoha, Amaigbo, in the present day Imo State. His name at birth was Mbanaso Okwaraozurumbaa, but he was captured and sold as a slave at the age of 12 into captivity in Bonny (the present day River state) where he earned his freedom from slavery having adopted the Ijaw-Ibani culture.
Despite generating great wealth for the Bonny people, he was politically checkmated by fellow wealthy slave when he decided to contest for the vacant Bonny kingdom monarchy at the time. So, he left Bonny with his supporters to found a new town, Opobo, near Andoni in the present day River State.
The relocated to Opobo was in 1869 and the location was strategically positioned that Jaja (Jubo Jubogha) could transact first hand business with both national and international merchants, and he effectively became a monopolist in oil palm trade. Jaja’s trade and the resultant wealth exploded so much that his former British trading partners lost £100,000 (in 1870), and Bonny pleaded with him to return (which he refused). Jaja then came to the attention of Queen Victoria who was impressed by his influence, recognized him as King of Opobo in 1873 and also personally presented him with a sword in Buckingham Palace in 1875 after he sent troops to assist Britain in the Ashante war.
When the scramble for Africa began in the 19th century, Jaja was infamous for resisting foreign political and economic influence and he kept taxing the British merchants much to their indignation. Greed and the fear of Jaja's influence led the new Consul-General, to invite Jaja out of his kingdom and onboard a ship, ''The Goshawk'', for trade discussions. Once onboard, a deportation order was served on him. He was illegally tried and convicted in Gold Coast, present-day Ghana in 1887 and was exiled to Saint Vincent in the distant West Indies and to be later relocated to Barbados.
His pleas to return to his kingdom were granted in 1891. Unfortunately, he died in Tenerife, en route to Opobo, after allegedly been poisoned with a cup of tea. His body was received with much sorrow by his people who gave him a full, honourable royal burial. He was 70 at the time death and the influence of Opobo died after his death.
May his soul continue to rest in peace!
