Eze Nwosuocha Ukaoha (1853-1948)
First Warrant Chief in the former Eastern Nigeria
Eze Nwosuocha Ukaoha was born in Umunwanwa village of Umuopara Clan in 1853.
He was nicknamed Gburugburu Bekee because, it was he, in 1901/1902, who led white men (an axis of a British-formed expeditionary force) from Udo Mbaise, in the western side of what was later to become the Owerri Province -- across the Imo River -- to Bende, which was later to become the first headquarters of the defunct Bende Division.
On their way, they came to a market square (the Afor Ibeji market), the commanding officer of the whites demanded to know the name of that square. Nwosuocha replied that it was 'Oma Ahia" (meaning, market place); but the white man wrote it down as 'Umuahia', obviously in error. That place was later to be re-named 0ld Umuahia, when a nearby location was named Umuahia, to be the new headquarters of Bende Division, in consequence of its falling (with Old Umuahia) along the Enugu-to-Port Harcourt rail road which was constructed (by 1916) -- years before the change of the division headquarters.
Eze Nwosuocha appointed Chief Nwogu Ibeji of Old Umuahia to join them in leading the white men to Bende. He also appointed Igrube of Ossah as a chief and also Uba of Ubakala. He directed where the Enugu-to-Port Harcourt rail road was to pass through in the then Bende Division. He also appointed Chief Nwaturuocha of Nguru Mbaise in the then Owerri Division.
Eze Nwosuocha also helped to stop the Aba Women's Riot of 1929. He also helped in stopping slave-trading and killing of twins in the region; thus, lending credence to his nickname, Gburugburu Bekee.
He was the first in the list of warrant chiefs in the Nigerian archive at Enugu, being the headquarters of the former Eastern Region. He was much associated with the use of 'ejenma' as the then currency.
Eze Nwosuocha was reputed to have the largest family in West Africa, having married 105 wives, with a legion of children and grand children.
He appointed his first son, Godwin, Uhegbu Nwosuocha, as Eze Nwosuocha-II, thereby enabling him to give orders as the heir to his throne.
He died in 1948, aged 95 years.
Page Contributed by: Elder Amos Nwosuocha and Sunny Edozie
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