Okpe is a kingdom in Delta State,

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. Today, it is also the name of a local government area. It is one of the many kingdoms that make up Urhobo tribe. Its capital is Orerokpe. The kingdom plays host to the Osubi Airport (also known as Warri Airstrip), which is actually located at

Osubi Osubi is a town in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta state, southern Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a coun ...

and the Delta State Trade Fair Complex. The Orodje celebrated ten years on ancestral throne. Geoffrey Arich is the king of Okpe Kingdom, Kenyan Branch. The kingship is usually rotated between the four ruling houses.

History

The Okpe kingdom was established as early as the 17th century. It has a traditional ruler with the title Orodje of Okpe. The Okpe people are known to have migrated to found the present day

Sapele ''Entandrophragma cylindricum'' is a tree of the genus '' Entandrophragma'' of the family ''Meliaceae''. It is commonly known as sapele or sapelli ( ) or sapele mahogany, as well as aboudikro, assi, and muyovu. Origin of the name The name ''sa ...

and the Orodje of Okpe still exercises authority over the land of

. The first king produced by this system was H.R.M. Esezi I, Orodje of Okpe whose sovereignty was around the period of 1770-1779. H.R.M. Esezi II, became the second Orodje of Okpe. As a pioneer advocate of democracy in the land of okpe, he also was pivotal to Nigeria. He was among the delegated kings that attended the 1957 Lyttelton Conference held in London in order to seek the Nigerian independence from the indirect government of the colonial master. He ruled the kingdom around the period of 1945-1966. H.R.M Orhoro I, the third Orodje of Okpe ruled the kingdom from around the period of 1972-2004. He was educated at a catholic school and also served in the Nigeria police force. He later earned a Business Administration Diploma in the United Kingdom. His early life experience served him well as a springboard for establishing and becoming a director of a company, the New Africa Industries Limited. H.R.M Orhue I Orodje of Okpe, is the fourth and current king of Okpe. He served as a high-ranking major general in the

Nigerian Army The Nigerian Army (NA) is the land force of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is governed by the Nigerian Army Council (NAC). The Chief of Army Staff is the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Army. History Formation The Nigerian ...

. He was officially crowned on 29 July 2006.

Notable people

*Gen. Patrick Aziza *

David Dafinone David Omueya Dafinone OFR (March 12, 1927 - September 30, 2018) was a Nigerian accountant & politician, who was a senator for Bendel South during the Nigerian Second Republic. He was a member of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Dafinone wor ...

* Joseph Karakitie Azigbo *

Harris Eghagha Harris Otadafevwerha Deodemise Eghagha (8 March 1934 – 19 March 2009) was appointed Military Governor of Ogun State, Nigeria from July 1978 to October 1979 during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, handing over power to the electe ...

References

* Joseph O. Asagba: The Untold Story of A Nigerian Royal Family (The Urhobo Ruling Clan of Okpe Kingdom), iUniverce, Inc, 2005 {{Authority control Delta State History of Nigeria Nigerian traditional states