A Survey of Owerre Environment and the Implications of the Activities of Immigrant Element, 1937-2013

Abstract

Owerre Socio-Political and Economic Environment, like many communities in Igbo land, was, before the 1976 creation of old Imo State, a simple one that was rooted in simple agrarianism, inter and intra trade relations within itself and among her neighbouring Communities. Her social life was a simple one, but largely revolved around the concept of Uwangbede- a term that described simple daily living- which governed both individual and group interactions. Her Traditional Political Model was anchored on the popular and well established Oha Owerre -which defined the concept and practice of Ohabueze political system, which was an acceptable Socio-Political model among many Igbo groups in the pre colonial time. Inevitably however, beginning from 1951, when Stanger elements began to infiltrate Owerre environment, courtesy of the establishment of Shell De Archy- a British oil consortium, Hausa-Fulani Migrates etc, the Socio-economic structure of Owerre began to experience changes which continuously eroded its traditional environment. The present study therefore is a spirited effort to examine the various changes which Owerre environment has undergone in the face of immigrants activities beginning from 1901 when the first group of Hausa persons made their first appearance in the Owerre area, and subsequent appearance of other immigrant elements such as Shell D Archy in about 1937. It is also the prime objective of the study to serve as reference material for government officials, policy makers, students and the general public who may be interested in this branch of study, as the paper also hopes to fill the lacuna in migration and intergroup relations studies which have not had its focus on Owerre and her immigrant elements. To archive these set objectives, the research employed thematic, historic and analytical research methodogies.