Historically, Idumuje people trace their roots to ancient Bini kingdom, just like most of the Enuani people that left Benin in the 18th century.
Idumuje Unor and Idumuje Ugboko are one people and members of Idumuje clan .They have no common land boundary and bear same cultural and traditional heritage.
Both communities went their separate ways though united by tradition and culture following an Odogwu title dispute . Those who felt aggrieved left and wandered farther into a nearby forest to their present location where they share boundaries with towns like Igbodo in Ika North East, Onicha Ugbo, Ugbodu, in Aniocha North and Ewohinmi in Edo State according the 1937 Intelligence Report by R.B. Karr.
Idumuje-Ugboko is the epicenter of this analysis and it must be said that to understand a people you must look at their history, their mores, social and interpersonal relationship, religion, culture and related values that shape their world view.
Hence the sage says that those who ignore the lessons of history, would repeat its tragedy. To understand the unfolding events, it is important to follow the historical trajectory of the hidden discontent and strictures in the Royal family and the Idumuje-Ugboko before the death of the immediate past king.
OBI NWOKO I’s SONS
Obi Nwoko I had nine (9) sons including: NWABUOKEI (first son), AMOJE, BIOSE, BIDOKWU, PAUL, ELUMELU, UJOMOR, NWAOBE and ESUZOR.Nwabuokei, Amoje and Ujomor are of the same mother whose name was Ehihor, one of the daughters of Oko-Onyimi Idumuzu, Ogbe-Ofu village, Idumuje-Ugboko. Biose and Elumelu shared same motherhood while Bidokwu and Paul had same mother.Esuzor was an only son and his mother another wife of Obi Nwoko I was from Atuma village, Idumuje-Ugboko. If Omorhusi was Nwoko’s son as claimed, who was her mother and where is she from?
NWOKO’S BROTHERS
Nwoko was the first son of Ologbo who gave birth to seven (7) sons also including: NWOKO, CHIMA, MOEMEKE (MEKE), OKOH, ODOR, ALIGBE, ANYAONICHA. Please not that Omorhusi was not Nwoko’s brother neither was he a member of Umu-Ologbo. He was a native doctor brought to the village .
Ogbeide the father of Ologbo and grandfather of Obi Nwoko I hailed from Uzebu quarters in old Bini kingdom. He first settled at Ashama in the present day Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State before he moved to Idmuje (Idumje-Uno) as one of the early settlers in the 17th century where he died and was buried.
Nwoko’s sons and brothers with their children made up the Umu-Ologbo family, but only Nwoko’s children known and referred to as Umu-Nwoko are the only members of the Royal Family of Idumuje-Ugboko.
When Obi Nwoko I, the first Obi of Idumuje-Ugboko died, his first son Nwabuokei whose mother was Ehihor the daughter of Oko-Onyimi being the Crown Prince, was to succeed him in accordance with the tradition and customs of Idumujes. That is under the primogeniture system of succession to the throne by most Anioma monarchies.