Afikpo
| Afikpo Ali Ehugbo Omaka-ejali Ehugbo |
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|---|---|
| City | |
 Afikpo
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Ebonyi State |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 156,611 |
Afikpo, also known as "Ehugbo" is a town and the second largest urban area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of Afikpo North Local Government Area. It is situated in the southern part of Ebonyi State and is bordered to the north by the town of Akpoha, to the south by Unwana, to the south west by Edda in Afikpo South LGA, to the East by the Cross River and to the West by Amasiri. Afikpo spans an area approximately 164 square kilometers in size . It is located on 6 degrees north latitude and 8 degrees east longitude. It occupies an area of about 64 square miles (164 km2.). Afikpo is a hilly area despite occupying a region low in altitude, which rises 350 feet above sea level. It is a transitional area between open grassland and tropical forest and has an average annual rainfall of seventy-seven inches (198 cm.) It is also the country home of the late Eze (DR) Akanu Ibiam, who hailed from the village of Unwana. Dr. Ibiam was one of the first Igbo medical doctors of Western training and the former Governor of Eastern region.
The population of Afikpo is estimated at 156,611 according to the Nigerian 2006 Census.
Contents
Igbo Traditional Centre
Afikpo is a centre of ancient Igbo tradition. Ceremonial (now antique) masks which have been carefully preserved by the state tourism board. Afikpo is an ancient city-state. Several archeological findings support the claim that Afikpo civilisation existed as far back as the Neolithic age.
Educational and Medicinal Establishments
Afikpo hosts the Prestigious Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana and the legendary Mater Misericordia Specialist Hospital, Afikpo. The Mater Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing and Midwifery was one of the first and probably remains the finest nursing school established in Nigeria by the Irish missionaries and Dr. Akanu Ibiam.
Prominent Residents
Afikpo has produced numerous academicians, Governors, and world class businessmen. Life is a little bit less rancorous and more peaceful in Afikpo than similar cities elsewhere in Nigeria. The city however has recently been experiencing an acute shortage of residential accommodation, especially for the civil servants. That problem is thus being adequately addressed by the state Government. Afikpo is a major food basket of Nigeria.
Urban Communities
Afikpo comprises the following urban communities: Ozizza, Ohaisu, Nkpoghoro, Ugwuegu and Itim.
Afikpo city is the Headquarters of Afikpo North Local Government. It is the second most popular and second most important city in Ebonyi state.
It has many prominent sons and daughters.
From Ozizza : Chief Ajuka Ugwu, Chief Eleje, Okpani Egwu, Dr. Inya Agha, Esther Eleje, and a host of others.
From Ohaisu : Engr.Ewa Elechi,Senator Azu Agboti, Ginger Eke, Azu Ewa, Prof. Uche Azikiwe, Eze o. Eze, Otuu Oyim,Chief Ebere Okogwu, Tony Ebi, Dr. Francis Aluu, Arc. Gabriel Egwu Ude, Hon Elem Okoh,Chief Alazu Eloy etc.
From Nkpoghoro : Major General Agha Okoro, Chief Cletus Ogbonnia Ekuma(Igbo Ukwu 1), Justice Steve Evoh Chukwu, Engr.Emmanuel Oko Isu,Chief Donatus Ezeogo Ajah (Zentus), Prof. Francis Otunta, Nwachi Ibe, Sir Gabriel Inya Chukwu(KSJ), Prof Edward Uche-Nwachi, Fidelis Nnachi Inya(Emafids) etc.
From Ugwuegu : Prof. Buchi Chukwu who is the current Minister of Health, M.S.C Abani, Greg Azubuike, Chief Mbeyi, Mike Chukwu, Mark Abani, Charles Abani, Chris Abani, Chief Anthony Ekoh, Ezeogo M.O. Chukwu, P.U. Alu, Ezeogo John O. Ekuma, Emmanuel Chukwu Oko, Hon. Ben Isu, Sunday Isu etc.,
From Itim : Chief Sunday Enwo, Idu Igariwey, Enwo Igariwey, Okpani Agu, Hori Oti Aja Oti, Captain Ibe-Enwo,Ukie Ezeali, Chukwu Ibe-Enwo, Arc. Nnanna Oti, Prof. Nnenna Oti . Charles Chukwu Urom, Rose Chukwu Urom, Hanibal Urom, Daddy Uromotah, Mr E. Awoke, Mrs M. Okoewah etc.
New Political Dispensation
Afikpo presently has a new political dispensation consisting of youths and well to do personalities enhancing development. The former L. G. A Chairman Mr. Obinna, had been working hand in hand with the people of afikpo (YOUTHS) towards a strategical development. He also wants to reunite the two PDP rival groups (The Agboti's and Idu's) into one PDP group, despite the political problems that the two groups had, which took a life (Ikechukwu Eze a.k.a. Skipper) a native of Amaogwugwu Ugwuegu Elu at WTC during the local government election September 17th, 2007. This young promising Child was murdered in cold blood for joining force with Mr. Otuu (Ozontus) to supporting one Mr. Anthony Ekoh for Chairmanship position in Afikpo North. hence till date justice have not been done to this case as no one have been punished for the crime not withstanding the confession made by the one of the hired killer when found out in the place he was hiding. his confession got the youth annoyed and they went on rampage and set the house of the name suspected sponsor ablaze. (Afikpo Today Magazine 2007)
Afikpo has also developed from grassroot level,(the development centers are good case in point), which is being used to disseminate the dividends of democracy to the poor people. "My wish is that peace and unity should be inculcated into our spines so as to fulfill our citizenship obligations to our motherland NIGERIA." Otuu Obinna (Ozontus). The present L.G.A Chairman of Afikpo North is Pharm.(Hon.) Tony Ekoh Jnr. On 13 July 2015:
The new wind of change that shifted PDP out of the seat of Presidency also blew the political hemisphere of Ebonyi Central and Afikpo in particular. The erstwhile L.G.A Chairman, Pharm. (Hon.) TONY EKOH worked assiduously with the erstwhile Governor, Chief Elechi Martins during the political struggles of 2015-2019 gubernatorial struggles. Elechi had anointed an Afikpo son, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, for the race which triggered the anger of the Abuja group, a faction believed to be led by Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim and erstwhile Governor of the state, Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu, who is presently a senator of the Federal Republic. The Abuja group refused to accept the anointed candidate. The Abuja group went ahead to conduct the primary election which was a constitutional move that saw the present Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi as its flag bearer. This brought a conflagration on the unity of the PDP in the state led by Chief Martins Elechi. At the long run, the birth of Labour party became a decision by the members of the Abakaliki group against the Abuja group with Chief Edon Nkwegu as the gubernatorial candidate. This did not go down with Afikpo people as their son was ousted for another man in the Labour party. Chief Martins Elechi was seriously accused of sponsoring the labour party from behind the political scene.Governor Elechi dissolved all the LGA Chairmen in the state and appointed care taker committee chairmen in order to have full control of the third tier of Government. Consequently, all the LGA Chairmen including Hon.Tony Ekoh crossed to Labour party before the Gubernatorial poll. But this move turned down against the Governor as the then Deputy Governor had recruited the members of the localities against the Governor's plot. The election was concluded peacefully and Engr. Umahi became the Governor. At Present, the LGA elections in Ebonyi state is yet to hold and as such, we do not have any elected person on the helm of our LGA affairs.[1]
Climate
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as tropical wet and dry (Aw).[2]
| Climate data for Afikpo | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 32.6 (90.7) |
33.8 (92.8) |
33.8 (92.8) |
33.4 (92.1) |
32 (90) |
30.8 (87.4) |
29.3 (84.7) |
28.6 (83.5) |
29.9 (85.8) |
30.8 (87.4) |
32.1 (89.8) |
32.6 (90.7) |
31.64 (88.97) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 27.5 (81.5) |
28.5 (83.3) |
29 (84) |
28.7 (83.7) |
27.6 (81.7) |
26.7 (80.1) |
25.4 (77.7) |
25.6 (78.1) |
26 (79) |
26.6 (79.9) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.2 (80.97) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 22.5 (72.5) |
23.2 (73.8) |
24.2 (75.6) |
24 (75) |
23.3 (73.9) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.2 (72) |
22.7 (72.9) |
22.2 (72) |
22.4 (72.3) |
22.8 (73) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.87 (73.15) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19 (0.75) |
34 (1.34) |
84 (3.31) |
159 (6.26) |
247 (9.72) |
261 (10.28) |
303 (11.93) |
270 (10.63) |
309 (12.17) |
269 (10.59) |
57 (2.24) |
10 (0.39) |
2,022 (79.61) |
| Source: Climate-Data.org (altitude: 62m)[2] | |||||||||||||
References
- ↑ http://www.obiozontus.blogspot.com
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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