ODO RIVER – OMOGHOThis river is located at the heart of Iwolo village in Omogho community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra state. It is the source of the famous Obutu Lake. The legendary story of this migrate river’s origin is very interesting. It was revealed that the river has not always been in its present site but only appeared in 1930 as most people who witnessed its emergence in its present location are still alive today.
According to history, the 18th century wicked rulers of Omogho extended their dubious activities to Ududonka deity of Nanka in Oruumba North Local Government Area. After their deaths, the Ududonka retaliated and the wonderful Odo River surfaced from nowhere, directing its course to the residences of all those past wicked rulers, destroying everything in its path with a great flood, believed to have been a means of spiritual cleansing of the land of the past atrocities by its rulers.
In the year 1930 stories say that Onu Nwambogu an indigene of Iwolo village, Omogho saw a stranger in the evening of that fateful day, making inquiries about the residences of the past rulers of the town. But on a second thoughts, he turned to ask the man why he is asking for the directions to a place which had been destroyed by the great deluge and has been overgrown by weeds, but saw him no more. That night, it rained heavily with lightening and great thunderstorm, the magnitude of which had never been witnessed in the community before.
In the morning it was observed that the farmlands had been flooded. Tracing the course of the flood, it was observed that it followed exactly the direction Onu Nwambogu had pointed out to the strange man the previous day. On consulting the oracle, it was established that the strange man was ‘odo’ river, disguised in form of a man. Diviners revealed that the stranger was a cleansing spirit who came to purge the town of the abominations committed by the past generation. One month later, there was another rain storm and a flood split the Odo River into four different units, one of them being the Obutu Lake. The Odo River changes course yearly, taking a different direction each time. The water is brownish and undrinkable but the local people access clean water by digging holes at the bank of the river which collects fresh drinkable water. There is a natural sand beach at the river which is attractive for tourism, sightseeing and investment by the hospitality industry.
In the morning it was observed that the farmlands had been flooded. Tracing the course of the flood, it was observed that it followed exactly the direction Onu Nwambogu had pointed out to the strange man the previous day. On consulting the oracle, it was established that the strange man was ‘odo’ river, disguised in form of a man. Diviners revealed that the stranger was a cleansing spirit who came to purge the town of the abominations committed by the past generation. One month later, there was another rain storm and a flood split the Odo River into four different units, one of them being the Obutu Lake. The Odo River changes course yearly, taking a different direction each time. The water is brownish and undrinkable but the local people access clean water by digging holes at the bank of the river which collects fresh drinkable water. There is a natural sand beach at the river which is attractive for tourism, sightseeing and investment by the hospitality industry.
I KNOW THE ODO RIVER VERY WELL BECAUSE I AM ONE OF THE BEST CUSTOMER TO CARRY SAND THERE WHEN I WAS A TIPPER 911 DRIVER IN NIGERIA. YOU CANNOT SEE ANY FISH IN ODO RIVER EVEN IF ANY FISH MISTAKENLY ENTER THERE FROM ANOTHER ANOTHER, THE FISH MUST DIE TO SHOW YOU HOW POWER THE RIVER IS. IN FACT ODO RIVER IS A TOURIST PLACE IN NIGERIA AT LARGE. I AM SERGEANT NWA EMEH 1 OF UMUNZE:
ReplyDeleteInteresting and worthy to be visited.
ReplyDeleteNnaemeka Aguofia