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Family History
The Man - Amagboribie
Growing up
Amgboribie Macdonald Wilson Tamie was born on 1st October 1934.
He was the last child of out of seven children of Tamie and Ahia-Ukwa relationship.
He grew up learning the trade of the people of his community which, is mostly fishing.
He understudied several people as a young lad.
One of the prominent people he understudied was his maternal uncle (Tony Okujagu’s father --- to get his name). He followed his uncle to Equatorial Guinea in search of greener pastures.
Getting Married to a First Wife and Reason for Divorce
Amagboribie got married to his first wife “Gladys” probably between 1964 and 1966. She was an Igbo business woman from Owerri, Imo State. Her business activities made her to shuttle between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea for purchases and sales of goods.
However, there marriage did not produce any child.
During this period, Amagboribie was fond of playing with teenagers whenever he was free from work. He took interest in one of them that eventually became his second wife in 1968 and put her in the family way, same year.
This action must have infuriated the first wife leading to her asking for a divorce.
Getting Married to a Second Wife
Around 1968, Amagboribie got married to a very young teenager Rhoda Osuagwu. She was sixteen years old then.
She was born on 24th September, 1952 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to the family of Late Mr Joseph Anejem Osụagwu and late Mrs Elizaberth Ejigiatuo Osuagwu of Umunganze Umomiri Omukwu Onicha Ezinihitte Mbaise L.G.A of Imo state Nigeria.
According to other comments, Rhoda’s father Joseph gave her out in marriage without the consent of the wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth could not stop the activity because she was far away in Nigeria when the incident occurred. She was visibly upset on her return from her business trip to Nigeria.
Children of Amagboribie
The union of Rhoda and Amagboribie led to the birth of Iyalla in 1969 November 17th, to Ibiene on September 9th 1971 and Asikiye in 1973.
Equatorial Guinea Political Unrest
Around 1975, there was a political unrest in Equatorial Guinea that forced various countries, including Nigeria, to send means of evacuating their citizens.
A window of grace was provided for Nigerian Citizens to voluntarily apply for repatriation by the Nigerian Government. While Amagboribie was reluctant to return, the wife, Rhoda applied for a one-way ticket to Nigeria on behalf of the family.
The Amagboribie family was repatriated to Nigeria in 1975 to Calabar Sea Port by a very large Ship chartered by Nigerian Government.
On arrival at Calabar Port, they were kept in a camp for some days. Thereafter, ferried to Oron and also camped for some days.
The Government provided their daily sanitary and feeding requirements.
After proper sorting and identification of destinations, the family was transported by road to Port Harcourt in a Lorry (called gwongworo – made of woodwork).
At this juncture, I, Iyalla, will present subsequent narratives in my own voice, because I can remember the events starting at age 5.
A very honourable Man of Okujagu-Ama named Opiki Bashew received us at number 144 Agrey Road Port Harcourt on arrival.
A message was sent to our relatives at Okujagu-Ama that their young brother Amagboribie that they thought was lost is back from Panya (that is what they referred to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea).
Without hesitating, they sent hand pulling canoes to transport us to Okujagu-Ama from Port Harcourt.
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