Abonnema is a town in Nigeria that was founded in 1882 by eleven independent, equal and autonomous founding fathers in 1882. Abonnema has no monarchy but is governed by the principle of primus inter pares, first among equals.

History

Precedence in Abonnema's affairs is by date of chieftaincy creation and goes in the following order. All these chieftaincies were created at Elem-Kalabari before the 1879 Kalabari civil war, which led to the issuance of the 1881 decretal order by Queen Victoria and consequently led to the fragmentation of Elem Kalabari into three new city-states. Bakana 1881, Abonnema 1882, and Buguma 1883. The following chieftaincy houses were created in Abonnema: The four chieftaincy stools created in Abonnema can not take precedence over the others that were created in Elem Kalabari before Abonnema was founded in 1882. Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX became Ananyanabo of Abonnema. <Abonnema Centenary brochure - 1982 >

Abonnema today

Abonnema grew to become a flourishing major Nigerian seaport during the colonial era. It was host to many European companies. One such company was the Royal Niger Company, which later metamorphosed into U.A.C. Abonnema is the headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State in Nigeria.

Notable people

Chief Disreal Gbobo Bob-Manuel, Owukori IX, Lawyer, Amayanabo of Abonnnema Child Neurologist and Academic.