Chief Peter Okoye (1890 - 1974)

Chief Okonkwo Peter Okoye was born in Enugwu Ukwu in Present day Anambra State about 1890. He embraced Christianity and formal education around 1910. In 1918 he enrolled as a policeman and was transferred to Enugu which was just a developing town at the time

He left the Police force to become the first registered contractor of the Public Works Department in Enugu 1927

Major contracts executed include

Enugu Printing Press
Old Enugu Secretariat
Enugu Airport
Enugu Recreation Club

He also went into transport in the late 1920's and established "God Speed" Transport that plied Onitsha, Enugu, Abakaliki,Ogoja and Itighidi.

He was a very successful businessman. His income assessment entry in 1956 states thus "Peter Okoye is one of Enugu's biggest landlords and has property valued at £100,000". in the 1950's he was the sole importer and major distributor of salt in Eastern Nigeria

Madam Janet Matagu Okoye (MBE)

Madam Janet Matagu Okoye was born in the ancient kingdom of Agukwu - Nri in the present Anambra state of Nigeria in the year 1896. She was married to the Chief Peter Okoye of the Coal Camp Enugu fame.

She was in her lifetime amongst others

• Led Enugu Market Women's delegation in solidarity of the Aba Women's riot of 1929
• Founding member Enugu Market Women Association EMWA) and first President (1938 -1972)
• Pioneer President Enugu Women wing of NCNC 1953
• Patron NCNC Women's Wing Eastern Nigeria 1956
• Only female Member Enugu Urban County Council 1961
• Awarded MBE in 1961
• First Nigerian Female Catholic Papal Medallist 1967. Conferred in 1972 due to civil war
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Lt. Colonel Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu discussing the 1966 Coup

Nigeria fights growing drug intake

Late Deji of Akure’s corpse placed on a chair for chiefs to pay homage

The corpse of the late Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, the Afunbiowo (II) was today placed on the Monarch chair which was part of the tradition of the Akure Kingdom, a way of wishing the late traditional ruler farewell.

Residents of Akure, the Ondo State Capital trooped to the palace to see the corpse of their late king who died at the early hours of Sunday in his palace after a slight headache.

When DailyPost got to the paramount ruler’s palace, the place was filled with crowd.

The palace Chiefs were busy paying homage to the late Deji as if he was alive.

One of the Deji in Council who spoke with our correspondent said placing Deji on his seat was part of the tradition that must carried out in honour of the deceased Monarch.

The burial date for the late king is yet to be announced, but sources have revealed that he may be buried tomorrow.

War Against Indiscipline (WAI)

War Against Indiscipline, often called called WAI  was a Nigerian legislation enacted in March, 1984 by military decree and supported by Head of State General Buhari  though it is alleged that his second in command General Tunde Idiagbon was the author. The program's intention was to instil public morality, discipline or social order, civic responsibilities and promoting Nigerian nationalism. It is best remembered as the only time people have seen Nigerians queueing and general going about daily in an orderly manner.

People queueing at a bus stop

1985 Stamp

WAI Badge

Awka Blacksmiths

Awka is the traditional home of the Igbo (Ibo) blacksmiths; early bronze artifacts have been discovered in the vicinity, and the town’s artisans are still noted for their metalworking and wood carving.

It is said that Chukwu, the high god, sent an Awka blacksmith with his bellows, fire and charcoal to dry up the land. Eri was only able to settle there after the Awka smith had finished his assignment. Eri was so impressed with the Awka man’s work that he rewarded him with an ọvbọ (short ritual staff) which conferred on him special claims to the smithing profession.

Metalworker with young apprentice

Statue Of John Uzoka And David Nwume, Two Awka Blacksmiths That Took Part In 1924 British Empire Exhibition In London. They Secured 1st Position In Metal Work. 

Modern day metalworker

Mallam Umaru Altine - First Mayor of Enugu

Mallam Umaru Altine a Fulani Cattle dealer from Sokoto became the first Mayor of Enugu Municipal Council 1n 1956. Umoru Altine grew up during the reign of Sultan Siddique Abubakar.  Many of Umoru Altine’s own children were brought up in the house of late Sultan Maccido. A good number of Sultan Maccido’s children also experienced their childhood years at the Ungwar Sarki residence of Umoru Altine, and this is in keeping with Fulani culture. The late Mayor also came under the towering influence of Nnamdi Azikiwe, one in a series of benevolent mentors, who backed him immensely and played a role in making him Mayor.

I.K. Dairo ~ Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim / Oko fatimo meta

Waziri Ibrahim (1929-1992)

Waziri Ibrahim with TOS Benson and Nikita Khruschev 

Waziri Ibrahim was born on February 26, 1929 in Yerwa, Maiduguri in present day Borno State to the family of Ibrahim Ibn Mohammed. He attended Damaturu Elementary School (1936-1939), the Maiduguri Middle School (1940-1943) and Kaduna College, 1944-1947. He worked for the United African Company before his sojourn in politics which began in 1959 when he won a seat to the House of Representatives. He started out at UAC as a special entrant in 1948 and rose to become a cashier and storekeeper at U.AC.'s, Maiduguri branch in 1951. He then worked at Jos in 1952 before becoming a labour and staff manager for the Benue area in 1953. By the time he left the firm, he was the Kaduna district manager.

During the first republic, Waziri was first appointed the federal minister of health, before taking over the Economic Development ministry in 1962. In 1960, he was part of the Nigerian delegation to the United Nation's when the country was accepted as the 99th member of the U.N. In 1962

He founded and was the presidential candidate of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) in the 1979 and 1983 Presidential Elections in Nigeria

He Is most associated with Politics without bitterness