The complete story of Edith Ike and Gowon’s romance, including how General Gowon first disputed his son’s paternity until acknowledging it after 48 years. …
In the 15th century, under the rule of Oba Uwaifiokun and Oba Ewuare the Great, Queen Emotan (actual name Uwarraye) was a market woman who worked at the Oba Market in the ancient kingdom of Benin. Image one: Left: At his Chelsea studio, Mr. John Danford, the then-Regional Director of the British Council in the Western Province of Nigeria, is constructing the six-foot-tall statue of Emotan. Oba Akenzua II commissioned the statue. Right: The Emotan statue was commissioned in 1954 by Oba Akenzua II, CMG, Oba of Benin. She was well-known for her humanitarian efforts, her affection for kids, and—above all—the crucial part she played in Prince Ogun’s (Oba Ewuare I) succession struggles after his exile. Emotan adored and cared for numerous youngsters in her foster home despite not having any biological children of her own. For a while, some parents would send their kids to live with Emotan and pick up some trade skills from her. She also raised and educated orphans, many of whom went on to become productive and contributing members of society. Prince Ogun (Oba Ewuare I) and Emotan plotted to overthrow Oba Uwaifiokun, the usurper, and her intelligence was crucial in assisting Ogun in regaining his throne after his younger brother betrayed him. The sole safe haven for Prince Ogun was Emotan’s modest home in the Oba market, and she served as his eyes and ears throughout the city as Uwaifiokun, who had already taken Ogun’s legitimate throne, attempted to assassinate him in order to maintain his position as king. Prince Ogun rushed to his younger brother’s location and executed him after learning of Uwaifiokun’s intention to march to the ancestral shrine and offer sacrifices to his father’s gods in order to help him avoid his unfortunate destiny. This action made it possible for Ogun to succeed to his father’s kingdom. After Uwaifiokun’s death, the kingdom’s succession dilemma was resolved, and Prince Ogun celebrated by taking the title Ewuare (Oworuare), which translates to “the heat has abated” or “the trouble has ceased.” Shortly after Ewuare was installed as Oba, Emotan died. In order to fulfill his instruction that she should not be forgotten after her death, Oba Ewuare the Great planted a sacred Uruhe tree near her grave—the same location where she lived—next to the Oba market. He also mandated that all funeral processions include a visit to her grave by any man invested with a title as a sign of respect. Only under Oba Osemwende’s rule did the Uruhe tree that was planted over her burial die, having survived for nearly three centuries. About 150 years ago, the Oba replaced the tree with another Uruhe and used an Iroko tree to support it. However, during Oba Akenzua Il’s rule in 1954, the British Council in Benin replaced the tree with a bronze statue of a full-size woman. This was due to the fact that fifty years prior, during a particularly strong storm, the final two trees that Oba Osemwende had placed on the cemetery had fallen.
When Ifeajuna and his fellow coup plotters struck in Lagos early on January 15, 1966, Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon, who was 31 years old and a bachelor when he was appointed Head of State, had an Igbo girlfriend who was even sleeping with him. However, Gowon said that his anti-Igbo sentiment made him question whether he could trust his Igbo lover, Edith Ike, following the July 1966 assassination of Aguiyi-Ironsi and the Northerners’ subsequent systematic and indiscriminate executions of Igbo troops and civilians. The relationship between Gowon and Edith did not last through the crisis, and on April 19, 1972, the 34-year-old Head of State wed Victoria Zakari, who is seen in the image with Gowon, their daughter Saratu, and their son Ibrahim. In Abuja, the couple commemorated their 55th wedding anniversary. In addition, Edith Ike later sued Gowon for paternity, claiming that Gowon was the father of her son, Musa, who was born a year before Gowon’s wedding. The case even made it all the way to the Nigerian Supreme Court. Although she prevailed in the lawsuit, the former head of state refused to change his mind until 2016, when a DNA test revealed that Musa was, in fact, Gowon’s son. Musa Jack Ngodadi Gowon, then 47 years and recently pardoned by President Barack Obama after spending nearly 23 years in a U.S. prison for a drug-related offense, was only then accepted as the retired general’s son. Unfortunately, while her son was still incarcerated in 2003, Edith Ike passed away from breast cancer.
In 1971, former World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali was hosted by General Yakubu Gowon, the Head of State of Nigeria at the time, at Dodan Barracks in Lagos. This visit happened just prior Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s historic bout. The video shows Muhammad Ali engaging in humorous conversation with General Gowon’s son, Ibrahim Gowon. Ali was in Nigeria for a four-day goodwill tour. The President thanked Ali and expressed his hope that the boxer would inform Afro-Americans about the social and economic advancements occurring in Africa. In order to better understand the joy of success, the General also urged Ali not to worry about his most recent loss to Joe Frazier, stressing that it was occasionally beneficial to taste failure. Brigadier Austen Olumuyiwa Peters (with sunglasses), the first native commander of the Nigerian Army Corps and later the Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services, and Federal Commissioner for Education Chief Anthony Enahoro were also in attendance. Brigadier Peters graduated with a boxing “Blue” from Cambridge University, at Barewa College in Zaria, General Gowon captained the boxing team.
A few weeks in 1977, Muhammadu Buhari sat close to Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. Colonel Muhammad Buhari was supposed to succeed Lieutenant-General Olusegun Obasanjo as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, following the assassination of General Murtala Muhammad and the subsequent promotion of Obasanjo to Head of State in 1976. However, his application was denied because he was too rigid and inflexible and lacked the political savvy needed for the position. However, Lieutenant-Colonel Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a fellow Katsina guy, was selected to succeed Obasanjo and was thrown over the heads of many of his superiors to the position of Brigadier (he was later elevated to Major-General). In order to avoid the embarrassment of reporting to their former commander, Yar’Adua, several of these top officials were so mortified by this situation that they went straight to Obasanjo. Later, in 1983, Buhari was appointed Head of State of Nigeria, and it was under his leadership that Nigeria made its most significant diplomatic error to date.
During General Sani Abacha’s dark days, Pa Abraham Adesanya served as the deputy leader of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a group that vigorously opposed Abacha’s despotic government alongside Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Some members of the infamous assassination gang of the military dictator attacked Pa Adesanya on Tuesday, January 14, 1997, and showered his car with gunfire. Fortunately, neither he nor his driver were hurt. He was given the nickname “Apa maku” (killed but not killed) as a result of this incident. According to a member of the Awoist organization, Pa Abraham Adesanya was hit by multiple gunshots, but none of them entered his body. Over 40 rounds were reportedly fired at his vehicle. Pa Adesanya, who was seventy-four when the attack occurred, lived through the assassination.
Men from the Nigeria Police Force provided protection for the Group A match between Nigeria and Germany on April 7, 1999, at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. The home crowd was enthralled by the Nigerian team’s 2-0 victory. This event serves as a poignant reminder of a time when Nigeria was trusted to host a significant international competition, demonstrating the nation’s ability to organize big events and its warmth. The competition brought top-tier football to areas of Nigeria by spanning several cities. A number of famous stadiums, each with its own distinct regional and cultural character, hosted matches. These locations comprised: Liberty Stadium, Ibadan :– Africa’s first stadium with an all-seater design, constructed in 1960. National Stadium, Lagos : A renowned sports hub since the 1970s and a symbol of Nigerian sporting pride. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi :Named after Nigeria’s first Prime Minister and embodying the…
Bartholomew Owoh, Bernard Ogedengbe, and Lawal Ojuolape were executed by firing squad on April 10, 1985, at the Kirikiri shooting range in Lagos for possessing drugs. General Muhammadu Buhari issued the directive in accordance with Islamic law in Saudi Arabia. Popular Nigerian actor Nkem Owoh (Osuofia) had a brother named Barth Owoh. Between April and May of 1984, 26-year-old Barth Owoh, 29-year-old Bernard Ogedengbe, and 30-year-old Lawal Ojuolape were all arrested for drug trafficking. At that time, the offense was not punishable by death but rather by bail. As if the WAI law imposed on Nigerians wasn’t enough, the Buhari dictatorship retroactively ordered the execution of three of them at all costs. In an interview with Arise TV a few years ago, Owoh’s brother stated: “It just so happens that three of them were from the South.” General Muhammadu Buhari, who had just taken power following a successful coup, ordered their deaths for a crime that at the time did not carry the death penalty. As you may remember, Buhari issued an order imposing the death penalty on anyone found guilty of narcotics trafficking while he was the military’s head of state. However, the crime was perpetrated by Barth, Ben, and Lawal prior to Buhari taking office. The death sentence was not mandated under Nigerian law at the time the crime was committed. Buhari insisted that the young men be put to death when he came to power, and the firing squad carried out his orders in public. It was noted that the “big men” in charge owned the drugs they were found in possession of. Barth Owoh’s final words were, “This is my first time, and I was led into it by my friend.” The same clothing they were wearing at the time of their capture was still on them when they were put to death.
“To the PDP talkative.They commenced this road , they started it , and one of their front runners today , one of them who wants to be a Dr.Today collected 379 Million naira for 4 kilometers of job . Let Funsho Williams come and answer his query , we will tell the public “ “I…
On May 10, 2009, President Umaru Yar’Adua and his spouse, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua, attended the inauguration of Jacob Zuma, the fourth president of South Africa, in Pretoria. Shortly after taking office, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua reversed a petrol price increase from A70 to N65 as early as June 2007. A popular deed that Nigerians warmly appreciated. In addition, Yar’Adua canceled the sale of Nigeria’s refineries to private investor , highlighting it as a scam.