Category Archives: news

Western House of Assembly Members Struggle to Escape a Riot in the Government House

When the Chamber met on Friday 25 May 1962 to discuss a motion of confidence in the new government, clashes immediately broke out between members. Chief Odebiyi – Finance Minister and Speaker of the House of Representatives – was about to table the first business motion of the day when Mr EO Oke, Member of Parliament for Ogbomosho Southwest, jumped up, raised an alarm and threw a chair on the floor of the chamber. Mr F. Ebubedike, a member of Badagry East, grabbed the mace and smashed it on the speaker’s table. Mr. S.A. Adeniya, a member…

Story of Baba Alajo Somolu and How he Survived Being Killed as Twin.

Alphaeus Taiwo Olunaike is not a name that many Nigerians know. But when we talk about Baba Alajo Somolu, the eyes of millions of Nigerians light up. Yes, they are more familiar with this identity. Baba Alajo Somolu was only three years old when he lost his father. However, he was able to continue his…

Military Personnels who Attained the Rank of General Starting from Sani Abacha

General Sani Abacha became the first officer in the Nigerian Armed Forces to achieve the rank of four-star general without progressing through the ranks. There had been other officers before him who had reached the rank of four-star general, but they had all skipped the rank. Yakubu Gowon was the first officer in the Nigerian Armed Forces to achieve the rank of 4-star general but was promoted from the rank of lieutenant colonel to the rank of major general (war) on June 2, 1967 (at the start…

Odi Massacre: An Attack by the Nigerian Armed Forces Against the Ijaw town of Odi in Bayelsa State.

The Odi massacre was an attack by the Nigerian armed forces on November 20, 1999 on the predominantly Ijaw town of Odi in Bayelsa State. The attack came in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Niger Delta over the rights of indegenous peoples to oil resources and environmental protection. It is estimated that more than 900 civilians were killed in this attack. The massacre is believed to have been ordered by the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The army has often…

Meet Ndubuisi Godwin, First Governor of Lagos State from Igbo tribe!

Ndubuisi Kanu was born on November 3, 1943 in Ovim Village, Isuikwuato, Abia State. He belonged to the Igbo tribe and attended the Enugu Methodist Primary School. He joined the Navy in 1962 and went to India for cadet training. His maritime career included positions in human resources, logistics and training. Kanu fought alongside the Biafran forces in the Nigerian Civil War. In July 1975 he was appointed commander-in-chief in the cabinet of the Murtala Muhammed or Supreme Military Council government. Under Military President Olusegun Obasanjo (who assumed office in February 1976), Kanu was appointed…

AFCON 94: Super Eagles Celebrate Victory in Tunisia

Photo of Captain Stephen Keshi, Peter Rufai and Sunday Oliseh celebrating CAN’s victory in Tunisia.

Ajayi Crowther Campaigns for the Girl-Child’s Right to Education in 1886

When Crowther visited Bonny (now Rivers State) in 1866, he and the chief agreed that the natives should pay for their children’s education. Each student, boy or girl, should receive about ten dollars per year. After twelve months, when the payment was due, the leaders protested against the waste of money on girls’ education. “Our boys,” they said, “can act for us, write for us, and do anything; But girls can be useless, we won’t pay them. ” Very Well”, replied Crowther, having generously agreed in advance to cover half of the initial cost of the mission; ” it has to be half the salary”. If you pay…

The SOJA IDUMOTA Monument, How It Was Transferred to Abuja by General Ibrahim Babangida

  This monument was erected by the colonial authorities at a strategic location in Idumota, a part of central Lagos, directly overlooking the Carter Bridge, the first and important artery connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, built in 1899. The monument was erected in 1935 as a cenotaph to honor the more than 3 million Nigerian-African soldiers who lost their lives while serving in the British Army in defense of the British Empire during the First World War in 1914-1918 and was celebrated annually as a harvest festival on November 16 by the former colonial regime before Nigeria’s independence. Celebrations continued after World War II in 1939-1945 and after the end of the 1967-1970 Nigerian Civil War, the annual celebration…

Meet First Ever Nigerian First Lady, Flora Ogbenyeanu Ogoegbunam Azikiwe

Flora Ogbenyeanu Ogoegbunam Azikiwe (August 7, 1917 – August 22, 1983) was the first wife of Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria. She was First Lady of Nigeria from October 1, 1963, to January 16, 1966. Ogoegbunam was born in Onitsha, a town in present-day Anambra State, to Chief Ogoegbunam, an Adazii of Onitsha (Chief Ndichie) of Ogboli Agbor Onitsha. There she met Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1934 and they married on April 4, 1936. Their wedding took place…

Meeet Fela’s American Girlfriend, Sandra Izsadore, A Significant Aid To His Musical Success

  Sandra Izadore, an American who was also Fela’s girlfriend. Fela met Sandra Izsadore in California during a ten-month tour of the United States with Koola Lobitos in 1969. Izsadore, a black rights activist, introduced him to the writings of Malcolm Brown and Stokely. Carmichael, Huey Newton, Frantz Fanon and other revolutionary thinkers. Fela credits her with inspiring his philosophy of Blackism. Fela told…