News & Media

A socio-political group in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to name the Finance House in Abuja, the Federal Capital Terrority of the nation, after late Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh.

The group, Niger Delta Youths for Development, made this call in Asaba, the Capital of Delta state at the weekend. “Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh was the architect of the Nigerian economy; he was the first Labour Minister and then the first Finance Minister, who established the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and employed the first governor of CBN.

“He created the first Nigeria currency, he established the Nigerian MINT and Nigeria Stock Exchange; created the Koko Sea Port, brought Julius Berger, Chevron Nigeria, Costain Lagos, McDermott; and with his political influence, he single handedly created the Mid-west region.

“But despite all these great contributions by Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh of blessed memory, the Federal Government has not immortalized him,” said spokesman of the group, Charles Eyimofe Pemu.

Continue reading “Niger Delta Group insists Finance House be named after Okotie-Eboh”

By Ena Ofugara

In the 1966 coup, they said the first republic politicians were corrupt. Now call each name, Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Azikiwe, Akintola, Okpara, which of them is documented in history as CORRUPT??? None!!!

The only person whose name is ruined today from that administration is the Niger Deltan, Festus Okotie Eboh. Awolowo that till date made giving him shares and who has shares in Coca Cola, Flour Mill and every company that came to invest in Nigeria while he was Premier of the West, something very very very fraudulent, is today worshipped like Jesus in the West. (Yes. It is illegal for Awolowo to have used his office to get shares in these companies. Check Life Mill ltd. His shares are still there along with Rewane, his Action Group ally) However, it is ONLY Okotie Eboh who had a business (Awo was just a lawyer and Zik biggest business was Pilot Newspaper that really sold how many copies???)

Okotie Eboh that was the only local shoes manufacturer, was chief Merchant to AT&P, Africa’s then biggest wood exporter, Okotie Eboh that was financing NCNC and who borrowed pre-oil Nigeria 1 million pounds, it is Okotie Eboh Edah that history calls a thief. JUST HIM. Name any other. Please say Ahmadu Bello was corrupt and see reactions. Watch reactions of Yorubas here.

Continue reading “Niger Deltan, Think!!!”

Among the heroes that fell in the February 15, 1966, was Festus Okotie-Eboh. He was the dandiest of President Tafawa Balewa’s cabinet then. Probably that was his only attribute a distant observer and a naysayer can see because he was finance minister.

But the Itsekiri man meant more than that. He was a nationalist at heart.

“Festus was a friend of the people; he was a friend of the East, friend of the West and friend of the North,”

former UN Ambassador Maitama Sule said during the 50th commemoration of Okotie-Eboh’s death at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Lagos.

Former President Olusegun was an eyewitness that fateful day when Major Nzeogwu coordinated the putsch that killed no fewer than 10 nationalists and politicians in 1966. Obasanjo was also an eyewitness 50 years after, when a book, Chief Okotie-Eboh, in Time and Space”, written about the statesman, was presented to Nigerians. And he testified to Okotie-Eboh’s nationalism.

“That we are able to gather here today to remember and in a way acknowledge the life of our early leader who, whatever may be his deficiency, is a testament to the fact that he gave us the best,”

Obasanjo said. Those who appreciate a united Nigeria can appreciate the gift. Now.

Continue reading “Festus Okotie-Eboh, a nationalist at heart”

By Anote Ajeluorou and Gbenga Salau

AND then the young majors struck. January 15, 1966. Midnight. And a dark veil covered the young political firmament of Africa’s most promising country. Then blood, too, flowed in Kaduna and Lagos, two political epicentres. By the time day broke the young majors realised the futility of their adventure, and the world and the country woke to a new reality far from what they had imagined. 50 years later, that fatalistic midnight misadventure still stares the country and her hapless citizens in the face.

Now half a century later, the country would seem to have come full circle. At least the events of last Friday, January 15, 2016, at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) proved instructive. The young majors, led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, had told the world that the entire independence political class was corrupt, and they had come as the messiahs to rescue the country from the brink. Corruption has since become the big stick the military wields to oust legitimate civilian governments in Nigeria.

Although the late Chief Festus Samuel Okotie-Eboh was not the leader of government, as Finance Minister, he played a prominent role that dwarfed many at the period. With the personal wealth he had acquired before he contested for a seat in Sapele, Mid-West Region and joined government under National Council of Nigerian and the Cameroun (NCNC), he brought panache and dynamism to leadership not known before.

Continue reading “Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh: Rich Echoes From The Past”

by Urenna Nkoli

Chief Festus Sam Okotie-Eboh (1912-1966) was a prominent and most flamboyant Nigerian politician of all times and former minister for finance during the administration of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Okotie-Eboh an Urhobo native turned Itsekiri man was a most expensively well-dressed Nigeria political figure as far as exquisite taste in traditional African wear and Western dressing are concerned.

Okotie-Eboh was the target of bitter criticisms, he certainly was very rich. He was a man of influence and power, with considerable financial strength and know-how.

As a flamboyant dresser and fashionable stylish impressionist he was given the nickname , Omimi-Ejoh, Ejoh bilele, translated as ‘the man with long feature and flowing wrappers’.

He spent his money lavishly in support of political causes and at the time of the 1959 election was ferociously attacked by Action Group leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and accused of corruption.

Nigeria’s political history attained a remarkably eventful crescendo on January 15, 1966, when Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh was assassinated along Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the prime minister of Nigeria, Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Akintola, prime minister of Western Nigeria etc., in a military pogrom and putsch led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu.

Major Nzeogwu was quoted as saying in a Radio Broadcast that: “…Nigeria will never be the same again …”

Continue reading “Chief Festus Sam Okotie-eboh: Nigeria`s Most Flamboyant Politician”

By Adrian

Festus Okotie-Eboh (July 18 1912 – January 15 1966) was a prominent and flamboyant Nigerian politician and former minister for finance during the administration of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Born to an Itsekiri Chief (From Bateren/ Jakpa & Maternally from Orogun), in Bateren along the Benin River, he attended the Baptist School, Sapele for secondary education. He later joined the British Bata Company, as a clerk. After working at the British Bata Company for a while, he became a deputy manager in Sapele, during this time he was also member of the Warri Ports Advisory Committee and the Sapele Township Advisory Board. In due time, he traveled to Czechoslovakia and studied Business Administration.

On returning to the country, he quit his prior position and started a successful business, selling timber, rubber and owning a few schools. In 1951, after some influence from Azikiwe, he contested for a seat and was elected into the western region House of Assembly. In 1954, he was elected treasurer of the N.C.N.C. and in 1957, was made Minister of Finance.”

If Chief Festus Sam Okotie-Eboh were to still alive, he would have been 113 years old, having been born in 1912 which is one hundred years ago. He was assassinated in 1966 which was 48 years ago when he was only 54 years of age. By that age, the impact he had already made in the building of the nation had been monumental in each of the several sectors of his endeavours.

Continue reading “Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh – Nigeria’s Greatest Hero”

Correspondent Musa Odoshimokhe writes on the life and times of the colourful Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, who was murdered in Lagos by the mutineers.

It was a trying moment. Key politicians were killed in the putsch. The unity of the country was threatened to its very foundation. All political structures were abruptly consigned to history as the citizens and members of international community watched the macabre dance.

By the time the martial music simmered down, one of those cut short was the Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh,

a flamboyant dresser whose style earned him the nickname, Omimi-Ejoh, Ejoh bilele, translated as ‘the man with long feature and flowing wrappers’.

Born July 18, 1912 to Prince Okotie Eboh in Warri Division, he attended Sapele Baptist School. In 1930, he took up an appointment as an Assessment Clerk in Sapele Township Office. After a brief stint with teaching, he joined the Bata Shoe Company Limited, where he rose to the post of Chief Clerk.

Continue reading “Okotie-Eboh: victim of circumstance”

By Bobson Gbinije

THEY have stabbed themselves for freedom – jumped into the waves for freedom – fought like very tigers for freedom! But they have been hung, and burned, and shot-and their tyrants have been their historians—Lydia Maria.

Where does the pendulum of objectivity swing in respect of the life and times of Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh (Omimi-Ejoh) who was killed on this day? Nigeria’s political history attained a remarkably eventful crescendo on January 15, 1966, when Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Chief Akintola, etc., were assassinated in a military pogrom and putsch led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogu.

Major Nzeogu was quoted as saying in a Radio Broadcast that: “…Nigeria will never be the same again …”

The why, where, when, how and the justification for the assassination of these crop of Nigerian politicians and its subsequent causative and bandwagon effect on the Nigerian/Biafra civil war (1967-1970) remains a riddle in a conundrum superimposed in a riddle.

Continue reading “Tribute: Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh and the justiceability of history”