OLUWAJIMI . J . THORPE

  Christopher Sapara Williams made history on November 1879 when he became the first Nigerian to be called to the English bar.Born on July 14, 1855 in Sierra Leone although he was reported to have been of Ijesha origin, he studied law at Inner Temple in London and on November 17, 1879, he was called to the English bar. In 1888, Williams returned to Lagos colony, as it was then to begin practising law. He enrolled in the Nigerian Bar Association where he became chairman from 1900 to 1915 when he died.  In 1901, he was nominated to the legislative council where served as member till he passed away. His judgement was called to test in 1903 when a crises arose over the tolls collected from traders by local rulers. The then Governor William MacGregor requested views from Williams, Charles Joseph George and Obadiah Johnson as indigenous opinion leaders.They suggested that the tools be retained as against changing them to subsidies so as not to upset the rulers.  Williams was no...

  Do you know that the Oldest Surviving Kingdom in the World is Great Benin Kingdom and is 2054 years Old? This piece reveals 30 amazing facts you never knew about the Great Benin Kingdom The Great Benin Kingdom is probably Nigeria’s greatest empire. The Ogiso dynasty lasted for about 854 years plus an interregnum of 285 years between the reign of Ogiso Orire and Ogiso Odia, there was an interregnum of 70 years between Ogiso Owodo and Oba Oranmiyan plus 845 years of Oba ruler-ship till date. Below are 30 amazing facts about the Great Benin Kingdom: 1.The First Storey Building in Nigeria was built at Ughoton by the Dutch in the year 1718, and it was called “The Factory”. The said building was destroyed by the British during the war against the Benins in 1897. The site of the building is still intact. 2. The Oldest Church in West-Africa was established in Great Benin Empire by the Earliest Portuguese missionaries in the 16th Century which is today known as the Holy Aruosa (Benin Nati...

Akintola Taaku” (Aare Akintola Remain Adamant) It was three o’clock in the morning. The telephone rang in the Governor’s official residence in Ibadan. Who could be calling the Governor at this time of the day? The Governor was told it was someone from Lagos and the caller insisted that he must speak with the Governor personally. The caller said it was urgent and important. The Governor of Western Region, Oba Tadenikawo Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ile-Ife, answered the phone. His Royal Highness recognized the voice on the other end. It was the voice of a royalty, a prince, a jurist and a Knight of the British Empire. The caller was His Lordship Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, the Chief Justice of the Federation. “Kabiyesi, may I respectfully advise Your Majesty to vacate the Government House immediately.” Oba Aderemi thought it must be a joke, and an expensive one at that. Vacate the Government House? And immediately too? As if reading His Majesty’s mind, Justice Ademola assured Kabiyesi that ...

  Hausa land, history and people yearning for freedom. Nigerians, 50 years old and above who attended Primary School in any part of what used to be Northern Nigeria, must have been taught during History lessons about the 7 Hausa States of Biram, Kano, Katsina, Daura, Gobir, Rano and Zaria as well as the 7 Banza Bakwai Kingdoms of Zamfara, Kebbi, Yauri, Gwari, Nupe, Kwararafa (Jukun) and Yoruba.   These Kingdoms were viable in virtually every aspect of human endeavour at that time. I should draw the readers attention to the meaning of the Hausa word ”Banza”. Banza, is a derogatory word which means worthless or anything that is of lower quality which clearly showed a marked distinction between the Hausa Bakwai and the Banza Bakwai Kingdoms. There may have been the pastoral or nomadic Fulani as part of the population in these Kingdoms but not much if anything was recorded in this respect. The Fulani got a mention when migrants from the general area of the Futa Djalon foothills an...

Hon. Captain Chari Maigumeri, 3rd Nigerian Regiment Chari from the Maiduguri District joined the Kaiser–lichen Shutztruppe fur Kamerun in 1913. He fought against us [Britain] in the Cameroons Campaign, where he won the Iron Cross for gallantry. Captured at the battle of Garua in 1915, he enlisted in the W.A.F.F. early in 1917 and served in East Africa during the latter part of the campaign. He was promoted sergeant in 1920, Company Sergeant-Major in 1924, and Regimental Sergeant-Major in 1928. All his service was spent in the 3rd Battalion the Nigeria Regiment. He was one of a representative detachment sent to London for the Jubilee of H.M. King George V and for the Coronation of H.M. King George VI in 1937. He served throughout the campaign in East Africa, 1940-1, being awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry, particularly at the crossing of the River Omo. He accompanied the 3rd Battalion to Burma and was mentioned in despatches for his action during a night attack b...

Bandits”” were created by Gen Mohammadu Buhari Rtd to oust Jonathan Bandits are not Boko Haram nor Herdsmen   It all started in April 2014 when Mohammadu Buhari assembled his ardent supporters, promoters and strategists to determine how to remove President Jonathan Goodluck.  Prominent amongst them were El-Rufai, Gen Danbazo (Rtd)……..   A decision was reached to consult Miyatti Allah cattle breeders association for assistance to boot Jonathan Goodluck out of office. Consequently, the National Chairman of Miyatti Allah was engaged to bring in foreign mercenaries. Within a month, 2,000 Fulani fighters were brought in from Mali, Senegal, Niger Republic, Chad, Libya to name but a few. Further 4,000 fighters were stationed in Niger and Chad on standby.    On arrival, they were assembled in Kaduna under the sponsorship of El Rufai and were addressed by various Northern Leaders including the Sultan of Sokoto, Gen. Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar (Rtd) etc.   Specifically...

      Life is a lot of work. What is it that gives us the strength to continue when we are tired and burned out?  Sometimes an inspirational idea can help us renew ourselves and be filled with strength to fulfill our life's purpose. Inspiration comes in many forms. However, the root of all inspiration is the idea that our lives are meaningful. Inspiration is knowing that what I do matters deeply to the universe.  When you have the feeling that your actions are meaningful, you will become filled with strength and vigor to fulfill your life's purpose.     WITH LOVE FROM OJ THORPE