ENUGU STATE ASSOCIATION EUROPE

The Fulani that became the first mayor of Enugu

Mallam Umaru Altine : The Fulani that became the first mayor of Enugu

Written by Administrator

• • More Sharing Services  Do Nigerians know that the first mayor of Enugu city was a Fulani man?   Enugu is the capital of old eastern Nigeria with majority of Igbo speaking people; therefore it is imperative to explore and understand how a Fulani politician became the mayor of the city.   Nnamdi Azikiwe’s political machine  made it possible for Alhaji Umaru Altine  to become the mayor of Enugu. 

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first Governor General and first President of Nigeria was by no means perfect in his political career but his faith in one Nigeria was unshakable, unquestionable  and his quest for united and indivisible Nigeria cannot be compared to rest of his contemporaries.

"According to Richard Sklar, an American political scientist who authored the the book “Nigerian Political Parties”, Mallam Umaru Altine who hailed from the old Sokoto Province of the defunct region of Northern Nigeria and who served as President of the Enugu Branch of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons(NCNC) was elected the first Mayor of

Enugu in 1956.

In my humble opinion, this again goes to show the kind of very elevated and futuristic politics played by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first Premier of Eastern Nigeria and the most sincere proponent of Nigerian national unity of all time. It is a testimony to his impeccable credentials as the ultimate Nigerian that during his time in office, a Mid-Westerner and incumbent Oba Erediauwa of Benin (then Prince Solomon Akenzua) and a Northerner, the late Abdulaziz Atta, the Gowon-era Secretary to the Government of the Federation who died in 1972, both served as Permanent Secretaries of the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service," as stated in the Beegeagle's Blog.

In the 1950s a Fulani cattle dealer leaves Sokoto for Enugu, wins the backing of Nnamdi Azikiwe, joins mainstream Enugu politics, and eventually becomes the first Mayor of the Coal City. Travelling through four Nigerian cities, and cross checking the tiny but significant details of a rare story, Weekly Trust explores the life and legacy of Enugu’s first Mayor.

"Nigeria never fails to shock. This power to shock in a positive sense is embodied in the life and career of Umoru Altine, scion of the Sokoto Caliphate, who, on a record two occasions, became the Mayor of Enugu, which lies deep in Nigeria’s  South-East. He was the first ever Mayor of Enugu. Agu Gab Agu, one time Chairman, Enugu North Local Government invited the Umoru Altine family to Enugu in 2004 in his capacity as Chair of the local government. This was simply to celebrate the achievement of their late father. He tells Weekly Trust ‘Our history before that time did not reflect his towering achievement in terms of Nigerian unity. I was going to name a public institution after him, but time did not allow for that. ‘He says that a street was named after the late Mayor somewhere in the Coal Camp area of Enugu during the First Republic. Here is a political story, which also doubles as a Love epic, a war story, a tale of benevolent mentors, and a travel narrative as well.


Altine could have been Sultan
As a descendant of Uthman Dan Fodio, he could have been Sultan of Sokoto. But he preferred the world of trading, travel, adventure (he joined the army and worked with the railways) and politics (one account says he first contested an election in Tambuwal, Sokoto state), and he carved a niche for himself in these respects. He was handsome, was always well dressed, and people were magnetically drawn to him. In Enugu, he wore the Babban Riga, as well as a Turban. On other occasions he wore suits as the event demanded. He went to Church in Enugu if his duties as Mayor called for it, and went to do the kick off at stadia when occasion demanded. He was willing to adjust while retaining his identity. A noble, free and simple spirit is in evidence here. This Prince smoked loved Nsala soup with fresh fish, a popular meal of the Enugu Igbo, so says his wife, had a high sense of personal hygiene and had a good command of English. He never fell ill, so says Ma’Inna Altine, his Sokoto based daughter. He was fluent in Fulfulde and, to cap it all, he married an Igbo Lady. “(Tadaferua Ujorha, Daily Trust)

 http://www.afripol.org/afripol/item/1787-mallam-umaru-altine-the-fulani-that-became-the-first-mayor-of-enugu.html

SOURCE

Queen & Ogbonna 1 by chukbyke

Kween Onyema Onwe (the bride) coming  out  with her friends  to greet the groom(Ogbonna Nwevo)  during the traditional marriage  ceremony

Iva Valley Massacre: Sixty years of struggle

on November 18, 2009   /  

By Owei Lakemfa

IT is exactly 60 years today November 18, 2009 when armed British colonial policemen opened fire on defenceless coal miners in the Iva Valley mine in Enugu. In those moments of collective colonial insanity, the colonialists within minutes murdered 21 Nigerian workers and injured 51.

The workers crime was that they dared to go on a strike which the colonial authorities interpreted as a political strike designed to pressurise them to quite the country and let Nigeria join other nations free from colonial misrule and exploitation.

Although the  Yar’Adua government, like successive ones since independence  will not mark this day, even with one word of appreciation for the struggles of many ordinary people who gave us independence, it is necessary that the Nigerian youth know that contrary to popular myth, our country did not attain independence on a platter of gold. Like other countries under colonial rule, our forebears fought for independence with many losing their livelihood, liberty and lives.

It is true that many of the official “nationalists” wore long traditional clothes about, making ineffectual speeches in parliament and attending constitutional conferences in London  where they had the privilege of taking tea with the colonial masters, but the true nationalists were the patriots who looked the colonialists in the face and demanded freedom. They are heroes like Bello Ijumu,  Aminu Kano, Mokwugo Okoye, Nduka Eze, Anthony Enahoro  and Micheal Imoudu who put their lives on the line for freedom.

They are people like Osita Agwuna who on October 27, 1948 on behalf of the organised youths made  public, ”A Call For Revolution” to cast off colonial rule, and Raji Abdallah who when charged with treasonable felony in 1948, told the court “I hate the crown of Britain with all my heart because to me and my countrymen, it is a symbol of oppression, a symbol of persecution, and in short, a material manifestation of iniquity”.

No exploiter concedes power by persuasion or repenting of his sins; pressure and power must be applied because as Franz Fanon explained, colonialism is a one-armed bandit. The coal miners who fell that day in Iva Valley had watered the tree of liberty with their blood.

Labour leader and nationalist, Nduka Eze  said of the chain reaction  of this massacre: “The radicals and the moderates, the revolutionaries and the stooges, the bourgeoisie and the workers, sank their differences, remembered the word-‘Nigeria’ and rose in revolt against evil and inhumanity”.

The political scientist, Richard L Sklar wrote on the significance of their sacrifice : “ Historians may conclude that the slaying of the coal miners by police at Enugu first proved the subjective reality of a Nigerian nation. No previous event ever evoked a manifestation of national consciousness comparable to the indignation generated by this tragedy”.

The coal mine managers were British racists who had a sense of superiority over Nigerians. There were cases of physical abuse. In one case, a Briton T. Yates on September 2, 1945 slapped a worker, Okwudili Ojiyi  who had the courage to bring up an assault case and  Mr Yates was prosecuted and fined.

On November 1, 1949 matters between the workers and management reached a head when the latter rejected demands for the payment of rostering, the upgrading of the mine hewers to artisans and the payment of  housing and travelling allowances. The workers then began a “go slow” strike.

The management’s reaction was to sack over 50 of them. Fearing that the strike was part of the growing nationalist agitations for self- rule, the management also decided to move out  explosives from the mines on November 18, 1949.

Those of the Obwetti mines were easily removed, but that of Iva Valley was not because the workers refused to assist the management to do so.

The Fitzgerald Commission which the colonialists were forced to set up to investigate the massacre, found that “the reason why the miners objected to the removal of the explosives was because they feared that once the explosives were removed, nothing stood in the way of the management closing the mine and thus effecting a lock – out”.

Senior Superintendent of Police, F.S.Philip came to the mine to assist in the removal. He had two other officers and75 armed policemen. At a point there was a struggle between three of the policemen and the workers, and Philip without  any hesitation ordered his men to shoot.

There were mass protests in places like Port Harcourt, Aba and Onitsha and 18 prominent Nigerians set up the National Emergency Committee (NEC) to coordinate a national response to this crime against humanity. It was chaired by Dr Akinola Maja with Mbonu Ojike as secretary.

The colonial government issued a statement that the workers were armed, had tried to disarm the policemen and had attempted to seize the explosives. The Commission found all these to be lies. The Commission which partly blamed the union and said Superintendent Philip committed an error of judgement, found that: “ Not one policeman was injured, not one missile was thrown at them (and that) if the crowd was bent on using force against the police nothing could have saved these policemen from grave injury, whereas in fact they were not injured at all”. Such are the bloody legacy of British colonial rule and repression and the peoples struggle for emancipation.

Today, on this 60th commemoration, may the courage, patriotism and selflessness of the martyred Iva Valley miners and those of the true nationalists continue to inspire us in these neo-colonial times.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/11/iva-valley-massacre-sixty-years-of-struggle/#sthash.KCplqC7E.dpuf

ANTI CORRUPTION AWARENESS ORG. NIG (ENUGU COMMAND) AWARD CEREMONY

The Anti-Corruption Awareness Organization Nigeria (Enugu State Command)  ACAON  on the  31^st October 2013  held an award  ceremony  to mark their one year anniversary at the Filbon Hotel  New Haven Enugu. Three persons   received merit awards from the Association;
·       HRH Igwe  Col. I.O Mbah(retd) fes Ononenyi 1 of Nomeh Unateze,
·       Chief Dr Innocent Chukwuma 8ofr) CEO/MD  INNOSON Industries,
·       Prof. Edmund U. Agbo Promoter International Bio-Research institute  (IBI) Ugwogo Nike Enugu.
Prof  Edmund U. Agbo  was  also the Guest  speaker and  delivered  a lecture  themed ; CORRUPTION – A GUEST,A HOST OR A GHOST IN NIGERIA.

By: Chhukwubike OC & fotothoughts 

 

IGBO DAY 29 TH SEPT. 2013 ...OHANEZE...( Igbo is the strongest pillar of my administration–Jonathan)

 Igbo is the strongest pillar of my administration–Jonathan

By 247ureports

575 Views

Posted In

Reports

IFEANYI EZUGWU, ENUGU.

Seven states; Rivers, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Delta converged yesterday in Enugu under the auspices of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo to mark this year’s Igbo day at the Micheal Okpara square.The annual event which is stipulated to commemorate the efforts of Igbo heroes who contributed steeply in championing the cause of Igbo had as its theme, “uplift the homeland” with an inter-denomitional service.

While presenting President Goodluck Jonathans’ address, his representative, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo expressed profound gratitude to Igbo for,”being the greatest pillar of support to my person and administration. My administration have taken cognizance of the unalloyed support of the Igbo. Igbo is the ethnic group that has supported my administration greatly and I promise that it will not be taken for granted”.“This is evident in the level of Federal attention the infrastructure in the south-east is receiving as examplified and in the roads, commencement of international operations at the Akanu-Ibiam airport, Enugu, the dredging of the river Niger to boost inland water ways transport. The Akanu-Ibiam airport will have all the trappings of an international airport. Federal Government is working assiduously to build Aerotropolis and inject vibrancy at the cargo terminals, befitting of international standards” said the President.President Jonathan disclosed that Igbo has been frontal in the believe of the co-operate existence of Nigeria adding that the Igbo is the highest investor in Nigeria’s economy even as he explained that,’Igbo carry the banner of Christianity and culture as they traverse the country in search of greener pastures typical of a republican’.He further urged Igbo youths to eschew the vices of kidnapping, armed robbery and assassination while appealing to them to imbibe the virtues of their forebearers in their various endeavours.Contributing, the Governor of Enugu state, Barr. Sullivan Chime represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Joe Mamelu urged,”Igbo to uphold the practice of speaking Igbo language wherever they find themselves to forestall the language from going into extinction”.In his remark, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey poisted that the way forward for Ndigbo is,”to speak with one voice in a clear direction. Emphasis must be in generating and directing these energies towards growth poles. We must unite in pursing commercial and industrial objectives and much more importantly, political challenges”.“We reiterate for emphasis that Ndigbo must seek the Presidency of this country at the expiration of the tenure of the south-south. This is in keeping with our stand that equity,justice and fair-play demand that we, the only zone remaining to hold the prime office in the country, should be allowed by our fellow Nigerians to so occupy it in unbroken succession after the south-south. This is an appeal to the political class of Ndigbo to put their house in order. We cannot afford to play a second fiddle forever” Igariwey noted.

IGBO DAY 2013 ORGANIZED BY OHANEZE. 29TH SEPT.2013 AT MICHAEL OKPARA SQUARE ,ENUGU

As Akanu Ibiam Airport Enugu Welcomes International Flights

As Akanu Ibiam Airport Enugu Welcomes International Flights

11 Aug 2013

Ethiopian Airlines 

On August 24, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu will receive the first international flight to the Coal City. Ethiopian Airlines issued a statement late last month indicating its readiness to be the first international carrier to fly to the airport.

The euphoria which has greeted the announcement, especially among Ndigbo and the nation in general, is understandable. It underscores the strategic nature of the development to the nation’s and the South East’s economy. The Deputy President of the Senate, who is also the highest political office holder from the zone, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in commending President Goodluck Jonathan over this, rightly described it as a “major milestone in the infrastructural renewal of the South East and a monumental boost for both trade and Direct Foreign Investment for the entire country”.

According to him, “For many decades, the people of the South East, the local and international business community have waited seemingly endlessly for the commencement of international flight operations at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, and the people of South East will remain ever grateful to President Jonathan for the breakthrough.”

What a new dawn. For decades, successive administrations had exploited the subject of international flight operations in the South East, to the extent of making it a recurrent object of political rhetoric. They promised more and delivered nothing. It was not because this is not most deserving and needful. Ndigbo are known as great business people. From Onitsha to Nnewi and Aba, the South East speaks of robust economic and technological prowess, but which great potentials are abandoned to rust in gross disuse.

Unfortunately, for ages, I dare say a combination of political irresponsibility, assorted parochial interests and considerations, promise and fail syndrome, and if you like, willful sabotage and conspiracy, had kept the operation of international flight in the South East far from reality. This had led quite many to conclude, rightly or wrongly, that there was an unwritten code to ensure that the enclave did not have direct contact with the outside world, even donkey years after the civil war.

Thus, if the people of the South East took the November 14, 2007 statement by the then Minister of Aviation, Diezani Allison-Madueke announcing President Yar’Adua’s approval of the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam Airport to the status of international airport with a pinch of salt, they were not to blame. And when the former Minister of Aviation, Babatunde Omotoba was credited with a statement during the flag-off of rehabilitation work at the Akanu Ibiam Airport on November 30, 2009, to the effect that the Federal Government had not given international status to the Airport, the cloud of doubt and forlornness thickened.

However, all that has become mere part of the South East’s long walk to hosting an international aviation facility.
As Nigerians, especially the people of South East wait breathlessly for August 24, there are hallmarks in leadership by key players in pursuit of this breakthrough that need to be highlighted.

First, we must note that the more we have Presidents who see the whole country as their constituency through equitable development and opportunities, the less likely Nigerians are to clamour for Presidents of their own ethno-religious extraction. It must not be lost on us that the late President Yar’Adua who took the initial practical steps towards the realization of this dream was from Katsina State, while the incumbent President who has boosted and guided the initiative to fruition, though closer home, is from Bayelsa in the South South. Yar’Adua not only pronounced Enugu an international airport, but also awarded the first contract in the sum of about N4.1 billion towards the project. Who knows what contrary pieces of advice and even hushed protests both Presidents might have contended with? Much as leadership, especially in a pluralistic society like ours should go round to give each section a sense of belonging, it will always be more important to have a fatherly “Nigerian President”.

The second lesson is the sense of policy and project continuity shown by President Jonathan. Discontinuity syndrome is one of the major banes of development in Nigeria. And it is driven mainly by politics of ego, vendetta, and corruption. Laudable projects have been abandoned because incumbents were no longer on good terms with their predecessors or the projects were cited in “wrong places” or someone just wants to feather his/her nest. The Projects Assessment Committee set up by President Jonathan in 2010 to take census of all abandoned and ongoing Federal Government projects across the country identified a whooping 11,886 projects. The states do not fare better either. This is calamitous.

In contrast, the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Jonathan on October 19, 2010 reaffirmed the upgrade of Enugu Airport to an international facility and awarded a reviewed contract of about N6.1billion to bring the total cost to about N10.03 billion. Under Jonathan, the Airport was finally gazetted as an international airport. The gazette was important to lay to rest the initial fears caused by Omotoba’s statement. Just last May, Mr. President commissioned the remodeled Enugu Airport and laid the foundation for a new international terminal.

As also rightly observed by Senator Ekweremadu, the project has gone on smoothly under the tenures of Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke who was Minister of Transport at the time discussion was opened with late President Yar’Adua on this project, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze who sustained the actual construction as Minister of Aviation, and the current Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah who has driven this vision with tremendous commitment, passion, and vigour to the point of reality today.

Importantly, the actualisation of the Enugu Airport dream is a testimony in leadership, synergy, and legislative masterstroke on the part of Senator Ekweremadu and the South East Caucus of the 6th National Assembly, NASS, which opened the request with a letter to President Yar’Adua signed by Senator Ekweremadu on behalf of the rest. Thus, the Caucus, with the Deputy President of Senate in the driver’s seat, began the legislative diplomatic rounds to the Villa to drive the dream.

The meetings were fruitful from the outset as President Yar’Adua was said to be seriously touched over the absence of an international airport in the South East that he, there and then, minuted approval on the letter of request. It was on the strength of this that Mrs. Allison-Madueke also issued a statement announcing the designation Akanu Ibiam an international airport. The release of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, was discussed at the meeting. Yar’Adua honoured this request too.

Meanwhile, the commitment of the Chairman of the Committee on Aviation in the 6th Senate, Senator Anyim Udeh and his House of Representatives counterpart, Hon. Bethel Amadi as well as their successors, Senator Hope Uzodinma and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha have helped to push the dream in no little measures. With the concerted lobby and efforts the South East Caucus in both the 6th and 7th National Assembly, it has never been difficult for their fellow federal lawmakers to see the economic reasons, the equity and justice in ensuring adequate budgetary provisions for the project from the days of late President Yar’Adua till date.

Worthy of special commendation are the uncommon wisdom, unity of purpose, and sense of sacrifice shown by the Enugu State Caucus in the 6th NASS. With eyes fixated on the bigger picture, the Caucus, at a point, channeled the entire funds for Constituency Projects that would have accrued to Enugu Federal Constituencies and Senatorial Districts in one fiscal year to the project. This, they told President Yar’Adua, was to shore up budgetary provisions for the upgrading project. Which President would not be moved by such show of commitment? The masterstroke worked like magic as the Federal Executive Council under President Yar’Adua subsequently broke the jinx by awarding a contract in the sum of N4.1 billion to upgrade the Akanu Ibiam Airport.

In all, the deftness displayed by the South East federal lawmakers led by Senator Ekweremadu, the great support shown by the South East Governors (especially Governor Peter Obi both in his official capacity as Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum and his personal capacity too), political stakeholders, and indeed numerous others towards the actualization of the vision shows how much a people can achieve if they work together in articulating and pursuing common, legitimate agenda. There is also a big lesson in smooth executive/legislature relations as well as intra-executive and intra-legislature synergy.

Indeed, it is an uncommon breath of fresh air as Enugu and the South East is opened up to the outside world. Peaceful repose Yar’Adua; long live Jonathan; well done Stella-Oduah et al; and kudos Ekweremadu (the silent achiever), and the entire South East compatriots in the 6th and 7th NASS.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/as-akanu-ibiam-airport-enugu-welcomes-international-flights/156006/
Mr. Anichukwu is Special Adviser (Media) to Deputy President of the Senate

MAN U. vs ENUGU RANGERS INTER-

 http://naijainworldview.blogspot.com/2012/08/rangers-inernational-f-c.html       

We are always ‘patriotically’ sharp, intellectual, egalitarian and sometimes unreasonable in criticizing those Nigerians that chose ( for now) other places not Nigeria as their residence ,but fall first shallow pit like this. We forget all our ‘patriotism’ and start the argument of globalization and the world being a village. Excuse me….. when was the last time any of us ‘football fans ‘ went to watch our local (clubs) boys play?
I was Nenwe ,Nike and oher Enugu suburbs last week-end and every thatched batcher in every village square had a Pay TV and crowds watching foreign matches., at the same period the Enugu Rangers international was playing a vital match but I was angered by the number of spectators ( just a couple of thousands) : You will get madder when you come to hear that the gate fee was zero Naira to encourage the coal city fans.

http://naijainworldview.blogspot.com/2012/08/rangers-inernational-f-c.html      

ENUGU STATE-WAWA-(ROME) DAY 2012