A MUST READ 📚 🤣

For those above 50, who had the privilege to live in Owerri during our growing up old school days, life was sweeter, more secured and loving.

Some times when I take a retrospective look between now and those days, when we grew up in “Old Owerri” I am compelled to affirm that the old days was better. “Uwa mbu kà nmà dàà” !

You may wonder what makes the good old times to be better than now that you have almost everything, color television, telephone handset, money transfer, modern and cosy aeroplanes and cars, tall glass houses and more tarred roads, etc. etc

Unfortunately, despite what many may see as modernity, civilization and jet age, with beautiful environment, made more decent by innovations and science, I still will give one arm for the joyous, organic and natural times we enjoyed in our old Owerri.
We had our fun without fear of the unknown, even at midnights till the wee hours of the morning. There was trust, compassion, considerations and respect among peers devoid of envy.
Reason was that, though there existed competition, yet you always know where you landed and accepted it because merit was sacrosanct.
We knew each other up to our parents who also knew us all too.
Every Parent must as a matter of practice, know who the friends of their Children are and where they live.

Then, we knew who owns which car in Owerri and what he does for a living.
Just to hang a television pole will attract attention of who owns it.
People lived within their income, were satisfied and happy. Their Children were happy with the modest life of their parents, whether rich, middle class or poor. Happiness was relative without envy.

When you visit a friend and he is not around, you simply pick his door key from the door lintel or under the foot mat and open the door.
If you are spending the night, the mother will feed you. This was old Owerri and good old days.

In Owerri, there were a few modern houses then, but life was organic and boisterous. I remember seeing people who came to Ekeukwu Owerri market streaming always into our compound daily to drink refreshing tap water before leaving for their various nearby villages. People visit Owerri once in a long while from Mbaise, Orlu, Mbano, Oguta, Ikeduru etc, etc. Such rare visits was like modern day going to Lagos and traveling to Lagos in those days was like an overseas trip of today.

Major roads and streets include,Tetlow, Mbaise, Wetheral, Okigwe, Douglas, Royce Road. There was nothing like MCC, New Owerri, Dick Tiger, Ikenegbu, Chukwuma Nwoha roads or names of the recent nouveau de rich politicians and businessmen in Imo today with little or no pedigree. That used to be the Owerri you see today.

In those regulated days, no girl will ever attempt to visit you at home as you dare not visit any in her parent’s house. It will take months for a girl to acknowledge your advances, and many more to find a convenient place to meet as no hotel will allow you into their premises. Meeting points were either at the School’s visiting day, School’s debating day or during holidays at public taps while fetching water, which usually is in the evening when the Public Water Corporation pumps water. The other place are the Church on Sundays or at the Library, where your studies and seriousness with your academics win you the opposite sex and not money.
Our books were our major focal points, even though we secretly socialized on Sunday evenings too.
We exchanged Novels like James Hardly Chase, Agatha Christy etc.You may attempt hunger strike or suicide for failing JAMB or WAEC while your mates pass and gain admission into the University before you.
Nearly all the secondary schools are equal in academic standards, no matter where they are located, except those in Owerri township preferred usually as first choice in Common Entrance examination.
Schools were known by their Nicknames.
We had, OGSSIAN the all time great school in Owerri, OCOGRAM, HOGOSCO , OGIMGBO, ECOL, all in Owerri town, St. CATA in Nkwere, AQUINAS in Añara, Sabastin Accademy, Emekuku Compre, Ejiogu Memorial Egbu owned by Nathan Ejiogu, SAHACO, NEWARK HIGH, all in Aba, OGS and NGOR HIGH in Ngor Okpala. There was also the TTC Irette and the nearest higher institution in Owerri then was Alvan Ikoku college of education, now University of Education.

We have some good “Commercial Schools” which we saw then as places for those who failed Common Entrance or whose parents can not afford Secondary School fees. There were OZIMS Commercial at Nwaorie axis and CITY Commercial at Amaram extension. These were two great and impactive learning curve for secretarial and commercial training.

Children’s Day, Independent celebration and the Inter House Sports in Schools were like our Christmas and New year Celebrations put together.
They were days Principals and Parents leave us alone for at least eight hours out of their proding eyes, and we “Utilized it to the fullest”.
We prepare for these occasions like there won’t be another tomorrow.
Apart from saving money for ‘JUMP or DISCO”, they were days to display our best cloths, some hidden from our parents. We wore them outside the house in a friend’s house and also changed them again before going back home or we wear our school uniforms on them and change them before going home to avoid the beating of our lives or starving of food as punishment.

To look clean, we visit places like Soul Scissors barbing saloon at Tetlow road for perfect and modern hair cuts. That was the only barbing saloon in Owerri that had electric clippers, and they charge a little higher. If you visit two times, you will get one free hair cut.

Latest fashions then were Amos and Easy Jeans trousers, Crazy Horse, Velvetin, Yobris, Acapulco Shirts, Silk etc, etc

We keep records through pictures taken with Kodak and Polaroid Cameras, which we call “Wait and Take”.
After the march pasts held at Old Township Stadium along Tetlow road, the next is to enter O’town and “Rock” before 6pm to hit back to our various Dormetries or prepare to head home after suspension.
But we must go to “Afternoon JUMP” before returning to school. Hotels in Owerri make heavy sells in such days.

We had Gulf Course, Catering rest house, Awareness, Kakadu, Chaseside, James, Ambassador, Domino, Third House at Emekuku, Tourist Centre, Pelly hotels, etc, etc
You can go to Angelo, Unit One, Duflox or Kemo if you want pastries.
The Headquarter of entertainment then in Owerri was Afurola Night Club located at White House Hotel, owned by late Eze Philip Nwosu, where you must save enough money for ticket and lately La Pearch owne by Nda Ambu, Mr. White and Concord Cassino and Nite club.
Geraldo Pino and Bina Kofi usually perform in turns. Attendance was for “Big Boys”. We happily return to tell our friends who couldn’t make it what they missed.
If you grew up in Owerri you will also remember Afro hotel at Oparanozie Street and Cocoanut Inn around Cherubin junction reputed for short time business. We would go to Nworie and swim after our lesson at the government hand craft center by Oparanozie street and be prepared to receive strokes of the cane at home as our red eyes betrays our lies of not swimming.

There was Rex Cinema at Royce Road. Talking about Cinemas, we were not comfortable with our parent’s black and white TV, until the Color brand started coming in vogue.
We enjoyed movies; like Bruce Lee, John Wayne, Hawaii 50, Sky Force, Hotel de Jordan with Chief Idiemudia as the man character and Samanja the army man with thick mustach, Jagua, Dallas, Charlies Angels, Zebrudaya, Nathy, Ovuleria, Jango and others entertained many. Many whose parents could not afford TV, peeped from the windows of their friends who will shift the curtain of their windows for them to watch Zebrudaya and Soul train. There was love and compassion from the heart.

We also enjoyed Brizillian League. The only player I can remember is Zeze.
The Common drinks include ever lasting Coca Cola, Green Sands Shandy, Champion Beer, Golden Guinea, Dubic, Royal Crown, Dr Pepper etc, etc.
Available Cigarettes were Saint Morris, Gold Leaf, Marlboro, Dunhill, Three Rings, Bicycle, Erimoore, Flight, Benson and Hedges but if you want to get real “high” than these stuffs, you visit Okon, located inside Mami Market at Shell Camp, Aluma at Wetheral road, Paddy Yama at Naze, Wazobia at Agbala or Ndà Jonel Cross èbè ime Ohèè in Umuororonjo village for weeds.
If you want the best palmy, you visit Igbokwe at Alvan Quarters, and another secret joint at Amakohia junction by Orlu road.

We hadly joked with music as we are always alert for singing and dancing the new “Release”.
Shalama, Fela, Whispers, Bob Marley, Chris Okotie, Jide Obi, Sonny Okosun, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Maha of I will fly over the mountains fame, though she died very early, Onyeka Onwenu, Bongos Ikwue, Osibisa, Jimmy Cliff, Brother Johnsons, Commodores, Michael Jackson, MC Hammer, Felix Liberty, Chris Okotie, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Temptation, Somkey Robbison, Bony M, Earth Wind and Fire, Barry White, Smokies, Rod Stewart, Jonh Cougar, Bostons, Cutis Blow, Lijadu Sisters, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight and the Pimps, Grace Jones, Teddy Pendagrass, Cool and the Gang, Sir Warrior, Dan Orji, Alloy Anyanwu, Kabaka,Joeneze, Ederi Chukwueke, Abaraka, Olololo, Paulson Kalu, Raskimo, Majek Fashek, Malvin Gay, Billy Ocean, Odessy, etc.
Dancing styles include electric shock, shuffling, break dance and bruce or wholesale. These hugging dance feelings was like having sex, as that was the closest opportunity to touch a girl’s breast and waist and secretely kiss her while dancing in the hall.

Owerri had known Recording Studios. Labamba along School Road owned by Orlando Oparaugo.
We had Beaton owned by Vitais Ajumbe. We also enjoyed Master Blast DJ, Leostan, now Africa’s Tech giant, Alan B, who with Ajumbe were the major and best DJs in town.
I remember Awila, Martin Momo, Major Otuka, Kofi Nnaji, Bob and Eze Nnodi, Practicals, July Best, Innocent Boy, Massacre, Ekeledo (Agenda) Fusion (Toto) Saboo,Topscat, Alibuto, Ikeotuonye, Lazoo, Poto, Broken, Nna Meen, Ngozi & Chinyere (Umu ejimma).
I also remember “World Man and Bro Ken Obiekea and nda Felly Abii who thought us “Guy”.
“Guy” at that time was to have good dress sense and be bold among sexes, and know how to toast and do the Talking To, called (TT).

Not many families had vehicles then. Those of us who had privileged parents had to find a way to “roll out” our parent’s car to attend parties when they were asleep or hire one at Mbaise road for a few hours and return the vehicle. Running away with the vehicle will not even enter your mind.
The popular brands were Toyota Crown, Citreon, Datsun, Laurel and Pannel Van, Lada, Renault, Peugeot, Range Rover, Rio, Land Rover, Passat, Opel, Bettle, Fiat, Honda, Datsun Kawasaki, Vespa, Moblet etc, etc

I can vividly remember the white color Range Rover belonging to Chief Loveday Ememe, my uncle’s friend, a Commissioner then, who usually parked it in front of his house at Commissioners Quarter, Shell Camp.
The only available Swimming Pool was at Shell Camp Secondary School until Mbakwe built Concord Hotel in 1982.
Attending Football matches was a must. At Old Stadium fenced round with zinc.
We either scale the fence or follow a Military Man to enter free.

There was nothing like Premiership then. Nobody had time for that.
Our Clubs were Spartans, P&T Owerri, Ministry of Works FC, Elemats Ubomiri, Trojans Owerri.

Outside Owerri were Asabatex, Standard of Jos, Ewekoro Babes, Bendel Insurance, Flamingos of Benin, Leventis of Ibadan, IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Rangers International Enugu, Vasco Dagama of Enugu, Enyimba of Aba, PZ FC, Aba, Stationary Stores Lagos, Racca Rovers of Kano, Calabar Rovers, Sharks of Port Hacourt, DIC Bees of Kaduna etc.
My Stars were in Spartans: Leo Nkwocha(Atila) Emma Ajunwa(Piccolo) Ben Akanu(Pele) Nicholas Ukadike(Thunder) Evans Ikwuwegbu(Mpoto) formerly Manning the goal of Enyimba and denied Spartans victory many times, Sidney Ugorji, Cardinal Ugwuegbu (Dont Dirty), the “Wonderful” goal keeper, Jerry Chukwueke, Sylvester Oparanozie(Bahama) lk Madukairo (Man Mountain) Emeliano Momokobo, Frank Njemanze, Ugo Harrison, Eugene Ohuabunwa, Kevin Onwana, Jonny Nwadioha, Goddy Ebomuche, the goal keeper Amadi Nwokocha, Goddy Agbarakwe, Peter Erege, Kelechi Emetole(Caterpillar) Ben Nwosu (Zico) and others.

I recognize nda Chim Chim Pepper, the number one fan of Spartans FC and also not forgetting Agwu Nwogo, the great IBC commentator who brought the matches to our homes and you felt that you were in the stadium

I am glad Owerri has developed and is developing into a Bigger City. Hotels, Shops and Plazas litter everywhere now.

Then we had Bata Shoes, Chanrai Super Market at Okigwe road, where PDP office is located presently, GayGill Super Market, at Wethral road, Jonny Stores, Ghana Stores at Douglas(owned by the Chukwuezis) Amadi Gun Store, on School road (by Willie Amadi’s family house), Donna Summer and Tonnison Electronic Shops,Tims Press. The only good Chemist was Manila on Douglas road.

We need a replica of SULLO, an Environmental Company that Mbakwe brought which made Owerri a sparkling cleanest State capital in 1982, later replicated in 2008-10 by Willie Amadi’s Clean & Green of Ohakim administration. I wish my Clean & Green was sustained till date to make Owerri a clean garden city. It will still happen, God willing.

Although development and science have made the city look more exciting, but much of her historical artifacts are gone to give way to civilization. The Mbari cultural center, the Nworie and Otamiri sparkling rivers, the great Ekeukwu Owere market are no more. The new proposed world class Water Front and Amusement Park by the Uzodinma administration may be a consolation to the younger and future generations.

I still remember the Jonny Walker Clock at Ama Jk Round About family house of amiable Nze HSK Osuji which survived the Biafran Civil War.
And lest I forget. In our growing up days, we only knew of Assumpta Cathedral and Cathol, Bishops Unegbu and Bishop Nwankiti at Egbu Cathedral. These were two major churches in Owerri. Today, Christianity have been invaded by Pentecostal movements.

Things have really changed.
We breathed my Owere Nchi-Ise as air of love, hospitality and conviviality. Today, it has become polluted and toxic due to urbanization, insecurity, politics of hatred and envy. God help us !

Nevertheless, WE thank God for the over 50 years of love, brotherlines compassion enjoyed amongst citizens of Abia who lived with us in Owerri before Abia State was created out of Imo in the 70s.

In OWERE …
“Ūyo wu ūyo mă gi remains our cherished hospitality gift and wishes for all good residents of Owere. Anyi shi kwa nū, gi láma nkpu nkpu âfu kwa la gi, ná âzu ooh !!!

I dedicate this piece of work to our children and libraries accross Nigeria for history, knowledge and posterity.

WILLIE AMADI ✨
Ukwachiaka, Omeudo Owere,
LL.B, BL, LL.M, Ph.D Law inview & Scholar at Cambridge.