For those of us that are 50 years old and above and who had the privilege to live in Owerri during our growing up, life in the old school days was sweeter, more secured and more loving than what obtains today. Some times when I take a retrospective look at when we grew up in the “Old Owerri,” I am compelled to affirm the saying that. “Uwa Mbu Kà Nmà Dàà”! (Life In The Olden Days Was Better). It is, of course, ironical to say that life in those days was better than now that you have almost everything, color television, telephone handset, money transfer, cosy aero planes, yatch, cars, tall glass houses and more tarred roads, but it was what it was.
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. 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. The 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 well. Every parent knew the child or children of the other parent and every parent knew the friends of his own child or children and where they lived.
Then, we knew who owns which car in Owerri and what he does for a living. Just to hang a television pole attracted attention of who owns it. People lived within their income and were satisfied and happy. Their children were happy with the modest life styles 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 the good old days.
In Owerri, there were a few modern houses then, mainly with pit latrines and a few with water system but life was organic and boisterous. I remember seeing people who came to Ekeukwu Owerri market always streaming in and out of our compound daily to drink refreshing tap water before leaving for their various nearby villages. People visited Owerri once in a long while from Mbaise, Orlu, Mbano, Oguta, Ikeduru etc, etc. Such rare visits were like the modern day traveling to Lagos. Traveling to Lagos in those days was like traveling overseas of today because the trip has to be planed for weeks.
The major roads and streets include, Tetlow, Mbaise, Wetheral, Okigwe, Douglas, School and Royce roads. There was nothing like MCC, New Owerri, Dick Tiger, Ikenegbu, Chukwuma Nwoha roads or the roads named after the recent nouveau de rich politicians and businessmen in Imo today with little or no pedigree of their early residence in Owerri. That was the Owerri we loved and grew up in.
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 for both to meet as no hotel will allow you into their premises. Meeting points were either on 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 places were during church services on Sundays or at the Library. Since we all knew the academic capacity or brilliance of each other, a boy’s brilliance was what won him the attention of the opposite sex, not money. Our books were our major focal points, even though we secretly peeped at porn magazines at the vendors’ stand; unlike today when your phone apps takes you into sex and porn activities sites. We also socialized on Sunday evenings after church service before preparing for school the next day.
We exchanged novels like James Hardly Chase, Agatha Christy, Nick Carter etc. Young girls and boys went on hunger strike or even attempt suicide for failing JAMB or WAEC because it was unheard of that you would remain at home while others gained admission into the University. Nearly all the secondary schools were equal in academic standards, no matter where they are located, except those in Owerri township preferred usually as first choice in the Common Entrance examination.
Schools were known by their nicknames. We had, OGSSIAN (Government College, Owerri); OKOGRAMS (Okongwu Memorial Grammar School, Nnewi); HOGOSCO (Holy Ghost College, Owerri); OGIMGBO (Owerri Girls Secondary), ECOL (Emmanuel College). There were St. CATA (St. Catherine’s College, Nkwerre); SAGS (St. Augustine’s Grammar School, Nkwerre); SABACA (Sabastine Academy, Emekuku); COMPRE (Ejiogu Memorial Secondary School), SAHACO (Sacred Heart College, Aba); IMAHACO (Immaculate Girls School, Aba); AQUINAS in Añara; OGS (Owerri Grammar School, Imerienwe). There was also the TTC, Irette. The nearest higher institution in Owerri then was the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, now Alvan Ikoku University of Education. Other schools were Government College, Umuahia, Methodist Boys High School, Uzuakoli, Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu, Government College, Afikpo etc etc.
We also had good Commercial Schools which we saw then as places for those who failed Common Entrance or whose parents could not afford the fees paid in the conventional secondary schools. There were OZIMS Commercial School at Nwaorie axis and CITY Commercial school at Amaram extension. These were two great learning centers for secretarial and commercial training. Children’s Day, Independence Day celebrations and the Inter House Sports days in schools were like our Christmas and New Year celebrations put together. They were days principals and parents left us alone for at least eight hours out of their prodding eyes, and we utilized it to the fullest. After the march pasts, usually held at the Old Township Stadium along Tetlow road, the next was to enter O’town for Afternoon Jump and rock till 6pm before heading to our various dormitories and got prepared for suspension. We prepared for those occasions like there won’t ever be another without any fear of consequences.
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 houses who is privileged to have a room to himself 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 being starved of food as punishment.
To look clean, we visited places like Soul Scissors barbing saloon at Tetlow road for perfect and modern haircuts. That was the only barbing saloon in Owerri that had electric clippers, and their charges were a little higher. If you visited two times, you will get one free haircut. Fashions then centered mostly on Emos and Easy Jeans trousers, Crazy Horse, Velvetin, Yobris, Acapulco Shirts, Silk etc, etc. We had fashion outfits like Malvern Catering School and Geodora Fashions along Wethdral road which turned to be rendezvous for poaching girls in the evenings. We kept records through pictures taken with Kodak and Polaroid cameras, which were printed on the spot and known as “Wait and Take”.
We had Gulf Course Motel, Catering Rest House, Awareness, Kakadu, Chaseside hotel, James hotel, Ambassador hotel, Domino hotel, Third House at Emekuku, Tourist Centre, Pelly hotels, Imo hotels, Pine Wood, Mount Royal, Best Way etc, etc. You would enjoy great delicacies at Ndaa Leti, Madam Pepsy, Akashimi and the Nkwobi joint at Afor Ogbe. You could go to Angelo, Unit One, Duflox or Kemo if you wanted pastries.
The headquarter of entertainment then in Owerri was Afurola Night Club located at White House Hotel, owned by the late Zeb Philip Nwosu, where you must save enough money for ticket. Later, we had La Pearch at Azara Egbelu owned by Nda Ambu, Mr. White and Concord Casino and Nite club provided exclusive for up and coming disco lovers. Geraldo Pino and Bina Kofi usually performed in turns. Attendance was for “Big Boys”. We happily returned to tell our friends who were not able to make it what they missed. If you grew up in Owerri you will also remember Afro hotel at Oparanozie street and Cocoanut Inn around the present day Cherubim Junction reputed for short time business with prostitutes. During holidays, we would defiantly go to Nworie and swim after our lessons at the government Hand Craft Center by Oparanozie street and be prepared to receive strokes of the cane at home as our red eyes would always betray our lies of not going for swimming after class. We would tie leaves believed to have the power of tying our parents’ mouths and prevent them from asking us questions. However, most of the time, our ‘charms’ failed to work as our parents still asked questions and gave us the flogging of our lives. At other times, they simply would not ask and we would believed that our charm had worked.
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 for relatively modest rich families, mostly senior civil servants who usually took loans from their employers to purchase them. In those days, there was little or no corruption in the civil service and which made it impossible for civil servants to make extra money outside their salaries. They took loans to buy cars, television sets, refrigerators and other things they could not afford with their salaries. There was no need to steal government money as a result. 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 mustache, Jagua, Dallas, Charlies Angels, Zebrudaya, Nathy, Ovuleria 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 to enable friends and neighbours watch Zebrudaya and Soul train. There was real love and compassion from the heart.
The common drinks included 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 wanted to get real “high” you visited Okon located inside Mami market at Shell Camp, Aloma at Wetheral road, Paddy Yama at Naze, Wazobia at Agbala or Ndà Jonel Cross (Èbè Ime Ohè) in my Umuororonjo village for weeds. If you wanted the best palmy, you visited Igbokwe at Alvan Quarters and another secret joint at Amakohia junction by Orlu road or else you order from Ikeduru or Mbaise for commercial quantities.
We hardly joked with music. We were always alert to be the first to know of the latest Release. Shalama, Fela, Whispers, Bob Marley, Chris Okotie, Jide Obi, Sonny Okosun, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Maha of the 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, 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. Others include Sweet Breeze, Apostles, Semi Colorn, Founders 15, Blow and Victor Uwaifo of Guiter Boy fame. Dancing styles included “electric shock”, “break dance”, “Blues” or “Wholesale”, with romantic hugging which gave feelings of having sex, as that was the closest opportunity to touch a girl’s breast and waist and secretly kiss her while dancing in the hall with dimmed light.
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 Ekeh now Africa’s Tech giant, Alan B, who with Vital Best 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 the great Ndaa Bob Njemanze, Bro Ken Obiekea, Ndaa Mike and Felly Abii, our big brothers, who thought us how to have good dress sense and be bold before the opposite sex as well as know how to toast them which was known as Talking To (TT).
We had great radio announcers like Teddy Oscar Uju, Chudi Onuzo, Onyema O., Iheanyi Ochor, Kelechi Elendu, Ejike Aham and later Sister “E”. and Frank Onyike Egbulam. There were also great football commentators like Agwu Nwogo and Samrose Anyaugo whose commentaries made listeners feel as if they were at the stadium watching the football match.
Not many families had cars then. Those of us who had privileged parents had to find a way to occasionally “roll out” our parent’s car from the garage without starting it since the noise will wake them up, to attend parties when they were asleep or hire one at Mbaise road for a few hours and return the car. Running away with the car was never contemplated. The popular brands were Toyota Crown, Citreon, Datsun Laurel Lada, Renault, Peugeot, Range Rover, Rio, Land Rover, Passat, Opel, Bettle, Fiat, Honda, Datsun, Kawasaki, CD 175 and 185, Benley, Yamaha, Suziki, Vespa, Mobylet 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.
Attending Football matches was a must. At Old Stadium fenced round with zinc and wood. We either scaled the dangerous fence or waited to follow military personnel to enter free. The only available Swimming Pool was at Shell Camp Secondary School until Mbakwe built Concord Hotel in 1982. 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 all in 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 of Enugu, Vasco Dagama of Enugu, Enyimba of Aba, PZ FC, Aba, Stationary Stores of 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-ThunderEvans 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 remember Ndaa Chim-Chim Pepper, the number one fan of Spartans FC.
I am glad Owerri has developed and is still developing into a modern, big city. Hotels, night clubs, eateries, shops and plazas litter everywhere now. Then we had Bata Shoes, Chanrai Super Market at Okigwe road, where PDP office is located presently, Gay Gill Super Market along Wethral road, Jonny Stores, Ghana Stores at Douglas owned by the Chukwuezis Amadi Gun Store, along School road at Willie Amadi’s family house, Donna Summer and Tonnison Electronic Shops, Tims Press. The only good Chemist shop was Manila along Douglas road by Ama JK.
There was SULO, an Environmental Company that Mbakwe brought, which made Owerri a sparklingly clean state capital in 1982. This feat was later replicated between 2008 and 2010 by the Willie Amadi-supervised Clean & Green initiative of the Ikedi Ohakim administration which made Owerri win a national award as the cleanest state capital for three consecutive years back to back. I wish the Clean & Green was sustained till date to make Owerri a clean garden city. Hopefully, 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, no thanks to the Rochas Okorocha administration. However, the newly proposed world class Water Front and Amusement Park by the Uzodinma administration may be a mild consolation to the younger and future generations. I still remember the Jonny Walker Clock at Ama Jk Round About opposite the family house of amiable Hon. Nze HSK Osuji which survived the Biafran civil war. It was the only clock that made people learn the time as wrist watches were not easily available.
And least I forget, in those days, we only knew of the Assumpta and Cathol, the two major churches in Owerri and we remember Bishop Mark Unegbu and Benjamin Nwankiti etc. Today, Christianity has been invaded by the Pentecostal movements and their numerous and ubiquitous General Overseers.
The only newspaper was the Statesman owned by the Imo state government and the only radio house was the Imo Broadcasting Service, later Imo Broadcasting Corporation. The Statesman was the breeding ground for print journalists who later exceled at the national level. Names like Emma Agu, Emeka Omeihe, Comfort Obi etc. The IBC produced great broadcasters like Okechukwu Ekenze, Mike Amadi, Iheanyi Ochor, Onyema Opara (Onyema O), Teddy Oscar Uju, Chudi Onuzo, Ejike Ahamba etc etc.
EPILOGUE
In our old Owere Nchi-Ise, we breathed air of love, hospitality and conviviality. Today, and unfortunately, it has become polluted and became toxic due to urbanization, insecurity by unknown gun men, politics of hatred and envy. Nevertheless, we thank God for the over 50 years of love, brotherliness and compassion experienced and enjoyed with citizens of today’s Abia state who lived with us in Owerri as brothers and sisters before Abia was created out of the old Imo in 1991. As we say in Owerre dialect, Ūyo Wu Ūyo Mă Gi, remains our cherished hospitality gift and best wishes for all good residents of Owere. Anyi Shi Kwa Nnū, Gi Láma Nkpu Nkpu Âfu Kwa La Gi, ná âzu ooh !!! Iseee. Offor
DEDICATION
I dedicate this piece of work to the old and Gen Z generation, our unborn children and libraries across Nigeria for knowledge of History, Posterity and precarious balancing of memories.
High Chief Willie Amadi
Ukwachiaka & Omeudo Owere,
LL.B, BL, LL.M, Ph.D Law inview, Lawyer, Writer & Environmentalist.
OBLONG MEDIA UNLIMITED 
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