A Legacy of Valor and Dedication
Samuel Timinipre Owonaro hailed from Kaiama town in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He was a pioneer post-independence revolutionary who fought for the liberation of the Niger Delta and played a significant role during the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to 1969 as an Army Captain.
Military Officer, Elder Statesman, Administrator
Captain Samuel Timinipre Owonaro was a notable patriarch and front-line nationalist who campaigned tirelessly for the socio-political development of the Niger Delta at the dawn of Nigeria’s independence.
Who Was Samuel Timinipre Owonaro?
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1944 to Ijaw parents, Samuel joined his childhood friend, the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, in the Twelve Days Revolution of 1966. For this act of rebellion, he and his comrades were sentenced to death by Major-General Aguiyi Ironsi. However, they were later released unconditionally by Major-General Yakubu Gowon. Samuel enlisted in the Nigerian Army, where he rose to the rank of Captain and fought valiantly on the Federal side during the Civil War. In 1979, he ran for the office of Governor of the old Rivers State but was unsuccessful. He later worked towards improving the sanitary system and beautification of old Rivers State as Chairman of the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority. An Eckist by faith and a polygamist, Samuel passed away on June 16, 2020, at the age of 76.
His Parents
Samuel Timinipre Owonaro was born on July 22, 1944, in Lagos State, Nigeria, to Mr. Simeon Koromoweri Owonaro of Talaghawari Community in Kaiama and Mrs. Oweimieyeseigha Doris (nee Binanigbein) of Oporiwari Community in Olobiri, both in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
To ensure he learned the Ijaw culture, his parents sent him to Kaiama to live with his maternal aunt, Mrs. Omoto Kokoro Oruasah. It was there that he met Isaac Adaka Boro, and they became lifelong friends and comrades.
Education
In 1952, Samuel attended Proctor Memorial School before returning to Lagos in 1954 to continue his education at Baptist Primary School Marine Beach, Apapa-Lagos, completing it in 1960. He then attended a private commercial institute in Lagos, earning his GCE O’Level certificate. After the Civil War, Samuel went to Canada in 1972 for further education and studied Real Estate Management through a distance learning program at Lasalle University, Illinois, from 1973 to 1975.
1966 and the Twelve Days Revolution
At 22, Samuel joined Major Adaka Boro in the Twelve Days Revolution. After surrendering, they were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Samuel was brutally beaten, resulting in the loss of his left eye. However, Major-General Yakubu Gowon granted them amnesty, and Samuel enlisted in the Nigerian Army, where he served as a Captain until 1972. He was wounded in battle, resulting in a permanent leg injury, and used a wheelchair for the last 19 years of his life.
Politics
In 1978, Samuel returned from Canada and entered Nigerian politics, running for the governorship of Rivers State under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Although he lost to Chief Melford Okilo, he remained active in politics and public service.
Business Life
A resourceful survivor, Samuel engaged in various business ventures from 1979 to 1984, including fish farming and snail rearing. His mobility issues did not deter him from pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities.
Public Services
In 1984, Rivers State Military Administrator Police Commissioner Fidelis Oyakhilome appointed Samuel as Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority. He significantly improved the city’s sanitation, including the implementation of a water toilet system, earning the admiration of Port Harcourt residents.
Community Service
Samuel was actively involved in his community, playing several roles in the advancement of Kaiama. In recognition of his leadership qualities, he was installed as the paramount ruler of the town with the title “TIBI OLA I” of Kaiama in 1995.
Social Life
Despite his injuries, Samuel was a skillful dancer and a popular figure among women. He was married multiple times and enjoyed a vibrant social life.
Faith and Death
Towards the end of his life, Samuel became a committed member of ECKANKAR, pursuing spiritual freedom. He passed away on June 16, 2020, leaving behind a legacy of valor, dedication, and service.
