Joseph Karakitie Azigbo
Encyclopedia
Chief Joseph Karakitie Azigbo, the Olorogun of Okpe Kingdom
, was born in Orereokpe on December 29, 1918. He worked with the United African Company UAC in Jos, Plateau state before establishing his mining business (Azigbo Brothers Limited). He soon became very successful in the mining field and became one of the richest men in Nigeria
in the 1950s. He was the biggest Miner of Tin and Columbite in the whole of West Africa, owning over 150 mining sites. At the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War
in 1967, he moved part of his business from Jos, Plateau state to Sapele, in the Niger Delta
. There he established a palm produce export business. He also built a Sawmill factory on the exclusive Elder Dempster Embankment by the River Ethiope.
After the war, on his return to Jos, most of his properties had either been vandalised or commandeered by the Nigerian Army, others had been occupied by locals who laid claims to them. Among these was his private residence in Anglo Jos a part of which was turned into the Nigerian Air force office at the junction of Bukuru road/Miango road. His attempts to regain possession of his properties from the Nigerian government dragged on for decades. This was a huge financial blow from which chief J.K (as he was referred to) never really recovered. He had spent most of his early adult life working and investing heavily in Jos and he must have assumed that after the war, it would be business as usual.
In the face of these setbacks, JK left his eldest son, Raymond, in charge of the mining business and returned to the Niger Delta. Chief J.K. Azigbo leaving his son Raymond in charge turned out to be one of the worst decisions he ever made. Raymond was a pampered child; his dad really loved him and made sure that he had the best in life. He never worked even for a day in his life. He lived a sheltered life and, being put in charge of Azigbo Brothers Limited brought out the worst in him. There is a saying that money brings out the worst in some people; in the case of Raymond, power and money sent him on a destructive course - he started selling-off properties, company vehicles, the lot.
By the time word got to the chief, a lot of financial damage was done. He quickly issued a disclaimer in most of the newspapers in northern Nigeria, including The Nigerian Standard in Jos against Raymond Azigbo. Chief Jk now had a new enemy; it was neither the Nigerian government nor the locals in Jos, this was an enemy from within. The chief still lived a wealthy life, he had servants and stewards, some of whom migrated with the family from Jos but, he was now a shadow of his former self. He was no longer ranked as one of the richest men in the country. Gone were the days when he would be met by the governor of Plateau state at the airport on his return from trips abroad.
Someone who met him after the war remarked that the he was a broken man.
He died on the 11th July 1986 at the age of 68. He was survived by 18 children; amongst whom is; Hon Edesiri Azigbo (Former Member of the Federal House of Representatives).
Okpe
Okpe is a kingdom in Delta State, Nigeria. Its capital is Orerokpe. The kingdom plays host to the Warri Airport, which is actually located at Osubi and the Delta State Trade Fair Complex.-History:...
, was born in Orereokpe on December 29, 1918. He worked with the United African Company UAC in Jos, Plateau state before establishing his mining business (Azigbo Brothers Limited). He soon became very successful in the mining field and became one of the richest men in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in the 1950s. He was the biggest Miner of Tin and Columbite in the whole of West Africa, owning over 150 mining sites. At the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
in 1967, he moved part of his business from Jos, Plateau state to Sapele, in the Niger Delta
Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil...
. There he established a palm produce export business. He also built a Sawmill factory on the exclusive Elder Dempster Embankment by the River Ethiope.
After the war, on his return to Jos, most of his properties had either been vandalised or commandeered by the Nigerian Army, others had been occupied by locals who laid claims to them. Among these was his private residence in Anglo Jos a part of which was turned into the Nigerian Air force office at the junction of Bukuru road/Miango road. His attempts to regain possession of his properties from the Nigerian government dragged on for decades. This was a huge financial blow from which chief J.K (as he was referred to) never really recovered. He had spent most of his early adult life working and investing heavily in Jos and he must have assumed that after the war, it would be business as usual.
In the face of these setbacks, JK left his eldest son, Raymond, in charge of the mining business and returned to the Niger Delta. Chief J.K. Azigbo leaving his son Raymond in charge turned out to be one of the worst decisions he ever made. Raymond was a pampered child; his dad really loved him and made sure that he had the best in life. He never worked even for a day in his life. He lived a sheltered life and, being put in charge of Azigbo Brothers Limited brought out the worst in him. There is a saying that money brings out the worst in some people; in the case of Raymond, power and money sent him on a destructive course - he started selling-off properties, company vehicles, the lot.
By the time word got to the chief, a lot of financial damage was done. He quickly issued a disclaimer in most of the newspapers in northern Nigeria, including The Nigerian Standard in Jos against Raymond Azigbo. Chief Jk now had a new enemy; it was neither the Nigerian government nor the locals in Jos, this was an enemy from within. The chief still lived a wealthy life, he had servants and stewards, some of whom migrated with the family from Jos but, he was now a shadow of his former self. He was no longer ranked as one of the richest men in the country. Gone were the days when he would be met by the governor of Plateau state at the airport on his return from trips abroad.
Someone who met him after the war remarked that the he was a broken man.
He died on the 11th July 1986 at the age of 68. He was survived by 18 children; amongst whom is; Hon Edesiri Azigbo (Former Member of the Federal House of Representatives).