Samuel Timinipre Owonaro, born in Lagos on July 22, 1944, was a son of Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. A revolutionary, soldier, administrator, and community leader, he lived a life defined by courage, sacrifice, and service to the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
Military Officer • Elder Statesman • Administrator
Captain Samuel Timinipre Owonaro was a pioneer post-independence revolutionary who fought for the liberation of the Niger Delta. He played a significant role during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1969), serving valiantly as an Army Captain on the Federal side. His life embodied patriotism, resilience, and an unyielding commitment to justice.
Early Life and Parents
Samuel was born to Mr. Simeon Koromoweri Owonaro of Talaghawari Community, Kaiama, and Mrs. Oweimieyeseigha Doris (née Binanigbein) of Oporiwari Community, Olobiri. To ensure he absorbed the Ijaw culture, his parents sent him to Kaiama to live with his maternal aunt, Mrs. Omoto Kokoro Oruasah. It was there he met Isaac Adaka Boro, who became his lifelong friend and comrade.
Education
Samuel began his education at Proctor Memorial School in 1952, later attending Baptist Primary School, Marine Beach, Apapa-Lagos, where he completed his primary education in 1960. He pursued further studies at a private commercial institute in Lagos, earning his GCE O’Level certificate. After the Civil War, he traveled to Canada in 1972 and studied Real Estate Management through Lasalle University, Illinois (1973–1975).
The Twelve Days Revolution (1966)
At age 22, Samuel joined Major Isaac Adaka Boro in the historic Twelve Days Revolution. Arrested and convicted of treason, he was sentenced to death by Major-General Aguiyi Ironsi. Brutally beaten during detention, he lost his left eye. However, Major-General Yakubu Gowon later granted him amnesty. Samuel enlisted in the Nigerian Army, rising to the rank of Captain. He fought courageously during the Civil War, sustaining a permanent leg injury that confined him to a wheelchair for the last 19 years of his life.
Political Career
Returning from Canada in 1978, Samuel entered politics. He contested for the governorship of Rivers State under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1979 but lost to Chief Melford Okilo. Despite the setback, he remained active in politics and public service, advocating for the socio-political development of the Niger Delta.
Business Ventures
Between 1979 and 1984, Samuel pursued entrepreneurial ventures, including fish farming and snail rearing. His physical challenges never deterred his determination to remain productive and resourceful.
Public Service
In 1984, Rivers State Military Administrator, Police Commissioner Fidelis Oyakhilome, appointed him Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority. Samuel transformed Port Harcourt’s sanitation system, introducing modern water toilet facilities and beautification projects that earned him widespread admiration.
Community Leadership
Samuel remained deeply connected to Kaiama. In recognition of his leadership and contributions, he was installed as the paramount ruler of the town in 1995, bearing the title “Tibi Ola I” of Kaiama. His reign was marked by advocacy for unity, cultural preservation, and community development.
Social Life and Faith
Despite his injuries, Samuel was known for his vibrant personality, skillful dancing, and popularity in social circles. A polygamist, he enjoyed a lively family and social life. In his later years, he embraced the teachings of ECKANKAR, seeking spiritual freedom and enlightenment.
Death and Legacy
Captain Samuel Timinipre Owonaro passed away on June 16, 2020, at the age of 76. He left behind a legacy of valor, resilience, and dedication — remembered as a revolutionary who fought for justice, a soldier who sacrificed for his nation, and a leader who served his people with distinction.
