Obasanjo Loses Father Inlaw

Obasanjo loses father-in- law, Abebe, at 99
23rd March 2018

Tony Osauzo, Benin

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s father in-law and former boss of the United African Company (UAC), Dr. Christopher Abebe, is dead.

He died yesterday afternoon at the age of 99 in Iruekpen in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State during a brief illness.

The late nonagenarian was the father of the late wife of Obasanjo, Stella.

According to a family source, until his death, Abebe was the Odionwere (community leader) of Iruekpen.

“He died this afternoon (yesterday) during a brief illness. He is the Odionwere of Iruekpen and by tradition, his death will not be announced until a meeting is called by his second-in-command,” the source said.

UAC was the largest non-oil company in Nigeria in the 1970s, ‘80s and early 1990s. The two most important business executives in Nigeria at that time were the M.D. of Shell (the largest oil company) and the Chairman of UAC (the largest non-oil company). They were almost like presidents. One of them, Chief Ernest Shonekan (Chairman of UAC in the 1980s and early 1990s) even became Head of State of Nigeria. The company was huge and (at various times) included the following subsidiaries:

1) A.J. Seward ( “for skin, hair and body care” ) : They made hair creams, body creams and lotions, face powders and other beauty products.

2) Kingsway Department Stores: They had the largest supermarket and mall chain in Nigeria.

3) Kingsway Chemists: A chain of pharmacies that was spread right across Nigeria.

4) UAC Foods: This included Kingsway Rendezvous (now known as Mr Biggs), Gala Sausage Rolls, Wall’s Ice Cream, Spring Waters Nigeria Ltd (makers of SWAN Water, Gossy Water and SWAN soft drinks), etc.

5) UAC Motors: GM Nigeria (Bedford, Chevrolet and Isuzu), Federated Motors Industries Ltd (locally made Bedford trucks) and Niger Motors.

6) Bordpak Ltd (packaging).

7) Premier Packaging Ltd.

8 ) UAC Technical Ltd: Industrial machines and huge electricity generators.

9) G.B. Olivant: Trading company.

10) UAC Property Development Company: They own 1004 Estate, Golden Tulip Hotel (formerly Dubar Hotel), Abebe Court Ikoyi, etc.

11) Grand Cereals: Grand Pure Soya Oil, etc.

12) MDS Logistics: Wharehouses, haulage, distribution, etc.

13) Chemical and Allied Products Limited (CAPL) : Dulux and Caplux paints, etc.

14) African Timber and Plywood Ltd.

15) West African Cold Storage.

This company has directly or indirectly produced several very wealthy families including the Abebes, the Dantatas, the Dangotes, the Murray-Bruces and the Shonekans.

UAC has helped to nurture the fortunes of some of Nigeria’s wealthiest families.

1) Dantata/Dangote: Alhassan Dantata’s business got a big boost when he got contracts to supply UAC (Royal Niger Company) groundnuts, kola nuts, etc.

2) Murray-Bruce: Mulligan Murray-Bruce (Ben Bruce’s father) was a UAC executive who did so well that upon retiring he was given Domino Stores to run.

3) Abebe: Sir Christopher Abebe (Stella Obasanjo’s father) was Chairman of UAC (also Chairman of Nigerian Breweries) in the 1970s. He did so well, that several UAC and Nigerian Breweries facilities are named after him (Abebe Village, Igamu).

In the picture below are the logo of the Royal Niger Company, UAC’s first logo and UAC’s current logo (which was adopted in the 2000s). The logo in the middle is my favourite.