Photo of the Day: Is this the shoe that triggered the 1966 military coup?

Okotie Eboh

by Isi Esene

Certainly not. But the ostentatious living of personalities like First Republic Finance Minister, Festus Okotie-Eboh certainly had something to do with the 1966 Coup d’etat.

Okotie-Eboh who hailed from the then Midwestern region was known for his flamboyance and display of wealth as reflected in this picture wearing a blood red shoe and long flowing traditional attire tied to a boy’s neck – poor boy. The picture above was taken in 1956 during Queen Elizabeth II visit to Nigeria.

Born Festus Samuel Edah to Urhobo parents, Okotie Eboh adopted Itsekiri ethnicity after marriage into a prominent Itsekiri family. He was killed during the bloody coup at the age of 47.

Check out another photo of him with his wife below:

 

[Photo credit: H/T Vanguard]

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