(…)-Meet the First » IGBO » Lawyer who became; Liberia’s (5th) President in (1870)!-(« In Collaboration with « Face 2 face Africa »)-(« the intro is from our Staff)-(Media Mirror)(Paris)-(« Image »: »Edwards James Roye »)
-(Liberia) in (West africa) was founded by freed African americans Slaves in (1847).And (Edwards James Roye) is noted in (Nigeria) as the first recorded « IGBO » Lawyer in History.In (Liberia), he is wellknown as the country’s fifth President whose administration was short-lived and who died under rather mysterious circumstances.Celebrated as the first pure Black to become President of (Liberia).(Roye) was a pure descendant of the (« IGBO ») tribe from (Nigeria).His father (Jhon Roye), was an (« IGBO ») slave in (OHIO)(USA) who later gained his freedom and became an illustrious merchant with considerable wealth and land in many cities.Born on (February-3-1815) in (Newark)-(OHIO), (Roye) would benefit from the financial standing of his Family and attend one of the best schools(OHIO University in the neighbouring-Athens(OHIO)
-(« His Father (Jhon Roye) Passed » and everything changed »)!
Following the death of his father in (1836), (Roye) relocated to « terre haute » where he became famous for establishing the largest barber shop in the community, boasting a (79) foot(24m) high barber pole the tallest in « western indiana ».In the midst of his fame and success was the american colonisation society that was then encouraging « Free African americans » to move to the colony of (Liberia) in (West africa) to line in a prejudice-free nation.Not having any ties to the united states after the death of his mother in (1840),(Roye) decided to make that journey.On (May-2)(1846) at the age of (31), he left (New York) with the rest of his family and arrived in (Monrovia), « Liberia’s capital(June 7), according to sources.There he improved and within (2) Years, he was already Liberia’s top shipping Merchant.He also became active in liberian politics and by (1849), he was the speaker of the Liberian house of representatives as well as chief justice of the supreme court of (Liberia) from (1865 to 1868)
-(« A Pure African at the Head of Liberian State »)!
For one who once said that (Liberia) was decreed the champion of the black race and should be governed only by pure africans.(Roye) was in (1870) elected President of (Liberia).This made him the first member of « Liberia’s true whig Party »,(oldest political party in Liberia) founded by ( freed American-liberians) called in the liberian tongue (« Congos ») to serve as President.His regime lasted for only a Year as he was deposed over some lapses in his administration, especially his unpopular loans with (Britain).According to « Indiana University », when (Roye) took office in (1870), « Liberia’s political climate was unstable largely due to a fiscal crisis.(Roye) is further believed by other sources to have been dragged to a spot in (Ashmun) street where he died.This caused President (William tubman) who ruled (Liberia) til (1971) ,to erect the new building of the true whig Party(Roye’s party) on the spot he died, said Liberia’s (pastandpresent.org).Meanwhile, the Portrait of (Roye) is in the gallery of the presidential mansion in (Monrovia),the capital, notes his date of death as (Februray-11-1872).He was succeeded by his vice president (James Skirving) who governed from(1871 to 1872).