Lawrence Anebi Onoja | |
---|---|
Governor of Plateau State | |
In office 1986 –July 1988 | |
Preceded by | Chris Alli |
Succeeded by | Aliyu Kama |
Governor of Katsina State | |
In office July 1988 –December 1989 | |
Preceded by | Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar |
Succeeded by | John Jahaya Madaki |
Personal details | |
Born | Ohimini LGA,Benue State,Colonial Nigeria | 10 August 1948
Military service | |
Allegiance | Nigeria |
Branch/service | Nigerian Army |
Rank | Major General |
Lawrence Anebi Onoja listen (born 1948) was the military governor of Plateau State,Nigeria from 1986 to July 1988 and then of Katsina State until December 1989 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. [1] [2] He later became Principal Staff Officer to General Sani Abacha,before being arrested for alleged involvement in a coup attempt. He retired from the army in 1998,and after the return to democracy in May 1999 with the Nigerian Fourth Republic entered into politics. [3]
Onoja was born on 10 August 1948 at Idekpa Okpiko,Ohimini local government in Benue State of Idoma origins. [4] He attended St. Francis College,Otukpo and then Government College in Lafia,Nasarawa State (1962–1966). He joined the army in 1966 as a cadet officer. [5]
Onoja attended the Nigerian Defence Academy,Kaduna and the Mons Officer Cadet School,Aldershot,England. Onoja was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in October 1968. While in the army,Onoja attended Cameron University,Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University,earning a degree in political science. He later obtained an M.Sc. in political science from the University of Jos,and a PhD in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos. [3]
Onoja held various appointments including Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Cairo,Egypt. [3] Onoja was Principal Staff Officer to General Ibrahim Babangida before being appointed military governor of Plateau State in July 1988. [6]
As Plateau State governor,in an effort to defuse tension between Christians and Moslems,Onoja (a Christian) announced that all public places of worship would be destroyed. [7] In April 1988 he was forced to shut down the University of Jos following student disturbances. [8]
As military governor in Katsina State Onoja was noted for his honesty. [5] In March 1989 he announced that a US$20 million loan from Saudi Arabia was being negotiated for the Zobe Dam agricultural irrigation project. [9]
After leaving office as governor of Katsina,Onoja was appointed director of the Faculty of Joint Studies in the Command and Staff College,Jaji,and then in 1991 became principal officer to the Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of Defence. [10] He was then appointed General Officer Commanding 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army,Jos,and General Staff Officer in the Presidency of General Sani Abacha. [3] In 1998 he was arrested for allegedly being involved in a plot to depose Abacha,but was set free when no charges were brought against him. [5]
Onoja retired from the army in 1998 as a Major General. [3] In 2003 he was a board member of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. [3] Onoja was a Governorship aspirant in the 2003 Benue State elections on the United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP) platform. [3] He competed against incumbent David Mark in the People's Democratic Party (PDP) primaries to be candidate for Senator in Benue South in December 2006. [11] In the bitter fight,Onoja went as far as signing an advertorial in a national newspaper that support former Benue governor George Akume. [12] The contest was close,with Mark gaining 1,719 votes and Onoja 1,605. [13] Although Mark did not gain the 2/3 majority required by the PDP,Onoja accepted the result. [14]
In April 2009,President Umaru Yar'Adua named Onoja as Chairman of the National Institute for Sports. [15] In 2009,the Idekpa Community of Ohimini local government area in Benue State honored Onoja with the chieftaincy title of Ooyame K’Idekpa,or "Achiever Par Excellence". They also urged him to run for Senate in 2011. [5]
Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state after seizing power in 1993 until his death in 1998. Abacha's seizure of power was the last successful coup d'état in Nigerian military history.
The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the head of state and head of government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Shehu Musa Yar'Adua was a Nigerian military officer and politician who was the de facto vice president of Nigeria as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters when Nigeria was under military rule from 1976 to 1979. He was a prominent politician during the latter transition from military to civilian rule in the late 1980s and into the 1990s.
Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the seven states created at that time.The state derives its name from the Benue River which is the second largest river in Nigeria. The state borders Nasarawa State to the North; Taraba State to the East; Kogi State to the West; Enugu State to the South-West; Ebonyi and Cross-Rivers States to the South; and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East. It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma and Igede. Minority ethnic groups in Benue are Etulo, Igbo, Jukun peoples etc. Its capital is Makurdi. Benue is a rich agricultural region; popularly grown crops include: oranges, mangoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax, yams, sesame, rice, groundnuts, and Palm Tree.
Abubakar Dangiwa Umar was governor of Kaduna state in Nigeria from August 1985 to June 1988 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. After retiring from the army in 1993, he became a social critic and the founder of Movement for Unity and Progress, a political party.
Ohimini is a Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Idekpa-Okpiko.Ohimini was created out of the present Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. Major districts under the Ohimini local government are Onyagede which share boundary with Kogi state has the following villages, Amoke, Enumona, Ogodu, Awume, Ikpoke, Ogoli, Ogande, Ugofu, Ipolabakpa, Umonomi and Iyaya, Okpiko, Agadagba, Oglewu and Idekpa the capital.
The Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji is a training facility for the Nigerian Armed Forces, including the army, air force and navy. It is near the village of Jaji, Nigeria, about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Kaduna in the Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. It is currently headed by Air Vice Marshal EA Wonah.
John Nanzip Shagaya was a Nigerian senator and former military officer who was elected in April 2007 to represent the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State as member of the Nigerian Senate for Plateau South. He ran for reelection in April 2011 on the Labour Party (LP) platform, but was defeated by Victor Lar of the PDP. As a non commissioned officer (NCO) with the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron in Abeokuta, he participated in the Nigerian counter-coup of 1966.
Aminu Isa Kontagora was a Nigerian politician who served as the Governor of Benue State, Nigeria, from August 1996 to August 1998 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha, then Governor of Kano State from September 1998 to May 1999 during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, handing over power to the elected executive governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on 29 May 1999.
John Atom Kpera was the first Military Governor of Anambra State in Nigeria from March 1976 to July 1978, after it had been created from the old East Central State during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Later he was Military Governor of Benue State from January 1984 to August 1985 during the military regime of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.
Ahmed Muhammad Daku is a retired Nigerian Army brigadier general who was the military Governor of Kano State from August 1985 to December 1987. He later became military Governor of Sokoto State from December 1987 to August 1990.
Brigadier General Samuel Bature Chamah was Administrator of Katsina State in Nigeria from August 1996 to August 1998 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha, and then of Kebbi State from August 1998 to May 1999 during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, handing over power to the elected civilian governor Adamu Aliero on 29 May 1999.
Lawan Gwadabepronunciation is a Nigerian military officer, he was Military Administrator of Niger State in Nigeria from December 1987 to January 1992 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. Gwadabe was one of the few men in the army enjoyed the best of life, training and privilege, known for his peculiar swagger, and handsomeness.He was accused of planning a coup against General Sani Abacha in 1995, for which he was jailed, tortured and convicted of treason. After Abacha's death he was granted a state pardon.
Colonel Musa Sheikh Shehu was Administrator of Rivers State, Nigeria from August 1996 to August 1998 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha, and then of Plateau State until the return to democracy in May 1999.
Chief (Dr.) Solomon Daushep Lar was a Nigerian politician who has held various offices at the National level for over 50 years. He was a member of the first national parliament when Nigeria gained independence in 1960. He was elected governor of Plateau State on the Nigerian People's Party (NPP) platform during the Nigerian Second Republic, holding office from October 1979 until the Military coup of 31 December 1983 that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power. Later, he was founding chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
Chris Abutu Garuba was Governor of Bauchi State, Nigeria from August 1985 to December 1988 during the military regime of Major General Ibrahim Babangida. He was born in Ipole, Otukpa Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Abdulmumini Aminu is a retired Nigerian army colonel, he was military governor of Borno State between August 1985 and August 1988 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He later became chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, and then chairman of the West Africa Football Union.
Abdullahi Mohammed is a retired Nigerian Army major general, who served as chief of staff to presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar'Adua from 1999 to 2008; National Security Adviser to General Abdusalami Abubakar from 1998 to 1999; Director General of the National Security Organization from 1976 to 1979; and Governor of Benue-Plateau State, Nigeria from July 1975 to February 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed.
Lt. Colonel Joseph Iorshagher Akaagerger was the Military Administrator of Katsina State, Nigeria from August 1998 to 29 May 1999. After the return to democracy, in April 2007 he was elected to the Senate representing Benue North East.
Mike Okibe Onoja listen is a Nigerian Businessman, and a public administrator from Ado LGA, Benue state. The Chairman (CEO) of Monsoons Resources Investment International Limited and Century court Apartments, Century Petroleum Ltd, Shipping line, Shares with Valero Energy, ConocoPhillips, Zenith Bank, British Airways, ExxonMobil and many more. "Monsoons resources Investment International". Monsoons Resources Investment International. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2018.</ref> He also holds chieftaincy title as the Akanaba K'Idoma.