| Luke Chijiuba Ochulor | |
|---|---|
| Military Administrator of Delta State | |
| In office 28 August 1991 –2 January 1992 | |
| Preceded by | John Ewerekumoh Yeri (Bendel State) |
| Succeeded by | Felix Ibru |
Air Commodore (retired) Luke Chijiuba Ochulor served as the first Military Administrator of Delta State, Nigeria, appointed in August 1991 after the state was formed from part of Bendel State during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He handed over to the elected civilian governor Felix Ibru in January 1992 at the start of the Nigerian Third Republic. [1] [2]
Delta State is an oil and agricultural producing state in Nigeria. It is situated in the region known as the South-South geo-political zone with a population of 4,112,445. The capital city is Asaba, located at the northern end of the state, with an estimated area of 762 square kilometres (294 sq mi), while Warri is the economic nerve center of the state and also the most populated. It is located in the southern end of the state. The state has a total land area of 16,842 square kilometres (6,503 sq mi).
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal republic in West Africa, bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. Its coast in the south is located on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. The federation comprises 36 states and 1 Federal Capital Territory, where the capital, Abuja, is located. The constitution defines Nigeria as a democratic secular country.
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, is a retired Nigerian Army General who was President of Nigeria from 27 August 1985 to 26 August 1993. He previously served as the chief of army staff from January 1984 to August 1985. Babangida was a key player in most of the military coups in Nigeria.
Ochulor is Igbo in origin. He was born in Okpofe Ezinihitte Local Government Area, in Mbaise Imo State Nigeria. As state governor, he was tasked with establishing administrative structures for the new state while preparing for elections and transfer to civilian rule. He created the Delta State University from the Abraka campus of the Bendel State University, and set up a commission to determine if the new university should be moved to Anwai, Asaba, a decision that could cause ethnic unrest. [3]
The Igbo people are an ethnic group native to the present-day south-central and southeastern Nigeria. Geographically, the Igbo homeland is divided into two unequal sections by the Niger River – an eastern and a western section. The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa.
Okpofe is an autonomous community located in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Imo State, Nigeria with common boundaries with Itu, Ezeagbogu, Ihitte and Amumara autonomous communities.Okpofe is the very centre of Ezinihitte Mbaise Clan. It is the only town in Ezinihitte Mbaise that does not share a boundary with another local government area in Imo State. It is quite a unique town in Ezinihitte. Most of the general activities of Ezinihitte people hold in Okpofe due to its Central position. It is also on record that the Roman Catholic Church first established in Okpofe town in the whole of Ezinihitte Mbaise(by 2018, the town will be marking the centenary celebration of the existence of the Roman Catholic Church in Okpofe.) The Anglican Juniorate in Mbaise is located in Okpofe.
Okpofe Town is a very peaceful community in Ezinihitte Mbaise. Its first traditional ruler was Late Eze Ewulonu Modestus C. Anyankah, an amiable, handsome young man who ascended the throne at the age of 42, born by an Umuimee daughter to an Okwu man. He joined his ancestors in 2005 after leading the town to an enviable height. Today, the traditional affairs of the town are under the care of His Royal Highness Eze Sir Reginald Jesse Chukwuma Aguwamba, a gentleman that is being described as "the man of the people" and whose uncle was the last warrant chief that also crowned the Late Eze Anyankah in the late 70's. Eze Reginald Aguwamba was born by an Umuimee man.. A surveyor by profession, Eze Aguwamba retired voluntarily from the Owerri Capital Development Authority to serve his fatherland as the Eze Oha II. He has so far lead the community to an enviable position in the Oji Ezinihitte Festival that no other community in the clan has attained during the 2013 Oji Festival at Okpofe and the recently concluded one at Ezeagbogu. Within his first few months in office, some other developmental projects from the Imo State Government came into Okpofe. This is the sign of a good choice of traditional ruler!
Mbaise is a regional area located in Owerri Zonal Area of Imo State, southeastern Nigeria. Set in the heart of Igboland, it includes several towns and cities. The name "Mbaise" was derived from five clans: Agbaja, Ahiara, Ekwereazu, Ezi na Ihite and Oke Uvuru. The area of Mbaise are about 404 km²; Aboh-Mbaise (185 km²), Ahiazu Mbaise (111 km²), Ezinihitte Mbaise (108 km²).
In July 2003 Ochulor called for leaders of the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic groups in Delta State to work together to create peace in the troubled Warri region. [4] As a member of the Imeobi (inner caucus) of the Imo State Council of Elders, in 2009 he denied rumors that the State governor, Ikedi Ohakim was paying off to the elders to prevent criticism. [5]
Ijaw people are a collection of peoples indigenous to the Niger Delta in Nigeria, inhabiting regions of the states of Ondo, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom,Southern part of Abia and Rivers. Many are found as migrant fishermen in camps as far west as Sierra Leone and as far east as Gabon. Population figures for the Ijo vary greatly, though most range from 13 million to 15 million. They have long lived in locations near many sea trade routes, and they were well connected to other areas by trade as early as the 15th century.
The Urhobos are people located in Southern Nigeria, near the northwestern Niger Delta. The Urhobo are the major ethnic group in Delta State, one of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Urhobos speak the Urhobo language.
The city of Warri is an oil hub in South-South Nigeria and houses an annex of the Delta State Government House. It served as the colonial capital of the then Warri Province. It shares boundaries with Ughelli/Agbarho, Sapele, Okpe, Udu and Uvwie although most of these places, notably Udu, Okpe and Uvwie, have been integrated to the larger cosmopolitan Warri. Osubi houses an airport that serves the city. Effurun serves as the gateway to and the economic nerve of the city.
