Christopher Oluwole Rotimi
Encyclopedia
Christopher Oluwole Rotimi (born 1935)
is a Nigerian Army officer, diplomat
and politician
. A distinguished officer, he eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He served during the Biafran War,and was the Governor of Western State
while Nigeria was under military rule from 1971 - 1975. Oluwole Rotimi became the Nigerian Ambassador
to the United States
in 2007.
, Nigeria
to a Yoruba
family. He attended Agooko Methodist School, Lisabi school, Olowogbowo
Methodist School as well as Kings College Lagos. After which he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University College Ibadan.
Oluwole Joined the Nigerian Army
in 1960 and served as part of the United Nations
Peacekeeping
Force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. He rose to become the first African Deputy Quartermaster General and the third non-white Quartermaster General of the Nigerian Army in 1966. During the Biafran War Oluwole Rotimi provided logistics support for the Federal Government's war efforts. He became the commander of the Ibadan
Garrison between 1969 and 1970.
Governor of Western State
of Nigeria in 1971, under Yakubu Gowon
. During his time as governor, the state enjoyed peace and development.
. The following administration led by General Murtala Mohammed
, commissioned a panel to investigate corruption amongst that past governors of the past administration. Oluwole Rotimi, together with Mobolaji Johnson-Brigadier(Lagos State
Governor) was one of the only two governors exonerated.
Olusegun Obasanjo as the Head of a Commission
of Inquiry for the Investigation of Federal Government Landed Property.
Oluwole Rotimi was honored with a Nation
al Award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2003.
In 2005, Oluwole Rotimi was appointed a member of the National Constitutional Review Conference representing his home state-Ogun State
.
is a Nigerian Army officer, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. A distinguished officer, he eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He served during the Biafran War,and was the Governor of Western State
Western State (Nigeria)
The former Western State of Nigeria was formed in 1967 when the Western Region was subdivided into the states of Lagos and Western State. Its capital was Ibadan, which was the capital of the old region....
while Nigeria was under military rule from 1971 - 1975. Oluwole Rotimi became the Nigerian Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2007.
Early life
Oluwole Rotimi was born February 20, 1935 in AbeokutaAbeokuta
Abeokuta is the largest city and capital of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria and is situated at , on the Ogun River; 64 miles north of Lagos by railway, or 81 miles by water. As of 2005, Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a population of 593,140....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
to a Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
family. He attended Agooko Methodist School, Lisabi school, Olowogbowo
Olowogbowo
Olowogbowo is an area in the west of Lagos Island in Lagos, Nigeria, also known as Apongbon. The area is in the central business district....
Methodist School as well as Kings College Lagos. After which he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University College Ibadan.
Oluwole Joined the Nigerian Army
Nigerian Army
The Nigerian Army the largest of the Nigerian Armed Forces, has about 100,000 professional personnel. The original elements of the Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria were formed in 1900....
in 1960 and served as part of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
Force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. He rose to become the first African Deputy Quartermaster General and the third non-white Quartermaster General of the Nigerian Army in 1966. During the Biafran War Oluwole Rotimi provided logistics support for the Federal Government's war efforts. He became the commander of the Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
Garrison between 1969 and 1970.
Governor of Western State
After the war Oluwole Rotimi became the First MilitaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
Governor of Western State
Western State (Nigeria)
The former Western State of Nigeria was formed in 1967 when the Western Region was subdivided into the states of Lagos and Western State. Its capital was Ibadan, which was the capital of the old region....
of Nigeria in 1971, under Yakubu Gowon
Yakubu Gowon
General Yakubu "Jack" Dan-Yumma Gowon was the head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. He took power after one military coup d'etat and was overthrown in another...
. During his time as governor, the state enjoyed peace and development.
Projects As Governor
- The CementCementIn the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
Factory at Shagamu - The Wire and Cable Factory in Ibadan
- The CeramicCeramicA ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
Factory in AbeokutaAbeokutaAbeokuta is the largest city and capital of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria and is situated at , on the Ogun River; 64 miles north of Lagos by railway, or 81 miles by water. As of 2005, Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a population of 593,140.... - The WoodWoodWood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
Processing Factory in Ondo - The Palm OilPalm oilPalm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
Mill at Okitipupa.
1975 coup
In 1975, Oluwole Rotimi was removed from office as governor of Western Nigeria after the 1975 coup d'étatCoup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
. The following administration led by General Murtala Mohammed
Murtala Mohammed
General Murtala Ramat Mohammed born was a military ruler of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976.-Role during 1960s coups:...
, commissioned a panel to investigate corruption amongst that past governors of the past administration. Oluwole Rotimi, together with Mobolaji Johnson-Brigadier(Lagos State
Lagos State
Lagos State is an administrative division of Nigeria, located in the southwestern part of the country. The smallest in area of Nigeria's states, Lagos State is the most populous state in Nigeria and arguably the most economically important state of the country and west Africa, containing Lagos, the...
Governor) was one of the only two governors exonerated.
Under Obasanjo
In 1999 Gen. Oluwole Rotimi was appointed by the PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Olusegun Obasanjo as the Head of a Commission
Commission
Commission may refer to:* Commission , a form of payment to an agent for services rendered* Commission , a document given to commissioned officers....
of Inquiry for the Investigation of Federal Government Landed Property.
Oluwole Rotimi was honored with a Nation
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
al Award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2003.
In 2005, Oluwole Rotimi was appointed a member of the National Constitutional Review Conference representing his home state-Ogun State
Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the South, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state...
.