Ebitu Ukiwe
Encyclopedia
Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe is a retired Commodore in the Nigerian Navy
who served as the de-facto Vice President
of Nigeria
during the Ibrahim Babangida
military government from 1985 to 1986.
in Abia State
. His father was a traditional ruler in Abiriba and Head of the Old Bende Division Local Government Appeal Court.
Ukiwe joined the Nigerian Navy in the year 1960 as a cadet (officer), and was commissioned in 1964 with the rank of sub-lieutenant.
During the Nigerian civil war
from 1966 to 1970 he fought on the Biafra
n side. After the war, in January 1972 he was readmitted to the Navy, one of the few Igbo
officers to regain their position.
Ukiwe was a member of the Supreme Military Council between 1975 and 1977.
General Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him military governor of Niger state in 1977. He was re-deployed to Lagos state as governor in July 1978, holding this post until October 1979.
He was appointed director, Naval Faculty, Jaji (1981–1984) and Flag Officer, Western Naval Command (1984–1985).
He became the Chief of General Staff in 1985 under General Ibrahim Babangida
. He retired with the rank of Commodore in January 1987 after falling out with Babangida.
, the president-elect in the June 1993 elections, who was imprisoned after General Sani Abacha
took power in a coup in November 1993.
He became chairman of companies such as Biti Properties, Kobimat, Biti Promar and Rudocons. He was adviser and consultant to Statoil
(Nigeria), an offshore oil production company, for nine years.
In 2001, Newswatch magazine speculated that he could run for president in 2003, characterizing him as principled but rigid and highly temperamental, perhaps not flexible enough for the job.
In 2006/2007 Ukiwe unsuccessfully ran to become People's Democratic Party
candidate for the presidency of Nigeria.
Nigerian Navy
The Nigerian Navy is a branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The Nigerian Navy is among the largest Navies on the African continent, consisting of about 15,000 personnel, including those of the Coast Guard.-Brief History:...
who served as the de-facto Vice President
Vice President of Nigeria
The Vice President of Nigeria is the second-in-command to the President of Nigeria in the Government of Nigeria. Officially styled Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The Vice President is elected alongside the President in national elections...
of 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...
during the Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
military government from 1985 to 1986.
Military career
Ukiwe was born on 26 October 1940, son of Chief Ebitu Ukiwe of AbiribaAbiriba
Abiriba is a town in Abia State, in southeastern Nigeria, traditionally an Igbo land. Abiriba is in Ohafia Local Government Area.- History :...
in Abia State
Abia State
Abia State is a state in southeastern Nigeria. The capital is Umuahia, although the major commercial city is Aba, formerly a British colonial government outpost. The state was created in 1991 from part of Imo State and its citizens are predominantly Igbo people...
. His father was a traditional ruler in Abiriba and Head of the Old Bende Division Local Government Appeal Court.
Ukiwe joined the Nigerian Navy in the year 1960 as a cadet (officer), and was commissioned in 1964 with the rank of sub-lieutenant.
During the Nigerian civil war
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
from 1966 to 1970 he fought on the Biafra
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a secessionist state in south-eastern Nigeria that existed from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970, taking its name from the Bight of Biafra . The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people who led the secession due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious...
n side. After the war, in January 1972 he was readmitted to the Navy, one of the few Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
officers to regain their position.
Ukiwe was a member of the Supreme Military Council between 1975 and 1977.
General Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him military governor of Niger state in 1977. He was re-deployed to Lagos state as governor in July 1978, holding this post until October 1979.
He was appointed director, Naval Faculty, Jaji (1981–1984) and Flag Officer, Western Naval Command (1984–1985).
He became the Chief of General Staff in 1985 under General Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
. He retired with the rank of Commodore in January 1987 after falling out with Babangida.
Later career
After retirement he joined the pro-democracy group, supporting Moshood Kashimawo Olawale AbiolaMoshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola , often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola, was a popular Nigerian Yoruba businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Egba clan...
, the president-elect in the June 1993 elections, who was imprisoned after General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
took power in a coup in November 1993.
He became chairman of companies such as Biti Properties, Kobimat, Biti Promar and Rudocons. He was adviser and consultant to Statoil
Statoil
Statoil ASA is a Norwegian petroleum company established in 1972. It merged with Norsk Hydro in 2007 and was known as StatoilHydro until 2009, when the name was changed back to Statoil ASA. The brand Statoil was retained as a chain of fuel stations owned by StatoilHydro...
(Nigeria), an offshore oil production company, for nine years.
In 2001, Newswatch magazine speculated that he could run for president in 2003, characterizing him as principled but rigid and highly temperamental, perhaps not flexible enough for the job.
In 2006/2007 Ukiwe unsuccessfully ran to become People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
candidate for the presidency of Nigeria.