John Kpera
Encyclopedia
Brigadier-General John Atom Kpera (born 3 January 1941) 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
.
Local Government Area in what is now Benue State. He attended Katsina-Ala College, now Government College Katsina-Ala, (1956–1961) for his secondary education. After joining the army he attended the Haile Selasie Military Academy, Ethiopia
in 1962 for his Military Cadet Training, and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in 1965. He held various command and staff appointments including Engineers Brigade Commander, Squadron Commander, Regimental Commander, and Commander, Corps of Engineers.
He played a role in Nigeria's first military coup on 15 January 1966, helping Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu
in a attempt to overthrow the Northern Region
government. The coup did not succeed in its aims, but led to Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
assuming power in the first Nigerian military government.
On 4 January 1984 he was appointed Military Governor of Benue State, the first military leader born in the state to govern the State.
He initiated a policy of forcing the people to clean their environment under the supervision of soldiers, a practice that was maintained by his successors.
On his dismissal as governor, he said of the State treasury that he left it empty because he met it empty.
Anambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...
in Nigeria from March 1976 to July 1978, after it had been created from the old East Central State
East Central State
East Central State is a former administrative division of Nigeria. It was created on 27 May 1967 from parts of the Eastern Region and existed until 3 February 1976, when it was divided into two states - Anambra and Imo. The area now comprises five states Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia...
during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Later he was Military Governor of Benue State
Benue State
Benue is a state in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria with a population of about 2.8 million in 1991. Tiv, Idoma, and Igede are spoken predominantly. There are other ethnic groups as well. These include Etulo and Abakwa...
from January 1984 to August 1985 during the military regime of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
.
Background
John Atom Kpera was born on 3 January 1941 in Mbatierev, GbokoGboko
Gboko is a town in the Benue State of North-central Nigeria. The population is over 500,000, mostly Tiv people. It is the traditional capital of the Tiv tribe and it has the official residence of the Tor-Tiv, who is the paramount traditional ruler of the Tiv people spread in Benue, Taraba, Plateau...
Local Government Area in what is now Benue State. He attended Katsina-Ala College, now Government College Katsina-Ala, (1956–1961) for his secondary education. After joining the army he attended the Haile Selasie Military Academy, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
in 1962 for his Military Cadet Training, and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in 1965. He held various command and staff appointments including Engineers Brigade Commander, Squadron Commander, Regimental Commander, and Commander, Corps of Engineers.
He played a role in Nigeria's first military coup on 15 January 1966, helping Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu
Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu
Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, was born in the Northern Region’s capital of Kaduna to Igbo immigrant parents from the Mid-Western Region-Okpanam Town, near Asaba in the present day Delta State.-Background:...
in a attempt to overthrow the Northern Region
Northern Region, Nigeria
The Northern Region was one of Nigeria's federal divisions. It was created before independence in 1960, with its capital at Kaduna. In 1962 it acquired the territory of the British Northern Cameroons, who had voted to become part of Nigeria....
government. The coup did not succeed in its aims, but led to Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi
Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi was a Nigerian soldier. He served as the Head of State of Nigeria from January 16, 1966 until he was overthrown and killed on July 29, 1966 by a group of northern army officers who revolted against the government.- Early life :Thomas Umunnakwe...
assuming power in the first Nigerian military government.
Military Governor
He was appointed Military Governor of Anambra State from March 1976 – July 1978, during the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo. He then became Commandant of the Army School of Engineers Headquarters, followed by Director of Manpower, Nigerian Army Headquarters.On 4 January 1984 he was appointed Military Governor of Benue State, the first military leader born in the state to govern the State.
He initiated a policy of forcing the people to clean their environment under the supervision of soldiers, a practice that was maintained by his successors.
On his dismissal as governor, he said of the State treasury that he left it empty because he met it empty.