Joseph Gomwalk
Encyclopedia
Joseph Dechi Gomwalk was a Nigeria
n police commissioner
and the first Military Governor of Benue-Plateau State
after it was formed from part of Northern Region
. He was executed due to his connections to Buka Suka Dimka
's attempted coup against Murtala Mohammed
's government.
Local Government Area of Plateau State
. He attended the famous Boys Secondary School Gindiri where he graduated with distinctions in both academics and sports. He proceeded to the premier University of Ibadan
and graduated with a degree in Zoology.
's regime was toppled in a coup d'état.
A Visionary Leader
While Governor, Gomwalk started the Nigerian Standard in 1972; as of 2003, it is a government-owned daily located on Joseph Gomwalk Road in Jos
, and has a circulation of 100,000. After failing to get Ahmadu Bello University
of Zaria to open a satellite campus in the state, he turned to the University of Ibadan
; that institution opened its Jos campus (which later became the University of Jos
) in November 1971.
In August 1974, affidavits alleging corruption on the part of Gomwalk and Joseph Tarka
, Benue-Plateau State's representative to the Federal Executive Council, were published; Tarka resigned, but Gomwalk, with Gowon's support, remained in office.
, Gomwalk was implicated in Buka Suka Dimka
's attempted coup of February 13, 1976 and was executed by firing squad.
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...
n police commissioner
Police commissioner
Commissioner is a senior rank used in many police forces and may be rendered Police Commissioner or Commissioner of Police. In some organizations, the commissioner is a political appointee, and may or may not actually be a professional police officer. In these circumstances, there is often a...
and the first Military Governor of Benue-Plateau State
Benue-Plateau State
Benue-Plateau State is a former administrative division of Nigeria. It was created on 27 May 1967 from parts of the Northern Region and existed until 3 February 1976, when it was divided into two states - Benue and Plateau...
after it was formed from part of 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....
. He was executed due to his connections to Buka Suka Dimka
Buka Suka Dimka
Buka Suka Dimka, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian army , led the February 13, 1976 abortive military coup against the government of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed...
's attempted coup against 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:...
's government.
Education
Gomwalk was Ngas from Ampang (Pang) in the present KankeKanke, Nigeria
Kanke is a Local Government Area in Plateau State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Kwali.It has an area of 926 km² and a population of 121,424 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 933....
Local Government Area of Plateau State
Plateau State
Plateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part...
. He attended the famous Boys Secondary School Gindiri where he graduated with distinctions in both academics and sports. He proceeded to the premier University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
and graduated with a degree in Zoology.
Governorship of Benue-Plateau State
Gomwalk was Governor of the state from 1966 until 1975, when military head of state Yakubu GowonYakubu 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...
's regime was toppled in a coup d'état.
A Visionary Leader
While Governor, Gomwalk started the Nigerian Standard in 1972; as of 2003, it is a government-owned daily located on Joseph Gomwalk Road in Jos
Jos
Jos is a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.The city has a population of about 1.5 million residents. Popularly called "J-town" or "Jesus Our Saviour" by the residents, it is the administrative capital of Plateau State....
, and has a circulation of 100,000. After failing to get Ahmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University is the largest university in Nigeria and second largest in Africa, second only to Cairo University, Egypt. It is situated in Zaria. It was founded on October 4, 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria....
of Zaria to open a satellite campus in the state, he turned to the University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
; that institution opened its Jos campus (which later became the University of Jos
University of Jos
The University of Jos, abbreviated as Unijos, is a federal university in Jos, Plateau State, central Nigeria. The school offers courses in law, medicine, pharmacy, natural sciences, social sciences, the built environment as well as arts and humanities....
) in November 1971.
In August 1974, affidavits alleging corruption on the part of Gomwalk and Joseph Tarka
Joseph Tarka
Senator Joseph Sarwuan Tarka was a Nigerian politician from Benue State and a former minister for Transport and then Communications under General Yakubu Gowon...
, Benue-Plateau State's representative to the Federal Executive Council, were published; Tarka resigned, but Gomwalk, with Gowon's support, remained in office.
Execution
After Gowon's overthrow and the installation of Murtala MohammedMurtala Mohammed
General Murtala Ramat Mohammed born was a military ruler of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976.-Role during 1960s coups:...
, Gomwalk was implicated in Buka Suka Dimka
Buka Suka Dimka
Buka Suka Dimka, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian army , led the February 13, 1976 abortive military coup against the government of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed...
's attempted coup of February 13, 1976 and was executed by firing squad.