Anthony Ochefu
Anthony Aboki Ochefu | |
---|---|
Governor of John Atom Kpera (Anambra), (Imo)Ndubuisi Kanu | |
Personal details | |
Died | 25 November 1999 Oturkpo, Benue State |
Colonel Anthony Aboki Ochefu was a Military Governor of
Military background
During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–70, Ochefu commanded a battalion tasked with clearing Biafran troops from the riverain areas of the Midwest, taking Koko, Sapele, and Warri, before exploiting northwards to link up with Lt. Col. Murtala Muhammed's 2nd Division. His battalion was then used as a spearhead in the seaborne landing and capture of Calabar.[2]
He was provost-marshal in 1975 when he was one of the leaders of the coup that overthrew General Yakubu Gowon on 29 July 1975. As a Christian, he played an important role in involving middle-belt officers in the planned coup.[3] Ochefu played a central role in pulling off the coup, centered on the army headquarters at Dodan Barracks. Immediately after the coup, he was appointed Governor of East Central State.[4] The colonels who managed the coup included
As governor, he renamed the newly opened Haile Selassie I Institute to the State Orthopaedic Hospital in July 1975, and shelved plans to build an Ophthalmic surgery part of the hospital.[6]
After Murtala Mohammed was assassinated on 13 February 1976, Chief of Staff Olusegun Obasanjo became head of state.
Obasanjo fired or retired 215 officers. Ochefu was ostensibly fired for his conduct before the coup as Commanding Officer of the Lagos Garrison.
References
- ^ "Nigerian States". WorldStatesmen. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ^ Nowa Omoigui. "Federal Nigerian Army Blunders of the Nigerian Civil War - Part 9". Dawodu. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ^ Nowa Omoigui. "Military Rebellion of July 29, 1975: The coup against Gowon - Part 6". Dawodu. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ISBN 0-87586-708-1.
- ^ Ebenezer Babatope (7 November 2004). "Nigeria's Quest for Stability: The Challenges Ahead (3)". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ^ "Background to date". NATIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL, ENUGU. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ^ Africa report, Volume 21, Issues 1-4. African-American Institute. 1976. p. 23.
- ^ Emmanuel Onwubiko (December 29, 2000). "Police may transfer Ochefu's case to Abuja". Guardian Online. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ^ Emmanuel C. Onyeozili (April 2005). "Obstacles to Effective Policing in Nigeria" (PDF). African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2010-05-15.