Lawrence Anebi Onoja | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Plateau State | |
| In office 1986 – July 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Alli |
| Succeeded by | Aliyu Kama |
| Governor of Katsina State | |
| In office July 1988 – December 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar |
| Succeeded by | John Jahaya Madaki |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1948-08-10)10 August 1948 (age 77) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Nigeria |
| Branch/service |  Nigerian Army |
| Rank |  Major General |
Lawrence Anebi Onojalistenⓘ (born 10 August 1948) was the military governor ofPlateau State,Nigeria from 1986 to July 1988 and then ofKatsina State until December 1989 during the military regime of GeneralIbrahim Babangida.[1][2]He later became Principal Staff Officer to GeneralSani Abacha, before being arrested for alleged involvement in a coup attempt. He retired from the army in 1998, and after the return to democracy in May 1999 with theNigerian Fourth Republic entered into politics.[3]
Onoja was born on 10 August 1948 at Idekpa Okpiko,Ohimini local government inBenue State ofIdoma origins.[4]He attended St. Francis College,Otukpo and then Government College inLafia,Nasarawa State (1962–1966). He joined the army in 1966 as a cadet officer.[5]
Onoja attended theNigerian Defence Academy,Kaduna and theMons Officer Cadet School,Aldershot,England. Onoja was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in October 1968.While in the army, Onoja attendedCameron University,Oklahoma andOklahoma State University, earning a degree in political science. He later obtained an M.Sc. in political science from theUniversity of Jos, and a PhD in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos.[3]
Onoja held various appointments including Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy inCairo,Egypt.[3]Onoja was Principal Staff Officer to GeneralIbrahim Babangida before being appointed military governor of Plateau State in July 1988.[6]
As Plateau State governor, in an effort to defuse tension between Christians and Moslems, Onoja (a Christian) announced that all public places of worship would be destroyed.[7]In April 1988 he was forced to shut down theUniversity of Jos following student disturbances.[8]
As military governor in Katsina State Onoja was noted for his honesty.[5]In March 1989 he announced that a US$20 million loan from Saudi Arabia was being negotiated for theZobe Dam agricultural irrigation project.[9]
After leaving office as governor of Katsina, Onoja was appointed director of the Faculty of Joint Studies in theCommand and Staff College, Jaji, and then in 1991 became principal officer to the Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of Defence.[10]He was then appointed General Officer Commanding 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, and General Staff Officer in the Presidency of GeneralSani Abacha.[3]In 1998 he was arrested for allegedly being involved in a plot to depose Abacha, but was set free when no charges were brought against him.[5]
Onoja retired from the army in 1998 as a Major General.[3]In 2003 he was a board member of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.[3]Onoja was a Governorship aspirant in the 2003 Benue State elections on theUnited Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP) platform.[3]He competed against incumbentDavid Mark in thePeople's Democratic Party (PDP) primaries to be candidate for Senator in Benue South in December 2006.[11]In the bitter fight, Onoja went as far as signing anadvertorial in a national newspaper that support former Benue governorGeorge Akume.[12]The contest was close, with Mark gaining 1,719 votes and Onoja 1,605.[13]Although Mark did not gain the 2/3 majority required by the PDP, Onoja accepted the result.[14]
In April 2009, PresidentUmaru Yar'Adua named Onoja as Chairman of the National Institute for Sports.[15]In 2009, the Idekpa Community ofOhimini local government area inBenue State honored Onoja with the chieftaincy title of Ooyame K’Idekpa, or "Achiever Par Excellence". They also urged him to run for Senate in 2011.[5]
| International | |
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| National | |
