Christopher Oluwole Rotimi
Christopher Oluwole Rotimi (born February 20, 1935) is a retired Nigerian Army Brigadier General, diplomat and politician. A distinguished officer, he eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He served during the Nigerian Civil War, and was the Governor of Western State while Nigeria was under military rule from 1971 to 1975. Oluwole Rotimi became the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States in 2007.[2]
Christopher Oluwole Rotimi | |
|---|---|
| Governor Western State | |
| In office April 1, 1971 – July 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Major General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo |
| Succeeded by | Akin Aduwo[1] |
| Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States of America | |
| In office March 2008 – October 9, 2009 | |
| Lieutenant | Null |
| Preceded by | George Obiozor |
| Succeeded by | Tunde Adeniran |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 20, 1935 Abeokuta, Ogun State. |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Political party | Unknown |
| Alma mater | King's College, Lagos University College Ibadan |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Nigeria |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
Early life
Oluwole Rotimi was born February 20, 1935, in Abeokuta, Nigeria to a Yoruban family.[3] He attended Agooko Methodist School, Lisabi school, Olowogbowo Methodist School as well as Kings College Lagos, after which he earned a BA at the University College Ibadan.
Oluwole Joined the Nigerian Army in 1960 and served as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He rose to become the first African Deputy Quartermaster General and the third non-white Quartermaster General of the Nigerian Army in 1966. During the Nigerian Civil War Oluwole Rotimi provided logistics support for the Federal Government's war efforts. He became the commander of the Ibadan Garrison between 1969 and 1970.[4][5]
Governor of Western State
After the war Oluwole Rotimi became the Military Governor of Western State of Nigeria in 1971, under Yakubu Gowon in succession to Brigadier Adeyinka Adebayo.[6][7] During his time as governor, the state had peace and development.[8]
1975 coup
In 1975, Oluwole Rotimi was removed from office as governor of Western Nigeria after the 1975 coup d'état. The following administration led by General Murtala Mohammed, commissioned a panel to investigate corruption amongst that past governors of the past administration. Oluwole Rotimi, together with Mobolaji Johnson-Brigadier (Lagos State Governor) was one of the only two governors exonerated.[9]
Under Obasanjo
In 1999 Gen. Oluwole Rotimi was appointed by the President Olusegun Obasanjo as the Head of a Commission of Inquiry for the Investigation of Federal Government Landed Property.[10]
Oluwole Rotimi was honored with a National Award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2003.
In 2005, Oluwole Rotimi was appointed a member of the National Constitutional Review Conference representing his home state-Ogun State.
Ambassador
Oluwole Rotimi became the Ambassador to the United States of America in March 2008.[11][12][13] He was sacked from the post in March 2009 by the President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua after allegations of insubordination.
References
- Murtala Muhammed's First Address to Nigeria 1975
- Oyo State past and present. Nigeria: Ministry of Information, Youth, Sports & Culture. 2002. p. 30.
- Siollun (2009) p. 30.
- Adebayo Oyebade, Toyin Falola. The foundations of Nigeria. Africa World Press, 2003 ISBN 1-59221-120-8 p. 262.
- Olufemi Vaughan. Nigerian Chiefs: Traditional Power in Modern Politics, 1890s–1990s. Boydell & Brewer, 2006 ISBN 1-58046-249-9 pp. 135, 204
- Africa contemporary record: annual survey and documents. Colin Legum, Africa Research, Ltd, John Gordon Stewart Drysdale. (eds) Africana Pub. Co., 1977. p. 1959
- James J. Olulẹyẹ. Military leadership in Nigeria, 1966–1979. University Press Ltd., 1985 p. 77, 176
- Akinola, Anthony. "Rotimi on regionalism and military rule". Guardian NG. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- Corrupt soldiers face court martial. African Business. April 1, 1994.
- The Illegal Land Deals Archived May 1, 2003, at the Wayback Machine. This Day. November 16, 2004
- Brigadier-General (Rtd) Oluwole ROTIMI, CON. Ambassador, March 2008 – March 2009 Archived June 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, nigeriaembassyusa.org. Accessed May 20, 2009
- Nigeria: Appraising the Ambassadorial List. Nathaniel Jonah. Leadership (Abuja) October 9, 2007.
- Chinese incursion into Nigeria: In whose interest? Layi Adeloye and Sulaimon Adenekan. Punch. Sunday, January 6, 2008.
- Max Siollun. Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture 1966–1976. Algora Publishing, 2009 ISBN 0-87586-708-1 pp. 30, 70, 92, 186–187, 223.