John Atom Kpera (born 3 January 1941) was the first Military Governor of

Anambra State Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...

in Nigeria from March 1976 to July 1978, after it had been created from the old

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 fi ...

during the military regime of General

Olusegun Obasanjo Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo, , ( ; yo, Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian political and military leader who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its pres ...

. Later he was Military Governor of Benue State from January 1984 to August 1985 during the military regime of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.

Background

John Atom Kpera was born on 3 January 1941 in Mbatierev, Gboko 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, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...

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 Patrick Chukwuma "Kaduna" Nzeogwu (26 February 1937 – 29 July 1967) was a Nigerian military officer and revolutionary who played a leading role in the first military coup d'ètat of 15 January 1966, which overthrew the first Nigerian republ ...

in an attempt to overthrow the Northern Region government. The coup did not succeed in its aims, but led to Major-General

Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (3 March 1924 – 29 July 1966) was the first military head of state of Nigeria. He seized power during the ensuing chaos after the 15 January 1966 military coup, which decapitated the country's leadersh ...

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

. 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.

References

Nigerian generals 1941 births Living people Governors of Anambra State Governors of Benue State People from Gboko Participants in the January 1966 Nigerian military coup {{Nigeria-politician-stub