Anthony Ibe Onyearugbulem (1955–2002) was a Nigerian navy captain who served as military administrator of

Ondo State Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to ...

(August 1996 – August 1998) during the military regime of General

Sani Abacha Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful c ...

. He then became military administrator of Edo State in August 1998, handing over power to the civilian governor Lucky Igbinedion in May 1999.

Background

Anthony Ibe Onyearugbulem was born on 9 July 1955 in Owalla Avuvu in

Ikeduru Ikeduru Local Government Area (LGA) is located in the western part of Imo State, in southern Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic o ...

, Imo State. He was educated at St. Columbia's Secondary School,

Amaimo Amaimo is an autonomous rural town located in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria. It is located near the city of Owerri. Amaimo is located in the North East of Ikeduru Local Government Area. It is bounded on the North by Ehime in Mbano LGA, on the ...

(1970–1972) and Enyiogugu High School,

Mbaise Mbaise is a region in Imo State in southeastern Nigeria. In the heart of Igboland, the region includes several towns and cities. It is a group of indigenous clans, connected by intermarriage. With a population density of over 1,000 people per squ ...

(1972–1974). He joined the navy and was commissioned on July 1, 1978.

Military administrator

Onyearugbulem served as military administrator of Ondo State from August 1996 to August 1998. As administrator of Ondo state, he caused resentment among the Auga people by presenting the staff of office to the Alani of Idoani, a person said by some to have no royal blood. His administration undertook extensive roadworks in Ondo State, and this is the legacy he is commonly remembered for. He was promoted navy captain in July 1998 and was posted to Edo State on August 7, 1998, as the military administrator. He tried to make chairmanship of the council of Obas in Edo State a rotational position, an affront to the king of the ancient Benin Kingdom. In an attempt to increase voters' registration before the scheduled transition to democracy, Onyearugbulem warned that parents and guardians would have to produce their registration cards for their children to be admitted to state schools.

Later career

He was made to retire in 1999 shortly after the advent of civilian rule, along with others who had held political appointments in the military government. In 2002, Onyearugbulem left the

People's Democratic Party People's Democratic Party or ''variant thereof'', could refer to: * People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan *People's Democratic Party (Belize) *People's Democratic Party (Bhutan) *People's Democratic Party (Chile) * People's Democratic Party (Dom ...

(PDP) and declared his intention to run in 2003 for governor of Imo State on the

All Nigeria Peoples Party The All Nigeria Peoples Party ( abbr. ANPP) was a political party in Nigeria. Under the leadership of Late Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke who was its vice presidential candidate to General Muhammadu Buhari in the 2007 presidential elections. The party ...

(ANPP) platform. Later that year, Onyearugbulem died suddenly in a hotel room in Kaduna in somewhat mysterious circumstances.

References

Nigerian Navy officers 1955 births 2002 deaths Governors of Ondo State Governors of Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria) politicians All Nigeria Peoples Party politicians Igbo people {{nigeria-mil-bio-stub