Assogba Oké (3 February 1903 – 1973) was a

Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the nort ...

ese politician and diplomat, mostly active when his country was known as Dahomey. Replacing Chabi Mama, Oké became Foreign Minister in 1960, lasting until 1962.

Biography

Oké was born in Adjohoun on 3 February 1903. He came from the

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

ethnic group and was educated at the Ecole William Ponty in Dakar. After graduation, he returned to Dahomey to work as a high school teacher. In the Oueme region, Oké developed a following among the citizenry. He was elected to the First Territorial Assembly and the Second Territorial Assembly in 1957. He became close to

Sourou-Migan Apithy Sourou-Migan Marcellin Joseph Apithy (April 8, 1913 – December 3, 1989) was a Beninese political figure most active when his country was known as Dahomey. He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region in Dahomey on ...

and was a member of his Parti Républicain Dahoméen (PRD). Between 1956 and 1961 he was Secretary General of the PRD. In 1958, Oké was appointed Minister of Education and Youth and served until 1960. He was also designated Vice Prime Minister of Dahomey under

Hubert Maga Coutoucou Hubert Maga (August 10, 1916 – May 8, 2000) was a politician from Dahomey (now known as Benin).Dahomey was renamed Benin in 1975. Se''New York Times'' obituary He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what regi ...

. He was appointed Minister of Defense in November 1960 and served for one month in this capacity. He became Foreign Minister in December 1960 and was Dahomey's chief diplomat until February 1962. He replaced Benin's first Foreign Minister, Chabi Mama, in this capacity.Houngnikpo & Decalo 2010, p. 96 On 23 February 1961, he established diplomatic ties with

Vatican City Vatican City (), officially the Vatican City State ( it, Stato della Città del Vaticano; la, Status Civitatis Vaticanae),—' * german: Vatikanstadt, cf. '—' (in Austria: ') * pl, Miasto Watykańskie, cf. '—' * pt, Cidade do Vati ...

.L'Ambassade
Republic of Benin, retrieved 27 October 2016 In 1961, many members of the PRD wanted Oké to replace Apithy as Leader of the Party after he was eclipsed. Oké became Civil Service Minister in February 1962. In the wake of the

1963 Dahomeyan coup d'état The 1963 Dahomeyan coup d'état was staged on October 28, 1963, by Christophe Soglo, who took control of the Republic of Dahomey to prevent a civil war. He overthrew Hubert Maga, whose presidency faced extreme economic stagnation and a host of o ...

, Oké was arrested for attempting to restore Maga to the presidency. He had an advisory role in the administrations of Apithy and

Justin Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin Justin Ahomadegbé-Tomêtin (January 16, 1917 – March 8, 2002) was a Beninese politician most active when his country was known as Dahomey. He arose on a political scene where one's power was dictated by what region of Dahomey one lived i ...

. Oké joined the Economic and Social Council in 1968. He died in 1973.Houngnikpo & Decalo 2010, p. 272

Notes

References

External links

Members of the first government of Dahomey
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oke, Assogba 1903 births 1973 deaths Foreign ministers of Benin Beninese politicians Yoruba politicians 20th-century diplomats 20th-century Beninese politicians