Christopher Oluwole Rotimi

Major General Christopher Oluwole Rotimi
Governor Western State
In office 1 Apr 1971 – July 1975
Preceded by	Major General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo
Succeeded by	Akin Aduwo[1]
Ambassadorto the United States of America
In office March 2008 – October 9, 2007
Lieutenant	Null
Preceded by	Professor George A. Obiozor
Succeeded by	Professor Tunde Adeniran
Personal details
Born	March 9, 1928(1928-03-09) Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Nationality	Nigerian
Political party	Unknown
Alma mater	Kings College Lagos, University College Ibadan
Occupation	Soldier
Religion	Christian Anglican

Christopher Oluwole Rotimi (born 1935) is a Nigerian Army officer, diplomat and politician. A distinguished officer, he eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He served during the Biafran War,and was the Governor of Western State while Nigeria was under military rule from 1971 - 1975. Oluwole Rotimi became the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States in 2007.

Early life

Oluwole Rotimi was born February 20, 1935 in Abeokuta, Nigeria to a Yoruba family.^[2] He attended Agooko Methodist School, Lisabi school, Olowogbowo Methodist School as well as Kings College Lagos. After which he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree 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 Biafran 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.^[3][4]

Governor of Western State

After the war Oluwole Rotimi became the First Military Governor of Western State of Nigeria in 1971, under Yakubu Gowon.^[5][6] During his time as governor, the state enjoyed peace and development.^{[citation needed]}

Projects As Governor

• The Cement Factory at Shagamu
• The Wire and Cable Factory in Ibadan
• The Ceramic Factory in Abeokuta
• The Wood Processing Factory in Ondo
• The Palm Oil Mill at Okitipupa.

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.^[7]

Under Obasanjo

In 1999 Gen. Oluwole Rotimi was appointed by the President Olusegun Obasanjo as the Head of a Commission^{[disambiguation needed ]} of Inquiry for the Investigation of Federal Government Landed Property.^[8]

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.^[9][10][11] He was sacked from the post in March 2009 by the President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua after allegations of insubordination.

References

1. ^ Murtala Muhammed's First Address to Nigeria 1975
2. ^ Siollun (2009) p. 30.
3. ^ Adebayo Oyebade, Toyin Falola. The foundations of Nigeria. Africa World Press, 2003 ISBN 1-59221-120-8 p. 262.
4. ^ Olufemi Vaughan. Nigerian Chiefs: Traditional Power in Modern Politics, 1890s-1990s. Boydell & Brewer, 2006 ISBN 1-58046-249-9 pp. 135, 204
5. ^ Africa contemporary record: annual survey and documents. Colin Legum, Africa Research, Ltd, John Gordon Stewart Drysdale. (eds) Africana Pub. Co., 1977. p. 1959
6. ^ James J. Olulẹyẹ. Military leadership in Nigeria, 1966-1979. University Press Ltd., 1985 pp. 77, 176
7. ^ Corrupt soldiers face court martial. African Business. 1 April 1994.
8. ^ The Illegal Land Deals. This Day. 16 November 2004
9. ^ Brigadier-General (Rtd) Oluwole ROTIMI, CON. Ambassador, March 2008 - March 2009, nigeriaembassyusa.org. Accessed 2009-05-20
10. ^ Nigeria: Appraising the Ambassadorial List. Nathaniel Jonah. Leadership (Abuja) 9 October 2007.
11. ^ Chinese incursion into Nigeria: In whose interest? Layi Adeloye and Sulaimon Adenekan. Punch. Sunday, 6 Jan 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.

Persondata
Name	Rotimi, Christopher
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 9, 1928
Place of birth	Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Date of death
Place of death