George Agbazika Innih
Encyclopedia
George Agbazika Innih was a Nigerian Army General and Statesman. He was the Military Governor of Bendel and Kwara
States.
, Etsako East
Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State
. He was educated at catholic school, Akure
, the Government school in Warri, the Holy cross catholic school in Benin City
and Edo College
, Benin City.
in Aldershot
, England (1962), then at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, England (1962–1964) and 1972.
He was appointed Platoon Commander, 4th Infantry Battalion, Ibadan
(1964–65), Deputy Military Secretary, Supreme Headquarters, Lagos
, Colonel General Staff 3rd Marine Commando (1968–69) and Brigade Commander, 5 Infantry Brigade, Onitsha
1974-74.
After the coup of July 29, 1975 by Brigadier Murtala Mohammed
, he was made Military Governor of Bendel State, since split into Edo State
and Delta State
.
Soon after taking control, he dissolved the executive council and the boards of statutory corporations, suspended all contract awards, and set up committees to review finances and projects undertaken by his predecessor Samuel Ogbemudia
. Several serving officers were retired from service.
On February 13, 1976, Murtala Mohammed was killed in a coup attempt and replaced by his Chief of Staff Lt-Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo. In March, Obasanjo reassigned Colonel Innih to Kwara state, replacing him with Navy captain Hussaini Abdullahi. Innih served in Kwara State as Military Governor until 1978.
He was Quarter Master General of the Nigerian Army
(1978–79) and General Officer Commanding, I Infantry Division, Nigerian Army (1979–80), when he retired.
The University of Ilorin
awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Law in 1998.
Kwara State
Kwara State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Ilorin. The primary ethnic group of Kwara State is Yoruba, with significant Nupe, Bariba and Fulani minorities.- History :...
States.
Early years
George Agbazika Innih was born on September 25, 1938 at AgenebodeAgenebode
Agenebode is a serene, water-side town located by the banks of the Niger River in Edo State,South South geo political zone of [Nigeria]. It is the headquarters of Etsako-East local council of Edo State and the traditional capital of Weppa Wanno Kingdom....
, Etsako East
Etsako East
Etsako East is a Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Agenebode. Other towns in this local governments are Okpella, Okpekpe, Imiegba, Ebelle....
Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State
Edo State
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State.-History:...
. He was educated at catholic school, Akure
Akure
Akure is a city in the southwestern region of Nigeria, and is the largest city and capital of Ondo State. The city has a population of approximately 387,087...
, the Government school in Warri, the Holy cross catholic school in Benin City
Benin City
Benin City, is a city and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately twenty-five miles north of the Benin River. It is situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos...
and Edo College
Edo College
Edo College is a secondary grammar school in Benin City, Nigeria, the oldest in the Mid-Western Region. It was established in February, 1937 and started as the Benin Middle School with forms, I, II and III...
, Benin City.
Military career
He joined the army, and was trained at Mons Officer Cadet SchoolMons Officer Cadet School
The Mons Officer Cadet School was a British military training establishment in Aldershot.1942 saw the RMC move to Mons Barracks where it became 161 OCTU. Cadets underwent a three month training programme prior to the Commisioning Passing Out Parade. Those passing out slow marched up the steps from...
in Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, England (1962), then at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, England (1962–1964) and 1972.
He was appointed Platoon Commander, 4th Infantry Battalion, Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
(1964–65), Deputy Military Secretary, Supreme Headquarters, Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Colonel General Staff 3rd Marine Commando (1968–69) and Brigade Commander, 5 Infantry Brigade, Onitsha
Onitsha
Onitsha is a city, a commercial, educational, and religious center and river port on the eastern bank of the Niger river in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria....
1974-74.
After the coup of July 29, 1975 by Brigadier Murtala Mohammed
Murtala Mohammed
General Murtala Ramat Mohammed born was a military ruler of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976.-Role during 1960s coups:...
, he was made Military Governor of Bendel State, since split into Edo State
Edo State
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State.-History:...
and Delta State
Delta State
Delta State may refer to:*Delta State, a state in southern Nigeria.*Delta State , a Canadian animated television series.*Delta State University, a public university located in the U.S. state of Mississippi....
.
Soon after taking control, he dissolved the executive council and the boards of statutory corporations, suspended all contract awards, and set up committees to review finances and projects undertaken by his predecessor Samuel Ogbemudia
Samuel Ogbemudia
Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia is a Nigerian former army officer and politician. He was military Governor of the Mid-West State, later renamed Bendel State, part of which in turn became Edo State. After the return to democracy in 1999, he became a power in the Peoples Democratic Party...
. Several serving officers were retired from service.
On February 13, 1976, Murtala Mohammed was killed in a coup attempt and replaced by his Chief of Staff Lt-Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo. In March, Obasanjo reassigned Colonel Innih to Kwara state, replacing him with Navy captain Hussaini Abdullahi. Innih served in Kwara State as Military Governor until 1978.
He was Quarter Master General of the Nigerian Army
Nigerian Army
The Nigerian Army the largest of the Nigerian Armed Forces, has about 100,000 professional personnel. The original elements of the Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria were formed in 1900....
(1978–79) and General Officer Commanding, I Infantry Division, Nigerian Army (1979–80), when he retired.
Subsequent career
Innih became the President of Retired Officers of Nigerian Armed Forces Organization (RANAO). He was Chairman/Managing Director Niger Valley Agro Industries Limited, Chairman / Managing Director Tamsaks Nigeria Limited and Chairman Bridgestone Finance Limited. He was honored with the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).The University of Ilorin
University of Ilorin
The University of Ilorin, sometimes known as Unilorin, is a university in Ilorin, Nigeria.It was established by a decree of the Federal Military Government in 1975 and is a federal government owned tertiary institution of education located in Ilorin, Kwara State, north central Nigeria...
awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Law in 1998.