George Agbazika Innih

George Agbazika Innih
General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army
In office
October 1979  April 1980
Preceded by Brig P.A. Eromobor
Succeeded by Maj-Gen. D.N. Jemibewon
Governor, Bendel State, Nigeria
In office
2 August 1975  March 1976
Preceded by Samuel Ogbemudia
Succeeded by Husaini Abdullahi
Governor, Kwara State, Nigeria
In office
1976–1978
Preceded by Ibrahim Taiwo
Succeeded by Sunday Ifere
Personal details
Born (1938-09-25)25 September 1938
Agenebode, Etsako East, Edo State, Nigeria
Died 15 August 2002(2002-08-15) (aged 63)
Germany
Nationality Nigerian
Military service
Service/branch Nigerian Army
Years of service 1962–1980
Rank Major General

George Agbazika Innih (25 September 1938 – 15 August 2002) was a Nigerian Army General and Statesman. He was the Military Governor of Bendel and Kwara States.[1]

Early years

George Agbazika Innih was born on September 25, 1938 at Agenebode, 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.[2]

Military career

He joined the army, and was trained at Mons Officer Cadet School 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.[1]

After the coup of 29 July 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.[2]

On 13 February 1976 General Murtala Mohammed was killed in a failed coup and his second-in-command, his Chief of Staff Lt-Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, was appointed as Head of State. 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.[2]

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.[1]

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 awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Law in 1998.[1] He died in 2002.[3][4]

References


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