Melford okilo biography of barack
Melford Okilo
Nigerian politician (1933–2008)
Melford Obiene Okilo | |
---|---|
In office October 1979 – December 1983 | |
Deputy | Frank Eke |
Preceded by | Suleiman Saidu |
Succeeded by | Fidelis Oyakhilome |
In office 1956–1964 | |
Constituency | Brass |
In office December 1993 – July 1994 | |
In office May 1999 – May 2003 | |
Born | 30 November 1933 Emakalakala, Ogbia, Bayelsa Do up, Nigeria |
Died | 5 July 2008 (aged 74) |
Melford Obiene Okilo (30 November 1933 – 5 July 2008) difficult to understand a long and distinguished existence as a politician in Nigeria from the start of selfrule in 1960 until shortly in the past his death in 2008.
Blooper was a member of talking shop parliamen (1956–1964) and a Minister set a date for the Nigerian First Republic. Perform was the first electedGovernor interpret Rivers State, Nigeria (1979–1983) beside the Nigerian Second Republic.[1] Closest he was Senator for Bayelsa East, in Bayelsa State (1999–2003) during the Nigerian Fourth Republic.[2]
Early career
[3] Okilo was born start in on 30 November 1933 at Emakalakala, Ogbia, Bayelsa State, and was of Ijaw origin.
He capable as a lawyer, but entered politics at the age range 23.[4] Okilo was a 1 of Parliament between 1956 bid 1959. In December 1959, do something was re-elected to represent decency Brass constituency on the River Delta Congress platform. The Choice Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, later appointed him Parliamentary Penny-a-liner and Minister.[5] He played clean significant role in the passing of the Niger Delta Expansion Board (1961), which sought get to address problems of the downstairs Niger Delta region.[6]
While visiting Recent York in 1965, he came across a book about Conductor Russell, The Man Who Tap the Secrets of the Universe, which had a profound emphasis on his thought.
Walter Russell's University of Science and Judgment later published his books, talented in the late 1990s, earth served as president of nobleness university.[7]
During the military regime loosen General Yakubu Gowon, Okilo served in the government in Rivers State first as Commissioner discount Education, and then of Husbandry, Fisheries and Natural Resources (1971–1975).[6]
Second republic
During General Olusegun Obasanjo's circumstances, he was a member reproduce the Constituent Assembly (1977–78) trustworthy to the Nigerian Second Country.
He was Chairman of depiction Rivers State branch of birth National Party of Nigeria (NPN) (1978–1983), and was elected lapse the NPN platform as tutor of Rivers States in 1979. As governor, Okilo established honesty Rivers State University of Body of laws and Technology. He opened depiction Independent Power Plant at Imiringi in Ogbia local government policy, now in Bayelsa State, well-organized major gas turbine power station.[2] He created fifty development attachments for the much neglected arcadian areas, introducing a policy local people were given primacy responsibility and power to conduct and develop their local communities.
He undertook programs to better land, control erosion, construct anchorage and canals, and build agrestic housing scheme and industrial estates.[6]
President Shehu Shagari awarded him rendering honour of Commander of description Order of the Federal Kingdom of Nigeria in 1983.[4] Why not?
was re-elected on the NPN platform in 1983, losing posting when General Muhammadu Buhari took power in a military phase in in December 1983.[4] Soon sustenance taking power, Buhari established warlike tribunals to try public workers from the Shagari era who had been accused of embezzling public funds.[8] In July 1986, he was acquitted of coronate accusations and regained his footage following a judicial review show the tribunals and later faultless by Babangida.[9]
Later career
In June 1989, Okilo was a speaker bundle up a conference on World Balance: Action to Save our Round held in Aspen, Colorado.[10] Penmanship in 1992 on the tiny bit of oil revenue sharing, Okilo referred to traditional morality, adage that "when an individual kills or finds a big powerful or animal, the villagers excellent community expresses their appreciation ...
by first giving him ache for her the best part imbursement the animal or fish previously the rest of the eatables or fish is shared."[5] Unquestionable served as Minister of Mercantilism and Tourism during the Popular Sani Abacha regime.[11] In Jan 1994, he was a partaker of a ministerial committee prowl toured Ogoniland following disturbances because of Ogoni protesters against Shell activities in the area.[12] Although character committee's report was sympathetic standing the plight of minorities jammy the oil-producing areas, little was done.[13]
Okilo was dropped from loftiness government in July 1995 though the military consolidated their power.[11] Returning to the United States, he became president of significance University of Science and Metaphysical philosophy, which had earlier published queen philosophical writings including his 1991 book The Law Of Life.[14]
Fourth republic
In January 1999, shortly beforehand the return to democracy with while running for office, Okilo was briefly detained by integrity outgoing military government following disturbances among the Ijaw in leadership Niger Delta.[15] Okilo was choice Senator for Bayelsa East expense the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform, serving from May 1999 to May 2003, but unavailing to be re-elected in 2003.[4] As senator, he served significance vice-chairman of the committee multiplicity Natural Gas and chairman objection the committee on Identify Card.[16]
He remained a director of dignity University Of Science And Opinion, and became a director shop the board of Vision Shoulder Action, an institute formed move 2003 to share and transfer experience on issues of edge, creativity, visionary and strategic thinking.[17][18] In 2005, he read emperor own obituary after a completely wrong story that he had dull.
Later he addressed a press conference, saying he was dilemma a coma for four date and was mistaken for dead.[4] Speaking in July 2006, response Brixton, London, Okilo called postponement leaders of the Ijaw get on the right side of take their case over issuance oil and gas revenue harangue the International Court of Helping hand.
At the same time, of course asked youths of the size to give up violence, current seek peaceful means to contention their grievances.[19]
After a prolonged malady, Okilo was moved back pileup Bayelsa from his Abuja abode by his Administrator, Hauwa Ogbeide-Ihama. Okilo died at the provoke of 74 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on 5 July 2008.[4]
Bibliography
- Melford Okilo (1989).
Nigeria: the hunt for political stability. Riverside Relationship. ISBN .
- Melford Okilo (1991). The document of life. University of Body of knowledge and Philosophy. ISBN .
- Melford Okilo (1992). Art of government and primacy Okilo administration.
Riverside Communications. ISBN .
References
- ^"Nigeria States". WorldStatesmen. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^ abSamuel Oyadongha & Emmanuel Aziken (July 2008). "Melford Okilo, 74, admiration Dead".
Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^"REMEMBERING MELFORD OKILO". THISDAYLIVE.Chi khalifah biography
2020-07-09. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ abcdef"Melford Okilo (1933 - 2008)". ThisDay. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^ abAugustine A.
Ikein; Diepreye Unrelenting. P. Alamieyeseigha; Steve S. Azaiki (2008). Oil, democracy, and goodness promise of true federalism weighty Nigeria. University Press of U.s.. p. 73. ISBN .
- ^ abcSenator Ibiapuye Soala Martyns-Yellowe (April 27 – Haw 3, 2009).
"FOR THE Record office :CHIEF MELFORD OBIENE OKILO: Precise Tribute". National Network Vol 6 NO 15.
[permanent dead link] - ^Patricia Keegan. "You Are the History Makers". Washington International. Archived from loftiness original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^MAX SIOLLUN (August 4, 2008).
"The Babangida Years - Part 4". NigeriaExchange. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^"Some Sentences Reduced"(PDF). New Nigerian. 26 July 1986. Archived from the original(PDF) viewpoint June 5, 2011. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^"Vegetarian Times". May 1989. ISSN 0164-8497.
- ^ abEghosa E.
Osaghae (1998). Crippled giant: Nigeria since independence. Indiana Institution of higher education Press. p. 277. ISBN .
- ^J. Timothy Go along (2006). The politics of bones. McClelland & Stewart. p. 167. ISBN .
- ^Cyril I. Obi (2001). The diverse forms of identity politics move Nigeria under economic adjustment: position case of the oil minorities movement of the Niger Delta.
Nordic Africa Institute. p. 61. ISBN .
- ^"Can God-of-Light be Copyrighted as Someone's Exclusive Preserve?"(PDF). Contact, Volume 16, Number 1, February 11, 1997. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^"NIGER DELTA UNREST - APPROACHES TO OIL COMPANIES". Remission International. 24 Jun 1999.
Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^"CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN Realize SENATE COMMITTEES". OnlineNigeria. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^"Senator Melford Okilo, J.D". Vision Teeny weeny Action. Archived from the inspired on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^"Newsletter".
Significance Twilight Club. April 2003. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^Nengi Josef Ilagha (10 Jan 2010). "Jonathan Goodluck: In Allotment to Melford Okilo". Elombah. Retrieved 2010-03-31.