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Urhobo Progress Union loses President General




The Urhobo nation has been thrown into mourning following the news of the passing  on to glory of the President General of  Urhobo Progress Union, Chief, Major General Patrick Aziza (Rtd)
Aziza's was born in Okpe local Government Area in Delta State on 23 December 1947. He was raised in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. He went to Ibadan for his secondary education before joining the army and participating in the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). Aziza then attended the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, graduating in 1970. He was commissioned 2nd lieutenant and promoted to lieutenant in 1970, and was posted to the 3rd Marine Commando. In 1971 he was promoted to captain. He was appointed ADC to the Chief of Army Staff, Major General David Ejoor. In 1974 he attended the Advanced School of Infantry in Fort Benning, United States for a 12-month course.
Aziza was posted to Warri as a Battalion Commander, then promoted and posted to Kano as Brigade major. He attended the Command and Staff College, Jaji (1978–1979), and was then posted to Army Headquarters responsible for movement and planning. In this role he handled troop movement planning for the Nigerian contingent in the United Nations' operations, UNIFIL, in Lebanon. Aziza served in the Provisional Ruling Council.
Aziza was the Brigade Commander of the Amphibious Brigade in Calabar when he was appointed the first military administrator of Kebbi State, holding office from 28 August 1991 to January 1992, when he handed over to the elected civilian governor Abubakar Musa at the start of the aborted Nigerian Third Republic.
Aziza was a member of the group of officers that planned the coup in which General Sani Abacha took power. He was Chairman of the Special Military Tribunal that convicted Olusegun Obasanjo and Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua for involvement in an alleged 1995 coup plot. He was also head of a tribunal that tried six journalists for treason, based on publishing accounts of the coup. The trials were swift and the conclusion appeared to be decided in advance.
Aziza served as communications minister in the military regime of General Sani Abacha. In this role he revoked the licenses of 12 companies that had earlier been given the go-ahead to provide various telecommunications services. In March 1998 Aziza said that Nigeria was seeking six billion U.S. dollars to "meet our immediate requirements of over three million telephone lines and 200,000 cellular lines." He was appointed Minister of Commerce and Tourism during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar. 
Until his passing on, Chief, Major General Patrick Aziza (Rtd) was President General of the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU).  he was also the First Military Governor of  Kebbi State after its creation in August, 1991. Born in Okpe LGA of Delta State, He was among the top Military Officers that were asked to retire compulsorily by the Olusegun Obasanjo`s administration in 1999.
May his gentle soul rest in the bosom of the lord!

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