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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