Ebitu Ukiwe

Ukiwe was born on 26 October 1940, the son of Chief Ebitu Ukiwe of Abiriba in Abia State. His father was a traditional ruler in Abiriba and head of the old Bende Division Local Government Appeal Court.{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200211070240.html |title=The Sailor Moves On |work=ThisDay |author=Sefy Megafu |date=7 November 2002 == Naval career ==

Ukiwe joined the Nigerian Navy in 1960 as a cadet (officer), and was commissioned in 1964 with the rank of sub-lieutenant. He defected to the Biafran Armed Forces in 1966. == Biafran War ==

During the Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 1970 he fought on the Biafran side. After the war, in January 1972 he was readmitted to the Navy, one of the few Igbo officers to regain their position. == Military career ==

Ukiwe was a member of the Supreme Military Council between 1975 and 1977. General Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him military governor of Niger State in 1977. He was re-deployed to Lagos State as governor in July 1978, holding this post until October 1979. He was also in the SMC under General Muhammadu Buhari from 1983 to 1985, while serving as Flag Officer, Western Naval command. He was appointed director, Naval Faculty, Jaji (1981–1984) and Flag Officer, Western Naval Command (1984–1985). == Chief of General Staff ==

In 1985, following the 1985 Nigerian military coup d'état military head of state General Ibrahim Babangida appointed Ukiwe as Chief of General Staff, and his second-in-command. In 1986, Ukiwe, was removed as Chief of General Staff after opposing Babangida's decision to join the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. ==Later career==

After retirement he joined the pro-democracy group, supporting Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the president-elect in the June 1993 elections, who was imprisoned after General Sani Abacha took power in a coup in November 1993. Ukiwe is a notable voice in the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS)'s campaign for an equitable union, against the background of rising Muslim fundamentalism of the Nigerian political North. ==References==