Christopher Oluwole Rotimi
{{Short description|Nigerian politician (born 1935)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{For|other people named Rotimi|Rotimi}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Christopher Oluwole Rotimi
| honorific_prefix = Brigadier general
| nationality = Nigerian
| image =
| imagesize = 185px
| order = Governor Western State
| term_start = 1 April 1971
| term_end = July 1975
| predecessor = Robert Adeyinka Adebayo
| successor = Akin Aduwo
| order2 = Ambassador of Nigeria to the United States of America
| lieutenant2 = Null
| term_start2 = March 2008
| term_end2 = 9 October 2009
| predecessor2 = George Obiozor
| successor2 = Tunde Adeniran
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1935|2|20}}
| birth_place = Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
| alma_mater = King's College, Lagos
University College Ibadan
| occupation = Soldier
| signature =
| party = Unknown
| allegiance = {{flag|Nigeria}}
| branch = {{army|Nigeria}}
| rank = 20px Brigadier general
}}
Christopher Oluwole Rotimi (born 20 February 1935) is a retired Nigerian Army brigadier general, diplomat and politician, he served during the Nigerian Civil War, and was the Governor of Western State while Nigeria was under military rule from 1971 to 1975. Oluwole Rotimi became the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States in 2007.{{cite book|title=Oyo State past and present|date=2002|publisher=Ministry of Information, Youth, Sports & Culture|location=Nigeria|page=30}}
Early life
Oluwole Rotimi was born 20 February 1935, in Abeokuta, Nigeria to a Yoruba family.Siollun (2009) p. 30. He attended Agooko Methodist School, Lisabi school, Olowogbowo Methodist School as well as Kings College Lagos, after which he earned a BA at the University College Ibadan.
Oluwole Joined the Nigerian Army in 1960 and served as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He rose to become the first African Deputy Quartermaster General and the third non-white Quartermaster General of the Nigerian Army in 1966. During the Nigerian Civil War Oluwole Rotimi provided logistics support for the Federal Government's war efforts. He became the commander of the Ibadan Garrison between 1969 and 1970.Adebayo Oyebade, Toyin Falola. The foundations of Nigeria. Africa World Press, 2003 {{ISBN|1-59221-120-8}} p. 262.Olufemi Vaughan. Nigerian Chiefs: Traditional Power in Modern Politics, 1890s–1990s. Boydell & Brewer, 2006 {{ISBN|1-58046-249-9}} pp. 135, 204
Governor of Western State
After the war Oluwole Rotimi became the Military Governor of Western State of Nigeria in 1971, under Yakubu Gowon in succession to Brigadier Adeyinka Adebayo.[https://books.google.com/books?id=1DYEAQAAIAAJ&q=Oluwole+Rotimi Africa contemporary record: annual survey and documents]. Colin Legum, Africa Research, Ltd, John Gordon Stewart Drysdale. (eds) Africana Pub. Co., 1977. p. 1959James J. Olulẹyẹ. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZBNzAAAAMAAJ&q=Oluwole+Rotimi Military leadership in Nigeria, 1966–1979]. University Press Ltd., 1985 p. 77, 176 During his time as governor, the state had peace and development.{{cite news |last1=Akinola |first1=Anthony |title=Rotimi on regionalism and military rule |url=https://guardian.ng/opinion/rotimi-on-regionalism-and-military-rule/ |accessdate=25 January 2019 |agency=Guardian NG}}
=Projects As Governor=
1975 coup
In 1975, Oluwole Rotimi was removed from office as governor of Western Nigeria after the 1975 coup d'état. The following administration led by General Murtala Mohammed, commissioned a panel to investigate corruption amongst that past governors of the past administration. Oluwole Rotimi, together with Mobolaji Johnson-Brigadier (Lagos State Governor) was one of the only two governors exonerated.[https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-15351161 Corrupt soldiers face court martial]{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. African Business. 1 April 1994.
Under Obasanjo
In 1999 Gen. Oluwole Rotimi was appointed by the President Olusegun Obasanjo as the Head of a Commission of Inquiry for the Investigation of Federal Government Landed Property.[http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2001/07/28/20010728cov01.html The Illegal Land Deals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030501175454/http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2001/07/28/20010728cov01.html |date=1 May 2003 }}. This Day. 16 November 2004
Oluwole Rotimi was honored with a National Award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2003.
In 2005, Oluwole Rotimi was appointed a member of the National Constitutional Review Conference representing his home state-Ogun State.
Ambassador
Oluwole Rotimi became the Ambassador to the United States of America in March 2008.[http://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/ARCHIVE.htm Brigadier-General (Rtd) Oluwole ROTIMI, CON. Ambassador, March 2008 – March 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626064651/http://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/ARCHIVE.htm |date=26 June 2009 }}, nigeriaembassyusa.org. Accessed 20 May 2009[http://allafrica.com/stories/200710090237.html Nigeria: Appraising the Ambassadorial List]. Nathaniel Jonah. Leadership (Abuja) 9 October 2007.[http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200801060105131 Chinese incursion into Nigeria: In whose interest?]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Layi Adeloye and Sulaimon Adenekan. Punch. Sunday, 6 January 2008. He was sacked from the post in March 2009 by the President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua after allegations of insubordination.
References
{{reflist|2}}
- Max Siollun. Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture 1966–1976. Algora Publishing, 2009 {{ISBN|0-87586-708-1}} pp. 30, 70, 92, 186–187, 223.
{{WesternStateGovernors}}
{{Nigeria Gowon Governors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rotimi, Christopher Oluwole}}
Category:Yoruba military personnel
Category:Politicians from Abeokuta
Category:King's College, Lagos alumni
Category:University of Ibadan alumni
Category:Nigerian military governors
Category:Ambassadors of Nigeria to the United States
Category:Commanders of the Order of the Niger