J. O. J. Okezie

{{Short description|Nigerian doctor and politician}}

Josiah Onyebuchi Johnson Okezie (1923 — 2002) was a Nigerian doctor and politician who was Minister of Health and later Agriculture in the administration of Yakubu Gowon.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/DrJOkezie.html |title=Dr. J. O. J. Okezie is Dead |website=www.nigeriamasterweb.com |access-date=2018-08-27 |archive-date=2013-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703103054/http://www.nigeriamasterweb.com/DrJOkezie.html |url-status=dead }}

In the first republic, Okezie led the Republican Party, a marginal party into an alliance with NPC and NNDP led by Akintola.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/949791364 |title=Chief Obafemi Awolowo : the political Moses |last=S. |first=Oduguwa, Adedara |date=2012 |publisher=Trafford Publishing |isbn=978-1466929470 |location=Bristol |oclc=949791364}} In the 1970s, his efforts as Health Minister help transform the agricultural research station at Umudike into a federal research institute.{{Cite news |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201510071793.html |title=Our Research Institutes Are Lazy - Prof. Okigbo [interview] |last=Ilozue |first=Chukwujekue |date=October 3, 2015 |work=Daily Independent (Lagos)}}

Okezie was a member of the Constituent Assembly and later joined NPN during the second republic. His name came up among those considered as vice presidential candidate to party nominee, Shehu Shagari.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pressreader.com/nigeria/daily-trust/20171123/282187946324007 |title=Alex Ekwueme (1932 - 2017) |access-date=2018-08-27}}

He was a graduate of Government College, Umuahia. He formed Ibeku Central Hospital, Umuahia, which was open but badly affected during the Biafran War.{{Cite book |title=Ibrahim Babangida |last=Agbese |first=Dan |date=2012-06-30 |publisher=Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd |isbn=9781912234349 |pages=106 |language=en}}