Mike Akhigbe
{{short description|De facto deputy head of state of Nigeria from 1998 to 1999}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mike Akhigbe
| honorific_prefix = Vice admiral
| honorific_suffix = GCON
| image =
| caption =
| office1 = 10th Chief of General Staff
| 1blankname1 = {{nowrap|Head of state}}
| 1namedata1 = Abdulsalami Abubakar
| term_start1 = 9 June 1998
| term_end1 = 29 May 1999
| predecessor1 = Oladipo Diya
| successor1 = Atiku Abubakar {{small|as civilian Vice President of Nigeria}}
| office2 = Chief of Naval Staff
| term_start2 = August 1994
| term_end2 = June 1998
| predecessor2 = Rear Adm. Allison Madueke
| successor2 = Vice Adm. Jubril Ayinla
| office3 = Governor of Lagos State
| term_start3 = August 1986
| term_end3 = July 1988
| predecessor3 = Gbolahan Mudasiru
| successor3 = Raji Rasaki
| office4 = Governor of Ondo State
| term_start4 = September 1985
| term_end4 = August 1986
| predecessor4 = Michael Bamidele Otiko
| successor4 = Ekundayo B. Opaleye
| birth_date = 29 September 1946
| birth_place = Fugar, Southern Region,
British Nigeria
(now Fugar, Edo State, Nigeria)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|10|28|1946|9|29|df=y}}
| death_place = New York, United States
| alma_mater = Nigerian Defence Academy
| allegiance = {{flag|Nigeria}}
| branch = 23px Nigerian Navy
| serviceyears = 1967–1999
| rank = 25px Vice admiral
| battles = Nigerian Civil War
}}
Okhai Michael Akhigbe {{Post-nominals|country=NGA|GCON}} (29 September 1946 – 28 October 2013){{cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/147398-mike-akhigbe-ex-vice-president-nigeria-dead-elder-brother-says.html|last=Emmanuel|first=Ogala|title=Mike Akhigbe, ex-Vice President of Nigeria, is dead, elder brother says|date=29 October 2013|work=Premium Times|access-date=29 August 2024}} was a vice admiral of the Nigerian Navy{{cite news|title=Nigeria frees coup plotters|agency=BBC News|date=4 March 1999|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/290323.stm|access-date=29 August 2024}} who served as de facto vice president of Nigeria (as Chief of General Staff) under military head of state General Abdusalami Abubakar from June 1998 to May 1999,{{cite news|date=12 June 2019|title=June 12, NASS and Nigeria's Fourth Republic|url=https://punchng.com/june-12-nass-and-nigerias-fourth-republic/|access-date=29 August 2024|work=The Punch|last=Ojo|first=Jide}} when the military government was terminated and replaced by the Fourth Nigerian Republic. He previously served as Chief of Naval Staff, the highest-ranking officer of the Nigerian Navy from 1994 to 1998; military governor of Lagos State from 1986 to 1988; and military governor of Ondo State from 1985 to 1986.
Early life
Akhigbe was born on September 29, 1946, in Fugar, Aviawu clan in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State and was educated at Afenmai Anglican Grammar School, Igarra from 1961 to 1965.{{cite web|title=Navy Captain Mike Okhai Akhigbe-1986-1988 – BabaJide Sanwo-Olu – Governor of Lagos State|date=25 April 2019|url=https://governor.lagosstate.gov.ng/2019/04/25/navy-captain-mike-okhai-akhigbe-1986-1988/|access-date=28 November 2022}}
Military career
He attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Royal Naval School of Maritime Operations Dryad, Southwick UK, Command and Staff College Jaji, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, University of Poitiers, Rouen, France, and the International Defense Management Program at the Naval Postgraduate School, in California, United States.
He was the Principal Welfare Officer of the Nigerian Navy Flagship NNS Aradu, Military Governor of Lagos and Ondo States, Director, Naval Plans, Naval Headquarters, Flag Officer commanding the Easter Naval Command and Chief of Naval Staff.
Chief of General Staff
In 1998 he became the Chief of General Staff and Vice President of Nigeria. Admiral Okhai Michael Akhigbe is remembered for his numerous services to his community and nation, especially his role during the transition from military to civilian rule in 1999 when he was the Chief of General Staff to Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar.
Later career
Akhigbe was an Attorney with specialization in Maritime Law. He was also a seasoned businessman with substantial investments in real estate. He died of throat cancer{{cite news|url=https://saharareporters.com/2013/10/28/former-chief-general-staff-admiral-mike-akhigbe-dies-throat-cancer-new-york|title=Former Chief Of General Staff Admiral Mike Akhigbe Dies From Throat Cancer In New York|agency=Sahara Reporters|date=28 October 2013|access-date=29 August 2024}} in New York, NY on 28 October 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/family-confirms-death-akhigbe-former-cgs-u-s/|title=Family confirms death of Akhigbe, former CGS in the US|work=Vanguard|date=29 October 2013|access-date=29 August 2024}}
Honours
He was awarded the honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), in 1998 and an honorary doctorate by the University of Benin in 2003. His military decorations include Force Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, and Defense Service Star.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}
Community development
Akhigbe brought electricity to the Fugar community. He brought the administrative headquarters of Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State Nigeria to Fugar City. He was the single most important factor in the rehabilitation of the Teacher's college Ikere Ekiti, later called Ondo State College of Education. Admiral Akhigbe, then a Navy Commander and Military Governor of old Ondo State approved the appointment of USAID-Harvard trained educationist, Dr. Sam Adebayo Adewuya as the Sole Administrator of the college with the sole command of returning the dilapidated college to functional level within three years. The college has since evolved into the University of Education, Ekiti State Tunedik.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Governors of Lagos State}}
{{OndoStateGovernors}}
{{Nigeria Babangida Governors}}
{{NigerianVicePresidents}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akhigbe, Mike}}
Category:Vice presidents of Nigeria
Category:Governors of Lagos State
Category:Governors of Ondo State
Category:Nigerian Navy admirals
Category:Nigerian Defence Academy alumni
Category:20th-century Nigerian politicians
Category:Chiefs of Naval Staff (Nigeria)
Category:Deaths from throat cancer in the United States