Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey
Vice Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey | |
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De Facto 2nd Vice President of Nigeria | |
In office July 29, 1966 – July 29, 1975 | |
President | Yakubu Gowon |
Preceded by | Brig. Babafemi Ogundipe |
Succeeded by | Brig. Olusegun Obasanjo |
Chief of Naval Staff | |
In office 1964–1973 | |
Preceded by | Commodore A.R. Kennedy |
Succeeded by | Vice Adm. N.B. Soroh |
Personal details | |
Nationality | Nigerian |
Political party | None (military) |
Military service | |
Allegiance |
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Service/branch |
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Years of service | 1940-1975 |
Vice Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey was a Nigerian naval officer who served, at various times, as head of the Nigerian Navy (i.e. Chief of Naval Staff),[1] acting Foreign Minister,[2] and Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters,[3] making him the de facto Vice President of Nigeria during Yakubu Gowon's regime.
Born in Calabar in March 1918 to a Yoruba father and an Ibibio/Efik mother, Admiral Wey had his early education in Calabar, Cross River State and at Methodist School, Ikot Ekpene in present Akwa Ibom State; and further education in Lagos. He joined the Marine Department as a cadet and engineer in training around 1940. At the end of his training in 1945, he served in all sea-going vessels in the Marine Department. When the Navy was established in 1956, he was transferred to the Navy as a sub-lieutenant. In 1962, he was appointed as the commanding officer of base and naval officer in charge of Apapa, Lagos. In 1966, he was appointed as the Federal Commissioner of Establishment and he became a member of the federal Executive Council. He was promoted to various ranks and to the final rank of vice-admiral.
His military ranks were:
- Marine engineer, 1950
- Sub-lieutenant and engineer, 1956
- Lieutenant, 1958
- Lieutenant commander, 1960
- Captain, 1963
- Commodore, 1964
- Rear-admiral, 1967
- Vice-admiral, 1971
He was retired in 1975 following the successful coup that brought Murtala Mohammed [3] to power, replacing the military government of General Yakubu Gowon. He died 12 December 1990.[4]
References
- ↑ Siollun, Max. "Aburi: The "Sovereign National Conference" That Got Away". Gamji. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- ↑ "An Attentive Listener". Time. Time Warner. 1970-03-02. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- 1 2 Mohammed, Murtala. "Murtala Muhammed's First Address to Nigeria". Nigeriavillagesquare.com. Nigerian Village Square. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- ↑ "Nigerian Navy Golden Jubilee". Nigerian Navy. Retrieved 2007-07-06.