Augustus Aikhomu Explained

Augustus Aikhomu
Honorific Prefix:Admiral
Width:150px
Office1:8th Vice President & Chief of General Staff
Term Start1:October 1986
Term End1:August 1993
Predecessor1:Ebitu Ukiwe
Successor1:Oladipo Diya
Office2:Chief of Naval Staff
Term Start2:January 1984
Term End2:October 1986
Predecessor2:Akintunde Aduwo
Successor2:Patrick Koshoni
Birth Date:20 October 1939
Spouse:Rebecca Aikhomu
Children:5, including Mark
Alma Mater:Yaba College of Technology
Britannia Royal Naval College
NIPSS
Allegiance: Nigeria
Branch: Nigerian Navy
Serviceyears:1958–1993
Rank: Admiral

Augustus Akhabue Aikhomu (20 October 1939 – 17 August 2011) was an Admiral in the Nigerian Navy, who served as the de facto Vice President of Nigeria under military head of state General Ibrahim Babangida from 1986 to 1993.[1]

Early life

He hailed from Idumebo-Irrua, Edo State,[2] in southern Nigeria. As a student, Aikhomu spent various periods of his early life studying at Irrua Government School, Yaba College of Technology, Royal Britannia Naval College in Dartmouth, England, Long Gunnery Specialist Course, India and the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Nigeria.

Naval career

Aikhomu joined the Nigerian Navy on 1 December 1958. He joined the Royal Navy as an Artificer Apprentice with Series 35 entry at HMS Fisgard near Torpoint, East Cornwall in January 1959. He was in Grenville Division at HMS Fisgard and would have completed his 16 months Part 1 training at the end of April 1960.

Aikhomu was the Commanding Officer, Shore Patrol Craft, commanding officer, NNS Dorina, chief of naval personnel, naval headquarters, chief of naval operations (1983–84), and chief of naval staff (1984–86).

Vice President and Chief of General Staff

Admiral Augustus served as the de facto Vice President of Nigeria under military president General Ibrahim Babangida from 1986 to 1993.

Later career

He was at a time the chairman of the Board of Trustees of All Nigeria Peoples Party, an opposition party in the country. Aikhomu contributed to the Irrua Specialist Hospital specializing in lassa fever management.[3] He died on 17 August 2011, aged 71. Aikhomu is survived by his wife, Rebecca, and five children, Mark, Ehime, Eheje, Vinitha, Suzanne, and Ebi.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: drinokrane . Obaseki, Ighodalo, Others Attend 10th Memorial Anniversary Of Augustus Aikhomu . 29 January 2023 . igberetvnews.com . en-US.
  2. Web site: 17 August 2011 . Nigerians react as Admiral Augustus Aikhomu dies @72 . 17 March 2022 . Vanguard News . en-US.
  3. Web site: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. ncdc.gov.ng. 28 May 2020.