James Oluleye (20 April 1930 – 2 July 2009) was a Nigerian Army major general who served as Federal Commissioner of Finance (1977–79), Federal Commissioner of Establishment and Service Matters (1975–77), and who commanded the Nigerian Army's 2nd Division from 1970 to 1975.[1]
James Oluleye completed his primary education in 1946 and thereafter taught for two years at St. Michael's School, Ikoro-Ekiti, and for a year at Anglican Primary School, Araromi Ago-Owu near Ikira in Oyo State. He later attended Ibadan Archdeaconry Teacher Training College where he obtained his Teaching Certificates (Grades II and III).[1]
Military careeredit
Oluleye enlisted in the Nigerian Military Force (which later became the Royal Nigerian Army in 1960)[2] with the enlistment number NMF/1003 on September 9, 1959.[1] He had his basic military training at the Regular Officers Special Training School, Teshie, Ghana from September 1959 to March 1960. He later underwent officer training at Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, England in 1960. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Nigerian Army on January 6, 1961. In 1967 Oluleye attended the Defence Services Staff College, India. Some of his military postings include:
Chief mortar instructor at the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna (1963–1964)
Officer commanding C Company, 1st Battalion, Enugu (1964–1966)
Second-in-command 5th Battalion, Kano (March 1966 - September 1966)
Acting commandant, Nigerian Military Training College (October 1966 - March 1967)
GSO1 Army Headquarters (November 1967 - May 1970)
General officer commanding, 2nd Division Ibadan (June 1970 - July 1975)
Activities during the Nigerian Army mutiny of July 1966edit
Then Major Oluleye was second-in-command to Lt. Col Mohammed Shuwa at the 5th Battalion in Kano during the Nigerian Army Mutiny of July 1966 where many Igbo military officers were systematically murdered by their northern counterparts for what the northern soldiers perceived as retribution for the January 15, 1966 coup (which was led by mostly Igbo officers). Foreseeing the potential for large scale bloodshed, Major Oluleye asked his company commanders to lock up the battalion armory and to store the keys in his safe. As a result of Oluleye's leadership and foresight, many Igbo officers lives were spared in Kano during the July mutiny.[3]
Service as Federal Cabinet Ministeredit
Oluleye served as Federal Commissioner for Establishment and Service Matters from August 1975 to March 1977 and was later posted to the Ministry of Finance where he served as Commissioner from March 1977 to September 1979. He retired from the Nigerian Army on October 2, 1979, following the handover of power from General Olusegun Obasanjo's administration to President Shehu Shagari's administration.
^ abcOluleye, James. J. Military leadership in Nigeria, 1966–1979. University Press Ltd., 1985. pp. xii–xiv. ISBN0195758668.
^. Nigerian Army. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
^Siollun, Max (2009). Oil, Politics and Violence: Nigeria's Military Coup Culture (1966–1976). Algora Publishing, 2009. p. 115. ISBN9780875867090. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
james, oluleye, april, 1930, july, 2009, nigerian, army, major, general, served, federal, commissioner, finance, 1977, federal, commissioner, establishment, service, matters, 1975, commanded, nigerian, army, division, from, 1970, 1975, major, generalfederal, c. James Oluleye 20 April 1930 2 July 2009 was a Nigerian Army major general who served as Federal Commissioner of Finance 1977 79 Federal Commissioner of Establishment and Service Matters 1975 77 and who commanded the Nigerian Army s 2nd Division from 1970 to 1975 1 Major GeneralJames OluleyeFederal Commissioner for FinanceIn office March 1977 September 1979Preceded byShehu ShagariSucceeded bySunday Essang as Minister of FinanceFederal Commissioner for Estasblishment and Service MattersIn office August 1975 March 1977General Officer Commanding 2nd Division Nigerian ArmyIn office June 1970 July 1975Preceded byLt Col G S JaloSucceeded byMaj Gen Martin AdamuPersonal detailsBorn20 April 1930Died2 July 2009 2009 07 02 aged 79 Alma materSt Luke s CollegeRegular Officers Special Training School Teshie Mons Officer Cadet SchoolMilitary serviceBranch service Nigerian ArmyYears of service1959 79RankMajor GeneralCommands2nd Division Nigerian Army Contents 1 Background and education 2 Military career 2 1 Activities during the Nigerian Army mutiny of July 1966 3 Service as Federal Cabinet Minister 4 Death 5 ReferencesBackground and education editJames Oluleye completed his primary education in 1946 and thereafter taught for two years at St Michael s School Ikoro Ekiti and for a year at Anglican Primary School Araromi Ago Owu near Ikira in Oyo State He later attended Ibadan Archdeaconry Teacher Training College where he obtained his Teaching Certificates Grades II and III 1 Military career editOluleye enlisted in the Nigerian Military Force which later became the Royal Nigerian Army in 1960 2 with the enlistment number NMF 1003 on September 9 1959 1 He had his basic military training at the Regular Officers Special Training School Teshie Ghana from September 1959 to March 1960 He later underwent officer training at Mons Officer Cadet School Aldershot England in 1960 He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Nigerian Army on January 6 1961 In 1967 Oluleye attended the Defence Services Staff College India Some of his military postings include Chief mortar instructor at the Nigerian Military Training College Kaduna 1963 1964 Officer commanding C Company 1st Battalion Enugu 1964 1966 Second in command 5th Battalion Kano March 1966 September 1966 Acting commandant Nigerian Military Training College October 1966 March 1967 GSO1 Army Headquarters November 1967 May 1970 General officer commanding 2nd Division Ibadan June 1970 July 1975 Activities during the Nigerian Army mutiny of July 1966 edit Then Major Oluleye was second in command to Lt Col Mohammed Shuwa at the 5th Battalion in Kano during the Nigerian Army Mutiny of July 1966 where many Igbo military officers were systematically murdered by their northern counterparts for what the northern soldiers perceived as retribution for the January 15 1966 coup which was led by mostly Igbo officers Foreseeing the potential for large scale bloodshed Major Oluleye asked his company commanders to lock up the battalion armory and to store the keys in his safe As a result of Oluleye s leadership and foresight many Igbo officers lives were spared in Kano during the July mutiny 3 Service as Federal Cabinet Minister editOluleye served as Federal Commissioner for Establishment and Service Matters from August 1975 to March 1977 and was later posted to the Ministry of Finance where he served as Commissioner from March 1977 to September 1979 He retired from the Nigerian Army on October 2 1979 following the handover of power from General Olusegun Obasanjo s administration to President Shehu Shagari s administration Death editGeneral Oluleye died on 2 July 2009 4 References edit a b c Oluleye James J Military leadership in Nigeria 1966 1979 University Press Ltd 1985 pp xii xiv ISBN 0195758668 Nigerian Army History Nigerian Army Archived from the original on 21 July 2015 Retrieved 3 September 2015 Siollun Max 2009 Oil Politics and Violence Nigeria s Military Coup Culture 1966 1976 Algora Publishing 2009 p 115 ISBN 9780875867090 Retrieved 4 September 2015 Lakemfa Owei General Oluleye s legacy Vanguard Nigeria Retrieved 3 September 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Oluleye amp oldid 1140460001, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
