- It’s A Big Loss To Urhobo Nation — AVM Ajobena
It is a sad day for Urhobo, Delta State and, indeed, the entire country as former Military Administrator of Benue State, Kano State and former chairman of the Nigerian Football Association, (NFA), Maj. Gen. Dominic Obukadata Oneya died at the age of 73, Thursday.
Family sources disclosed to The New Diplomat that the late retired army general died after a brief illnes at his home in Effurun, GRA, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.
It would be recalled that late Oneya was the Military Administrator of Kano State between 1996 to 1998 and from 1998 to May 29,1999 Military Administrator of Benue State. He handed over to an elected governor of the State, George Akume in 1999.
He was appointed the chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, NFA (now NFF) on January 17, 2000.
The New Diplomat finding indicates that the late Army general attended the Baptist Academy, Yaba, Lagos (1962-1967) after which he enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy in May 1969 and was commissioned in September 1971.
He was an alumnus of the University of Ife, Ile Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State and the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College, Kingston, Canada.
He held several command positions in the Nigerian Army including the Adjutant of 31 Infantry Battalion (1971–1972), Instructor at 4 Division Training School (1972–1973) and Instructor at Nigerian Army Military Training College, Jaji (1975–1977).
He also served at the Army Headquarters Lagos and in operations with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (1980–1981), Commandant of the Nigerian Army Physical Training School, Zaria (1985–1987) and Directing Staff, Ghana Armed Forces College Teshe, Ghana (1989–1991).
He was appointed Commander, 82 Motorized Infantry Brigade, Kano (1993–1995), Commander, 16 Battalion, Nigerian ECOMOG Contingent in Liberia and then Director of administration, Training and Doctrine Command (1995-July 1996).
Reacting to the death of Gen. Oneya, former military administrator of Abia State, Air Vice Marshall Frank Ajobena, described it as a huge loss to the Urhobo nation, adding that the late general had been an active player in Urhobo land.
He said: “It is terrible, terrible. The aircraft that brought me into Warri on July 28, we met at the airport and he said he was dashing to Abuja. He was hale and hearty he didn’t show any sign of sickness. So, this morning somebody just drew my attention that Gen. Oneya had passed on. I made contact with a few persons and I was told that he actually drove himself from Agbarho to Warri yesterday.
“Only for him to complained he wasn’t feeling fine and he was rushed to the Naval hospital where he died at 10 o clock this morning.
“For me it is something I cannot explain. It’s shocking! He didn’t show any sign of sickness, he didn’t tell me he was sick. Anyway, that is the way of all flesh.
“Oneya has been an active player in the Urhobo nation, very active. He is a big loss to the Urhobo nation.”
