Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey
Vice Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters | |
| In office July 29, 1966 – July 29, 1975 | |
| Head of State | Yakubu Gowon |
| Preceded by | Babafemi Ogundipe |
| Succeeded by | 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 | |
| Born | March 6, 1918 |
| Died | December 25, 1991 (aged 73) Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Political party | None (military) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Nigeria |
| Branch/service |  Nigerian Navy |
| Years of service | 1940-1975 |
| Rank | Vice admiral |
| Battles/wars | Nigerian Civil War |
Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey (March 6, 1918 – December 12, 1991)[1] was a Nigerian Navy Vice Admiral who served as head of the Nigerian Navy (i.e. Chief of Naval Staff),[2] acting foreign minister,[3] and chief of staff of the Supreme Headquarters,[4] making him the de facto vice president of Nigeria during Yakubu Gowon's regime.
Early life[]
Born in Calabar in March 1918 to a Yoruba mother who was from Lagos and an Efik father, 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.
Retirement and death[]
He was retired in 1975 following the successful coup that brought Murtala Mohammed[4] to power, replacing the military government of General Yakubu Gowon. He died 12 December 1991.[1]
Military ranks[]
| Year | Military rank |
|---|---|
| 1950 | Marine engineer |
| 1956 | Sub-lieutenant and engineer |
| 1958 | Lieutenant |
| 1960 | Lieutenant commander |
| 1963 | Captain |
| 1964 | Commodore |
| 1967 | Rear admiral |
| 1971 | Vice admiral |
References[]
- ^ a b Aginam, Arthur-Martins (December 1991). "For Whom The Bell Tolls - Nigeria's first naval chief dies at 73". African Concord.
- ^ Siollun, Max. "Aburi: The "Sovereign National Conference" That Got Away". Gamji. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- ^ "An Attentive Listener". Time. Time Warner. 1970-03-02. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- ^ a b Mohammed, Murtala. "Murtala Muhammed's First Address to Nigeria". Nigeriavillagesquare.com. Nigerian Village Square. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
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- 1918 births
- Nigerian Navy admirals
- Vice presidents of Nigeria
- Yoruba military personnel
- Yoruba politicians
- People from Calabar
- 20th-century Nigerian politicians
- Ibibio people
- Efik people
- 1991 deaths
- People of colonial Nigeria
- Chiefs of Naval Staff (Nigeria)
- Nigerian politician stubs
- African military personnel stubs