J. E. A. Wey

Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey (6 March 1918 – 12 December 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.

Vice admiral
J. E. A. Wey
2nd Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters
In office
1 August 1966 – 29 July 1975
Head of StateYakubu Gowon
Preceded byBabafemi Ogundipe
Succeeded byOlusegun Obasanjo
Chief of Naval Staff
In office
March 1964 – January 1973
Preceded byCommodore A.R. Kennedy
Succeeded byRear Adm. N.B. Soroh
Personal details
Born(1918-03-06)6 March 1918
Calabar, Southern Region, British Nigeria
(now Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria)
Died12 December 1991(1991-12-12) (aged 73)
Nigeria
Political partyNone (military)
SpouseAnne Wey
Military service
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch/service Nigerian Navy
Years of service1940-1975
Rank Vice admiral
Battles/warsNigerian Civil War

Early life

Born in Calabar in March 1918 to a Yoruba father who was from Lagos and an 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.

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 Insignia 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
  1. Aginam, Arthur-Martins (December 1991). "For Whom The Bell Tolls - Nigeria's first naval chief dies at 73". African Concord.
  2. Siollun, Max. "Aburi: The "Sovereign National Conference" That Got Away". Gamji. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  3. "An Attentive Listener". Time. Time Warner. 1970-03-02. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  4. Mohammed, Murtala. "Murtala Muhammed's First Address to Nigeria". Nigeriavillagesquare.com. Nigerian Village Square. Retrieved 2007-06-16.


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