{{Short description|Nigerian politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Paul Edor Obi | image = | image_size = 150px | office1 = Administrator and 4th Governor of Bayelsa State | term_start1 = 9 July 1998 | term_end1 = 29 May 1999 | predecessor1 = Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade | successor1 = Diepreye Alamieyeseigha | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | party = | Educational background = }} '''Paul Edor Obi''' is a Nigerian retired lieutenant colonel who served as military administrator of Bayelsa State from July 1998 to May 1999, during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.<ref name=wstate>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nigeria_federal_states.htm |title=Nigerian States |publisher=WorldStatesmen |accessdate=2010-05-11}}</ref><ref name="The Nation Newspaper 2022">{{Cite news | title=Ex-Bayelsa MILAD, others arraigned for alleged fraud, forgery |newspaper=The Nation| date=2022-03-26 | url=https://thenationonlineng.net/ex-bayelsa-milad-others-arraigned-for-alleged-fraud-forgery/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| access-date=2023-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=nigerianleaders |date=2024-06-26 |title=List of Governors of Bayelsa State and Their Deputies |url=https://nigerianleaders.com/governors-of-bayelsa-state-and-their-deputies/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Nigerian Leaders |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early career==
Obi graduated from the U.S. Army Aviation School in Fort Rucker, Alabama, and earned a Higher Diploma in Aviation Technology. He also graduated from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.<ref name=umort>{{cite web |url=http://unitedmortgageltd.com/default.asp?contentID=549 |title=Lt. Col. Paul OBI (Rtd.) |publisher=United Mortgage Ltd. |accessdate=2010-05-11 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He served in the military for over 23 years. He was a platoon commander under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.<ref name=SAIns>{{cite web |url=http://www.sainsuranceng.com/A_directors.asp |title=About Us: SA Insurance Directors |publisher=SA Insurance |accessdate=2010-05-11}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
==Bayelsa State administrator==
Obi was appointed military administrator of Bayelsa State in July 1998.<ref name=wstate/> On 11 December 1998, demonstrators marched towards Government House in Yenagoa to convey their grievances. Troops opened fire, killing some and injuring many others.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://se1.isn.ch/serviceengine/Files/ISN/98402/ichaptersection_singledocument/EAFF9EB3-0EC7-4D74-80D3-DBB8766D2D40/en/Chapter5.pdf |title=Oil, Arms Proliferation and Conflict in the Niger Delta of Nigeria |author=Victor Ojakorotu and Ufo Okeke-Uzodike |accessdate=2010-05-11}}</ref> Following continued civil disturbances, on 30 December 1998 he declared a state of emergency, suspending all civil liberties and imposing a dusk-to-dawn curfew.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://kadir-akbaba.net/doc_de/archiv/n/nigeria/virajm.htm |title=THE IJAW CRISIS |work=Human Rights Server |accessdate=2010-05-11 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} </ref> The Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) leaders described this as an "outright declaration of war on the Ijaws". The curfew was lifted on 4 January 1999 after the government "deployed warships and more troops in Niger Delta areas to quell violent protests by restive Ijaw youths".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3ae6ad6c8c.html |title=Nigeria: Existence and activities of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force; treatment of its members and leaders by the authorities (1998-1999) |publisher=Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |date=17 December 1999 |accessdate=2010-05-11}}</ref>
Obi was a member of the Niger Delta Development Option Committee, which prepared the initial blueprint for development of the Niger Delta region.<ref name=SAIns/> In April 1999 he met with selected Ijaw leaders at state house in Yenagoa. He said the Federal Government wanted to help develop the state, and urged the people to "embrace the path of peace and dialogue at all times".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200806060772.html?viewall=1 |title=Why Niger-Delta Leaders Don't Want Another Summit |work=Vanguard |author=Emma Amaize |date=6 June 2008 |accessdate=2010-05-11}}</ref> He handed over to the elected civilian governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic on 29 May 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bayelsa.gov.ng/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109:bayelsa-state&catid=47:the-state&Itemid=111 |title = Bayelsa State |publisher = Bayelsa State Government |accessdate = 2010-05-11 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110724143253/http://www.bayelsa.gov.ng/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109:bayelsa-state&catid=47:the-state&Itemid=111# |archive-date = 2011-07-24 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
==Later career==
After retiring, Obi became a security consultant and was chairman/chief executive officer of Pauliza Limited. He was appointed to the board of directors of several companies, including United Mortgage, Standard Alliance Insurance, Concert Alliance, Next Generation Wireless, Rode & Roke and Lagos Business School Alumni.<ref name=umort/><ref name=SAIns/>
He was arraigned over alleged fraud in March 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Daniel |first1=Otuya |title=EFCC arraigns ex-Bayelsa military administrator, two others over alleged fraud |url=https://thestreetjournal.org/efcc-arraigns-ex-bayelsa-military-administrator-two-others-over-alleged-fraud/ |access-date=9 December 2022 |work=The Street Journal |date=25 March 2022 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328000636/https://thestreetjournal.org/efcc-arraigns-ex-bayelsa-military-administrator-two-others-over-alleged-fraud/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} {{BayelsaGovernors}} {{Nigeria Abubakar Governors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obi, Paul Edor}} Category:Living people Category:Governors of Bayelsa State Category:Pan-Atlantic University people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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