Date Published: 03/08/11

Lawrence Onoja, ACN Senatorial Candidate shot

General Lawrence Onoja

Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN candidate for the Benue South Senatorial District, Retired Major General Lawrence Onoja has been allegedly shot by unknown gunmen.

Onoja is said to be receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Makurdi, Benue State, a senior ACN official confirmed to pointblanknews.com but would not give further details.

Source told Pointblanknews.com that the shooting may not be unconnected with the resolve of the former Military officer to run for the Senatorial elections under the platform of the ACN.

He is challenging the incumbent Senate president David Mark, also a former Military General. 

Mark and Onoja are not just political rivals. Sources told Pointblanknews.com that both men have been at daggers drawn over allegations that Onoja caused the early retirement of Mark from the Nigeria Army. Onoja served as Military Secretary during Late General Abacha’s regime where “IBB Boys” were said to have been kicked out of the Army unceremoniously.

Onoja had queried the legitimacy of Senator Mark’s mandate saying “with President Goodluck Jonathan committed to one man, one vote policy, there would be no room again for election riggers to snatch ballot boxes, stuff ballot box and concoct false electoral results to win elections in the zone.”

Onoja had argued that with Mark’s 12 years in the Senate“there is too much youth unemployment, uncurbed rising profile of murderous cult activities amongst our youth who were erstwhile members of the army of  thugs of our desperate politicians”.

Onoja was the military governor of Plateau State , Nigeria from 1986 to July 1988 and then of Katsina State until December 1989 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida . He later became Principal Staff Officer to General Sani Abacha , before being arrested for alleged involvement in a coup attempt. He retired from the army in 1998, and after the return to democracy in May 1999 with the Nigerian Fourth Republic entered into politics.

Onoja was born on 10 August 1948 at Idekpa Okpiko, Ohimini local government in Benue State of Idoma origins. He attended St. Francis College, Otukpo and then Government College in Lafia , Nasarawa State (1962 - 1966). He joined the army in 1966 as a cadet officer.

Onoja attended the Nigerian Defence Academy , Kaduna and the Mons Officer Cadet School , Aldershot , England . Onoja was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in October 1968. While in the army, Onoja attended Cameron University, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University , earning a degree in Political Science. He later obtained an M.Sc. in Political Science from the University of Jos, and a PhD in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos.