Major General Paul Ufuoma Omu (rtd), a former military governor and notable figure in Nigeria’s governance and political evolution, has passed away at the age of 84. His family confirmed his death on Tuesday, April 29, in a statement released on Wednesday.
A native of Igbide in Isoko South LGA, Delta State, Omu was widely respected as a patriot, soldier, statesman, and community leader. The statement, signed by Oghenekome Omu, paid tribute to his lifetime of service.
From July 1975 to July 1978, General Omu served as the military governor of the South-Eastern State—covering today’s Akwa Ibom and Cross River States—where he prioritized infrastructure development and reform.
He later served as Commander of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College and was a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, Nigeria’s highest decision-making body during military rule.
Omu played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s democratic transition. In 1994, he was appointed Chairman of the Constitutional Conference Commission, influencing the groundwork for the country’s eventual return to civil governance.
In 2009, former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua appointed him Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
General Omu also led the Isoko Development Union (IDU) as its President from 2014 to 2015, cementing his role as a grassroots leader and advocate for his people.
He is survived by his wife, Senator Chief (Mrs) Stella Omu, six children, siblings, and numerous grandchildren.
