Zamani Lekwot

Zamani Lekwot (born 19 July 1944) is a retired Nigerian Army major general who served as the military governor of Rivers State, Nigeria from July 1975 until July 1978 during the military administrations of Generals Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo.

Early life Lekwot was born in 1944 to Atyap parents in Ashong Ashyui, Northern Region (now in southern Kaduna State), Nigeria.

Military career Lekwot attended the prestigious Nigerian Military School for his secondary education before he entered the army on 11 July 1962, and attended the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna and the Indian Military Academy, gaining his commission on 14 July 1966.

He was a company commander in the 6th Battalion when it took part in the battle that caused the fall of Bonny on 26/27 July 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War.

He was the Commander, 33 Infantry Brigade, Maiduguri in 1975 before he assumed the Military Governorship of Rivers State.

The 2 Brigade Nigerian Army Barracks in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was named the Zamani Lekwot cantonment in his honor. In August 2003 it was renamed the Port Harcourt Barracks.

Lekwot fell out with General Ibrahim Babangida after Babangida became Chief of Staff following the military coup of 31 December 1983 that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power. He was forced to retire on 31 December 1985 when Babangida was the Head-of-State.

Later career On 15 May 1992 violence erupted between the mainly Moslem Hausa and mainly Christian Atyap communities of the Zangon-Kataf Local Government Area in Kaduna State over trading and land ownership rights, with many deaths. A tribunal set up by the Babangida government sentenced Lekwot and 16 others to death for alleged complicity in the killings, sentences eventually reduced to a short jail sentence.

He was assisted in his prolonged battle to avoid execution by Barr. (Col.) Yohanna A. Madaki.

By December 1995, Lekwot had received a state pardon.

In June 2003 he was Chairman of Giza Ventures Nigeria and a Director of Prudent bank.