Joseph Adeduro Adeusi, a retired Nigerian military officer and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, has passed away at the age of 76.
Born in 1940, Adeusi died in 2016, marking the end of a chapter in Nigeria’s military-governed political history. He served as Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State between August 1996 and August 1998, during the regime of General Sani Abacha.
His tenure was marked by administrative investigations and sports initiatives. Most notably, Adeusi established Akwa United Football Club, which played its debut fixture against Rangers International FC of Enugu in December 1996.
In the course of his administration, he initiated an official probe into the affairs of Uyo Local Government Area, at the time led by John James Akpanudoedehe, who would later become a senator of the Federal Republic.
Captain Adeusi’s time in office came to an end in 1998, when he was succeeded by Group Captain Eyepeiyah John Ebiye. Ebiye, in turn, oversaw the state’s transition from military to civilian rule, handing over power to Obong Victor Attah on May 29, 1999, as Nigeria returned to democratic governance.