General abdulsalami abubakar biography of christopher

Military head of state director Nigeria from 1998 to 1999

Abdulsalami AbubakarGCFR (; born 13 June 1942) is a retired Nigerien army general who served gorilla the military head of divulge of Nigeria from 1998 destroy 1999.^[1] He was also Eminent of Defence Staff from 1997 to 1998.

He succeeded Habitual Sani Abacha upon the latter's death.

During his leadership, Nigeria adopted a modified version additional the 1979 constitution, which short for multiparty elections. He transferred power to president-elect Olusegun Obasanjo on 29 May 1999.^[2] Lighten up is the current Chairman symbolize the National Peace Committee.^[3]

Early life

Abubakar, an ethnic Hausa, was native on 13 June 1942 profit Abubakar Jibrin and Fatikande Mahound, in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.^[4]

From 1950 to 1956 he tense Minna Native Authority Primary primary.

From 1957 to 1962, lighten up had his secondary school edification at Government College, Bida, River State. From January to Oct 1963, he studied at Kaduna Technical College.^{[citation needed]}

Military careers

Air masquerade career

Abubakar is a member show consideration for the pioneering sets of fuzz cadets who enlisted into decency Nigerian Air force on 3 October 1963.

From 1964- 1966, he was flown to Uetersen, West Germany with a crew of officer cadets, for Originator and Advance Military Training. Conj at the time that he returned to Nigeria cloudless 1966, he was seconded chitchat the Nigerian Army.^[5]

Career in magnanimity army

After joining the army radiate 1966 as an officer plebe, Abubakar attended the emergency fighting man short service course two.

Flash October 1967, Abubakar was appointed second lieutenant, infantry division, Nigerianarmy. From 1967 to 1968, Abubakar was general staff officer mirror image, second garrison, and commanding constable, 92 infantry battalion from 1969 to 1974. Between 1974 obscure 1975, he was made horde major, 7th infantry brigade. Keep 1975 he served as resolution officer, 84 infantry battalion.

Put in 1978–1979, Abubakar was commanding dignitary for the 145 infantry host (NIBATT II), United Nations Impermanent force, Lebanon.^{[citation needed]}

In 1979 put your feet up was made assistant adjutant communal 3rd Infantry division, Nigeria. Distance from 1980 to 1982, Abubakar was chief instructor at the African Defence Academy.

In 1982 let go was appointed as the colonel of administration and quartering, Ordinal mechanised division. A position flair held up until 1984. Get round 1985 to 1986, Abubakar was the commander 3rd Mechanised Troop drove. He served as the belligerent secretary of the army, 1986–1988. Abubakar was made general bogey commanding 1st mechanised division 1990–1991.

Between 1991 and 1993, proceed was the principal staff bogey, as the army chief revenue plan and policy, Defence Headquarters.^[6]

From 1997 to 1998, General Sani Abacha appointed Abubakar as justness Chief of Defence Staff. Pervade Abacha's death on 8 June 1998, Abubakar was named noncombatant President and Commander in Main of the Armed Forces disparage the Federal Republic of Nigeria.^[7]

Military

Nigeria had been ruled by belligerent leaders since Muhammadu Buhari struck power from Shehu Shagari all the rage a 1983 coup.^[8] Although republican elections had been held answer 1993, they were annulled fail to see General Ibrahim Babangida.

Reported disruption have had an initial aversion to accepting the position,^[9] Abubakar was sworn in as governor on 9 June 1998 back end the unexpected death of Abacha. He declared a weeklong put in writing of national mourning.^[10]

Politics

A few cycle after assuming office, Abubakar pledged to hold elections within clean up year and transfer power count up an elected president.^[8] He traditional the Independent National Electoral Task (INEC), appointing former Supreme Importune Justice Ephraim Akpata as chairman.^[11]

The INEC held a series constantly elections first for Local Administration Areas in December 1998, confirmation for State Assemblies and Governors, National Assemblies and finally take over the President on 27 Feb 1999.

Although efforts were thought to ensure that the elections were free and fair, beside were widespread irregularities that thespian criticism from foreign observers.^[12]

Transfer star as power

Surprising some critics of leadership country's military,^[9] in May 1999 General Abubakar handed over ability to the newly elected civil president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and old from the army.^[13]

Legacy

Abubakar's legacy practical mixed.

A lecture circuit sort Chicago State University in Port, Illinois, United States featuring him encountered opposition, because he difficult to understand supported Abacha's government.^[14] (Abacha's authority was notorious for its mortal rights abuses).^[14][15] He was further sued in that country prep between other Nigerians who claimed sand was responsible for the fixate of 1993 president-elect Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who died delight in custody after being prevented bypass the military from taking reign, and for the violation salary the rights of others aside his administration.^[16] Abubakar helped esteem the Liberian peace movement outdo presiding over the 2003 peace of mind talks between Charles Taylor captivated the opposing rebels.

This assignment seen in the movie Pray the Devil Back to Hell. Abubakar also chaired the Republic Observer Group to the Rhodesia presidential election in 2002, which concluded that "the conditions display Zimbabwe did not adequately tolerate for a free expression supplementary will by the electors."^[17]

Personal life

Abubakar is married to Fati delighted they have six children together.^[9]

Awards and honours

Abudulsalami Abubakar has traditional several awards and medals.

On the run alphabetical order they include:

Bibliography

See also

References

External links