military administrators during babangida regime Patrick Aziza was one of them

Military Administrators During Babangida Regime (1985 – 1992)

Advertisements

The most strategically planned coup in the history of Nigeria is the August 27, 1985 coup which oust the regime of Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari later admitted that he was aware that some soldiers led by Babangida were planning to overthrow his regime.

Upon assumption of office through the guns assisted by one of the deadliest coup strategists Sani Abacha, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), new military administrators were appointed while some were redeployed to other states.

At the time, there were 19 states in Nigeria. But on September 23, 1987, two more states were created and military governors were appointed by the military head of state (Akwa Ibom carved out of Cross River and Katsina was carved out from Kaduna).

Advertisements

By August 27, 1991, Babangida created additional six states to mark the 6th celebration of his regime and seizing power, bringing the number of states to 30.

It must be noted it was the regime of Babangida that initiated the aborted Third Republic. Chief Moshood Abiola (popularly called M.K.O) won the presidential election, but IBB annulled the election.

Before that, he made sure that governorship elections were conducted towards the end of 1991 and by January 1992, elected state governors of the aborted-third republic were sworn-in throughout the country.

Before the aborted third republic, there were state administrators, below is the list of state military administrators during the regime of Babangida.

Why were they called administrators?

There were called military administrators because they were not elected and could be replaced or redeployed anytime by the military head of state (that came to power through the back door)

Note: The elected governors of 1991 were in office between January 1992 to November 17, 1993, when Shonekan was led out of the Presidential Villa with guns and Abacha appointed new military administrators.  

So, who are the military administrators between 1985 to 1992?

StateMilitary AdministratorsYears in Office
AnambraSamson Omeruah
Robert Akonobi
Herbert Eze
Joseph Abulu
August 1985 – December 1987
December 1987 – August 1990
August 1990 – August 1991
August 27, 1991 – 1 January 2, 1992
BauchiChris Abutu Garuba
Joshua Madaki
Abu Ali
August 1985 – December 1987
December 1987 – August 1990
September 4, 1990 – January 2, 1992
BendelJohn Mark Inienger
Tunde Ogbeha
John Ewerekumoh Yeri
August 1985 – December 1987
Dec 1987 – Aug 1990
August 1990 – August 1991
BornoAbdulmumini Aminu
Abdul One Mohammed
Mohammed Maina
Mohammed Buba Marwa
August 1985 – August 1988
December 1987 – December 1989
December 1989 – June 1990
June 1990 – January 2, 1992
BenueJonah David Jang
Yohanna Madaki
Ishaya Bakut
Idris Garba
Fidelis Makka
August 1985 – August 1986
August 1986 – September 1986
September 18, 1986 – December 1987
1987–1988
July 21, 1988 – January 2 1992
Cross RiversDan Archibong
Eben Ibim Princewill
Ernest Attah
January 1984 – 1986
1986 – December 1989
December 1989 – January 1992
GongolaYohanna Madaki
Jonah David Jang
Isa Mohammed
Abubakar Salihu
August 1985 – August 1986
August 1986 – December 1987
December 1987 – December 1989
December 1989 – August 27, 1991
ImoAllison Amaechina Madueke
Amadi Ikwechegh
Anthony Oguguo
August 1985 – 1986
August 29, 1986 – September 2, 1989
August 1990 – January 1992
KanoAhmed Muhammad Daku
Mohammed Ndatsu Umaru
Idris Garba
August 27, 1985 – 1987
December 1987 – July 27, 1988
August 1988 – January 1992
KadunaDangiwa Umar
Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar
Abubakar Tanko Ayuba
August 1985 – June 1988
July 1988 – August 1990
August 1990 – 2 January 1992
LagosGbolahan Mudasiru
Mike Akhigbe
Raji Rasaki
January 1984 – August 1986
August 1986 – July 1988
1988–1991
NigerDavid Mark
Garba Ali Mohammed
Lawan Gwadabe

1986 – December 1987
December 1987 – January 1992
KwaraMohammed Ndatsu Umaru
Ahmed Abdullahi
Ibrahim Alkali
Alwali Kazir
August 1985 – December 1987
December 1987 – July 1988
July 1988 – December 1989
December 1989 – January 1992
OndoMike Akhigbe
Ekundayo Opaleye
Raji Rasaki
Bode George
Sunday Abiodun Olukoya
September 1985 – August 1986
August 26, 1986 – 17 December 17, 1987
December 17, 1987 – July 1988
July 1988 – September 1990
September 3, 1990 – January 1992
OgunOladayo Popoola
Raji Rasaki
Mohammed Lawal
Oladeinde Joseph
August 1985 – 1986
1986 – December 1987
December 1987 – August 1990
August 1990 – January 1992
OyoTunji Olurin
Sasaenia Oresanya
Abdulkareem Adisa
September 1985 – July 1988
July 27, 1988 – August 1990
August 1990 – January 1992
PlateauChris Alli
Lawrence Onoja
Aliyu Kama
Joshua Madaki
August 1985 – 1986
1986 – July 1988
July 1988 – August 1990
August 1990 – January 1992
RiversAnthony Ukpo
Ernest Olawunmi Adelaye
Godwin Abbe
August 26, 1986 – July 1988
July 1988 – August 1990
August 1990 – January 1992
SokotoGarba Mohammed
Ahmed Muhammad Daku
Bashir Salihi Magashi
August 1985 – December 1987
December 1987 – August 1990
August 1990 – January 1992
Military administrators in Nigeria from 1985

Creation of two states in 1987

On September 23, 1987, the regime of Babangida announced the creation of more two states: 1) Katsina out of Kaduna, 2) Akwa Ibom out of Cross River, to bring the number to 21.

StatesAdministratorsYears in Office
Akwa IbomTunde Ogbeha
Godwin Abbe
Idongesit Nkanga
September 28, 1987 – July 30, 1988
July 31, 1988 – September 5, 1990
September 5, 1990 – January 2, 1992
KatsinaAbdullahi Sarki Mukhtar
Lawrence Onoja
John Madaki
September 1987 – July 1988
July 1988 – December 1989
December 1989 – January 2, 1992

Creation of nine states in 1991

On August 27, 1991, the Babangida regime in a broadcast announced the creation of nine states from the existing ones. The new states and their administrators are listed below:

StatesMilitary AdministratorsYears in Office
Abia from ImoFrank AjobenaAugust 28, 1991 – January 1992
Adamawa from GongolaAbubakar SalihuAugust 27, 1991 – January 1992
Delta from BendelLuke Chijiuba OchulorAugust 28, 1991 – January 2, 1992
Enugu from AnambraHerbert EzeAugust 1991 – January 1992
Jigawa from KanoOlayinka SuleAugust 28, 1991 – January 1, 1992
Kebbi from SokotoPatrick AzizaAugust 28, 1991 – January 1992
Kogi from Benue and KwaraDanladi Mohammed ZakariAugust 28, 1991 – January 1992
OsunLeo Segun AjiborishaAugust 27, 1991 – January 1, 1992
YobeSani Daura AhmedAugust 27, 1991 – January 2, 1992

Sources

  1. Featured image by Daily Post
  2. Channels Television (January 21, 2019). “Buhari Reveals What Idiagbon Did When He Was Overthrown In 1985”. Channelstv.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top