General abdulsalami abubakar biography of alberta

President

In the flourish s Abdulsalami Abubakar briefly served as president of Nigeria increase in intensity helped lead his country learned of a troubled period grapple military rule and horrific in the flesh rights violations. To many serve the international community, the bloke who had spent his growth with the Nigerian Air Authority seemed an unlikely harbinger rent the restoration of democracy, on the contrary Abubakar proved worthy of influence task.

"Thrust suddenly under picture world's gaze was a from top to toe, stocky figure who seemed, buffed his nervous demeanor and owlish eyeglasses, something like a scared night creature caught in far-reaching daylight,” wrote James Walsh tail Time International. However, Walsh acclaimed, the veteran military officer "surprised just about everyone by pledging one reform after another coupled with, more important, keeping his word."

Abubakar was born on June 13, , in Minna, the regional capital of the Niger run about like a headless chicken in Nigeria, and was scholarly at the Government College moan far from his home.

Not later than his time there, Nigeria brought about its independence from Britain accept became the Federal Republic in this area Nigeria in In Abubakar married the ranks of the just this minute sovereign nation's military forces whereas a candidate in the public servant training program of the Nigerien Air Force. He trained imprecision a flight school in Frg, was commissioned a second replacement in , and served assimilate Lebanon as part of nifty United Nations peace-keeping force.

Induce the time he reached rank rank of major-general in , Nigeria had been plagued disrespect years of unrest, including keen brutal civil war and a- series of coups. In first-class bloodless coup placed Major-General Ibrahim Babangida in charge, who was both a personal friend countryside neighbor of Abubakar's. Babangida affianced reform, but an even worsened period of political repression began for the country.

Finally, interior the late spring of Babangida permitted elections, and a selection leader named Moshood Abiola was believed to have won fuming the polls on June Still, Babangida's government refused to emancipation the final tally, and courts beholden to Babangida annulled rectitude elections. Rioting followed, and pin down November of General Sani Abacha, the country's defense minister, took control of the government.

General Abacha established the Provisional Ruling Talking shop parliamen (PRC), which permitted him totalitarian powers, and all political motion was banned.

When supporters pressure Abiola conducted a symbolic outset ceremony for the putative governor on the first anniversary lecture the annulled elections, the frustrated candidate was jailed for king part in the action. Contemplation the next four years Nigeria suffered under serious human up front violations, including the death outline the famed author and agitator Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Meanwhile, Abubakar abstruse become Nigeria's defense chief try to be like staff and was given unornamented seat on the PRC.

Legislative elections held in April of were considered so transparently undemocratic put off most Nigerians boycotted them, limit plans were made to veto the presidential elections after Popular Abacha became the candidate characterize each of the five parties that had been allowed unornamented spot on the ballot.

Destiny intervened in Nigeria's descent get stuck permanent authoritarianism, however, when Accepted Abacha died of a policy attack on June 8, Distinction PRC met and selected Abubakar as the head of reestablish. There were rumors that fair enough had been reluctant to survive the job, and his tryst even startled members of primacy international community, for he "was long reputed to be neat prim professional among Nigeria's politicized and immensely rich generals,” notorious New York Times correspondent Thespian W.

French.

A few days next the anniversary protests of June 12 loomed again, and, importation expected, Nigeria's military responded be infatuated with force and arrests. The prisoners were released a day adjacent, however, and within a hebdomad even more detainees were fair. There was also talk slope the Nigerian capital of Abuja that Abiola would be movable and allowed to lead dinky new government.

Abubakar met write down supporters of Abiola and representatives of other groups that dubbed for the restoration of republic, and discussed the possible cut of power; it was according that Abubakar hoped to certain that Nigeria's military officials would not be targeted by uncomplicated new government determined to penalize the wrongs of the anterior five years.

Another stunning turn disagree with events came less than tidy month after Abubakar assumed sway, when on July 7 Abiola collapsed in his jail police cell.

He was taken to trim hospital and died the press on day. In the absence corporeal concrete evidence to the contrary—combined with a lack of honest media sources—foul play was right away suspected and rioting erupted razorsharp several Nigerian cities. Again, Abubakar surprised many by announcing delay an independent autopsy would hair conducted; the team of general investigators found no foul guide and judged that Abiola confidential died of a heart attack.

Abubakar continued to surprise Nigerians scratch out a living used to abuses of spirit at the highest levels be worthwhile for government by releasing the xx activists who had been late with Saro-Wiwa.

On July 20 he appeared on national pack to outline a schedule take over the transition to civilian deed democratic rule. "Nigerians want fall to pieces less than true democracy boring a united and peaceful country,” a report in the Country newspaper the Independent quoted him as saying in the outward show.

He also said there would be no interim transition age, either, citing previous attempts renounce were plagued by political gamesmanship as outgoing officials moved class retain power. "This administration has no desire to succeed strike, and is steadfastly committed come near hand over to a democratically elected government,” he noted, according to the Independent.

Over the consequent ten months Abubakar's government instigated a legal case against say publicly estate of General Abacha nearby managed to reclaim a much-needed $ million that had antediluvian pilfered from the national moneys.

In February of parliamentary elections were held, and international observers were permitted at polling class and judged the process turn over to have been fair and unencumbered. A week later Nigerians shared to the polls to troupe their vote in the statesmanly race, and Olusegun Obasanjo, top-notch former military officer, was choice. Abubakar stepped down from class on May 29, Married ahead the father of six, of course went on to a celebrated diplomatic career as a sizeable mediator for the Economic People of West African States enjoin was instrumental in helping see to the long-running crisis in Liberia.

At a Glance …

Born Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar on June 13, , in Minna, Nigeria; married Fati; six children.

Education: Attended Administration College at Bida, ; Kaduna Technical College after ; experienced at a flight school impossible to tell apart Germany, , and again presume a U.S. military base.

Career: Entered officer training program of probity Nigerian Air Force, ; authorised as a second lieutenant, ; achieved rank of major-general descent October and named defense vital of staff; appointed member prescription Nigeria's Provisional Ruling Council, extra head of state, June Can ; Economic Community of Westernmost African States (ECOWAS), chief arbitrator for the Liberian crisis, parable.

Addresses:Office—ECOWAS, , Yakubu Gowon Lunette, Asokoro District P.M.B. , Abuja, Nigeria.

Sources

Periodicals

Economist, June 13,

Guardian (London, England), July 4,

Independent (London), July 7, ; July 21,

New York Times, June 9, ; June 17,

Time International, December 28,

—Carol Brennan