Here is a list of Nigeria
five top leaders who died while in officeThe longest to stay in office among
the dead leaders was Tafawa Balawa (pic above) who ruled for 6 years before he
was killed in military coup.
In the history of Nigeria, 5 leaders have died in office.
In the history of Nigeria, 5 leaders have died in office.
Out of the five, three were
assassinated, while one died mysteriously and the other died of health related
issues.
The shortest was that of
Aguiyi Ironsi who ruled for only a few months before his assassination.
1. Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa
Balewa (Prime Minister):
Tafawa Balewa
Lived from 1912–1966. He
was the first Nigerian head of government to die in office. He was appointed
prime minister of the Nigerian Federation in 1957, and after independence in
1960, he remained in that post. He ruled the country till January 15, 1966 when
he was killed in the first military coup in the country, led by Major Kaduna
Nzeogwu. He was a founder and Deputy President of the Northern People’s
Congress.
2. Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi:
Aguiyi Ironsi
Lived from 3 March 1924 –
29 July 1966. He was a Nigerian soldier who seized power in the chaos that
ensued in the first military coup in Nigeria. He served as the Head of State of
Nigeria from 16 January 1966 until he was overthrown and killed on 29 July 1966
by a group of Northern army officers who revolted against his perceived
tribalistic government.
3. General Murtala Mohammed:
Murtala Mohammed
He was born on November 8,
1938 and died on February 13, 1976. Murtala was made head of state in July
1975, when General Gowon was overthrown while at an Organization of African
Unity (OAU) summit in Kampala, Uganda. He was killed at the age of 37 alongside
his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa, on February 13, 1976 in an
abortive coup attempt led by Lt. Col Buka Suka Dimka, when his car was ambushed
while en route to his office at Dodan Barracks, Lagos.
4. General Sani Abacha:
Sani Abacha
He was a Nigerian Army
general and politician who served as the de facto President of Nigeria from
1993 to 1998. Abacha died mysteriously in June 1998 while at the presidential
villa in Abuja and was buried on the same day, according to Muslim tradition,
without an autopsy. After his death, there were speculations that he was
poisoned by his political rivals via Indian prostitutes. Report had it that he
was in the company of two Indian prostitutes imported from Dubai and they
poisoned him, making him feel unwell around 4:30am. He retired to his bed and
was dead by 6:15am.
The government identified
the cause of death as a sudden heart attack.
However, Hamza al-Mustapha,
a former army major and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of General Sani Abacha
has debunked th speculations and rumours that he was poisoned by prostitutes.
According to him, Abacha’s sickness started the previous day (Sunday, 7th June,
1998) right from the Abuja International Airport immediately after one of the
white security operatives or personnel who accompanied President Yasser Arafat
of Palestine shook hands with him. In the evening of 8th June, 1998, around
6p.m; his doctor came around, administered an injection to stabilize him. In
the early hours of 9th June, he died despite efforts to save him.
5. Umar Musa Yar’Adua:
Musa Yar’Adua
He was the President of
Nigeria and the 13th Head of State. He was declared the winner of the
controversial Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was
sworn in on 29 May 2007. President Yar’Adua left Nigeria on 23 November 2009
for Saudi Arabia where he was reported to be receiving treatment for
pericarditis and he was not seen in public again. On 24 February 2010, Yar’Adua
returned to Abuja. His state of health was unclear, but there was speculation
that he was still on a life support machine. He eventually died on 5 May at the
Aso Rock Presidential Villa. An Islamic burial took place on 6 May in his
hometown.
we need heathy leaders don't impose sick leaders on us
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