Abubakar Waziri | |
Honorific Prefix: | Major General |
Office1: | Governor, Bendel State, Nigeria |
Term Start1: | 24 July 1978 |
Term End1: | 30 September 1979 |
Predecessor1: | Husaini Abdullahi |
Successor1: | Ambrose Folorunsho Alli |
Office2: | Governor, Borno State, Nigeria |
Term Start2: | January 1984 |
Term End2: | August 1985 |
Predecessor2: | Asheik Jarma |
Successor2: | Abdulmumini Aminu |
Rank: | Major General |
Abubakar Waziri (28 September 1940[1]) was the Military Governor of Bendel State in Nigeria from July 1978 to September 1979 during the transitional period of military to civilian government under General Olusegun Obasanjo.[2] Later he was military governor of Borno State from January 1984 to August 1985 during the regime of General Muhammadu Buhari.[3]
Waziri was born in the Fika Emirate in Yobe State.[4] Waziri was one of the referees of "Exercise SunStroke", a ten-day field exercise conducted early in 1975 that turned out to be a dress rehearsal for the Military Rebellion of 29 July 1975, when General Yakubu Gowon was removed from power and replaced by Murtala Muhammed.[5] While governor of Bendel State, Waziri was also Brigade Commander, 4 Mechanised Brigade, Nigeria Army Benin City.[2]
Medical services in Borno State were minimal at the time he held office (January 1984 to August 1985), with only one doctor for every 65,000 people.[6] The state had a severe drought in this period, losing over 660,000 tons of crops.[7] Waziri initiated a direct feeding program in the Borno secondary schools to ensure students were not exploited by private contractors.[4]
Waziri retired as a major general.[2] After the return to democracy in 1999, Waziri played an active role in politics.[8]