Ahmed Usman

Colonel Ahmed Usman (born 1951) was a Nigerian Military Administrator of Ondo State (September 1994 – August 1996) and then of Oyo State (August 1996 – August 1998) during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.[1]

Ahmed Usman
Military Governor of Ondo State
In office
September 1994 – August 1996
Preceded byMike Torey
Succeeded byAnthony Onyearugbulem
Military Governor of Oyo State
In office
22 August 1996 – August 1998
Preceded byChinyere Ike Nwosu
Succeeded byAmen Edore Oyakhire
Personal details
Born1951
NationalityNigerian
Military service
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch/service Nigerian Army
RankColonel

Early career

Ahmed Usman was born in 1951. After joining the army, postings included Second in Command, 192 Battalion, Abak and 141 Battalion, Kano (1983–1985), United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (1985–1986) and Battalion Commander G Amphibious, Elele Port Hartcourt (1990–1991).[2]

Usman was appointed governor of Ondo State in September 1994.[1] While governor of Ondo State, Usman installed Oba Adeleye Orisagbemi as the Attah of Ayede Ekiti.[3] On 17 June 1996, Usman threatened to dismiss any Ondo State judge who granted bail to secret cult suspects.[4] In 1998, a former Managing Director of a subsidiary of the Odu'a Group alleged that he had given bribes to Usman while he was administrator of Ondo State.[5]

Oyo State Governor

In August 1996, Usman was deployed to Oyo state at a time of growing discontent about the military regime headed by Sani Abacha. On 12 May 1997, a bomb explosion in the state capital of Ibadan injured two soldiers and a policeman. Usman said the perpetrators were cowards.[6] Two people were killed and about 20 wounded at the Salami Sports Stadium, Ibadan in April 1998, when supporters of the United Action for Democracy (UAD) disrupted a pro-Abacha rally that had earlier been addressed by Colonel Usman.[7]

Seven people were killed in 1998 May Day clashes between police and pro-democracy protesters. Usman blamed "foreign enemies" of supporting the violence.[8] Later that month, Usman said security forces had been placed on red alert to stop any protest in the state capital, Ibadan.[9] A few days later thirty-seven Nigerians were arrested and charged with subversion. Usman said they would be treated as "prisoners of war". Three other people, one a prominent newspaper editor, were charged with subversion.[10] Sani Abacha died in June 1998. Usman was relieved of his position as governor in August 1998.[1]

Later career

Usman stayed out of politics after the return to democracy in 1999, until in August 2008, when he declared that he intended to run for governor of Kogi State in 2011.[11]

References
  1. "Nigeria States". WorldStatesmen. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  2. Oyo State past and present. Ministry of Information, Youth, Sports & Culture. 2002. p. 56.
  3. "Ayede-Ekiti monarch writes Ekiti govt over activities of ex-regeant". BNW News. May 10, 2004. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  4. Babatunde Olugboji (1996). Human rights practices in Nigeria, January 1995-June 1996. Constitutional Rights Project. p. 92. ISBN 978-2944-06-8.
  5. Otive Igbuzor (September 9, 2005). "Youth And The War Against Corruption In Africa: Roles And Policy Options". Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  6. "WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE: Police Probe Ibadan bomb blast". PeaceLink. 1997-05-22. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  7. Taye Babaleye (17 April 1998). "Mayhem in Ibadan". PeaceLink. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  8. "NIGERIA: Police and protestors clash in southwest". UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 4 May 1998. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  9. "Oyo State security on "red alert"". UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 14 May 1998. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  10. "Thirty-seven Nigerians charged with subversion". UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 19 May 1998. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  11. SAM EGWU (30 August 2009). "Ex-Milad joins guber race in Kogi". Sunday Trust. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 2010-01-13.


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