Throughout the history of Nigeria’s Political system, there are just five presidents who died while still in office. It was confirmed that three out of these five were assassinated in a military coup during the Military system of government While two died as a result of natural death, there was speculation that the death wasn’t natural and the real cause wasn’t unknown.
Check out the list of the five presidents who died in Office.
5. Umaru Musa Yar’adua
Umaru Musa Yar’adua was the 14th president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria counting from 1960 when Nigeria gained her independence. He was born in Katsina to Musa Yar’adua, who was a minister representing Lagos State during the first Republic. He was born on 16th August 1951 and he died on the 5th May 2010.
Umaru Musa Yar’adua is a politician that can never be forgotten in the history of Nigeria. He served as the Governor for Katsina under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999 to 2007 before he served as the President of the federal republic of Nigeria.
He was announced the winner of the 2007 Nigerian Presidential election Under the Umbrella of the People’s Democratic Republic Party (PDP) on the 21st of April, 2007. He became the President of Nigeria Republic of Nigeria on 29th May 2007, after swearing-in.
February 2010, it was reported that his health condition was critical and unclear but he was still on a life support Machine. However, He gave up his ghost on the 5th of May, 2010 at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock, Abuja at the age of 59, and he was taken to his homeland, Katsina for burial. He was buried in an Islamic way on the 6th of May, 2010.
Umaru Musa Yar’adua died in office as President. He used three years instead of four years tenure and his vice, Good luck Jonathan took over the power of the President of the federal republic of Nigeria.
4• General Sanni Abacha
Sani Abacha GCFR was the 11th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the military era. He was born on the 20th of September,1943 in the northern part of Nigeria, Kano state.
General Sanni Abacha was the first Nigerian Army officer to obtain full military general’s rank in order, without skipping any rank. From 1985 to 1990, he was the Chief of Army Staff. He held the rank of Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of defense from 1990 to 1993.
In the last successful coup de tat in the history of Nigeria’s military system of government in 1993, on November 17th he seized power. He served as Nigeria’s military head of state from 1993 to 1998.
Although, there was speculation that Sanni Abacha died as a result of assassination by food poison but there was no autopsy for his death. He died on the 8th of June in 1998 at the age of 55 and he was buried in an Islamic way on the following day.
3• General Murtala Muhammad.
General Murtala Ramat Muhammad was the 5th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was born on the 8th of November, 1938 in the Northern part of Nigeria, Kano State to be precise.
In 1953, General Murtala Muhammad became a member of the Nigerian Army Academy and he served in the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst as the sadet. In 1971 at the age of thirty-three, he became Brigadier General and made him one of the youngest Nigerian Generals.
Murtala Muhammad became Nigeria’s Military head of State after he successfully overthrow General Yakubu Gowon on the 29th of July, 1975.
In 1975, on February 13th about Seven Months in office, General Murtala was assassinated in an unsuccessful coup d’ètat. He died at the age of 37 and was succeeded by Obasanjo.
2• Major General Aguyi Ironsi.
MAJOR General Johnson Thomoda Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi was the 1st Nigerian Military Head of State and the third President of Nigeria counting from 1960, independence Constitution. He was born on the 3rd of March, 1924 in the Eastern part of Nigeria, Abia.
He emerged as the first Nigerian Military Head of State on the 16th of January 1966. He was assassinated and overthrown by the coup d’ètat led by Murtala Muhammad, Muhammad Buhari who was then a Lieutenant, and more others on the 29th of July,1966.
1• Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the first-ever Nigeria Prime minister during the independence era in 1960. He was born in 1912, December in Bauchi State.
Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Belewa was assassinated alongside Sir Ahmadu Bello and overthrown after spending almost six years in office in the first Nigeria military Coup on the 15th of January 1966. His death and the circumstances surrounding it upset the Northern and this led to another bloody coup in 1967 and the Nigeria Civil war of January 16th, 1967.
Many of us do not know that Nigeria has not lost any elected President in office asides from the Late President Yar’adua, all other leaders were from the military and they were assassinated. The assassination can be traced back to their fellow military men.
In the spirit of Independence, we pray for the souls of our lost leaders to rest in perfect peace.
Written by: Mariam Nababa
