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Sani Abacha—Nigeria

Education

Abacha, Sani (1943-1998), military president of Nigeria (1993-1998). Born in Kano, in northern Nigeria, Abacha graduated from the Nigerian Military Training College in Zaria in 1963.

Fame

Britannica online encyclopedia article on Sani Abacha: Nigerian military leader, who served as head of state (199398).

The list: Raoul Salinas, former Mexican government official, brother of former president of Mexico; Asif Ali Zardari, former Pakistani government official and legislator, husband of former prime minister of Pakistan; El Hadj Omar Bongo, president of Gabon; Abacha Sons: Mohammad, Ibrahim and Abba Abbacha, sons of General Sani Abacha, former military leader of Nigeria.

Work

Sani Abacha, Babangida's chief of defense staff, took over the rulership in 1993, Abacha rid himself of Babangida's cheerfulness and strengthened the latter's subtlety and viciousness.

Sani Abacha was left behind to "watch over" Shonekan's interim government, and within 3 months of the handover Abacha seized control of the government, while Babangida himself was conveniently in the midst of a visit to Egypt .

Sani Abacha of Nigeria at his weekly cabinet meeting, informed his ministers that President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana built a Space Shuttle and would travel to Mars in the coming months.

Sani Abacha revealed how juju-marabou mediums have been undermining the stability of Nigeria.

Sani Abacha now serving as chairman of ECOWAS and his troops dominant in ECOMOG, Nigeria is the most powerful force in Liberia. ... I asked him to retain the option of extending their presence beyond next February if necessary, and to leave General Malu in command.

Sani Abacha, long hovering close to the central power base of successive military governments in the coastal West African nation of Nigeria, finally assumed that country's center seat with a coup in November of 1993.

Sani Abacha proposed that ECOMOG form the core of a permanent, regional security force. Abacha told west African leaders that the predominantly Nigerian ECOMOG troops had opened up new fields of cooperation, and had laid a foundation for what could develop into a permanent framework for increased security cooperation within the sub-region.