Usman Jibrin

Group Captain Usman Jibrin
Governor of North-Central State
In office 30 July 1975 – 1977
Preceded by	Abba Kyari
Succeeded by	Muktar Muhammed
Personal details
Born	1942 (1942) Nasarawa, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Nasarawa State, Nigeria)
Died	8 September 2011(2011-09-08) (aged 68–69)
Military service
Allegiance	Nigeria
Branch/service	Nigerian Air Force
Rank	Group Captain
Commands	Kaduna State

Usman Jibrin (1942 – 8 September 2011)^[1] was a Nigerian politician and military officer who served as the military governor of North-Central State (present-day Kaduna State) from July 1975 to 1977 during the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed.^[2]

Background

Jibrin was born in 1942 in Nasarawa local government of Nasarawa State. He attended Abuja Middle School and Government College Kaduna in the early 1960s. He started work at Radio Television, Kaduna.^[3] Jibrin joined the Nigerian Air Force in 1963, retiring in 1978.^[4] He received training in Canada as a pilot and an instructor, followed by training and conversion courses in Germany on jet fighters. He was also trained in the Soviet Union as a fighter pilot and instructor, and received staff training in the United Kingdom.^[3]

Air force career

Jibrin held commands in most of the Nigerian Air Force bases in the country. During the Nigerian Civil War he mostly flew smaller airplanes until later in the war when it became possible to get more advanced fighters from the Soviet Union.^[3] Jibrin was one of the air force officers who assisted with the July 1975 coup that brought General Murtala Muhammed to power, providing airfield and airspace security and military airlift.^[5] In his maiden address on 30 July 1975, Murtala Mohammed said that Jibrin had been appointed military governor of North Central State of Kaduna, later renamed to Kaduna State.^[6]

Jibrin retired from his post as governor and from the air force due to disagreements with the Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo. The cause was the take-over by the Federal government of universities and other institutions, such as the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Kaduna, which Jibrin believed to be the property of the state.^[3]

Later career

Jibrin was appointed chairman of the Green Revolution in Benue-Plateau State. Later he became Chairman of Nigerian Productive Research Institute, Ilorin and Chairman of Jos Steel Rolling Mill, from where he resigned after finding "discrepancies". Thereafter, he devoted himself mostly to Islamic activities.^[3] He became Chairman of Nigerian Agricultural and Cooperative Bank. In 2010, he was Chairman of Nasarawa Community Bank and treasurer to the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. He was a member of the board of directors of Jaiz International Bank.^[4] He died on 8 September 2011.^[7]

References

1. "Usman Jibrin, first military Governor of Kaduna State, dies at 69".
2. "Nigerian States". WorldStatesmen. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
3. NURUDDEEN M. ABDALLAH (17 October 2009). "I resigned as governor with N300 in my account - Group Captain Usman Jibrin (rtd)". Retrieved 17 May 2010.
4. "Board of Directors". Jaiz International. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
5. Nowa Omoigui. "Military Rebellion of July 29, 1975: The coup against Gowon - Part 8". Dawodu. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
6. "Brigadier Murtala Muhammed's First Address as the New Head of State - July 30, 1975". Dawodu. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
7. Nigeria: Ex-Kaduna Governor Usman Jibrin Dies