Mohammed Dabo Lere Explained

Mohammed Dabo Lere
Office1:Governor of Kaduna State
Term Start1:2 January 1992
Term End1:17 November 1993
Deputy1:James Bawa Magaji
Predecessor1:Tanko Ayuba
Successor1:Lawal Jafaru Isa
Birth Date:15 March 1940
Birth Place:Lere, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Kaduna State, Nigeria)
Party:National Republican Convention (1991–1993)
Occupation:Politician

Alhaji Mohammed Dabo Lere (15 March 1940 – 18 February 2002) was a Nigerian politician who served as the governor of Kaduna State from January 1992 to November 1993 during the Nigerian Third Republic, leaving office after the military coup that brought General Sani Abacha to power.[1]

Early life

Dabo Lere was of Hausa-Fulani origin. He was born into the Lere royal family on 15 March 1940 in Lere town present-day Kaduna State.

Governor of Kaduna State

Dabo Lere was elected governor of Kaduna State in December 1991 on the National Republican Convention (NRC) platform, with James Bawa Magaji as his running mate.[2]

In February 1992, there was violence between the mainly Muslim Hausa and mainly Christian Kataf communities of the Zangon-Kataf Local Government Area, with over 60 people killed. Dabo Lere set up a 7-person judicial committee to investigate the crisis, but neither side was satisfied.[3]

On 15 May 1992, there was a further outbreak of violence in Zangon-Kataf, and after news spread to Kaduna, there was further violence in reprisal from both sides. Dabo Lere eventually made a broadcast at 7 p.m. on 17 May, calling for a curfew, which was ignored.[4]

After four days, calm returned when President Ibrahim Babangida ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew and rushed in army troops and riot police from other states.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nigerian States. World Statesmen. 2010-03-29.
  2. News: Why Kaduna State Should Be Split - Ex-Deputy Gov. Daily Trust. 12 November 2008. 2010-03-29. allAfrica.
  3. Religion and the Crisis of National Unity in Nigeria. 146. Nwosu. Nereus. African Study Monographs. University of Ilorin. 17. 3. October 1996.
  4. Book: Falola, Toyin. 217ff. Violence in Nigeria: The Crisis of Religious Politics and Secular Ideologies. University Rochester Press. 2001. 1-58046-052-6.
  5. News: Nigeria Fighting Kills 300 Ethnic Tensions Threaten Election. https://archive.today/20130203072103/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/keyword/ethnic-groups/featured/4. dead. 3 February 2013. Sun Sentinel. 20 May 1992. 2010-03-29.