Salihu Ibrahim Explained

Salihu Ibrahim
Honorific Prefix:Lieutenant general
Width:150px
Office1:Chief of Army Staff
Term Start1:August 1990
Term End1:September 1993
Predecessor1:Sani Abacha
Successor1:Aliyu Mohammed Gusau
Office2:Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy
Term Start2:1988
Term End2:1990
Predecessor2:Maj-Gen Peter Adomokai
Successor2:Lt-Gen. Garba Duba
Birth Date:25 June 1935
Birth Place:Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria Protectorate
Branch: Nigerian Army
Serviceyears:1956 – 1993
Rank: Lieutenant general
Nationality:Nigerian
Allegiance: Nigeria

Salihu Ibrahim FSS, FHWC (25 June 1935[1] – 10 December 2018) was a Nigerian army general who was Chief of Army Staff from August 1990 until September 1993 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.

Biography

Ibrahim joined the army in 1956. He was given officer's training at the Nigerian Military Training College.[2] He became a respected Armored Corps officer, considered apolitical although he served as a member of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari's Supreme Military Council (1984-1985).[2] He was briefly arrested in August 1985, during the coup in which Ibrahim Babangida took over from Buhari.[3] Later he became a member of Babangida's Armed Forces Ruling Council.[2] He was appointed Commandant of the Nigeria Defence Academy (1988 - 1990).

In August 1990, General Sani Abacha, then Chief of Army staff (COAS) ceded this job to Ibrahim, while remaining Chairman Joint Chiefs and becoming Minister of Defence. Ibrahim was unable to assert much authority, with Abacha even refusing to vacate FlagStaff House, the traditional residence of the COAS. In August 1993, then head of state Ibrahim Babangida appointed Lt. General Aliyu Mohammed as his replacement, but Abacha delayed the change until September to allow Ibrahim time to "retire with honor".[4] After retirement he was appointed a Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of council of the University of Ilorin. He became a member of the board of several Companies. As of 2010 he was Chairman of the International Energy Insurance Company. He died in December 2018 in his home in Kogi State, at the age of 83.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.thecable.ng/salihu-ibrahim-former-chief-of-army-staff-is-dead Salihu Ibrahim, former chief of army staff, is dead
  2. Web site: "The Five Majors": Myth and Reality . Max Siollun . Dawodu . 2010-06-02.
  3. Web site: Nigeria: The Palace Coup of November 17, 1993 - Part 2 . Nowa Omoigui . Dawodu . 2010-06-02.
  4. Web site: Review: New SOJA Vol 27 37/43 Apr - Jun 2003 . Nowa Omoigui . Dawodu . 2010-06-02.