How much do you know about Nigeria, especially her leaders? Who founded the Central Bank of Nigeria? Did you know that Obasanjo had no shoe when he wooed his first wife? Also, only two states, Ogun and Katsina, have produced the most civilian Presidents in Nigeria’s 56-year old history? These 30 facts about Nigeria’s leaders will amaze you.
1. Till date, no President/Head of State has been born in or after 1960, the year Nigeria got her independence.
2. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the only President whose exact year of birth is unknown. He was shoeless when he wooed his first wife, Remi. He is diabetic. He’s the only president to lose his wife, Stella, while in office.
3. Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan are the only Vice Presidents to ever become President in the nation.
4. Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari are the only persons in the nation’s history to rule as both Military Head of State and Civilian President.
5. The two Presidents who succeeded Obasanjo, first as Head of State in 1979 and as President in 2007 did not complete their tenures.
6. The two Presidents were North-Westerners; Presidents, Shehu Shagari (Sokoto State) and Umaru Yar’Adua (Katsina State).
7. While soldiers were dying at the battle front, Yakubu Gowon was getting married in Lagos. He is the youngest Head of State at 32 years and also the first to get married while in power. He also ruled the longest (uninterrupted) for 9 years.
8. Alhaji (Sir) Ahmadu Bello was killed with his wife in 1966 by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu. His great-grandfather was the great jihadist from Sokoto, Uthman Dan Fodio. The largest university in West-Africa and second largest in Africa is named after him.
9. Of the four major founding fathers, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was the only founding father who had one wife. She lived till 98.
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