Nigerian Leaders since Independence: General Olusegun Obasanjo (1976-1979)

Oluṣẹgun Mathew Okikiọla Arẹmu Ọbasanjọ from Abeokuta in Ogun State, South-West Nigeria was born on 5th March 1937 and served as Head of State between 13 February 1976 to 1 October 1979. He became Head of State after General Murtala Mohammed whom he served as Chief of Staff was assassinated in an aborted coup.

Career
General Obasanjo enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958. He served at 1 Area Command in Kaduna. Promoted to Chief Army Engineer, he was made commander of 2 Area Command from July 1967, which was re-designated 2 Division Rear, and then the Ibadan Garrison Organisation. During the Nigerian Civil War, he commanded the Army's 3 Marine Commando Division that captured Owerri, effectively bringing an end to the civil war.

Nigerian Leaders since Independence: General Murtala Mohammed (1975-1976)

General Murtala Ramat Mohammed (November 8, 1938 – February 13, 1976) was a Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976. He was born 8th November 1938 in the Kurawa Quarters of Kano City. He enrolled into the Nigerian Army after high school, and trained at Sandhurst Royal Academy, the Catterick School of Signals, and the Joint Services' Staff College, all in England.

General Mohammed and the Civil War
During the Civil War, Mohammed was General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 2nd Division.. This division was responsible for the legendary beating back of the Biafran Army from the midwestern region, as well as crossing the River Niger and linking up with the 1st Division, which was marching down from Nsukka and Enugu.
Mohammed's encounter with disaster during the war happened shortly after, as he attempted to cross the River Niger to Biafra. Despite the recommendation of his superiors at Army Headquarters in Lagos that he wait for the bridge, which had been blown up by the retreating Biafran forces, to be rebuilt, he insisted on a riverine crossing. Twice he was beaten back, but he steadfastly kept resolve and finally made it through on his third attempt. Shortly after this, Mohammed fed up with reprimands from Army HQ, decided to quit his command and left for an extended holiday in the United Kingdom, but not before threatening to resign his commission. His historic military fits during the war won him National acclaim and respect even from his adversaries.

Nigerian Leaders since Independence: General Yakubu Gowon (1934)

General Yakubu Gowon was the Head of State (Head of the Federal Military Government) of Nigeria from August 1966 to October 1975. He took power after one military coup d'état and was overthrown in another. During his rule, the Nigerian government successfully prevented Biafran secession during the 1967–1970 Nigerian Civil War.

Early life
Gowon is an indigene of Lur, a small village in the present Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State. His parents, Nde Yohanna and Matwok Kurnyang, left for Wusasa, Zaria as Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionaries in the early days of Gowon's life. Gowon was the fifth of eleven children. He grew up in Zaria and had his early life and education there.

Nigerian Leaders since Independence: General Aguiyi Ironsi (1924-1966)

Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi (March 3, 1924, Umuahia - July 29, 1966, Lalupon, Oyo State) was Nigeria’s Head of State for only six months. He was in office from January 16, 1966 until he was overthrown and killed on July 29, 1966 by a group of northern army officers who revolted against the government.

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Early life
He was born to Mazi Ezeugo Aguiyi's on March 3, 1924, in Umuahia-Ibeku, present day Abia State,Nigeria. When he was eight years old, Ironsi moved in with his older sister Anyamma, who was married to Theophilius Johnson, a Sierra Leonean diplomat in Umuahia. Ironsi subsequently took the last name of his brother-in-law, who became his father figure. At the age of 18, Ironsi joined the Nigerian Army against the wishes of his sister.

Nigerian Leaders since Independence: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904-1996)

Early life
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe (November 16, 1904 – May 11, 1996), more popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from Great Britain.
He was born in Zungeru, Northern Nigeria. His parents were Igbo; his father Obed-Edom Chukwuemeka Azikiwe, a clerk in the British Administration of Nigeria[4] and his mother was Rachel Ogbenyeanu Azikiwe. After studying at Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, Azikiwe went to the United States. While there he attended Howard University, Washington DC before enrolling and graduating from Lincoln University,Pennsylvania in 1930. He obtained a masters degree in 1933 from the University of Pennsylvania. He worked as an instructor at Lincoln before returning to Nigeria.

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Writing Career
After teaching at Lincoln, Azikiwe, returned to Africa and advanced his nationalist ideals in various publications including newspapers like African Morning Post, a daily newspaper in Accra, Ghana and the West African Pilot in Lagos which he used as a vehicle to foster Nigerian nationalism. He founded the Zik Group of Newspapers, publishing multiple newspapers in cities across the country.

Nigerian Leaders since Independence: Sir Alhaji Tafawa Balewa (1912-1966)

Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, (December 1912 – January 15, 1966) was Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister. He led the Nigeria between 1960-1966.

Image: http://www.gophoto.it


Early life and career
Abubakar Balewa was born late in 1912 in Bauchi, the son of a Bageri Muslim district head in the Bauchi divisional district of Lere. He started early education at the Koranic School in Bauchi and proceeded to study at the Katsina College where he acquired his teaching certificate. He returned to Bauchi to teach at the Bauchi Middle School. In 1944, he was chosen to study abroad for a year at the University of London's Institute of Education. Upon returning to Nigeria, he became an Inspector of Schools for the colonial administration and later entered politics. He was elected in 1946, to the colony's Northern House of Assembly, and to the Legislative Assembly in 1947. Together with Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, he founded the Northern People's Congress (NPC).

Current List of Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and their Portfolios 2012

National Planning
Dr. Shamsudeen Usman

Information and Communication
Labaran Maku

Transport
Senator Idris A.Umar

Petroleum Resources
Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

Niger Delta
Elder Godsday Orubebe
Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi (Minister of State)

Labour and Productivity
Emeka Wogu

Finance and Economy
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Dr. Yerima Lawal Ngama (Minister of Finance)

Health
Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu
Suleiman Bello (Min of State)

Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Sen. Bala Mohammed
Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide; Minister of State

Defence
Erelu Olusola Obada (Minister of State)

Agriculture and Rural Development
Dr. Akinwunmi Ayo Adesina
Alhaji Bukar Tijani Borno (Minister of State)

Environment
Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa

Culture and Tourism
Chief Edem Duke

Nigerian states, their capitals, governors and their political parties

Abia State, Umuahia
Theodore Orji, PDP
Date of Election: 26 April 2011
Second term


Adamawa State, Yola
Murtala Nyako, PDP
Date of Election: 29 April 2008
Elected after April 2007 election was nullified


Akwa Ibom State, Uyo
Godswill Akpabio, PDP
Date of Election: 26 April 2011, Reelected


Anambra State,Awka
Peter Obi, APGA
Date of Election: 6 February 2010
Second term

Bauchi State, Bauchi
Isa Yuguda, PDP
Date of Election: 28 April 2011, Reelected

Bayelsa State, Yenagoa
Seriake Dickson, PDP
Date of Election: 14 February 2012
Reelected after nullification of April 2007 election


Benue State, Makurdi
Gabriel Suswam, PDP
Date of Election: 26 April 2011
Reelected