Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi

Mohammed Sha'aba Lafiagi
Executive Governor of Kwara State
In office
1 January 1992 – November 1993
Preceded byAlwali Kazir
Succeeded byMustapha Ismail
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Kwara North Senatorial District
In office
7 June 2011 – June 2019
Preceded byAhmed Mohammed Inuwa
Succeeded bySadiq Sulieman Umar
Personal details
Political partyPeoples Democratic Party

Sha'aba Lafiagi was elected governor of Kwara State in January 1992 on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform, and was removed from office by the administration of General Sani Abacha in November 1993.[1]

As governor he initiated construction of new headquarters for the Kwara State Printing and Publishing Corporation, but they were not opened until 2002, and in 2010 were slated for demolition.[2]

Political career

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He was a protégé of Olusola Saraki, Senate Leader during the Second Nigerian Republic, who helped him become elected governor in December 1991.[3] He was a member of the Committee for National Consensus (CNC) together with Olusola Saraki later he fell out with Saraki when it became apparent Bukola Saraki was backing Mohammed Lawal for Kwara governor in 1999. However, he remained a power in Kwara State politics.[4]

Lafiagi became a member of the board of trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).[5]

In February 2009, he was appointed chairman of the National Sugar Development Council, a parastatal.[6]

He led the planning committee for the 20 April 2009 Special National Convention of the PDP, recommending a budget of N400 million. Given the economic climate, President Umaru Yar'Adua slashed the budget to N100 million.[7]

In April 2011, he was elected a senator representing Kwara North Senatorial District.

Tenure

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Alhaji Mohammed Sha'aba Lafiagi was committed to improving the living standards of the people of Kwara State. He implemented a number of policies to encourage rural development, including the construction of new roads and the provision of financial assistance to farmers. He also created an enabling environment for investment in industrial ventures. Lafiagi also took education seriously. He rehabilitated existing schools and constructed new ones. He also provided financial assistance to students and motivated teachers to ensure higher productivity. As a result of his efforts, Kwara State's education system improved significantly, also an advocate for the development of the media. He established Kwara State Television and requested that The Herald newspaper give greater publicity to the government's activities. He also supported the establishment of banks by various communities in the state.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Nigeria States". World Statesmen. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  2. ^ Oshin, Olufemi (1 April 2010). "Kwara Government To Demolish Premises Of Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation". Galaxy TV. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  3. ^ Udom, Jackson; Jimoh, Yekini (13 September 2009). "2011: Awaiting the godfather of Kwara politics". Tribune. Retrieved 29 April 2010. [dead link]
  4. ^ "PDP's Men of Power". This Day. 10 November 2001. Archived from the original on 2 December 2005. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  5. ^ "Welcome". Peoples Democratic Party Nigeria (USA). Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  6. ^ Jimoh, Abbas (28 February 2009). "Yaradua Approves More Funds for Parastatals". Daily Trust. Retrieved 29 April 2010 – via allAfrica.
  7. ^ Umoru, Henry (16 April 2009). "Yar'Adua Slashes PDP Convention Budget to N100 Million". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  8. ^ "Part Two: The Makers of Kwara State" (PDF). abubakarbukolasaraki.com. June 2020. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.