By Okoi Obono-Obla
The governors elected in 1999 are referred to as the Class of 1999. This group of governors was elected when Nigeria returned to democratic civil rule.
The most prominent and famous of these governors are:
•Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senator Tinubu was elected in 1999 when Nigeria returned to democratic civil rule. As the most prominent and famous of these governors, he played a crucial role in the convergence of patriotic, progressive, pro-democracy advocates and activists in civil society. They came together to demand an end to decades of military dictatorship that had stagnated the country. On May 29, 2023, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu took the oath of office and oath of allegiance as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He is, politically and otherwise, the most successful of the Class of 1999 governors.
•Senator Orji Kalu.
Another governor elected in 1999, and he is still relevant in political circles today. He was governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007. He was elected a senator in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. Senator Kalu had expressed interest in becoming the Senate President in the current 10th Senate, but could not surmount the hurdles.
•Chief Bisi Akande.
Chief Akande was elected governor of Osun State in 1999 but lost his re-election bid in 2003. He was the Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria from 2007 to 2013. Later, he was appointed interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in August 2013.
Chief Akande has carved a niche for himself as an austere political party administrator and has remained a top adviser to Senator Tinubu.
•The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Yar’Adua was another prominent member of the 1999 Class of governors, who became President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was President from May 29, 2007, until his death on May 5, 2010.
He was the governor of Katsina State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007.
•Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani.
Nnamani, a governor of the 1999 Class, is still relevant in politics today. He was a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. During the 2023 presidential election campaign, he advocated for the people of the South-East to vote for Senator Tinubu.
•Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Kwankwaso is another prominent member of the 1999 Class of governors. He was elected governor of Kano State in 1999. He lost his re-election bid in 2003, but was re-elected in 2011. He completed his term in 2015 and was elected a senator, finishing his first term in 2019. Senator Kwankwaso was the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2023 election and came fourth in the poll.
Recently, he met with President Tinubu to discuss political matters.
•Mr. Donald Etim Duke.
Duke was governor of Cross River State from 1999 to 2007. Although pundits thought he was an emerging political force in the last decade, he seems to have fizzled out.
In the March 2023 governorship election, he supported the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in Cross River State, who lost to Senator Bassey Edet Otu of the APC.
Other members of the 1999 Class of governors who have passed away include:
•Chinwoke Mbadinuju (June 14, 1945 – April 11, 2023).
Mbadinuju was governor of Anambra State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2003.
•Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina (January 20, 1939 – November 11, 2012).
Adesina was governor of Oyo State from May 29, 1999 to May 28, 2003.
•Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha DSP (November 16, 1952 – October 10, 2015).
Alamieyeseigha was governor of Bayelsa State from May 29, 1999, to December 9, 2005.
•Adebayo Adefarati (February 14, 1931 – March 29, 2007).
Adefarati was governor of Ondo State from 1999 to 2003.
Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure (February 26, 1956 – January 8, 2017) was elected Governor of Niger State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. He was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
•Mala Kachalla (November 1941 – April 18, 2007).
Kachalla was elected governor of Borno State in Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2003.
•Alhaji Abubakar Habu Hashidu (April 10, 1944 – July 27, 2018).
Hashidu governed Gombe State under the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party, APP from May 1999 to May 2003.
•Late Rear Admiral Mohammed Alabi Lawal (retired).
Lawak was elected governor of Kwara State, holding office from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2003.
Other members of the 1999 Class of Nigerian governors:
•Chief Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Governor of Ekiti State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2003. He was a Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment in Nigeria since August 2019.
•Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion.
Igbinedion was the governor of Edo State in Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Presently, he is under some sort of political oblivion.
•Achike Udenwa.
Udenwa was the governor of Imo State in Nigeria. He was elected governor after winning the election in 1999. Udenwa won re-election in 2003, and his term ended on May 29, 2007. He served as the Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from December 17, 2008, to March 17, 2010.
•Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu.
Egwu was elected governor of Ebonyi State in the 1999 Ebonyi State gubernatorial election and served from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. He served as the Minister of Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from December 17, 2008, to March 17, 2010. He was also a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
•Obong Victor Bassey Attah.
Attah was elected governor of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, but has since joined the All Progressives Congress.
Senator George Akume.
Akume was elected the governor of Benue State from May 1999 to May 2007 under the platform of the PDP. He resigned from the PDP to join the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in 2007 and won the election into the Senate. He was in the Senate from 2007 till 2019. He was appointed Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs in 2019 and was the Minority Leader of the Senate from June 2011 to June 2015.
He is currently the Secretary to the Government if the Federation, SGF.
•Joshua Chibi Dariye.
Dariye assumed office as the governor of Plateau State, Nigeria on May 29, 1999, on the platform of the PDP. He was re-elected for another four-year term starting in May 2003 and was impeached in November 2006. However, the impeachment was nullified by the Nigerian Court of Appeal on March 27, 2007. This decision was upheld by the Supreme Court months later, returning him to office for the remainder of his tenure. He was elected senator in 2015.
•Samina Turaki.
Turkish was governor of Jigawa from 1999 to 2007.
•Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa.
Bafarawa served as governor of Sokoto State from 1999 to 2007.
•Alhaji Ahmed Rufai Sani Yerima.
Yerima was elected as governor of Zamfara State from May 1999 to May 2007 and served as senator for Zamfara West and Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate. He is a member of the APC.
•Alhaji Muhammad Adamu Aliero.
Aliero was governor of Kebbi State in Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. He is a member of the PDP. He became senator for Kebbi Central from June 5, 2007, till December 18, 2008. He served as minister of the Federal Capital Territory from December 17, 2008, to March 17, 2010.
•Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi.
Makarfi was elected Governor of Kaduna State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007, and was elected senator for Kaduna North in April 2007.
Rev. Jolly Tavoro Nyame.
Nyame was elected governor of Taraba State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007.
•Alhaji Ahmad Adamu Mu’azu.
Mu’azu served as governor of Bauchi State from 1999 to 2007.
Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim.
He was governor of Yobe State in Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. He was a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2007 to 2019.
•Chief James Onanefe Ibori.
Ibori was governor of Delta State in Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007.
•Boni Haruna.
Haruna was governor of Adamawa State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007.
In conclusion, the Class of 1999 governors played significant role in shaping Nigeria’s democratic journey. While some have remained prominent in politics, others have faded into obscurity.
Notably, Senator Tinubu has achieved the highest political office as the President of Nigeria.
The legacies of these governors continue to influence Nigeria’s political landscape.
@Okoi Obono-Obla
