Famous Nigerian Presidents

Olusegun Obasanjo is a Nigerian general and statesman who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and as its president from 1999 to 2007. He played a significant role in combating separatists during the Nigerian Civil War and was appointed head of state after a military coup. As president, he de-politicised the military, fought ethnic and religious violence, and privatised public enterprises. He was influential in promoting Pan-Africanism and served as the chair of the African Union.

Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe was a Nigerian politician, statesman, and revolutionary leader known as Zik of Africa. He served as the 3rd governor-general and first black governor-general of Nigeria, as well as the first president of Nigeria during the First Nigerian Republic. Azikiwe played a significant role in Nigeria's independence movement, advocating for Nigerian and African nationalism. He was well traveled, studying in the United States and working as a journalist in present-day Ghana. Azikiwe was also a talented athlete and made efforts to represent Nigeria at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida had a prominent professional career, rising through the ranks of the Nigerian Army to become a General and later the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He served as a military dictator and President of Nigeria from 1985 to 1993, overseeing a period known as the Babangida Era. His regime was marked by controversies, including a culture of corruption, establishment of a state security apparatus, surviving coup attempts, facing ethnic and religious outbreaks, and engaging in regional and international diplomacy and military operations.

Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military dictator who ruled the country with an iron fist from 1993 until his sudden death in 1998. His regime was marked by a total disregard for human rights, including political assassinations and executions of dissidents. Despite overseeing economic achievements, Abacha was renowned as one of the most corrupt dictators of the 20th century, allegedly embezzling billions of dollars. His death in 1998 led to the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, with General Abdulsalami Abubakar succeeding him as head of state.

Bukola Saraki is a Nigerian politician who has held various prominent positions in the government. He served as the governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011 before being elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2011. He later became the President of the Nigerian Senate in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC). He switched back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2018 and ran for the party's presidential ticket in the 2019 election, eventually becoming the director general of Atiku Abubakar's presidential campaign.

Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was a prominent Nigerian politician known for his significant contributions to the country's governance. He served as the President of Nigeria from 2007 until his passing in 2010. Prior to his presidency, he held the position of governor of Katsina State for eight years. Yar'Adua was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and won the presidential election in 2007. His tenure was marked by efforts to address various national issues and promote development in Nigeria.

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu was a Nigerian military officer and politician who served as President of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 during the Nigerian Civil War. He previously served as military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria, which he declared as the independent state of Biafra. Ojukwu was educated at prestigious institutions in Nigeria and England before joining the Nigerian army. He played a key role in the events leading to the declaration of Biafra's independence and the subsequent Nigerian Civil War.

Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari was a Nigerian politician who served as the first democratically elected president of Nigeria. He began his political career in 1951 and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1954. Throughout the years leading up to his presidency in 1979, he held various cabinet positions in the federal government. As president, Shagari implemented policies such as the mass deportation of West African migrants in 1983, with a particular impact on Ghanaian migrants in Nigeria.

Muhammadu Buhari is a Nigerian statesman and retired Army major general. He served as Nigeria's military head of state from 1983 to 1985 after a coup d'état. Buhari ran for president multiple times before winning in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress party. He was re-elected in 2019. Buhari is known for his authoritarian policies during his military regime, and his electoral victories marked significant political shifts in Nigeria's history.