John Nanzip Shagaya

John Shagaya was born on September 2, 1942, to Mallam Sikji Miri Wazhi (alias SHAGAYA) and Mrs. Maryamu Zwancit. He attended Junior Primary School at Nyer, and Sudan United Mission Primary School, Langtang (1952–1959). He studied at the Nigerian Military School Zaria 1960–1964.[3]

After graduation, Shagaya was posted to the Nigerian Army Corps, then posted to 3 Marine Commando when he gained his commission as Second Lieutenant. He participated with the Marine Commando in the Nigeria Civil War (1967–1970). Later appointments included Grade Three staff officer Nigeria Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Director of Cadets, Nigerian Defence Academy, Director of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Brigade Commander, 9 Mechanised Infantry Brigade, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters, and General Officer Commanding;1st Mechanised Infantry Division[3]

Under the Military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, Shagaya was Federal Minister of Internal Affairs, a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council and a member of the Police Council. He also served as chairman of the committee set up in 1987 to decide on Nigeria's membership of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. Shagaya was involved in drafting the main protocols for the Economic Community of West African States. As a member of the National Boundary Commission, he helped resolve disputes with Benin and Chad.[3]

Shagaya was appointed Field Commander in the ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Liberia in September 1993, relieving Major General Tunji Olurin.[4] On November 17, 1993, General Sani Abacha became head of state after a military coup. Abacha distrusted Brigadier John Shagaya and other "IBB boys" loyal to Babangida.[5] Within a few days, Shagaya was recalled from Liberia, demoted from Major General to Brigadier General and then retired from the army.[6]

Shagaya, then a Corporal with the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron in Abeokuta, was one of the many soldiers of northern Nigerian origin (including 2nd Lieutenant Sani Abacha, Lieutenant Muhammadu Buhari, Lieutenant Ibrahim Bako, Major Theophilus Danjuma, Lieutenant Colonel Murtala Muhammed, and Lieutenant Ibrahim Babangida among others), who staged what became known as the Nigerian counter-coup of 1966 because of grievances[7] they felt towards the administration of General Aguiyi Ironsi's government which quelled the January 15, 1966, coup.

John Shagaya was Director of Lion Bank (Nigeria) between 1998 and 2003.[3] Shagaya was a founding member of the United Nigeria People's Party (UNPP), running unsuccessfully for the Senatorial seat of Plateau South in 1999 elections. Before the 2003 elections he joined the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), but was defeated again.[8]

Shagaya had converted from a military officer to a politician, earned the title of a moderate,[9] and was elected as Senator for Plateau South in April 2007, running on the platform of PDP.[1] His election was challenged, and nullified by the elections petition tribunal, but in December 2008 a Court of Appeal in Jos overthrew this decision and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately issue a Certificate of Return to Shagaya.[10]

In June 2009, Shagaya warned that offering an amnesty to the Niger Delta militants might not end the violence. The militants might hide their best weapons, and return only disused and damaged ones.[11] In an interview in October 2009 he defended the various military interventions since Nigeria gained independence, and stated that the influence of generals in politics since 1999 simply reflected their training and discipline.

DEATH

John Nanzip Shagaya was involved in a car accident on the 11th of February 2018 while returning to Jos from Langtang,[12] at a time when he was involved in reconciling the quarrelling North of Nigeria.[9]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• John Nanzip Shagaya (1990). The Internal Affairs Ministry: an overview. Alfa Communications. ISBN 978-30993-0-2.
• John Nanzip Shagaya (2003). Governance in Nigeria: the IBB era, an insider's view. Viewpoint Communications Ltd. ISBN 978-33747-5-3.