Biography

Life and Times of Abubakar Audu.

Prince Abubakar Audu (1947-2015) was twice governor of Kogi State of Nigeria. His first term was from January 1992 until November 1993 and the second from 29 May 1999 and 29 May
2003. According to reports, he died of a heart attack shortly after the announcement of the results of election in November 22, 2015, while searching for reelection on the platform of the ruling party in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Prince Abubakar Audu, first Executive Governor of Kogi born on October 27, 1947, to the family of His Royal Highness, the late Pa Oyidi Audu, Oregon Atta of Igala Land and the supreme ruler of

Ogbonicha-Alloma in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He began his studies in the then NA Elementary School, Alloma, and later NA Ankpa College, from where he proceeded to Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. Later he moved to Jos Commercial College, where he obtained both the GCE and A level.

After a stint as a bank worker, Prince Audu later proceeded to London 1975-1978, where he studied banking and management personnel, obtaining the professional qualification as a certified secretary, and a member of the Association of International Accountants London and also the Chartered Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria.

In Banking career, Audu put in a total of 25 years, particularly in First Bank. There, he served in various management level positions until 1991. He also made history as the bank's first training officer of African descent as well as one of the first black senior executives of Standard Chartered Bank in London and New York.

In 1991, he was appointed Executive Director of the FSB International Bank PLC.

Audu's role in public service began in 1986 when he was designated as Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning, in the state of Benue. He served in this capacity until 1988, when the cabinet was dissolved. He then returned to Fist of Bank of Nigeria PLC as General Manager.

In August 1991, Kogi State was created from parts of the former Benue and Kwara states. This coincided with one of the many previous meetings of Nigeria to embrace democracy, and Audu, being part of those who had advocated the creation of the state and a remarkable son of the soil, was invited to be the governorship. He contested on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and won the election in November 1991. He was subsequently sworn in as the first executive governor of Kogi in January 1992.

In 1998, when democracy was reintroduced again and Audu being a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), was re-elected with more than 700,000 votes, while his opponent barely registered 50% of the votes cast. He was sworn in on May 29, 1999 as the second Executive Governor of Kogi.

Audu's socio-economic contribution to the state to date is a reference point to the majority of people and many aspiring leaders. Some of his major accomplishments during his brief first term include the creation of three different housing schemes for civil servants which consist of more than 1,500 housing units in Lokoja, the transformation of Lokoja town with paved roads, street lighting, aesthetic roundabouts building between town and country roads, more than 75 electrification schemes and 50 water projects.

Others include the founding of the of Kogi State Polytechnic, the establishment of a television, radio (AM and FM), a state newspaper and the transformation of the colonial residence of Lord Lugard in a complex of Government House into an ultra modern structure, construction of office blocks as the new state ministries had no office space, construction of large shopping complexes to improve trade activities, among others. He also pioneered the first ultra modern state office in Abuja. His administration also built an ultra modern stadium and a five-star hotel in Lokoja, the Confluence Beach Hotel.

Audu also took steps to attract potential investors to take advantage of numerous solid mineral potential in the state. Chief among these was the establishment of Obajana Cement Factory. The project, which was to be completed before he left office, drew support from the Government of the United States. During the visit of former President Bill Clinton to Nigeria, the State Government signed an agreement with the Trade Development Agency US (TDA) for a grant to complete feasibility work on the project. The cement project is now operational.

The establishment of a state university, Kogi State University Anyigba. The foundation stone was laid on November 30, 1999, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo visited the state. A year later, the President returned to Anyigba during a state visit to service the university complex. According to a report of a panel of college when the Nigeria University Commission visited, the institution was described as the fastest growing university in the country. The university received great international support, including an affiliate program to Morgan State University in Baltimore. In addition, seven visiting professors from various universities in the United States were there to revise their curriculum and align it with their own universities and prepare students for the exchange program to give the university an international acceptance.

Prince Audu completed several landmark projects in four years. They include 250 residential units, a sports complex, a specialized eye hospital and 25 other medical institutions. Others are: Special Government Girls High School in the student exchange program, 350 drilling plans, 300 kilometers of roads in the municipality, the acquisition of 100 transit buses and completion of 40 rural electrification projects.

He was also named the best governor in the dispensation from 1999-2003, despite being a governor on the platform of the opposition, the ANPP.

A well-traveled political, Prince Audu brought so much honor to the country through his personal relationships with foreign statesmen. It is known that he enjoys a close relationship with former British Prime Minister John Major. In 1993, he and family members were special guests of the British Prime Minister at No. 10 Downing Street, where they hosted a state banquet. Also in 1993, His Excellency attended the meeting of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth in Cyprus. His connection with the international community sustained Nigeria during the heady days of the economic embargo of Shonekan administration. In December 1999, he was in the delegation of President Olusegun Obasanjo, during the state visit to Germany. In each account, Prince Audu maintaining a good circle of friends around the country is all a big trial patriot, visionary, humanist and nationalist. The outstanding achievements of Prince Abubakar Audu have been recognized by several organizations within and outside Nigeria through awards and honors that were presented.

Prince Abubakar Audu contested in the elections for governor of Kogi 2003, but lost. His loss in the survey has been attributed to electoral rigging and other forms of manipulation, and 2003 is generally recognized in the history of Nigeria as the beginning of a period of fraudulent electoral process carried out by the federal government..

In 2007, when the bells rang again for election, Prince Audu went to the polls, and was defeated by massive electoral fraud. Prince Abubakar Audu thereupon went to the Electoral Tribunal and got the election annulled, while new election was ordered. Once again, Prince Abubakar Audu Ibrahim Idris played against, and again was defeated.

In 2012, Audu played against a newcomer to the field, Captain Idris Wada Ichalla and again Audu was defeated.

When Prince Audu left office in 2003, he was accused by the Nigerian anti-corruption agency, the Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of corruption. The case has lingerd for twelve years and many say it was coined as an attempt by the then ruling PDP to tarnish the image of Audu, especially in light of the achievements made during his tenure.

He has responded to these allegations, stating that while he was governor, the state received less than N400million as the monthly allowance, which would have been impossible to embezzle the N12 billion that the agency claims that he did when the state received less than N19 billion in total, yet it embarked on many projects.

Prince Abubakar Audu emerged as the candidate of the APC in the August 28 Kogi State gubernatorial primary elections. Subsequently, he chose James Abiodun Faleke, a lawmaker, as his running mate.

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