John Nanzip Shagaya
Encyclopedia
John Nanzip Shagaya is a Nigeria
n senator who was elected in April 2007 to represent the People's Democratic Party
(PDP) in Plateau State
as member of the Nigerian Senate for Plateau South.
He ran for reelection in April 2011 on the Labour Party
(LP) platform, but was defeated by Victor Lar
of the PDP.
(1952–1959).
He studied at the Nigerian Military School
Zaria 1960-1964.
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
Under the Military government of General Ibrahim Babangida
(1985–1993), 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
.
John Nanzip Shagaya was appointed Field Commander in the ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Liberia
in September 1993, relieving Major General Tunji Olurin
.
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.
Within a few days, Shagaya was recalled from Liberia, demoted from Major General to Brigadier General and then retired from the army.
John Shagaya was a foundation 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.
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.
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.
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.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n senator who was elected in April 2007 to represent the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP) in Plateau State
Plateau State
Plateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part...
as member of the Nigerian Senate for Plateau South.
He ran for reelection in April 2011 on the Labour Party
Labour Party (Nigeria)
The Labour Party is a socialist/social democratic political party in Nigeria. In the 21 April 2007 Nigerian National Assembly election, the party won 1 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and no seats in the Senate. The Party's flagbearer in Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, emerged the...
(LP) platform, but was defeated by Victor Lar
Victor Lar
Victor Lar is a Nigerian politician who was elected Senator for the Plateau South constituency of Plateau State, Nigeria in the April 2011 national elections. Lar was running on the People's Democratic Party platform....
of the PDP.
Background
John Shagaya was born on September, 2nd 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, LangtangLangtang
Langtang is a region in Nepal to the north of Kathmandu and bordering Tibet. It is protected as Langtang National Park and has a number of high peaks including Langtang Lirung . As of 2010, the entrance ticket to the park cost 2400 Nepali Rupees for foreigners.About 4,500 people live inside the...
(1952–1959).
He studied at the Nigerian Military School
Nigerian Military School
The history of the Nigerian Military School Zaria dates back to 1954 when the Boys-Company of Nigeria was established under the auspices of Nigerian Regiment Training centre of the Royal West African Frontier Force . The school was established along with three others in the British Colonial West...
Zaria 1960-1964.
Military career
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
Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji
The Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji is a training facility for the Nigerian Armed Forces, including the army, air force and navy. It is near the village of Jaji, Nigeria, about 35 km northeast of Kaduna in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria.-History:The Army...
,
Brigade Commander, 9 Mechanised Infantry Brigade,
Military Secretary, Army Headquarters, and
General Officer Commanding, 1st Mechanised Infantry Division
Under the Military government of General Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
(1985–1993), 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
Organisation of the Islamic Conference
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Upon the groups's renaming, some sources provided the English-language translation "Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation", but and have since indicated the preferred English translation omits the "the". is an international organisation consisting of 57...
. Shagaya was involved in drafting the main protocols for the Economic Community of West African States
Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region....
. As a member of the National Boundary Commission, he helped resolve disputes with Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
and Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
.
John Nanzip Shagaya was appointed Field Commander in the ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
in September 1993, relieving Major General Tunji Olurin
Tunji Olurin
Adetunji Idowu Ishola Olurin is a retired one-star general in the Nigerian Army who was a former military Governor of Oyo State and Field Commander of ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Liberia from 1992 to 1993 during the First Liberian Civil War. Olurin retired from service in 1993 and he is a member...
.
On November 17, 1993, General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
became head of state after a military coup.
Abacha distrusted Brigadier John Shagaya and other "IBB boys" loyal to Babangida.
Within a few days, Shagaya was recalled from Liberia, demoted from Major General to Brigadier General and then retired from the army.
Civilian activities
John Shagaya was Director of Lion Bank (Nigeria) between 1998 and 2003.John Shagaya was a foundation member of the United Nigeria People's Party
United Nigeria People's Party
The United Nigeria People's Party is a political party in Nigeria.At the 12 April 2003 legislative elections the party won 2.8 % of popular votes, 2 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives of Nigeria, and no seats in the Senate....
(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
All Nigeria People's Party
The All Nigeria Peoples Party is a conservative political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections , the party won 27.0% of the popular vote and 92 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and 27 out of 109 seats in the Senate...
(ANPP), but was defeated again.
Senate career
John Nanzip Shagaya was elected as Senator for Plateau South in April 2007, running for the PDP.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
Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission , set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria.The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar,...
(INEC) to immediately issue a Certificate of Return to Shagaya.
In June 2009, Shagaya warned that offering an amnesty to the Niger Delta
Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil...
militants might not end the violence. The militants might hide their best weapons, and return only disused and damaged ones.
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.