Raji Rasaki
Encyclopedia
General Raji Alagbe Rasaki (born January 7, 1947) is a retired Nigeria
n military officer who was military governor in turn of Ogun State
, Ondo State
and Lagos State
between 1986 and 1991 during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida
.
), He attended elite Nigerian Military School, Zaria after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Defense Academy. A professional soldier
for many decades, he held many command and staff positions. He was Adjutant
, Lagos Garrison
Signal Regiment
(1970–1971), Commanding Officer Second Signal Regiment, Commander Signal Support Brigade (1978–1979), Commander Army Signal Corps, Commander
Army Headquarters Garrison & Signal Group.
, 1986-87 before his re-deployment to the nation's economic nerve center, Lagos State
, becoming that state’s military governor
in 1988. Soon after, he embarked on a massive demolition
exercise of illegal structures to rid the State of shanties. That singular act resulted in the re-vitalization of Lagos, and a boom in the real estate market.. It also earned him the nickname of "acsion governor" (action governor), a mockery of the way in which he referred to himself.
A member of the armed forces ruling council; he gained national prominence during the April 22, 1990 unsuccessful coup against the Ibrahim Babangida
regime. The plotters led by the late Major Gideon Orkar
had attempted to overrun the then seat of the Federal Government; Dodan Barracks, and in that process killing Babangida’s Aide de Camp, Major U.K.Bello. Late Major Orkar had announced many far-reaching declarations, which included radical restructuring of the federation bordering on the excision of five core northern States until the coup was foiled by officers loyal to Babangida. The first announcement to this effect came from the then military governor of Lagos state, Col. Raji Rasaki who declared in a radio broadcast that the rebellion
was already being contained.
, Rasaki wrote several policy papers and memoirs. In addition he pursued a career as a statesman
; participating in numerous conferences and forums. As a public speaker, he addressed audiences across the country and abroad. In 2005 he joined the Nigerian Peoples Democratic Party PDP
.
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 military officer who was military governor in turn of Ogun State
Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the South, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state...
, Ondo State
Ondo State
Ondo State, Nigeria was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.-Government and society:...
and Lagos State
Lagos State
Lagos State is an administrative division of Nigeria, located in the southwestern part of the country. The smallest in area of Nigeria's states, Lagos State is the most populous state in Nigeria and arguably the most economically important state of the country and west Africa, containing Lagos, the...
between 1986 and 1991 during the military administration 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...
.
Background
Raji Alagbe Rasaki was born on January 7, 1947 in IbadanIbadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
), He attended elite Nigerian Military School, Zaria after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Defense Academy. A professional soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
for many decades, he held many command and staff positions. He was Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
, Lagos Garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
Signal Regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
(1970–1971), Commanding Officer Second Signal Regiment, Commander Signal Support Brigade (1978–1979), Commander Army Signal Corps, Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Army Headquarters Garrison & Signal Group.
Military governor
Raji Rasaki was a one time military governor of Ogun StateOgun State
Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the South, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state...
, 1986-87 before his re-deployment to the nation's economic nerve center, Lagos State
Lagos State
Lagos State is an administrative division of Nigeria, located in the southwestern part of the country. The smallest in area of Nigeria's states, Lagos State is the most populous state in Nigeria and arguably the most economically important state of the country and west Africa, containing Lagos, the...
, becoming that state’s military governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
in 1988. Soon after, he embarked on a massive demolition
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
exercise of illegal structures to rid the State of shanties. That singular act resulted in the re-vitalization of Lagos, and a boom in the real estate market.. It also earned him the nickname of "acsion governor" (action governor), a mockery of the way in which he referred to himself.
A member of the armed forces ruling council; he gained national prominence during the April 22, 1990 unsuccessful coup against the 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...
regime. The plotters led by the late Major Gideon Orkar
Gideon Orkar
Major Gideon Gwaza Orkar was a Nigerian military officer and revolutionary who staged a coup against General Ibrahim Babangida on April 22, 1990. Orkar's people seized the FRCN radio station, various military posts around Lagos and the Dodan Barracks, Lagos, the military headquarters and...
had attempted to overrun the then seat of the Federal Government; Dodan Barracks, and in that process killing Babangida’s Aide de Camp, Major U.K.Bello. Late Major Orkar had announced many far-reaching declarations, which included radical restructuring of the federation bordering on the excision of five core northern States until the coup was foiled by officers loyal to Babangida. The first announcement to this effect came from the then military governor of Lagos state, Col. Raji Rasaki who declared in a radio broadcast that the rebellion
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
was already being contained.
Later career
Following his retirement from the armyArmy
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
, Rasaki wrote several policy papers and memoirs. In addition he pursued a career as a statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
; participating in numerous conferences and forums. As a public speaker, he addressed audiences across the country and abroad. In 2005 he joined the Nigerian Peoples Democratic Party PDP
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...
.