Shehu Musa Yar'Adua
Encyclopedia
Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (March 5, 1943 – December 8, 1997) was a Nigerian businessman, soldier
, and politician
. He was the older brother of former Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua. Following his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
in Sandhurst, England
, Yar'Adua participated in the Nigerian Civil War
. When Olusegun Obasanjo was military head of state from 1976 until 1979, Yar'Adua was his Vice President.
He was sentenced to life in prison
by a military tribunal in 1995, after calling on the Nigerian military government
of Gen. Sani Abacha
and his Provisional Ruling Council to reestablish civilian
rule. He died in captivity on 8 December 1997.
Yar'Adua's younger brother Umaru Yar'Adua became president
of Nigeria
in 2007.
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...
, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the older brother of former Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua. Following his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
in Sandhurst, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Yar'Adua participated in the Nigerian Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
. When Olusegun Obasanjo was military head of state from 1976 until 1979, Yar'Adua was his Vice President.
He was sentenced to life in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
by a military tribunal in 1995, after calling on the Nigerian military government
Military government
Military government can refer to conditions under either Military occupation, or Military dictatorship.-Military Government:Military government is the form of administration by which an occupying power exercises governmental authority over occupied territory.The Hague Conventions of 1907 specify...
of Gen. 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....
and his Provisional Ruling Council to reestablish civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
rule. He died in captivity on 8 December 1997.
Yar'Adua's younger brother Umaru Yar'Adua became president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Nigeria
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...
in 2007.
Further reading
- Shehu Musa Yar'Adua: A Life of Service (Lynne Rienner Pub., 2004). ISBN 978-8069-36-3