Ex-Presidential Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Mohammed, Dies at 86

Major General Abdullahi Mohammed (Retired) has passed away at the age of 86.

He was a highly influential figure in Nigeria’s political history. The former Chief of Staff to both ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua reportedly died in Abuja around 1 a.m. on Wednesday.

Family sources in Ilorin confirmed his passing. General Mohammed hailed from Ilorin, Kwara State. His death is mourned as a tremendous loss to the nation, the military community, and the Ilorin Emirate.

A Distinguished Career in Military and Intelligence

Born in 1939, the late General Mohammed pursued a distinguished career spanning several decades. This included roles in the military and intelligence sectors.

• Military Foundation: He attended the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1958.
• Key Coup Role: He rose through the ranks to become the Director of Military Intelligence. He played a significant role in the 1975 coup. That coup overthrew General Yakubu Gowon’s government.
• Early Executive Role: Following the change in government, Mohammed was appointed Governor of Benue-Plateau State. He held this position from July 1975 to March 1976.
• National Security Leadership: Under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military administration, he became the Director-General of the National Security Organisation (NSO). The NSO was the precursor to the present-day Department of State Services (DSS). He served in this security role until 1979.

Service to the Fourth Republic

General Mohammed retired from the military in 1979. He then entered the private sector. He served as the Managing Director of Atoto Press Limited, a notable printing company based in Ilorin.

He was later recalled to public service in 1998. He was appointed National Security Adviser to the Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. He held this crucial security position until the transition to civilian rule in 1999.

With the advent of the Fourth Republic, he was selected as Chief of Staff to President Olusegun Obasanjo. He retained this influential role when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua took office. He finally resigned in June 2008. Throughout his long career, General Mohammed was widely recognized as a disciplined officer. He was also regarded as a powerful administrator.

Ilorin Emirate Mourns a Pioneer

The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) described the passing of the retired General as a monumental loss. This profound loss is deeply felt by both the Ilorin Emirate and Nigeria.

The union’s National Publicity Secretary, Nurudeen Ibrahim, issued a condolence statement. He conveyed the sentiment that the death of the elder statesman was particularly “painful at this critical time.” This is a time “when the nation needs the wisdom of tested patriots to navigate its challenges.”

The union hailed the late General Mohammed for his pioneering achievements:

• He was the first person from Ilorin to serve as a state governor.
• He was the first Ilorin native to attain the rank of a two-star General in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The IEDPU also extended condolences to the current administration and key political figures. These included President Bola Tinubu and former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Abdulsalami Abubakar.

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