Happy Birthday, Col. Dangiwa Umar

On this day, 21 September 1949, Colonel (retired) Abubakar Dangiwa Umar was born in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

Umar, a former military administrator of Kaduna state, is a social critic and Chairman of Movement for Unity & Progress (MUP).

He was appointed Governor of Kaduna State in 1985 after the August 27 coup that ushered General Ibrahim Babangida into power, a position he occupied up till June 1988.

While he was Commander of the Armoured Corps Center and School in 1993, Col. Umar opposed the annulment of the 12 June 1993 presidential election of Moshood Abiola.

After the election, he rallied support within the military to ensure M.K.O Abiola was inaugurated president. This led to his detention in October that year. After his release, he resigned his commission.

Umar’s early education began at Government College, Sokoto (1964 – 1968), after which he attended the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna, (1967 – 1972), Nigeria Army Armored School, Ibadan, (1972), and the US Army Administration School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, USA (1976).

He also attended the Royal Armour School, Kentucky, USA (1977 – 1978), Command and Staff College, Jaji (1978 – 1979 and 1982 – 1983), Bayero University, Kano (1979 – 1981), and Harvard University, USA (1988 – 1989).