With Alam’s death, Class of ’99 loses 6th gov

And then there were 30. Of the 36 governors that ushered in the current democratic dispensation on May 29, 1999, six have died and one is in jail, but many of them are still politically active and relevant in the game.

The death of DSP Alamieyeseigha on Saturday from suspected cardiac arrest means he is the third youngest to have died, at the age of 62. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the youngest at death, was 58 in 2010. Mohammed Lawal, former governor of Kwara state, died in 2006 at 60.

The oldest to die remains Adebayo Adefarati, former governor of Ondo, was, at 76, was three years older than Lam Adesina at the time of homecall. Mala Kachalla, former governor of Borno state, died at 66 in 2007.

The year 2007 recorded two deaths: Adefarati died on March 29, a few days ahead of Kachalla who died on April 4.

None of the Class of ’99 died in office.

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha

Born: 1952

Died: 2015 (slipped into coma and never recovered)

Age: 62

State: Bayelsa

Party: PDP

In office: May 29, 1999 to December 9, 2005 (impeached)

Tenure highlights: Started the Niger Delta University which was enmeshed in controversy over a reported N500m cost of fencing alone. Fell out with the then President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly for failing to support his rumoured third term agenda. Alamieyeseigha was later arrested in London with a million pounds in cash, allegedly on a tip-off from Nigerian security. He was impeached in 2005 and jailed for two years in 2007 after a plea bargain.

Mala Kachalla

Born: 1941

Died: 2007 (fell on a treadmill during workout)

Age: 66

State: Borno

Party: ANPP, later AD

In office: May 29,1999 to May 29, 2003 (defeated by Ali Modu Sheriff)

Tenure highlights: Introduced Sharia with a promise to exclude Christians from being subjected to the Islamic legal code. Eventually fell out with his political benefactor, Ali Modu Sheriff, who ran against him in 2003. Kachalla defected to the Alliance for Democracy (AD), but still lost. He later moved to PDP in 2006, and was a member until he was found dead on his treadmill in 2007, with reports suggesting he had a heart failure.

Adebayo Adefarati

Born: 1931

Died: 2007

Age: 76

State: Ondo

Party: AD

In office: May 29, 1999 and May 29, 2003 (defeated by Olusegun Agagu)

Tenure highlights: Adefarati was involved in a controversy over the purchase of a suspiciously hyper-inflated building in Lagos by his government, but by far his biggest impact would have been in the 2007 general election when he died as a presidential candidate of the AD. The laws provided that the election could be postponed if any candidate died, and there were fears that Obasanjo, who was reportedly interested in prolonging his stay in office, could capitalise on that to move the election.

Lam Adesina

Born: 1939

Died: 2012

Age: 73 (after an illness suspected to be diabetes-related)

State: Oyo

Party: AD

In office: May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2003 (defeated by Rashidi Ladoja)

Tenure highlights: A well-respected activist and teacher, Adesina’s tenure as governor of Oyo state was not eventful. He was reportedly overwhelmed by the challenges he faced which he was obviously not prepared for. He was also very supportive of Obasanjo at times, and was defeated in 2003 by the PDP candidate, Rashisi Ladoja, after a reciprocal agreement with Obasanjo to back each other’s re-election bids did not materialise. Obasanjo was re-elected though.

Umaru Musa Yar’Adua

Born: 1951

Died: 2010

Age: 58 (after a prolonged illness)

State: Katsina

Party: PDP

In office: May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007 (elected president afterwards)

Tenure highlights: Not much was known about Yar’Adua as a governor for eight years until he was handpicked by Obasanjo as his successor in 2007. Hampered by ill health, Yar’Adua had reportedly spent months out of the country to treat a kidney ailment in 2000 and was planning to return to the academia after completing two terms as a governor in 2007. He never overcame his health challenges and died as president of Nigeria on May 5, 2010.

Mohammed Lawal

Born: 1946

Died: 2006

Age: 60 (after a brief illness related to malaria)

State: Kwara

Party: ANPP

In office: May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2003 (defeated by Bukola Saraki)

Tenure highlights: Lawal was noted for seeking to undo his political godfather, Olusola Saraki, as soon as he became governor of the state. However, Saraki brought his son, Bukola, to the governorship race in 2003 and defeated Lawal roundly all over the state. Lawal was planning to contest again in 2007 when he suddenly fell ill and died. His tenure as governor was marked by political violence.