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Lt. Colonel Joseph Iorshagher Akaagerger (born 5 May 1956) was the Military Administrator of Katsina State, Nigeria from August 1998 to 29 May 1999. After the return to democracy, in April 2007 he was elected to the Senate representing Benue North East.

Background

Akaagerger was born on 5 May 1956 in Konshisha local government area of Benue State, of Tiv origins. He attended Government Secondary School, Gboko (1969–1973). Joining the army, he attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna (1976–1977), the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom (1977–79). He also obtained LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Jos and a doctorate degree in International Economic Law from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He holds the traditional title of Ambe u Konshisha (the Konshisha Crocodile). He is a kinsman of former Attorney-General and Justice Minister Michael Aondoakaa.

Military career

Akaagerger held various posts in the army, rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was a Directing Staff at the Command and Staff College, Zaria when he was appointed Military Administrator of Katsina State during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar in August 1998. He was said to have provided state funding for the successful Katsina governorship campaign of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (later to become president), who took office at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic in May 1999. After the handover it was found that the state had a liability of N35 million from the ministries, N174 million from the parastatals and an overdraft from Bank of the North in the region of N75 million, as well as other debts. Following the return to democracy, as a former military administrator he was required to retire from the army.

Senator

Akaagerger joined the United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP). In the 2003 elections, he was UNPP candidate for election to the Senate in Benue State for the Benue North East constituency, but was not elected. In June 2004 he crossed over to the People's Democratic Party (PDP). In the 2007 elections he ran again for Benue NE, this time on the PDP platform. In the primaries, he did not obtain the required 2/3 majority, but was elected as candidate on a straight majority, as was Senator David Mark in the Benue South senatorial zone. Unongo gave him his support, and he was elected, taking office in May 2007. In January 2008, an election petition tribunal in Makurdi nullified his election on the basis that there had been massive allocations of votes, as opposed to actual voting, and ordered fresh elections to be held. He appealed the judgement . In February 2008, Akaagerger was named Publicity Secretary for the Northern Senators Forum.

Akaagerger made provision of health care his priority. In December 2008, he stated that his free medical scheme in the state, which was being executed in partnership with the Grassroots Doctors Society, had spent N50 million and had benefited 23,000 people. In October 2009, he raised the alarm over the Lake Nyos natural dam, located in the Cameroons, which empties into the Benue River. The lake sits on a magma chamber and is saturated with CO₂, which has erupted in the past. The dam wall has been weakening, and a seismic event could cause a disaster in downstream Nigeria. Akaagerger called for precautions including speeding up work on the Kashimbilla buffer dam project.

In May 2009, Akaagerger and nine other senators were referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for investigation in regards to a controversial expenses paid trip to Ghana. In July 2009, a Senate Committee named ex-directors of 13 failed banks as being involved in credit abuse which had led to the banks' failure. Akaagerger was opposed to making the names public, since they included the chairmen of boards of some federal government agencies. A list issued in October 2009 by the Central Bank of Nigeria of non-performing loans in five banks that had to be bailed out showed that Akaagerger was indebted by N534 million to Spring Bank Plc. In a March 2010 interview Akaagerger expressed optimism that the proposed electoral reforms would be resolved before the 2011 elections.

Later career

In January 2011 former PDP National Chairman Barnabas Gemade defeated Akaagerger and others to become the PDP candidate for Senate in Benue North East. In March 2011, Akaagerger said change had become necessary. If the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was voted into power, Audu Ogbeh would develop Benue and would stem the rubbish inflicted by the PDP in the last four years. In October 2014, Akaagerger was among the PDP elders of Benue North-East senatorial District who supported Governor Gabriel Suswam for the 2015 senatorial race. In May 2015, Akaagerger was among leaders of the six states of the north central zone who pushed for the candidature of George Akume as Senate President.

See also

• List of governors of Katsina State

References

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2. "Katsina State Celebrates 30 Years of Statehood". THISDAYLIVE. 2017-10-03. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
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4. ^ "Imminent Sack: Aondoakaa seeks Brig. Gen. Akaagerger's (Rtd) intervention". Point Blank News. 2009-11-30. Archived from the original on 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
5. Kola Ologbondiyan and Agaju Maduba (2001-04-29). "The Return of Abacha Boys". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
6. "Obasanjo Hires & Fires". NDM Democracy Watch 1999/03. 1 July 1999. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
7. Emmanuel Aziken (16 November 2009). "Our Political System Disorderly, Says Senator Akaagerger". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
8. Cletus Akwaya and Daniel Ior (2004-06-15). "Akaagerger, Ex-MilAd, Joins PDP". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 2005-12-01. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
9. Emmanuel Uja (2009-12-28). "Race for Senate hots up in Benue". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12.
10. ^ Emmanuel Uja (2010-07-05). "2011: Gemade, Akaagerger battle for Senate seat". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2010-05-08. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
11. Rose Ejembi (January 26, 2008). "Tribunal sacks Akume, Akaagerger". OnlineNigeria. Archived from the original on 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
12. Ismail Omipidan (February 10, 2008). "Northern Senators' Forum coup: How Shagaya was toppled". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
13. Tahav Agerzua (21 December 2008). "Senator Akaagerger Expends N50 Million on Free Medical Care". Power Magazine. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
14. Uchenna Awom (9 October 2009). "Lake Nyos - Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, Others in Danger". Leadership. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
15. Sufuyan Ojeifo (14 May 2009). "Senate Probes 10 Members over Ghana Trip". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
16. "Aliko Dangote, Chief Ibeto, Emeka Offor, Prince Adedoyin,etc got N53bn in loans from failed banks". Ngex. July 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-09-17. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
17. Idris Ahmed (15 October 2009). "Behold, the Failed Debtors". Daily Trust.
18. Jacob (12 March 2010). "Electoral Issues Will Be Resolved Before 2011 – Sen. Akaagerger". Leadership. Archived from the original on 15 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
19. "David Mark, Chief Gemade and Ternu Tsegba Declared Winners At The Just Concluded PDP Senatorial Primaries". PM News. 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
20. Kayode Mallami (2011-03-10). "Fierce Battle For Benue State House". Osun Defender. Archived from the original on 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
21. Solomon Ayado (2014-10-21). "Jubilation In Benue As PDP Elders Purchase Senate Form For Suswam". Leadership Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
22. Muyiwa Oyinlola (2015-05-14). "Senate: Ortom, Others Seek Support For Akume". Leadership Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-21.
23. "Intrigues, Horse Trading Trail Senate Presidency Race". This Day. 2015-05-12. Archived from the original on 2015-07-22. Retrieved 2015-07-21.

• 1956 births
• Living people
• Governors of Katsina State
• People from Benue State
• Peoples Democratic Party members of the Senate (Nigeria)
• Senators of the 6th National Assembly (Nigeria)
• Nigerian Army officers
• United Nigeria People's Party politicians
• Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst