Abubakar Audu

Prince Abubakar Audu (24 October 1947 – 22 November 2015) was twice the Governor of Nigeria's Kogi state. His first tenure was from January 1992 until November 1993 and the second from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2003. He died due to a heart attack shortly after the announcement of the election results on 22 November 2015, while seeking re-election on the platform of Nigeria's ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

Prince Abubakar Audu, first Executive Governor of Kogi State was born on 24 October 1947, to the family of his Royal Highness, the late Pa Audu Oyidi, Orego Atta of Igala Land and the paramount ruler of Ogbonicha-Alloma in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He started his education at the then N.A. Junior Primary School, Alloma, and later N.A Senior School Ankpa, from where he proceeded to Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. He later transferred to the Jos Commercial College where he obtained both the GCE O and A level.

After a stint as a bank worker, Prince Audu later proceeded to London from 1975-1978 where he studied banking and personnel management, obtaining professional qualification as a certified secretary, and as a Fellow of the Association of International Accountants of London, as well as fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria.

Audu's banking career lasted for a total of 25 years, which he spent with First Bank - formerly known as Standard Bank. Here, he served in various capacities at management level until 1991. He also made history as the bank's first training officer of African descent and also as one of the first black senior management staff of Standard Chartered Bank in London and New York.

In 1991, he was appointed Executive Director of FSB International Bank PLC.

Audu's sojourn into public service began in 1986 when he was appointed as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in the Old Benue state. He served in this capacity until 1988 when the cabinet was dissolved. He then returned to Fist Bank of Nigeria PLC as a General Manager.

In August 1991, Kogi state was created from parts of the old benue and Kwara states. This coincided with one of Nigeria's many previous encounters with democracy, and Audu, being part of those who had advocated for the creation of the state and a notable son of the soil, was invited to contest for governorship. He contested on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and won the election held in November, 1991. He was subsequently sworn in as the first executive governor of Kogi state in January 1992.

In 1998, democracy was again re-introduced and Audu, now with the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), was elected again with over 700,000 votes while his opponent hardly recorded 50% of the vote cast. He was sworn in on 29 May 1999 as the 2nd Executive Governor of Kogi State.

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