Babangida Aliyu
- Name: Babangida Aliyu
- Birthdate: November 12, 1955
- Birthplace: Minna, Niger state
- Occupation: Politician
Babangida Aliyu was born in Minna in Niger state on November 12, 1955.
Education
He received his early Primary education at the then Central Primary School, (now IBB Primary School), Minna and Kuta between 1963 and 1969 after which he proceeded to the Sokoto College' of Arts and Arabic Studies (former Arabic Teachers College now Sheik Mahmound Gumi College between 1970 and August 1974 where he obtained the Grade II Teacher Certificate. On the completion of the Grade II Teachers Certificate Course, Dr. Babangida proceeded to the College of Education, Sokoto, in pursuit of the NCE (Nigeria Certificate of Education), which lasted from August 1974 to 1977, where he successfully obtained the NCE Certificate.
He did his NYSC at the Jubril Martins Memorial Grammar School, Iponri, Lagos. After the NYSC programme, he joined the Niger State Ministry of Education initially as Master III and later between 1977 and 1983. During that period, Dr. Babandiga Aliyu resumed his educational pursuits by enrolling on Bayero University, Kano between 1980 and 1983, where he graduated with a BA (Bachelor of Arts) Education in 1983. He won election into the House of Representatives representing Minna South Federal Constituency in 1983. Thereafter, he proceeded to the USA where he obtained a Master's Degree in Public and International Affairs and a PhD in Strategic Studies and Political Economy, at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania between 1886-1989.
Political career
He joined the Federal Public Service as Acting Chief Political Affairs Officer in May 1990. He subsequently held posts in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the National Council on Inter-Governmental Relations. From 1996 until April 1999, he was Director (Maritime Services) in the Ministry of Transportation. In 1999, he was appointed Federal Permanent Secretary and Chief Operating/Accounting Officer, and later served in a number of senior positions in different Federal civil service departments until 2007, when he reentered politics.
Babangida Aliyu was elected governor of Niger state in April 2007, running on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform. His election was disputed by Jibrin Bala Guna Alhassan, a rival candidate for the PDP nomination, but the suit was rejected by the Federal High Court in Abuja in December 2007.
At a December 2008 symposium on poverty eradication in Northern states, Babangida Aliyu said the traditional rulers, particularly in the Northern region, were "corrupt, support corruption and have lost the respect and moral authority to correct their subjects." Speaking in October 2009 at a convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Aliyu said that over 90 per cent of Nigerian politicians have criminal intentions, spending huge amounts to gain office for their own benefit rather than to serve the public. Babangida Aliyu was reelected on 26 April 2011.
