Chris Alli
Encyclopedia
Major General Mohammed Chris Alli was military governor of Plateau State
from August 1985 to 1986 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida
. Many years later, he was appointed interim administrator of the state during a 2004 crisis in the state following ethno-religious killings in Shendam, Yelwa
Local Government.
. Alli was investigated for involvement in the coup attempt, but was exonerated.
General Ibrahim Babangida
appointed Alli military governor of Plateau State
from August 1985 to 1986.
During the attempted coup against General Ibrahim Babangida
by Major Gideon Orkar
on 22 April 1990, Colonel Alli was commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade in Kano
. He instructed several army commanders to make counter-broadcasts, as he did himself. The attempted coup failed.
After the coup in November 1993 when President Ernest Shonekan
was ousted by General Sani Abacha
, Alli was appointed Chief of the Army Staff.
Abacha dismissed him from this post in August 1994.
It was reported that over 50,000 people had died.
President Olusegun Obasanjo declared emergency rule in the state and suspended the governor and the state assembly, appointing Alli as administrator.
Alli quickly developed the Plateau Peace Program, involving dialog between religiosu, ethnic and community leaders, and a state-wide peace conference. He also gave an amnesty to holders of weapons and a reward for their turning in their arms.
Alli's measures were successful in calming the situation, and he handed back to civilian rule in November 2004.
Plateau State
Plateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part...
from August 1985 to 1986 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
. Many years later, he was appointed interim administrator of the state during a 2004 crisis in the state following ethno-religious killings in Shendam, Yelwa
Yelwa
Yelwa is a town in Kebbi State, Nigeria on the Niger River and the A1 highway. It is the site of the Yelwa massacre.The Scottish explorer Mungo Park, the first westerner to see the Niger River, died here....
Local Government.
Military career
On February 13, 1976, army plotters assassinated the then head of state, General Murtala MohammedMurtala Mohammed
General Murtala Ramat Mohammed born was a military ruler of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976.-Role during 1960s coups:...
. Alli was investigated for involvement in the coup attempt, but was exonerated.
General Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
appointed Alli military governor of Plateau State
Plateau State
Plateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part...
from August 1985 to 1986.
During the attempted coup against General Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
by Major Gideon Orkar
Gideon Orkar
Major Gideon Gwaza Orkar was a Nigerian military officer and revolutionary who staged a coup against General Ibrahim Babangida on April 22, 1990. Orkar's people seized the FRCN radio station, various military posts around Lagos and the Dodan Barracks, Lagos, the military headquarters and...
on 22 April 1990, Colonel Alli was commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade in Kano
Kano
Kano is a city in Nigeria and the capital of Kano State in Northern Nigeria. Its metropolitan population is the second largest in Nigeria after Lagos. The Kano Urban area covers 137 sq.km and comprises six Local Government Area - Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni and Nassarawa - with a...
. He instructed several army commanders to make counter-broadcasts, as he did himself. The attempted coup failed.
After the coup in November 1993 when President Ernest Shonekan
Ernest Shonekan
Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan is a British trained Nigerian lawyer, industrialist, politician and traditional chieftain. He was appointed as interim president of Nigeria by General Ibrahim Babangida on 26 August 1993. Babangida resigned under pressure to cede control to a democratic government...
was ousted by General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
, Alli was appointed Chief of the Army Staff.
Abacha dismissed him from this post in August 1994.
Later career
In May 2004 Plateau state erupted into sectarian violence, which spilled over into Kano State.It was reported that over 50,000 people had died.
President Olusegun Obasanjo declared emergency rule in the state and suspended the governor and the state assembly, appointing Alli as administrator.
Alli quickly developed the Plateau Peace Program, involving dialog between religiosu, ethnic and community leaders, and a state-wide peace conference. He also gave an amnesty to holders of weapons and a reward for their turning in their arms.
Alli's measures were successful in calming the situation, and he handed back to civilian rule in November 2004.