Omar Hambagda

Omar Abubakar Hambagda (28 July 1949 – 30 May 2016) was a Nigerian politician who was a member of the Senate for the Borno South constituency from 2003 to 2011.[1]

Omar Hambagda
Senator for Borno South
In office
3 June 2003 – 6 June 2011
Preceded byAbubakar Mahdi
Succeeded byMohammed Ali Ndume
Personal details
Born(1949-07-28)28 July 1949
Died30 May 2016(2016-05-30) (aged 66)
NationalityNigerian
Political partyAll Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • educationist

Background

Omar Abubakar Hambagda was born on 28 July 1949. He obtained an MA from the University of Lancaster. He became commissioner for Health (1993) and Education (1999) in Borno State, and was an associate professor and head of business management at the University of Maiduguri.[1]

In 1996, he published a book: Accountability in government: the role of the civil service.[2]

First Senate term 2003-2007
Borno State, Nigeria

In April 2003, Hambagda ran for the Senate on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) ticket and was elected for the Borno South constituency. He was reelected in 2007.[1] He was a strong contender for the position of Senate Minority leader, but lost to Senator Maina Maaji Lawan of Borno North.[3]

In January 2004, Hambagda announced that the Federal Government would start construction of a 62 kilometre road to link Nigeria with Cameroon and Chad, costing about N800 million. The road, which had been started and abandoned before, would give farmers in Borno State access to the international market.[4]

Senator Hambagda chaired the Executive sub-Committee of the National Assembly on the Review of the Constitution, which recommended approving third term for President Olusegun Obasanjo. In November 2005, he stated that he personally disagreed with this idea.[5] However, in April 2006, he was stoned and almost lynched by angry youths in the Biu Local Government Area of Borno State who were against a third term for Obasanjo.[6]

Second Senate term 2007-2011

In November 2007, some members of Senator Hambagda's Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions alleged that Senate President David Mark was involved in fraud and impropriety.[7] Allegations included a N400m renovation contract of the official residence of the President of the Senate and N2.5billion that was smuggled into the 2007 supplementary budget.[8]

In January 2008, Senator Nuhu Aliyu said he had a list of alleged fraudsters in the National Assembly that included at least two committee chairmen in the Senate. Hambagda, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petition, said his committee was ready to inquire into the subject without fear or favour.[9] In February, Senator Aliyu said that after talking to his lawyers he was withdrawing the charge and apologized to the Senate.[10]

In September 2008, the Pan-African Transparent Leadership Centre awarded him the Nelson Mandela Gold Award for his excellent leadership and contributions to society.[11]

In an interview in April 2009, he expressed support for creating a new Savannah State comprising the southern portion of Borno State.[12]

As chairman of the house committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, he was responsible for a probe of ten senators who went to Ghana in April 2009 on an all-expenses-paid trip for a seminar on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), where they may have been influenced by oil companies.[13] The senate decided to refer the matter to Senator Hambagda's committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Privileges, with a directive to beam its hearing live so Nigerians could monitor the hearing.[14]

References
  1. "Sen. Omar Abubakar Hambagda". National Assembly of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  2. Omar Abubakar Hambagda (1996). Accountability in government: the role of the civil service. Nigeria Civil Service Union, Borno State Council. ISBN 978-33354-0-5.
  3. ISMAIL OMIPIDAN (10 February 2008). "Northern Senators' Forum coup: How Shagaya was toppled". Daily Sun. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  4. "FG To Construct Commercial Link Road To Cameroon And Chad". OT Africa Line. January 2004. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  5. Emmanuel Aziken (November 20, 2005). "Nigeria: The mystery of the Third Term Agenda". Vanguard (Nigeria). Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  6. "Hambagda, Pro-Third Term Senator, Stoned in Borno". This Day. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  7. "ALLEGED N3.4BN SCAM: AGAIN, MARK OFFERS TO STEP ASIDE". This Day. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  8. Dr. Femi Ajayi (29 November 2007). "THAT NIGERIAN SENATE PRESIDENT DAVID MARK!". Nigeria World. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  9. Emmanuel Aziken (27 January 2008). "Fraudstars in National Assembly - Two Panel Chairmen in Aliyu's List". Vanguard. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  10. Ismail Omipidan (2 February 2008). "419 lawmakers:The full story: How the mafia cowed Nuhu Aliyu". the Sun. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  11. Stephen Odoi-Larbi (5 September 2008). "Holy Trinity Boss wins award". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  12. "Why we want Savannah State created - Sen Hambagda". Nigerian Tribune. 24 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  13. "Nigeria Senate probe report on Ghana visit under the carpet?". Ghana Business. 22 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  14. TUNJI OLAWUNI & KEHINDE AKINTOLA (25 May 2009). "How sleaze, scandals rock National Assembly". Business Day. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
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