Nation Pays Tribute to Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed Adangba, First Presidential Chief of Staff and Former NSA
Nigeria is in mourning following the death of Major General Mohammed Abdullahi (Rtd.), a towering figure in the nation’s military and political history, who passed away in the early hours of Wednesday in Abuja at the age of 86. Tributes have poured in from across the country, honoring his decades of service and profound impact on national security and governance.
General Abdullahi, a native of Ilorin in Kwara State, held several pivotal roles throughout his career. He was the pioneer Presidential Chief of Staff serving President Olusegun Obasanjo and later Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He waa also the National Security Adviser (NSA) to General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and was the pioneer Director-General of the National Security Organisation (NSO), the precursor to Nigeria’s modern intelligence agencies.
President Bola Tinubu led the tributes, describing the late general as “a disciplined, loyal, and patriotic officer” whose contributions to Nigeria’s security architecture were “indelible.” Tinubu praised his “humility, efficiency, and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project,” noting that Abdullahi’s leadership helped shape the modern workings of the Presidency.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, calling Abdullahi “a proud indigene of Ilorin Emirate and a distinguished Nigerian” who used his influence to promote national unity and humanity. The Emir prayed for Allah’s mercy upon his soul and for his admittance into Aljannah Firdaus.
Former Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki described Abdullahi as “a great soldier, administrator, and patriot” who rendered selfless service to the nation. “Our country has missed a good soldier, intelligence officer, and patriot,” Saraki said, adding that his wisdom would have been invaluable in today’s security climate.
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The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) also mourned the general’s passing, highlighting his role as the first son of Ilorin to govern a state and attain the rank of a two-star general. The union emphasized his pivotal roles during critical moments in Nigeria’s history and his personal contributions to community development.
The Nigerian Armed Forces, Kwara and Plateau State governments, and former Presidents Obasanjo and Abdulsalami Abubakar were among those who extended condolences to the family and the nation.
As Nigeria bids farewell to one of its most influential statesmen, the legacy of General Mohammed Abdullahi will endure in the institutions he helped build and the countless lives he touched.
Born in Ilorin, Kwara State, in 1939, the late Mohammed attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom, and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1958. He rose through the ranks to become Director of Military Intelligence and played a prominent role in the 1975 coup that ousted General Yakubu Gowon and brought General Murtala Mohammed to power.
Following the change of government, he was appointed Governor of Benue-Plateau State, a position he held from July 1975 to March 1976. Under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime, he later became Director-General of the National Security Organisation (NSO)—the precursor to today’s Department of State Services (DSS)—serving from 1976 to 1979.
After retiring from the army in 1979, Mohammed ventured into private business and became Managing Director of Atoto Press Limited in Ilorin. His public service continued in 1998 when he was appointed National Security Adviser by then Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, a position he held until the return of civilian rule in 1999.
At the advent of the Fourth Republic, he was appointed Chief of Staff to President Olusegun Obasanjo, a position he retained under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua until his resignation in June 2008.
Throughout his illustrious career, General Mohammed was widely regarded as a disciplined officer, trusted aide, and silent power broker who made remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s political stability and national security.
His burial arrangements, according to family sources, will be announced later in line with Islamic rites.
By PRNigeria
