Baba Gana Kingibe

Babagana Kingibe OV GCON (born 25 June 1945) is a Nigerian diplomat, politician and civil servant who has held several high ranking government offices, culminating in his appointment as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation from 2007 to 2008. He spent over a decade in the Foreign Service cadre and has been in politics since the 1970s, serving six heads of state; most recently as a member of the inner circle of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In 1993, he was the vice-presidential running mate to Chief Moshood Abiola in the annulled 1993 presidential election, before later joining the government in service of military dictator General Sani Abacha. He was a member of his politico-military caucus as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1993 to 1995, Minister of Internal Affairs from 1995 to 1997; and later Minister of Power and Steel from 1997 to 1998.

== Early years ==

Kingibe was born on 25 June 1945 in Borno to a Kanuri family. His mother, Ya Kingi Mallam died when he was four years old. His father, Mustafa Shuwa was a shoemaker who later became the clerk of the Borno Native Authority.

Kingibe grew up in Maiduguri and attended primary schools there. In 1958, he was admitted into...