Meet Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi, Next Defence Minister?

Here’s A Bit About Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi, The Man Who Is Tipped By Pundits To Emerge As Nigeria’s Next Defence Minister.

Major General (rtd) Bashir Magashi enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the Regular Course 5 cohort in Q4 1968. He was commissioned into the infantry corps in March 1971

Some of his peers (ranks as of 1990) include Colonels Sarki Mukhtar, Felix Mujakperuo, Idada Ikponmwen, Olorogun, Ajiborisa et al. Some of his immediate superiors (RC 4) included Patrick Aziza, Stanley Womomotimi Diriyai and Sasaenia Oresanya

As a colonel in 1990, he was appointed military governor of Sokoto State by the Babangida-led FMG.

In 1992, he was nominated to attend the Senior Executive Course 14 (SEC 14) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies. His research topic was “Insulating the Nigerian Military for Government”

His mates at the NIPSS SEC 14 were a mix of NDA peers and superiors who at that pointwere seen as strong IBB loyalists. They included Brigadiers Rasaki, Abbe+IR Bamaiyi, Air Cdre Idi Musa & Cols Aziza,Oresanya,Sarki Mukhtar, Ojokojo,Mujakperuo+Navy Capts Bode George+Alabi Lawal.

In 1993, Magashi was appointed Chief of Staff of ECOMOG, a position which is currently being mistakenly reported in the media. Magashi never held the apex appointment of ECOMOG that was Field Commander.

During the days leading up to IBB’s exit from power, Magashi aligned with the Abacha group and was active in the process which threw up the contrived resignation of the Shonekan-led ING on 17 Nov 1993. He thereafter remained a strong Abacha accolyte.

Magashi subsequently served as Commander of the Brigade of Guards which was tasked with Abacha’s security. He emerged as GOC 2 Mechanised Infantry Division,Ibadan, in 1996 and thereafter served as the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was compulsorily retired in 1999

During his years in the army, he was known to be very close to his equally accomplished RC 5 mate, Maj Gen Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar, a former military governor, Provost Marshall, GOC 1 Mechanised Division and National Security Adviser. Both of them are also.

For the avoidance of doubt, Magashi’s RC 5 mates who ever emerged as ECOMOG Field Commander were Major Generals Felix Mujakperuo, the incumbent Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and former GOC 82 Division and the late Major General Gabriel Kpamber.

Source: Twitter handle: @beegeaglesblog