Abubakar Habu Hashidu
Politician
Alhaji Abubakar Habu Hashidu (born 10 April 1944) is a Nigerian politician who was governor of Gombe State, Nigeria from May 1999 to May 2003.Hashidu was a minister of Water Resources as well as a minister of Agriculture and Rural Development during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He was also a member of the Vision 2010 committee set up by General Sani Abacha to chart a developmental road-map for the country.Hashidu was the first elected governor of Gombe State, Nigeria, taking office on 29 May 1999, on the platform of the All People's Party (APP).His Deputy Governor was Joshua Lidani.In January 2003 the All Nigeria Peoples Party endorsed Hashidu as its gubernatorial candidate for the April 2003 elections.He failed to be reelected and conceded gracefully, praising the Independent National Electoral Commission and saying he would not contest the result.Hashidu was again candidate for governor of Gombe State in 2007 on the DPP platform. He was arrested in March 2007 and put on trial over violence that allegedly broke out after he started his political campaign.Armed supporters stormed the magistrate's court, freeing Hashidu and wounding the judge presiding over his case.