Tatari Ali

Alhaji Abubakar Tatari Ali (c. 1929 – 28 May 1993)^[1] was elected Governor of Bauchi State, Nigeria in 1979, holding office until the military coup on 31 December 1983 that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power.^[2]

In 1971, Ali was head of the Ministry of Information. He visited Washington, D.C., that year during preparations for planning the World Festival of Black Arts and Culture, to be held in Lagos in 1974.^[3]

Ali won election in 1979 at the start of the Nigerian Second Republic on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). His government was active in constructing roads, housing projects and industries, and opened 16 model farms across the state. He initiated and constructed a five-star hotel, the Zarand Hotel. He created 43 Local Governments in the state, which were later abolished after the coup of 31 December 1993 that brought in a new military government.^[4] Ali attempted to revive the Bauchi Meat Factory, establishing complementary outfits like the Gubi Dairy Farm, Madangala Sheep Ranch, the Galambi Cattle Ranch and the Gombe and Takko poultry farms. These enterprises, run by civil servants, were generally not profitable.^[5] He introduced a car loan scheme for mid-level and senior civil servants.^[6]

When the Buhari government took control, Ali and some of his colleagues were jailed, later to be tried by military tribunals for possible abuse of power.^[7] Ali's health suffered from the harsh treatment he received in jail and he died shortly after being released.^[8]

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