Omar Hambagda

Omar Abubakar Hambagda
National Senator
In office May 2003 – May 2011
Preceded by	Abubakar Mahdi
Succeeded by	Mohammed Ali Ndume
Constituency	Borno South
Personal details
Born	28 July 1949 (1949-07-28) (age 62)
Political party	All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)
Profession	Educationist, Politician

Omar Abubakar Hambagda is a Nigerian politician who is a member of the Senate for the Borno South constituency.^[1]

Background

Omar Abubakar Hambagda was born on 28 July 1949. He obtained an MA from the University of Lancaster. He became commissioner for Health (1993) and Education (1999) in Borno State, and was an Associate Professor and Head Of Business Management at the University of Maiduguri.^[1]

In 1996 he published a book on Accountability in government: the role of the civil service.^[2]

Senator 2003-2007

Borno State, Nigeria

In April 2003, Omar Abubakar Hambagda ran for the Senate on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) ticket and was elected for the Borno South constituency. He was reelected in 2007.^[1] He was a strong contender for the position of Senate Minority leader, but lost to Senator Maina Maaji Lawan of Borno North.^[3]

In January 2004 Senator Omar Hambagda announced that the Federal Government would start construction of a 62 kilometre road to link Nigeria with Cameroon and Chad, costing about N800 million. The road, which had been started and abandoned before, would give farmers in Borno State access to the international market.^[4]

Senator Hambagda chaired the Executive sub-Committee of the National Assembly on the Review of the Constitution, which recommended approving third term for President Olusegun Obasanjo. In November 2005 he stated that he personally disagreed with this idea.^[5] However, in April 2006 he was stoned and almost lynched by angry youths in the Biu Local Government Area of Borno State who were against a third term for Obasanjo.^[6]

Senator 2007-2011

In November 2007, some members of Senator Hambagda's Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions alleged that Senate President David Mark was involved in fraud and impropriety.^[7] Allegations included a N400m renovation contract of the official residence of the President of the Senate and N2.5billion that was smuggled into the 2007 supplementary budget.^[8]

In January 2008, Senator Nuhu Aliyu said he had a list alleged fraudsters in the National Assembly that included at least two committee chairmen in the Senate. Hambagda, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petition, said his committee was ready to inquire into the subject without fear or favour.^[9] In February, Senator Aliyu said that after talking to his lawyers he was withdrawing the charge and apologized to the Senate.^[10]

In September 2008 the Pan-African Transparent Leadership Centre awarded him the Nelson Mandela Gold Award for his excellent leadership and contributions to society.^[11]

In an interview in April 2009, he expressed support for creating a new Savannah State comprising the southern portion of Borno State.^[12]

As chairman of the house committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, he was responsible for a probe of ten senators who went to Ghana n April 2009 on an all-expenses-paid trip for a seminar on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), where they may have been influenced by oil companies.^[13] The senate decided to refer the matter to Senator Hambagda's committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Privileges, with a directive to beam its hearing live so Nigerians could monitor the hearing.^[14]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Sen. Omar Abubakar Hambagda". National Assembly of Nigeria. http://www.nassnig.org/senate/member.php?senator=39. Retrieved 2009-10-05. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ Omar Abubakar Hambagda (1996). Accountability in government: the role of the civil service. Nigeria Civil Service Union, Borno State Council. ISBN 9783335405. 
3. ^ ISMAIL OMIPIDAN (February 10, 2008). "Northen Senators’ Forum coup: How Shagaya was toppled". Daily Sun. http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/powergame/2008/feb/10/powergame-10-02-2008-001.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
4. ^ "FG To Construct Commercial Link Road To Cameroon And Chad". OT Africa Line. January 2004. http://www.otal.com/nigeria/nigerianews.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-0. 
5. ^ Emmanuel Aziken (November 20, 2005). "Nigeria: The mystery of the Third Term Agenda". Vanguard (Nigeria). http://www.afrika.no/Detailed/10885.html. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
6. ^ "Hambagda, Pro-Third Term Senator, Stoned in Borno". This Day. 2006-04-30. http://odili.net/news/source/2006/apr/30/202.html. Retrieved 2009-10-05. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ "ALLEGED N3.4BN SCAM: AGAIN, MARK OFFERS TO STEP ASIDE". This Day. November 15, 2007. http://www.nigeriacalabash.com/index.php/politics/37-politics/289-alleged-n34bn-scam-again-mark-offers-to-step-aside. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
8. ^ Dr. Femi Ajayi (November 29, 2007). "THAT NIGERIAN SENATE PRESIDENT DAVID MARK!". Nigeria World. http://nigeriaworld.com/columnist/ajayi/112907.html. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
9. ^ Emmanuel Aziken (27 January 2008). "Fraudstars in National Assembly - Two Panel Chairmen in Aliyu's List". Vanguard. http://allafrica.com/stories/200801270016.html. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
10. ^ Ismail Omipidan (February 2, 2008). "419 lawmakers:The full story: How the mafia cowed Nuhu Aliyu". the Sun. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Naija-news/message/4938. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
11. ^ Stephen Odoi-Larbi (05 Sep 2008). "Holy Trinity Boss wins award". Modern Ghana. http://www.modernghana.com/news/181573/1/holy-trinity-boss-wins-award.html. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
12. ^ "Why we want Savannah State created - Sen Hambagda". Nigerian Tribune. 24 April 2009. http://www.tribune.com.ng/24042009/politics_2.html. Retrieved 2009-10-05. ^{[dead link]}
13. ^ "Nigeria Senate probe report on Ghana visit under the carpet?". Ghana Business. Sep 22, 2009. http://ghanabusinessnews.com/2009/09/22/nigeria-senate-probe-report-on-ghana-visit-under-the-carpet/. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
14. ^ TUNJI OLAWUNI & KEHINDE AKINTOLA (25 MAY 2009). "How sleaze, scandals rock National Assembly". Business Day. http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2857:how-sleaze-scandals-rock-national-assembly-&catid=94:features&Itemid=353. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 

Persondata
Name	Hambagda, Omar
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Date of birth	1949
Place of birth
Date of death
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