Biography – Late Alhaji Adamu Atta (The First Executive Governor of Kwara State)

Like most of his Elder. Brothers, Alhaji Adamu Atta Was bourn at Okeneba in Okene in October 18th 1927.

His mother hailed from Nupe speaking area of Ajaokuta. He. Graduated from the Quranic school at the ripe age of 8years. He did his primary school Education at Okene N.A and proceeded to the Middle School, Okene for his mid-education studies.

He left Nigeria in 1935 and 1947, he was admitted at the achimota college, Ghana. After his advanced level studies in Ghana, he left for London where he did his in law and was called to English bar as a member of th Lincoln’s Inn, London, in 1960.

On his return to Nigeria, he was appointedby the then Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) as its Legal Adviser and secretary. He held the post for 13 years, from 1963 – 1975 when he got caught up with nation-wide perge of the public service under General Murtala Ramat Mohammed in 1975.

He later left for active politics when the then ban on party politics was lifted by the General Olusegun Obasanjo Administration in 1978.

He was then appointed as a member of the constituent assembly of 1978 – 1979. He joined the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) under whose ticket he contested and won the 1979 Gubernitorial election in Kwara State.

He thus became the first Executive Governor of Kwara State, having defeated his major opponent, chief josiah sunday Olawoyin, of the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). His Deputy was Chief Jimoh Shittu from Offa.

Alhaji Adamu Attah met his first wife in Ghana during his Years of study in Achimota. They got married in 1961 and blessed with successful and brilliant children. He latter married many other women and had accomplished children from them too.

Alhaji Adamu Atta related very well with all sections of Ebira community and prominent Ebira leaders.

He was affable and very pleasant in character. Like most of his brothers and sisters, he had high taste for decent and impeccable living. Though soft-spoken and easy going, Alhaji Adamu Atta was a firm disciplinarian. He was kind by nature.

Open handed and discrete in the hardly publicised generous gifts which frequently gave to the less-previledged and those who had approached him for help.

He had sponsored countless Ebira youths to secondary and higher institutions. He served as a bridge of unity between members of Atta’s family and the generality of Ebira People. Like his Father (Alhaji Ibrahim Onoru-Oiza Atta) Alhaji Adamu Atta took to active hunting and horse riding as some of his hobbies.

To crown it all, Alhaji Adamu Atta died 1st may 2o14, (18th October 1927-1st May 2014) His type will be very rear to come by. His memory will forever remain EVERGREEN in the minds of Ebira People and the world in General.

May his kind and Gentle soul rest in JANNATUL FIRDAUS, (Amin).

Thanks for reading. Note : I have not been paid to write this article I found this article from the magazine published by the Attahs family on the 40th days prayer after his death.

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