Elder Statesman and retired Air Commodore Dan Suleiman has passed away at the age of 80, according to family members.
His daughter Aisha confirmed the news to press officers and stated that he died at his home in Wuse II Abuja around 11:00 AM.
Suleiman’s remains have been taken to the morgue of NAF Hospital in Abuja, pending a family decision on the next steps.
Dan Suleiman had a long and illustrious career in the military and politics. He was a member of General Murtala Muhammed’s Supreme Military Council from 1975 to 1976 and served as the military governor of Plateau State from 1976 to 1978.
After the return to democracy in 1999, Suleiman became the Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum, a socio-political group representing the people of the North Central of Nigeria. He also played a key role in the Nigerian Civil War and assisted in the military coup of 1975 that saw Gowon deposed and replaced by General Murtala Muhammed.
Throughout his career, Suleiman held several prominent positions, including Chairman of Allied Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, and Chairman of the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria.
He was also a founding member of NADECO, a political party in Nigeria, and a leader in the People’s Democratic Party. The Elder Statesman celebrated his 80th birthday on June 30th, 2022.