Abubakar Salihu

Group Captain Abubakar Salihu is a retired Nigerian air force officer who was appointed Military Governor of Gongola State in December 1989 by General Ibrahim Babangida. After the state was split on 27 August 1991 into Adamawa State and Taraba State, he continued as governor of Adamawa State until January 1992.

During his term in office, Gongola state suffered severe financial constraints. Judges were forced to use ordinary papers, loose sheets and exercise books for their writing and judgments. The Adamawa State Polytechnic was established in 1991 while he was in office through a merge of the College of Preliminary Studies Yola and the Staff Development Institute Numan.

After retiring as an Air Commodore, Salihu remained influential in politics. In December 2009 he was among northern leaders resisting the transfer of power to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan during the incapacity of President Umaru Yar'Adua.