Chapter V · People · Hero H095

Rashidi Yekini

Nigeria's Greatest Ever Goal Scorer — 37 Goals in 58 Caps; First Super Eagles World Cup Goal

Summary

Rashidi Yekini is Nigeria's all-time leading goal scorer with 37 goals in 58 international appearances — a record that stood for over two decades. He scored Nigeria's first-ever FIFA World Cup goal (against Bulgaria, USA 1994) and his iconic celebration — clutching the net and roaring — is one of the most unforgettable images in African football history. He won the African Player of the Year award in 1993, becoming the first Nigerian to do so, and won the Portuguese league Golden Boot three times with Vitória de Setúbal. He died in circumstances that highlighted Nigeria's failure to support its retired sporting heroes.

Record

Born

23 October 1963

Died

4 May 2012

State / origin

Kwara (Plateau-raised)

The political and economic reality

The governments, economies and national crises that shaped Yekini's public life — from roughly 1983 to 2012.

President · Second Republic

Alhaji Shehu Shagari

1979–1983· NPN

National reality

First executive presidency. Oil-price crash from 1981 destroyed the boom. Ghana Must Go expulsion of West African migrants (1983). Disputed re-election in 1983, then the Buhari/Idiagbon coup on 31 December 1983.

Crises of the period

Oil price collapse 1981–83
Maitatsine riots Kano (1980)
Ghana Must Go (1983)
31 December 1983 coup

GDP (World Bank)

$64 bn (1980, oil peak) → $30 bn (1983, bust)

Cabinet (selected portfolios)

Finance
Sunday Essang → Onaolapo Soleye
Education
Sylvester Ugoh; later others (being compiled)

Source: Federal Gazette 1979–83; CBN Annual Reports

Head of State · Military

Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

1984–1985

National reality

War Against Indiscipline. Decrees 2 (detention without trial) and 4 (press) were used to jail Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor. Overthrown by Babangida on 27 August 1985.

Crises of the period

Decree 4 press jailings
Economic austerity; queues for essential commodities

GDP (World Bank)

$28 bn (1984)

Cabinet (selected portfolios)

Foreign Affairs
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari
Finance
Dr. Onaolapo Soleye

Source: Federal Military Government Gazette 1984–85

Military President

Gen. Ibrahim Babangida

1985–1993

National reality

Structural Adjustment Programme from 1986 — devaluation of the naira, deregulation, austerity that has, in real terms, never been recovered. Dele Giwa murdered by parcel bomb (1986). Annulled the 12 June 1993 election.

Crises of the period

SAP 1986
Dele Giwa assassination (1986)
Orkar coup attempt (1990)
Annulment of June 12, 1993

GDP (World Bank)

$30 bn (1985) → $15 bn (1993, post-SAP devaluation)

Cabinet (selected portfolios)

Education
Prof. A. Babs Fafunwa (1990–92)
Finance
Chu Okongwu; Olu Falae; Kalu Idika Kalu

Source: Federal Military Government Gazette 1985–93; CBN

Head of State · Military

Gen. Sani Abacha

1993–1998

National reality

Most repressive military regime in Nigerian history. Ogoni Nine hanged 10 November 1995 — Nigeria suspended from the Commonwealth. Abiola died in detention 7 July 1998. Abacha died 8 June 1998. Estimated $3–5 billion looted.

Crises of the period

Ogoni Nine execution (1995)
Commonwealth suspension 1995–99
Kudirat Abiola assassination (1996)
Abiola death in detention (1998)

GDP (World Bank)

$18 bn (1994) → $33 bn (1998)

Cabinet (selected portfolios)

Full ministerial roster being compiled.

Provisional Ruling Council. Full ministerial roster being compiled.

Source: HRW Nigeria reports 1994–98; Oputa Panel Report

President · Fourth Republic

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

1999–2007· PDP

National reality

Return to civilian rule, 29 May 1999. Telecoms deregulation (2001) — GSM revolution. Paris Club exit, October 2005 ($30 bn debt relief, Okonjo-Iweala). Pension Reform 2004. EFCC established 2003.

Crises of the period

Third Term agenda defeated 2006
Niger Delta militancy intensifies
ASUU strikes; Sharia introduction in 12 northern states

GDP (World Bank)

$59 bn (1999) → $166 bn (2007)

Cabinet (selected portfolios)

Finance
Adamu Ciroma (1999–2003); Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (2003–06)
Education
Tunde Adeniran; Babalola Borishade; Fabian Osuji; Chinwe Obaji; Oby Ezekwesili
Health
Prof. ABC Nwosu

Source: Federal Gazette 1999–2007; CBN; World Bank WDI

President · Fourth Republic

Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua

2007–2010· PDP

National reality

Niger Delta amnesty programme (2009). Yar'Adua became gravely ill in late 2009; the Doctrine of Necessity (Feb 2010) made Goodluck Jonathan Acting President. Yar'Adua died 5 May 2010.

Crises of the period

Yar'Adua medical absence + cabal
Niger Delta amnesty negotiations
Boko Haram founding violence (Maiduguri 2009)

GDP (World Bank)

$166 bn (2007) → $369 bn (2010, post-rebasing trajectory)

Cabinet (selected portfolios)

Education
Igwe Aja-Nwachuku; Dr. Sam Egwu

Source: Federal Gazette 2007–10

President · Fourth Republic

Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

2010–2015· PDP

National reality

GDP rebasing April 2014 made Nigeria Africa's largest economy. Chibok abduction 14 April 2014 (276 girls). Sovereign Wealth Fund established 2012. Fuel-subsidy protests January 2012. Lost the 2015 election — first incumbent defeated.

Crises of the period

#OccupyNigeria fuel-subsidy protests (Jan 2012)
Chibok abduction (Apr 2014)
Boko Haram caliphate at peak (2014)
Oil price crash from mid-2014

GDP (World Bank)

$369 bn (2010) → $546 bn (2014, post-rebasing — largest African economy)

Cabinet (selected portfolios)

Finance
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Coordinating Minister of the Economy)
Education
Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i; Ibrahim Shekarau
Petroleum
Diezani Alison-Madueke

Source: Federal Gazette 2010–15; NBS GDP rebasing report 2014

Methodology

Tier 1 · primary

Courts. Gazettes. National archives.

Tier 2 · corroborating

OCCRP. HRW. BudgIT. TheCable.

Redline

Wikipedia is never a source.