Out of the 36 states across Nigeria, only 9 states have produced heads of state at one time or the other.
Most popular among the states are Katsina, Kano which produced two different Nigerian leaders at a different time.

President Muhammadu Buhari » is one of Nigerian leader from Katsina, same as former President Umaru Musa Yar'adua who died on the seat of power.


Kano state produced Murtala Mohammed and General Sani Abacha, both are leaders during the military era while Ogun state produced Olusegun Obasanjo and Ernest Sonekan.


Business Insider Sub-Saharan Africa looks at the 9 states that produced all the Nigerian leaders:

1. Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria

Nnamdi Azikiwe, 1963 to 1966



2. Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria

Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, 16 January 1966 – 19 July 1966



3. Plateau State, Northern Nigeria

Yakubu Gowon 1 August 1966 – 29 July 1975



4. Kano State, Northern Region

a. Murtala Mohammed July 30, 1975 – February 13, 1976

b. Sani Abacha 17 November 1993 – 8 June 1998



5. Ogun State, Western Region

Olusegun Obasanjo 13 February 1976 – 30 September 1979 and 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007

Ernest Shonekan 26 August 1993 – 17 November 1993



6. Sokoto State, Northern Region

Shehu Shagari October 1, 1979 – December 31, 1983



7. Katsina State, Northern Nigeria

a. Muhammadu Buhari 31 December 1983 – 27 August 1985 and 2014 till date

b. Umaru Musa Yar'Adua 29 May 2007 – 5 May 2010



8. Niger State, Northern Nigeria

Ibrahim Babangida 27 August 1985 – 26 August 1993



9. Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria

Goodluck Jonathan 5 May 2010 – 29 May 2015


https://opera.pulse.ng/bi/lifestyle/these-are-the-9-states-that-have-produced-heads-of-state-id8757210.html

Nnamdi Azikiwe was not the head of government. You should have written Tafawa Balewa.

Well quite informative but I don't see it as an achievement but rather the growth and development these states have recorded over time ..

how about abdulsalam abubakar

If things turn out good.. Kwara state is up next

TMemos:
Nnamdi Azikiwe was not the head of government. You should have written Tafawa Balewa.

abeg
Comot *I* from Ikenna
Comot *BE* from Benita
Comot *ODE* from Bode
Con join am tell us Wetin e be

Abdusalami Abubakar was also Head of State from 1998 (June 9, 1998) to 1999 (May 28, 1999). He is from Niger State.

Bayelsa, truly a blessed state, created in 1996; has produced a president already.

chai ! When will Ondo State also produce Nigerian President.

hyfr:
abeg
Comot *I* from Ikenna
Comot *BE* from Benita
Comot *ODE* from Bode
Con join am tell us Wetin e be

You've not written anything meaningful

Imagine!

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TMemos:
Nnamdi Azikiwe was not the head of government. You should have written Tafawa Balewa.

And who is the first president of Nigeria?

No let me curse your history teacher

what about abdulsalami from Niger state n tafawa balewa from bauchi......u re not an historian u just need attention

Bukolar1:
chai ! When will Ondo State also produce Nigerian President.

mimiko is contesting already

TMemos:
Nnamdi Azikiwe was not the head of government. You should have written Tafawa Balewa.

He was the head of state, while Balewa was head of gov't.

The thread is about head of states. Though i feel the likes of Ironsi and Shonekan shouldn't be included due to the short time they were in office. They just include their names to make the list from the south east and south west look large so it looks like all regions and the three major ethnic groups have produced more than one head of state.

dheilaw1:
mimiko is contesting already

I know you made the post in jest, but just to add that Nigeria is not the US or France where a dark-horse can emerge and win based on the votes of the electorate. Valid electorate votes count for nest to nothing in Nigeria when the president is chosen!

TMemos:
Nnamdi Azikiwe was not the head of government. You should have written Tafawa Balewa.

. Topic says head of state

After producing head of state, where is Nigeria today?

Anambra did not produce any president rather Bauchi state in the person of the prime minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

A ceremonial president cannot be listed as head of state.

hyfr:
If things turn out good.. Kwara state is up next

Supported. Saraki for president.

gidgiddy:
After producing head of state, where is Nigeria today?

Did it strike you that all the mentioned states are among the most backwards

FriendNG:
Anambra did not produce any president rathe Bauchi state w in the person of the prime minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

A ceremonial president cannot be listed as head of state.

nawa oo, people don't understand parliamentary system of government, the prime minister answers to the president. the president is head of state and head of national Assembly.

EasternActivist:


And who is the first president of Nigeria?

No let me curse your history teacher

He was a ceremonial president.

He was not a president in the sense of today's presidents.

Stop exposing your ignorance

opyzy:
. Topic says head of state

The meaning of a Head of state means the head of government and not just a ceremonial head.

Xander85:


He was the head of state, while Balewa was head of gov't.

The thread is about head of states. Though i feel the likes of Ironsi and Shonekan shouldn't be included due to the short time they were in office. They just include their names to make the list from the south east and south west look large so it looks like all regions and the three major ethnic groups have produced more than one head of state.

No. Titles should not confuse us.

A Prime Minister is the head of government and he's like today's head of state or a president under a presidential system of government.

Balewa was the the effective and defacto head of state in today's parlance, not Azikiwe who was a mere ceremonial head.

TMemos:


He was a ceremonial president.

He was not a president in the sense of today's presidents.

Stop exposing your ignorance

Lolz. I asked you a question. Why not answer it plainly.

Teacher teach me nonsense.

You forget to add MKO