Background
Musa was born on February 3, 1940, in Enugu in Eastern Nigeria. His parents were both devout Muslims; his father, Alhaji Usman Kakagida, was himself a soldier in the Nigerian army.
Musa was born on February 3, 1940, in Enugu in Eastern Nigeria. His parents were both devout Muslims; his father, Alhaji Usman Kakagida, was himself a soldier in the Nigerian army.
Educated at the Goodbye School, Ibadan, St Michael’s School, Kaduna and the Military School, Zaria, where he passed out in 1958 as the best allrounder.
Major Usman was a participant in the July 1966 coup when Major General Aguiyi Ironsi was overthrown, replaced by General Yakubu Gowon. Appointed governor of North-East State in May 1967, Usman initiated construction of the Ashaka cement factory, eventually opened on 19 July 1979 by Major-General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua. In 1975 he participated in friendly negotiations with Cameroon to settle the border between that country and Nigeria. He was a cautious supporter of the principle that the military government should hand over to civilian rule in 1976.
After retirement, he was allocated a residence in the prestigious Jabi Street area of Kaduna. Usman later became a director of the Bank of the North.
A cool, hardworking and sincere governor highly respected by the people of the North-eastern State. He was formerly Commander of the Air Force Tactical and Training Wing. He is a keen sportsman particularly fond of tennis and hunting. Well known as a man of principle and highly regarded by General Gowon, he was made Military Governor of the North-east at the tender age of 27.