On February 13, 1976, there was an unsuccessful coup in which general Murtala Muhammed was killed. His Army Chief of Staff, Lt-Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, who succeeded him, reassigned col. Innih to kwara State and replace him with Commodore Husaini Abdullahi who was born on March 3rd 1939 in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa state, took charge of the affairs of the state from March 1976 to July 1978.

As a Lieutenant Commander, Abdullahi was in charge of troop landings from NNS Lokoja during the capture of Bonny Island in July 1967, during the Nigerian Civil War. On 30 July 1975, the new Head of State Brigadier Murtala Muhammed announced that Captain Abdullahi had been appointed to the Supreme Military Council

Husaini Abdullahi was promoted until he got to the rank of Vice-Admira. Before retirement from the force, served the nation at various capacities before bringing his wealth of experience to bear in governing the state.