BY
OLUWAGBEMIGA ELIJAH A.
+2348032119397
ELIJAHOLUWAGBEMIGA@YAHOO.COM
BACKGROUND TO MILITARY RULE
It
is important not to be ignorant of the factors that led to military takeover of
the Nigerian government. According to Jemibewon, these factors are both remote
and immediate. One of the remote but endemic factors was the structural
imbalance of the federation – a situation in which the Northern Region, by
sheer population, expanse of geographical territory and representation in
parliament, was powerful enough as to hold the rest of the federation to
ransom. Other remote factors include – unhealthy inter-ethnic, inter-regional
and inter-governmental rivalry and animosity which were accentuated by the
politics of revenue allocation, population census, and so on, flowed largely from
this structural imbalance. Jemibewon
further points out the major immediate factors to be constitutional stalemate
following the 1964 general elections and the violence that attended the 1965.
Western Nigeria parliamentary elections seemed to be the most outstanding
(Jemibewon 1998: 38)
MILITARY IN POLITICS 15TH
JANUARY, 1966- JULY 1966
Major
General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi emerged as the first military head of state after
the January 15, 1966 coup carried out by five junior officers who were all
Igbos. Based on Major Nzeogwu’s (the master mind of the coup) interview of May
1967,Iroanusi(2000) deduce that some of the coupists (coup plotters) failed due
to misguided considerations at the 11th hour. It was observed that
the coup succeeded in the north as the intended targets were taken out but
failed in the south as most intended targets were spared especially in the east.
This plot was perceived as tribalistic which later contributed to the rise of a
counter coup. Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi abolished the regions and made the
nation a unitary one under decree number 34. This act brought about suspicion
among northerners who believed that sectional domination would be inevitable.
This general feeling was what led to the July 1966 counter coup. It is
important to note that this coup was majorly targeted at top Igbo army officers
which also led to the death of Ironsi. This counter coup ignited terror and
serious massacre of Igbo civilians in the north. The coup ushered in General
Yakubu Gowon as the head of state.
THE GOWON REGIME JULY 1966- JULY
29, 1975
Without
wasting time, he abrogated decree number 34 of Ironsi, knowing fully well that
it was a major cause of the counter coup. He abolished the unitary government. The
Gowon regime experienced a civil war that broke out in 1967 due to the
declaration of secession by the eastern region under the name Biafra. The
Federal Government sent troops to stop the secession, this led to a civil war
that took place for about 3 years (1967-1970) with the federal side winning the
war and restoring the country’s unity. After the civil war, the policy of “No
victor, no vanquished” was adopted by the Federal Government and a massive
program of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction was embarked upon
due to the aftermath of the civil-war particularly on areas affected so as to
pacify them.
(Mbah,
2001: 86-87) accounts for some impressive achievements of the military between 1966-1967:
1. There
was a massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of planned programs.
2. A
second economic developmental plan was drawn.
3. There
was a change from the country’s currency ‘Pound’ to ‘Naira’ in 1972.
4. The
introduction of UPE, Universal Primary Education that made education at the
primary level compulsory and free.
5. The
change from the right hand drive to the left hand drive
6. Gowon’s
regime in May 27, 1967 created a 12 state structure of the federation.
Iroanusi(2000)
accounts that Nigeria benefited from Gowon’s minority background in maintaining
stability of the country during the secessionist attempt and in reconciliation
process after the civil war.
Iroanusi(2000)
also accounts for the formation of Economic Community Of West African States
(ECOWAS) by Gowon’s administration.
Mbah(2001)
further lists some failures of Gowon’s regime:
1. The
military established most of the social vices and ills they claimed they came
to eradicate such as corruption and extravagance. A probe conducted after the
overthrow of Gowon’s government revealed how so corrupt his regime was. His
regime was characterized by bribery and corruption which has effect on today’s
government as an official means of conducting government business.
2. The
military through iron laws and dictatorial tendencies prevented open
discussions or public affairs before final decisions are reached.
3. Gowon’s
regime failed to keep to the 1976 deadline handover to an elected democratic
government.
4. Ethnicity
and nepotism became the order of the day.
5. Public
funds were wasted on massive importation of cement which led to blockage of
Nigerian ports and also, the hosting of the second Festival of Black African
Arts and Culture(FESTAC) on which his administration spent enormous amount of
money for very little concrete result.
6. His
administration neglected Agriculture due to the oil boom of the period.
7. The
regime also failed in the area of national interest like the unreliable census
of 1973, the creation of states for balanced federation and the failure of
conducting free and fair election.
Due
to these failures, it was no surprise that his government was overthrown in
1975 in a military bloodless coup when he was away to Kampala in Uganda for the
12th summit of OAU. This ushered in the Murtala/Obasanjo regime.
1975-1979 (Murtala/Obasanjo regime)
The
Murtala administration in no time began to work, correcting the mistakes of the
previous military government. The Murtala regime first and foremost retired
compulsorily officers of the rank of general, all military governors,
Inspector-General of police and his deputy. He also dismissed all state
commissioners and above all, he cancelled the 1973 census.
Mbah(2001)
records some merits to Murtala’s regime:
1. He
stooped further waste of public funds on unproductive programs. It instead
introduced austerity measures which improved the economy.
2. He
set a clear date for the return of government to elected civilians and kept to
the time frame and therefore became the first military regime that peacefully
relinquished power to an elected civilian.
3. On
foreign policy, his regime painted a good image of Nigeria by supporting MPLA,
the popular Angolan movement fighting for independence as opposed the American
backed UNITA.
4. He
introduced a uniform local government system through 1976 local government
reforms. Although, there were some shortcomings, but it is noted that it has
been the most democratic and most flexible local government system which
Nigeria had since colonial rule.
5. He
created 7 more states, thereby changing the structure of the Nigerian
Federation to 19 states, this equally brought rapid development to the affected
areas.
6. He
lifted the ban placed on politics since 1966 and conducted an election on the
basis of which Obasanjo handed over to elected civilian politicians in 1979.
Although, the election of 1979 was with some reservations, it was more orderly
than the Federal elections of 1964 and western regional election in 1965 which
was characterized by violence and which led to military takeover
7. Also,
stolen funds were recovered from corrupt public officers of the Gowon regime.
Demerits of the Murtala/Obasanjo
regime.
According
to Mbah(2001), despite the outstanding remarks of the Murtala/Obasanjo regime,
there were still some short comings:
1. Failure
of the regime to conduct a national census before handing over to an elected
civilian government.
2. The
challenge of corruption was left unsolved as many acquired illegal wealth among
military and civilian population which further widened the gap between the rich
and the poor and the proposal for an equalitarian society became a myth.
Iroanusi(2000)
notes that the Murtala Muhammed regime under the recommendations of Justice
Akinola Agenda panel on the establishment of a new capital territory, announced
the new FCT to be in Abuja. On February 13,1976, just 10 days after he had
announced that the federal capital would move by 1984 from Lagos to Abuja,
Muhammed was assassinated. “Although, the regime succeeded in its bid to hand
over the reins of power to a democratically elected government on 1st October,1979
with some electoral controversies particularly on the presidency but then, it
marked the end of thirteen years of military rule” (Mbah, 2001)
Military Government (1983-1999)
This
marked the second phase of the military back in government just after the
overthrow of the second republic. Military came back to power on December 31st,
1983 due to democratic inexperience coupled with immense corruption and
unavailability of economic intelligence of the second republic headed by Alahji
Shehu Shagari.. Iroanusi(2000) has it that Shagari’s leadership was at its
worst on economic matters.
Buhari regime (1983-1985)
This
regime came in to sanitize the society by retiring and retrenching failed
public officers. Corrupt officers were sent to tribunals. Buhari went ahead to
introduce War Against Indiscipline(WAI) and compulsory environmental sanitation
exercise.
Mbah(2001)
recorded some characteristics of the Buhari/Idiagbon regime:
1. Sanity
and discipline was restored as a way of life for Nigerians, although through
hard means.
2. The
regime set forth machineries in motion towards the revival of the Shagari’s NPN
battered economy.
3. Corruption
was squarely tackled before the regime was prematurely toppled.
But
like all other military regimes, it failed in the following areas:
1. Gross
abuse of fundamental human rights as a result of the regime’s promulgation of decree
4, of 1984 which restricted the freedom of press and public opinion. Related to
this was decree 2 of 1984 which empowers the government to detain without
trial.
2. The
public execution of drug peddlers was
seen as uncivilized and unprogressive as well as barbaric.
3. Most
of the social vices the regime sook to wipe out continued until today as the
military wallowed in corruption more and more. (Mbah, 2001: 91-92)
Iroanusi(2000)
is of the view that General Muhammadu Buhari did not have the intentions of
handing over to a democratic elected government before his overthrow. According
to Iroanusi(2000), the National Security Organization (NSO) based on decadence
contributed to the failure and overthrow of the Buhari regime in that it acted
as God’s own big toe seeing itself as a combination of CIA,KGB,FBI and Hitler’s
Gestapo.
General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime
(1985-1993)
On
his emergence as head of state on August 27,1985, General Ibrahim Babangida chose
to be loved by the Nigerian press, thereby abrogating the Decree 4 which Buhari
promulgated in that no freedom of expression of the press is allowed. By so
doing, he received immediate public acclaim because he also proclaimed the
protection of human rights as the cornerstone of his administration. Iroanusi(2000)
His
achievements as accounted by Mbah(2001):
1. He
created two more states namely: Katsina- and AkwaIbom and later in 1991, 9 more
states bringing the total number of states to thirty.
2. His
administration embarked on a very innovative economic program aimed at rescuing
the economy from the extravagance and corruption of the Shagari regime under a
general program that was called Structural Adjustment Program (SAP).
3. Two
other programs were launched aimed at further promoting economic recovery and
mobilizing the citizen’s action for development e.g., the creation of Directorate for food, road and
rural Infrastructure(DFRRI), Mass Mobilization for social justice, Self-Reliance
and Economic Recovery(MAMSER) This was expected to change Nigerian’s attitude
towards hard work, high sense of responsibility, avoidance of crimes and
corruption. But unfortunately, they were at their peak during Babangida’s regime,
he started the implementation of the new national policy on education aimed at
making Nigerian’s education relevant to the developmental needs of the country
(the 6-3-3-4 system).
4. His
regime mapped out a time frame for the transition of power from military to
civilian rule. Local government elections were conducted in 1987 on the
recommendations of the political department as it equally set up a
constitutional review committee, established a constituent assembly and
conducted election into it.
General
Babangida did not keep to the hand over
dates, he procrastinated from 1990 to 1992 and from 1992 to 1993 until he
annulled the 1993 presidential elections. This annulment of the June 12
elections led to violent demonstrations in different part of the country
especially Lagos and the south-west part of the country. It was believed by
political pundits that Babangida did not want to handover to a southerner
keeping the northern agenda alive which he later confirmed after the death of
Abiola and Abacha. Mbah(2001).
Pressure
from the international community and internal pressure forced him to “step
aside” a military jargon for leaving office unceremoniously. He constituted an
interim government that was headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. A Lagos high-court
in the same year declared the Interim National Government (IGN) as illegal and
in November,17 1993, the former minister of defense in the interim regime
shoved aside the illegal interim government of Shonekan and named himself the
head of state and commander of the Nigerian Armed forces. Mbah(2001) referred
to this as the smoothest coup. Before a brief analysis is made of the Abacha
regime, it is important to note some of the demerits of the Babangida regime.
These short comings as recorded by Mbah(2001) are:
1. The
annulment of the June 12, 1993 which threatened the corporate existence of
Nigeria as citizens started traveling back to their ethnic homelands in
anticipation of a possible war or an attempt to split the country.
2. Babangida’s
regime was characterized by a gross devaluation of the naira and the subsequent
spiral inflation that followed.
3. The
political transition timetable was dubiously followed unlike the Obasanjo
regime.
4. Continual
removal of fuel subsidy.
5. His
regime encouraged the idea of “winner takes all” as there was no judicious
sharing of resources. The stronger and influential in the society influenced
government to their advantage at the expense of the helpless masses.
6. His
regime released public officers and politicians detained for stealing public
funds and these same people were later appointed ministers in Abacha’s regime,
thereby glorifying them.
7. There
was rapid increase in crime during Babangida’s regime. The regime was openely
accused by the public for promoting and encouraging drug trafficking the advanced
fee fraud also know as 419.
1993-1998 (Abacha Regime)
General
Sani Abacha came to power on November 17,1993 and as accounted by
Iroanusi(2000), he came to power at the brink of another civil war due to the
annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election. By then, the economy was
already collapsing as NUPENG was on strike from 1993-1994 which immensely
contributed to the collapsed economy. Banks also were crumpling as more people
found it more prudent to keep their money in vaults at home. Advance free fraud
aka 419 and drug peddling had become the order of the day in Nigeria as it was
becoming a legitimate means of livelihood.
Mbah(2001)
records that Abacha’s regime encountered a whole lot of problems from
opposition groups which later merged into one formidable group to fight the
military government in less than few months in power. This group was known as
National Democratic coalition (NADCO). Abacha was angered, and he started
sending members of this group into detention without trial and forcing some
into exile. This regime was responsible for the hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa and
eight others who were members of the Ogoni group. The International community’s
reaction to this heinous act brought about a suspension of Nigeria from the
Common wealth.
However,
it should be of note that Abacha’s regime was applauded of bringing to book all
those behind the total collapse of about 26 distressed banks and also for its
war against drug peddlers. Mbah(2001) is of the view that Abacha’s regime
restored confidence in citizens that no one is untouchable or better put, above
the law. Also, it is noted that Abacha’s administration created 6 geo-political
zones and an addition of 6 more states, making the total number of states to be
36.
Despite
all these achievements, Nigerians were clamoring for a revival of the battered
economy and also wanted to see certain past government officials and chief
executives at various levels probed. The people also wanted government
positions less lucrative. There was also a demand for discipline and
accountability on the part of the government.
All
these expectations did not come to pass as General sani Abacha suddenly died in
power.
General Abdusalami Abubakar
(1998-1999)
It
is important to note that the Late General Sani Abacha during his regime
suspended the Armed Forces Ruling Council(AFRC) and introduced the Provisional
Ruling Council (PRC) as the highest policy making body of the country.
General
Abdulsalami Abubakar was a member of the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) and
former chief of defense staff in Late Abacha’s administration. He assumed
office after the sudden death of General Sani Abacha and he immediately made
consultations among the six geo-political zones that make up the federation on
the way forward and proffered solutions on how the political crisis caused by
the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election could be solved.
He
made it crystal clear to Nigerians that he was not interested in the political
office but rather to move the nation forward by handing over the reins of power
to a democratically elected civilian and return the military back to its
traditional role of protecting the territorial integrity of this country
against external attacks or international insurrection.
According
to Mbah(2001), Abubakar’s regime was characterized by certain economic
programmes which were introduced to ascertain the genuineness of the regime’s
transition to a democratic rule. Its aim was to recreate the image of Nigeria
which had been tarnished by the regime of the late General Sani Abacha. The
program started with-
1. The
appointment of a 14 member Independent National Electoral Commission in August
1998 to oversee the entire transition process including the setting of the
timetable and the electoral laws.
2. The
registration of voters by INEC in September 1998.
3. Elections
were conducted into various democratic institutions starting with the local
government elections in December 5, 1998, house of assembly and gubernatorial
elections in January 9, 1999. National assembly elections were conducted on
February 20 while the presidential elections were scheduled for February 27,
1999
4. The
regime also set up a committee to review Abacha’s 1995 constitution which was
rejected and the 1979 Obasanjo’s constitution was suggested, then amended.
5. The
regime also made effort to usher in a new economic order targeted at
facilitating the inflow of foreign resources for economic growth, development
as well as poverty alleviation.
Abubakar’s
regime was applauded for the following:
1. Keeping
the promise for handing over power to a civilian regime.
2. National
reconciliation by meeting the needs of different regional and interest groups.
He also released opponents of the late General Abacha’s, human rights activists
and NADCO members who were in different detention camps.
3. Abubakar’s
shuttle diplomacy all over the globe after the demise of Abacha embraced
Nigeria back into the International Community.
4. New
minimum wage were paid to workers.
5. The
regime recovered some stolen money looted from the national treasury by the
late General Sani Abacha and family. Properties, assets and money recovered
were publicized.
Despite
these remarkable achievements, there were some short comings of the Abubakar
regime. These are recorded by Mbah(2001) as:
1. The
regime’s political transition was hi-jacked by retired army officers and
discredited politicians of the second republic.
2. The
election exercise was fraudulent, malpractice was involved which made the
presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy(AD) conclude while
submitting to defeat that the presidential election and the entire elections
should be probed and studied as a special case in electoral malpractice curb
future occurrence.
3. The
regime was characterized by tribalism in that ministerial positions went to his
own Northern kinsmen to justify their being in control
4. Abubakar’s
administration was characterized by a very high level of corruption in that it
spent 60 billion naira in twenty six days, awarded inflated contracts to
members of government and their fronts. Also, it was noticed that money was
stashed away from the national treasury to foreign banks. (Mbah, 2001:102-103)
The effects of military
rule on contemporary Nigerian government.
This
paper will be concluded by identifying certain effects military regime has on
present Nigerian government.
From
a keen observation of the contemporary Nigerian government, it can be observed
that we are still being governed by military men in that they still call the
shots in our contemporary politics. They might have put-off the military
uniform, but they still influence present political decisions today in Nigeria.
From
the views of Frank and Ukpere(2012), it is observed that our so called
democratic government is characterized by an obvious display of militarized
political culture. In the sense that the political behavior of our suppose
states men in a democratic setting is that of an aggressive posture rather than
dialogue, negotiation and reconciliation as demanded by democratic tenants.
For
instance, we witnessed the incident in which
Late President Yar Adua ordered the closure of channels television for
allegedly informing the public that he was likely to resign on account of poor
health.
Also,
the forceful closure of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s office by former
President Olusegun Obasanjo and the sudden removal of Mr. Audu Ogbe, a former
chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) all within a democratic
setting. Frank and Ukpe(2012)
It
is also observed that during the military regimes, economic advantages had been
allotted to themselves for instance, the ownership of oil blocks. This brings
about enormous wealth which in turn makes the control and influence on democratic
politics feasible.
According
to Frank and Ukpe (2012), it is observed that human rights were violated in a
so called democratic setting citing an example where by freedom of speech and
expression was impinged upon. The former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s debate
for a 3rd term was aired live by African Independent Television
(AIT) there by scaring away those who would have debated in favor for an
elongation of tenure. The State Security Service (SSS) assaulted the AIT
reporters, stopped and destroyed the master tapes of a documentary titled ‘a
tenure elongation’. In April 2007, SSS again invaded the studio of same station
during the airing of ‘a documentary on Nigerian political development’.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, it is observed from this paper that Nigeria’s democracy has some
traces of military in its nature. The answer and solution for a True democratic
setting in Nigeria is by creating a sort of academy where by the norms and
ethics of democracy are imbibed and politicians being trained before fully
qualifying to participate as candidates in elections.
REFERENCES
Iroanusi,
S.O. (2000) The making of the Fourth
Republic. Lagos: Sam Iroanusi Publications.
JEMIBEWON,
D.M. (1998) The Military, Law and Society:
Ibadan: Spectrum Books Limited.
MBAH,
C.C. (2001) Government in Politics in
Modern Nigeria: A search for an orderly society. Onitsha: Joanee
Educational Publishers limited.
Oyeleye,
O. and Adigun, A. (1999) Nigeria:
Politics of Transition and Governance, 1986-1996 (ed) Great Britain:
Russell Press Ltd., Basford.
Frank,
E.O. and Ukpere, W.I. (2012) The Impact of Military Rule on Democracy in
Nigeria paper. Pp286-289.
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