MILITARY RULE IN NIGERIA; NOTABLE PROS AND CONS

 

INTRODUCTION 

Military rule in Nigeria started when members of the Nigerian Armed Forces seized power through coup d’état in the sixth year of the country’s independence. The military then ruled Nigeria for twenty nine years between 1966 to 1999 with a break from 1979 to 1983 and another three months break in 1993. There were eleven coups, both successful and otherwise, within this period in Nigeria’s history. There were eight military heads of state in total, each surrounded with different circumstances, and their governments have different impacts on the development of Nigeria which would be discussed. 

MAJOR GENERAL JOHNSON THOMAS UMUNAKWE AGUIYI-IRONSI'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT (17TH JANUARY, 1966 –29TH JULY, 1966) 

The government emerged as a result a bloody coup led by Major Chukuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15th January, 1966. The coup led to the death of prominent political leaders in the country including Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa ( Prime Minister), Sir Ahmadu Bello (Premier of the Northern Region), Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (Premier of the Western Region), and Chief Festus Okotie Eboh (Minister of Finance). Due to the situation of things in the country, Aguiyi-Ironsi could not do much in his six months of rule. He was burdened with the task of addressing the situation and saving the country from disintegration. The regime altered the existing political structure in the country, converting it into a united centralized system. He was assassinated during a countercoup led by Northern military officers in Ibadan alongside Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, who was then the military governor of Western Region. 

GENERAL YAKUBU JACK GOWON'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT (1ST AUGUST, 1966 –29TH JULY, 1975) 

General Gowon’s emergence as Head of State was through counter bloody coup and unusual of military practice not being the most senior officer at the time. Brigadier General Ogundipe was the most senior military officer in the armed forces. He was in charge of the country’s leadership during the dark phase from 29th July leading to the announcement of the assassination of the Head of State. General Gowon spent nine years in power which was initially faced with challenges of civil war from 1967 to 1970. During this period, the main focus of his government was continued existence of one Nigeria. Afterwards, national reconciliation and development became the focal point of administration. The regime had lots of money to spend as a result of the rise in fuel price in the international market and high demand of  Nigerian  oil  by the West during oil embargo in the Middle East. General Gowon’s regime achieved much in terms of development. They built  roads,  dams,  bridges  and  made  electrical  installation  across  major  cities  in the country. The regime hosted lots of African events and was a strong voice in the fight against Apartheid in South Africa.

General Yakubu Gowon created twelve states from the four regions of the country. The regime will also be remembered for the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps and introduction of Naira to replace Nigerian Pounds. However, the General Gowon military government was not free from alleged corruption  and  mismanagement of the country’s economy as  revealed  by  the  Great Purge carried out by the successive military government.  

GENERAL MURTALA RAMAT MOHAMMED’S MILITARY GOVERNMENT (30TH JULY, 1975 – 13TH FEBRUARY, 1976)

General Murtala Mohammed became the third military Head of State through a palace coup that ousted the General Gowon administration. The coup became necessary, according to the plotters, after General Yakubu Gowon’s government failed to return the country to civilian rule as promised in his independence speech of 1st October, 1972 and also due to the mismanagement of the country’s economy. The General Murtala government came into office at a time the country was rich and the economy power was high enough to do whatever he wanted. Even though he ruled for just seven months, he "purged" the public- service ministries, universities, parastatals, and other government agencies at the federal and state levels of individuals accused of being corrupt, indolent, or inefficient.

He set up panels on the creation of more states and a new federal capital because of the congestion of Lagos. This led to the creation of seven additional states in 1976 and the recommendation of Abuja as the site of a new capital. Of all Murtala Mohammed's deeds, the one that had the most lasting consequences was a program of transition to civilian rule that he initiated before his death. The program was carried through as planned by his successor, Obasanjo. The stages of the transition agenda included the creation of more states, the reform of the local government system, the making of a new constitution, the formation of parties and, finally, the election of a new government. The transition process was to conclude with handing over of power to civilians on 1st October, 1979. On the international scene, General Murtala took the world by storm within a short period of time. Nigeria gained tremendous respect in the comity of nations. His administration was terminated by his assassination in a bloody aborted coup led by Lieutenant Colonel B.S. Dimka on 13th February, 1976.

GENERAL OLUSEGUN OBASANJO'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT (13TH FEBRUARY, 1976 – 1ST OCTOBER, 1979)

General Olusegun Obasanjo, who was General Murtala Mohammed’s  deputy  took over power as  the  fourth  military  Head  of  State  and continued  the  programmes of the regime of his predecessor to the end.  The  regime  appointed  the  Constitutional Committee that produced a new constitution and adopted the presidential system of government  for  the  country  in  1979.  The  1979  Constitution has been a model for subsequent constitutions in the country.

The first visit of a  sitting American  President  to  sub-Saharan  Africa  was  to  Nigeria in 1978. The regime under the leadership of General Obasanjo ensured  Britain accepted responsibility for Zimbabwe’s independence and supported the liberation of South Africa from the Apartheid Government. The  regime hosted  the first  united  intervention  conference  for  Apartheid  in  Lagos  with  123  countries  in attendance in 1978. It also  hosted  the  Second  World  Black  and  African  Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ‘77) among others. The regime made Nigeria proud and gave her a voice in international politics. The Obasanjo administration used the Land Use Decree of 1978 to rationalize the country's chaotic tenurial systems, so as to facilitate the acquisition of land for modern agricultural purposes. Similarly, the Obasanjo regime launched Operation Feed the Nation to counter the rapid rise in food exports. None of these efforts was successful, but the programs indicated the kind of strategies that Nigeria would have to adopt to alter its economic imbalances.

General elections  were  held  at  various  levels  across  the  country  as the  climax  of the five stages transition programme.  On  1st  October,  1979,  the country returned to  civilian  rule  ending  the  first  coming  of  the  military  into  politics  after  13 years.  The  country  witnessed  dynamic  leadership  and  actions  guided  by the overall concern for national interest  and  consideration  for  justice,  peace  and stability under the regime.

THE MAJOR GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI’S MILITARY GOVERNMENT (31ST DECEMBER, 1983 – 27TH AUGUST, 1985)

Just about four years into second republic, the military struck again with Major General Muhammadu Buhari emerging as the fifth military Head of State and Commander in  Chief  of  the  Armed  Forces  through  a  non-violent  coup d’état.  The expelled civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari had spent  recklessly,  milked and looted the economy such that, when the Buhari-led military administration took over governance, it met an almost empty national treasury. Because of the great powers that his second in command, Major General Tunde Idiagbon, chief of staff at Supreme Headquarters, was believed to wield, many commentators refer to this government as the Buhari/Idiagbon regime.

Major General Muhammadu Buhari  was  one  of  the  strongest military  dictators  the country ever had  as  Head  of  State.  He  had  good  intentions  but  his rigid  style of  leadership  negated  the  good  intentions  of  his  government. The  regime  did not do  much  in  the  international  scene  outside  trade  and  sustaining  existing national  foreign  policy. The Buhari government investigated and detained  the top political leaders of the Second Republic, holding them responsible for economic excesses of the previous regime. Constraints were placed on various groups, including the Nigerian Medical Association, which was outlawed, and the National Association of Nigerian Students, and two decrees were promulgated that restricted freedom of the press and criticism of the government.

Buhari's government declared War Against Indiscipline (WAI) in its efforts to deal with the problems of "indiscipline" in the areas of environmental sanitation, public etiquette, corruption, smuggling, and disloyalty to national symbols such as the flag and the anthem. It closed the country's land borders for a period to identify and expel illegal alien workers and placed severe restrictions on imports and heavy penalties on smuggling and foreign exchange crimes. The strict measures made it difficult for local industries to procure essential imported raw materials, leading many of them to close or to operate at greatly reduced capacity. Many workers were laid off, and government itself terminated the employment many workers to increase its "cost effectiveness." All of these actions were accompanied by high inflation. The price of basic food items rose, and life became increasingly difficult, even for the affluent.

Despite the increased efficiency with which Buhari and his associates tackled the multifaceted national crisis, the regime's rigidity caused discontent. The latter was the main justification given for the overthrow of Buhari by General Babangida on August 27th, 1985, although the personal ambition of Babangida was an important contributing factor.

General Ibrahim Babangida's emerged as the sixth Head of  State on 27th August, 1985 through another palace coup. Compared with Buhari who was stern and rigid, Babangida was methodical and strategic. Babangida came to power as a champion of human rights, but his record in this aspect worsened over time. He gradually released most of the politicians imprisoned by Buhari. Yet, he often harrassed opposition interest groups, especially those of labour and students, and detained many radical and anti-establishment persons for various offenses.

General  Babangida  told  the  world  that  his  led  military  government  would  be  the last  to  rule  Nigeria.  The  administration  renamed  the  Supreme  Military Council to the  Armed  Forces  Ruling.  He  promulgated  his  official  title  from Military Head of State to Military President (the first and only Nigerian Military President). The regime put in place several measures and established national  agencies to address  the  various  socio-economic  challenges  confronting  the  country.  Some of  these  measures  and   agencies  include the National  Directorate  of Employment; the National Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure; Structural  Adjustment  Programme  (SAP);  the  Directorate of   Social Mobilisation; the National Electoral Commission; the Constitutional Review Committee that produced the 1989 Draft Constitution and other laudable policies and agencies. General Ibrahim  Babangida's  regime  had  a  clear  vision  of governance  and  the  will to implement its programmes.

The military government built  the  famous  Third  Mainland  Bridge  in  Lagos, created  11  more  states  which  increased  the  numbers of  states  in  the  country  to 30. He created  the  State Security  Service  (SSS),  the  National  Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and  established  the  Federal  Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The regime dualised major roads across the country and built dams. Another notable achievement of the  General Babangida's  regime  was  the relocation of  the  Federal  Capital  Territory  from  Lagos  to  Aso Rock,  Abuja. The regime had its fair share of human rights abuse; notable ones are the alleged killing of Dele Giwa with a letter bomb and the killing of his friend and colleague, General Mamman Jiya Vatsa for alleged coup attempt.

The regime, despite its modest achievements, unfortunately, had the longest  transition programme in the  history  of  the  country. The  transition  programme  and dates were changed four times by the military regime. The government  established two  political  parties  in  the  country: the  Social  Democratic  Party  (SDP) and the National Republican Party (NRC). Elections for Local Government Councils across the country, the  State  Houses  of  Assembly,  National Assembly  and the Governors were successfully conducted. The  Presidential  election  which  was the pinnacle of  the  transition  programme  was  annulled  on  12  June,  1993  by the military government. The elections  were  deemed  to  be  free  and  fair  by  both local and international election  observers.  General  Ibrahim  Babangida  stepped aside (in his words) on 27th August, 1993 in response to pressure  and protest arising from the  annulment  of  the  Presidential election.  He  handed  over  to an Interim Civilian Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan.

THE GENERAL SANI ABACHA’S MILITARY GOVERNMENT (17TH NOVEMBER,1993 – 8TH JUNE, 1998)

General Sani Abacha took over power from the Interim National Government in a non-violent coup on 17th November, 1993. He renamed the Armed Forces Ruling Council to Provisional Ruling Council. He was the only senior military officer and member of the General Babangida’s Military Council not retired when the military President stepped down from government in 1993. His Provisional Ruling Council consisted of six senior military officers, the Inspector General of Police and four civilians. The political environment home and abroad was tensed when he assumed the leadership of the country. This was due to the annulment of the 1993 Presidential election.

The new military government began by the introduction of War Against Indiscipline and Corruption. Yet, the same government turned out to be one of the most corrupt military government with the Abacha loots discovery years after his demise. General Sani Abacha was a dictator par excellence, and had a different style of leadership. In 1994, he issued a decree that placed his military government above the jurisdiction of any court in the country . He abrogated absolute power to himself as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He could detain anyone without trial for up to three months. Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the 12 June, 1993 Presidential election, declared himself President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was arrested at the orders of the Head of State for treason, jailed and subsequently died in detention. The trio of General Olusegun Obasanjo, General Shehu Yar’Adua and General Oladipo Diya were arrested for alleged coup attempt and jailed; General Shehu Yar’Adua died in detention also.

The military government of General Abacha tolerated no opposition. Since he understood the coup game, he cracked down on all perceived enemies of his government and policy within and outside the military. The height of the regime’s human right abuse was the killing of Ken Saro Wiwa and other Ogoni activists despite the outcry from within the country and abroad. Another gruesome human right abuse the regime was accused of was the alleged murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, the wife of the acclaimed winner of the 1993 Presidential election, for her continuous protest against the government. Nigeria became an outcast state under the General Abacha’s regime and the international community closed her doors against Nigeria during thisperiod.

The administration did well in the economy, it reduced the external debts from

36 billion dollars in 1993 to 27 billion dollars in 1997. The administration also increased the country's foreign reserve from 4.4 billion dollars to 9.6 billion dollars within the same period. The economic achievements of the regime were overshadowed years later by the discovery of mass looting of the national treasury and corruption by the Head ofState. More than twenty years after the

 demise of General Sani Abacha, the country, through the successive civilian governments, is still recovering Abacha’s loots from banks around the world. The military government of General Abacha created six states, taking the numbers of the states in the country to 36. The administration also reorganized the country into 6 geopolitical zones. The government established and funded five political parties as part of its transition programme. He announced the transition programme which was to begin on 1st August, 1998 and terminated with the Presidential election and a return to civilian rule on 1st October, 1998. He died on 8th June, 1998 before the transition programme commenced.

THE GENERAL ABDULSALAMI ABUBAKAR’S MILITARY GOVERNMENT (8TH JUNE, 1998 – 29TH MAY, 1999)

General Abdulsalami Abubakar emerged the eighth military Head of State after the sudden death of General Abacha on 8th June, 1998. General Abdulsalami was a gentleman officer whom the responsibility of the country’s leadership fell upon, although he was the number three man in the military hierarchy at the time. The number two man next to the late Head of State, General Oladipo Diya, was in detention for an alleged coup attempt. General Abdulsalami was not known, all his days in the military, to have had political ambitions or held any political position. Till date, he is the only former military Head of State in Nigeria that has not sought for political office after retirement.

General Abdulsalami made it clear from the beginning of his regime that he was ready to return the country to civilian rule within a short period of time. He also promised that his military-led government would be the last and soldiers would be returned to the barracks to focus on their constitutional duty. The international community opened her doors to the country and Nigeria reclaimed her position and respect in the comity of nations. General Abdulsalami did not pay much attention to the economy, he was preoccupied

 with the transition plans. He got the support of the world and within three months as Head of State, he had visited Great Britain, the United States of America, Canada and Israel, a feat General Sani Abacha could not achieve in four and half years in office. General Abacha only visited South Africa during President Mandela’s inauguration while in office. General Abdusalami successfully executed his transition programme within eleven months and returned the country to democratic rule on 29th May, 1999.

CONCLUSION

Even though some people believed that military rule is the root of Nigeria’s problems, it can be concluded that military rule in Nigeria is a mix of benefits and shortcomings for the country. Some positive impacts of military rule include creation of states which gives more power to many minority ethnic groups, infrastructural development and stability of the country while adverse effects include bloodshed, violation of human rights and corruption, even though some military governments fought againstit.

REFERENCES

Etebom J.M. (2021). The Long Years of Military Rule in Nigeria: A Blessing or a Curse. Journal of Public Administration andGovernance.

Helen Chapin Metz (1991). Nigeria: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for Library of Congress.countrystudies.us/nigeria

Adeniyi P. (2010). Nigeria: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Daily Graphics Nigeria Limited,Ibadan.

wikipedia.org

Abdulsobur Akinade