Senior Correspondent, VICTOR EBIMOMI, looks at the different administrations in the country since Independence from Britain in 1960.
In the beginning
Nigeria was a British colony until October 1, 1960. That day, the Union Jack (British flag) was lowered, while the Nigerian green and white flag was hoisted. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became the first Prime Minister of the independent nation.
Three main political parties ran in the 1959 elections that ushered in Independence. These were National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), which had control of the Eastern Region (Igbo) and led by Nnamdi Azikiwe; the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), which had control of the Northern Region (Hausa-Fulani) and led by Ahmadu Bello; and the Action Group (AG), which had control of the Western Region (Yoruba) and was headed by Obafemi Awolowo.
When none of the parties won a majority during the 1959 elections, the NPC went into alliance with NCNC to form a coalition government. Thus, in 1960, Balewa became the Prime Minister, while Azikiwe was appointed Governor-General.
When Nigeria became a Republic in 1963, Azikiwe became President of the Federal Republic and Balewa remained as Prime Minister. The NPC-NCNC marriage, however, did not last, for some reasons. There was, for instance, the controversy over the 1963 population census, which the Igbo felt overestimated the number of Hausa-Fulani, to give the Northern Region more representation in the federal parliament. NCNC, consequently, split with the NPC and teamed up with some members of the AG led by Awolowo to form the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), while the NPC led a coalition with Ladoke Akintola’s faction of the AG to form the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP). On account of other disturbing developments in the land, it became apparent that the politicians had lost focus. More so, the unity of the country had become seriously threatened.
Enter the 1966 coup
On January 15, 1966, the military staged a coup that toppled the government of Balewa, claiming that the action was taken to save the nation from descending into lawlessness and to stamp out the large-scale corruption perpetrated by the political class. That ended what is referred to today as First Republic.
In the ensuing confusion, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Nigerian army, was called upon by the civil authority to assume power as head of state. The administration tried to restore discipline within the army, suspended the regional constitution and formed a centralised Federal Military Government. It also abolished the federal system and introduced the unitary government and unified both federal and regional civil servants.
But the regime only lasted for seven months before another coup sent it packing on July 29, 1966. Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed in the coup.
Gowon takes over
On August 1, 1966, Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon (later General) took over power as military head of state after the July coup in which Aguiyi-Ironsi and some other officers, especially from the East, were killed. The regime lasted for nine years before it was overthrown in another military coup.
The major highlights of the administration included development of the country’s former capital – Lagos, creation of 12 states and expansion of government bureaucracy. The government also fought to keep Nigeria one during the civil war which broke out between 1967 and 1970, and will equally be remembered for its indigenisation policy of 1972. The policy has, however, been heavily criticised as being tailored to favour some sections of the country against the others. In 1975, the regime was cut short through a coup on July 29, 1975.
Murtala Mohammed mounts the stage
Brigadier-General Murtala Muhammed (later General) became the head of state after the coup that ousted Gowon who was attending an Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit in Kampala, Uganda. OAU has metamorphosed to African Union (AU).
Murtala’s administration was noted for its puritanical policies.
One of the first steps taken by the regime was the scrapping of the 1973 census, which was weighted in favour of the North, and revert to the 1963 count for official purposes. It removed top federal and state officials to break links with the Gowon regime and to restore public confidence in the federal government. More than 10,000 public officials and employees were dismissed without benefits, on account of age, health, incompetence or malpractice. The purge affected the civil service, judiciary, police and armed forces, diplomatic service, public corporations, and universities. Some officials were brought to trial on charges of corruption. He also began the demobilisation of 100,000 troops from the swollen ranks of the armed forces.
The regime also imposed the authority of the federal government in areas formerly reserved for the states, restricting the latitude exercised by state governments and their governors in determining and executing policy. The federal government took over the operation of the country’s two largest newspapers – Daily Times and New Nigerian, made broadcasting a federal monopoly, and brought remaining state-run universities under federal control.
The regime equally initiated a comprehensive review of the Third National Development Plan, singling out inflation as the greatest danger to the economy.
The administration was, however, cut short on February 13, 1976, when Murtala’s car was ambushed in a traffic in Lagos by some soldiers who shot and killed him.
Obasanjo takes charge
General Olusegun Obasanjo became the Head of State on February 14, 1976, after the assassination of Murtala. Before then, he was Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters – the number two in the chain of command in Murtala’s government.
Major achievements of the Obasanjo era included improvement in education, through the universal primary education policy and other programmes; attempts to expand the country’s industrial base with huge revenues from the oil boom at the time; the Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), a programme designed to encourage farmers in the country as well as unification of the local government system.
It is also on record that the regime supervised the writing of the 1979 Constitution, which was patterned after the United States constitution. It is also the first military junta in Africa to hand over power to a civilian government; that was in 1979.
Shagari assumes power
Shehu Shagari emerged the president of the country on October 1, 1979 in a military-organised election. He contested on the platform of National Party of Nigeria (NPN). The other contenders were Azikiwe of Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP), Awolowo of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Waziri Ibrahim of Great Nigerian Peoples Party (GNPP) and Aminu Kano of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). The election generated controversies and was challenged in court by the UPN on the ground that the NPN failed to meet the constitutional requirement of 25 per cent votes in two-third of the 19 states of the federation. But at last, the NPN won the case.
The administration initiated an economic stabilisation programme meant to protect the country against any shortfalls in oil revenue after the highs of the 70s and to guide the economy towards positive growth.
Despite all these, little appeared to have been achieved, as the economy nosedived on account of the endemic corrupt practices in the system. In addition, religious and politically-motivated violence almost became the order of the day that when the military sacked the administration on December 31, 1983, many Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief.
Buhari/Idiagbon junta seizes power
It was the putsch of December 31, 1983 that brought in the Buhari/ Idiagbon regime. Major General Muhammadu Buhari was Head of State and Commander-in-Chief, while Major General Tunde Idiagbon was appointed Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters (the number two in autority).
The administration justified the military’s seizure of power from Shagari by castigating the civilian government as hopelessly corrupt. It promptly embarked on many drastic policies aimed at bringing sanity into the system. Prominent among measures was War Against Indiscipline (WAI), which restored orderliness in public life and dedication to public services.
The regime also jailed many politicians varied years for alleged corruption.
In fact, it was a period of fear and joy as people became very mindful of what they did or said,
just as the press was gagged through Decree 4. Tunde Thompson and Ndukar Irabor, both of The Guardian Newspapers, had a bitter taste of the decree, as they were jailed for contravening it. Also promulgated was the dreaded Decree 2, which has to do with state security; it allowed persons to be kept incommunicado as long as it pleases the security agents. There were other instances of draconian tendencies on the part of the administration.
But overall, the regime instilled some elements of discipline and patriotism in the populace before it was overthrown on August 27, 1985.
Babangida’s palace coup
General Ibrahim Babangida, a former Chief of Army Staff in the Buhari government, seized power on August 27, 1985.
His regime cited abuse of human rights and downward trend of the economy, among others, as the reason for the coup. It therefore abrogated the unpopular policies he inherited in office. The regime was initially popular for its liberal economic policies. It tried to introduce the culture of debate into politics, with the open deliberations that preceded his launching of the Bretton Woods institutions-supported Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). It also introduced many socio-economic policies aimed at opening up the rural area and empowering the rural dwellers. It is reputed to have introduced a two-party system – the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC), which was sponsored by the government to make everybody a ‘joiner’ not founder. The policy threw up new crop of leaders in various spheres of the country’s political life.
The administration, however, flopped when, after administering an eight-year political transition programme, it eventually failed to enthrone democracy. Perhaps, its worst record in this aspect is the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election which was adjudged the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s post-Independence history. The election was behind to have been won by business mogul, Moshood Abiola. The regime eventually caved in on August 26, 1993 as protests and civil disobedience over the annulment forced Babangida to “step aside”. Before then, he had become the first and only ‘Military President’ Nigeria ever produced.
That marked the abortion of what would have been the Third Republic.
Shonekan heads ING
When Babangida was leaving, he installed an Interim National Government (ING) headed by Ernest Shonekan, a technocrat. Even at that, agitation for the revalidation of June 12 presidential election results remained unabated.
Shonekan’s administration, thus, lasted only three months, as a palace coup led by General Sani Abacha dubbed ‘Shonekan’s resignation’ forcefully dismantled the remaining democratic institutions and brought the government back under military control.
Abacha’s regime
General Sanni Abacha assumed the leadership of Nigeria on November 17, 1993. The regime is on record today as one of the most brutal and corrupt military regime that has ever surfaced on the Nigerian political landscape.
Rather than introduce any new policies, Abacha was busy fighting pro-democracy groups and civil society organisations. In fact, the regime was one that spread so much fear across the land to the extent that many prominent Nigerians had to go on self-exile for safety of their lives.
Locally and internationally, it was accused of human rights abuses, especially after the hanging of Ogoni activist, Kenule Saro-Wiwa, by a tribunal. It became an outcast in the international community as it was expelled by Commonwealth of Nations and kept at distance by many other countries, including those in Africa.
The regime was so directionless that, at a point, Abacha himself decided to transmute from military head of state to civilian president and was almost getting it, as he had been adopted by five political parties as their candidate before his sudden death on June 8, 1998.
The period has been variously described by many analysts as the ‘years of the locust’ because of the looting that took place under the regime. Till date foreign financial institutions are still repatriating the loot the dark-goggled dictator stashed away before his ‘miraculous’ demise.
Abdulsalami Abubakar to the rescue
General Abdulsalami Abubakar came into the political limelight as he assumed the position of head of state after the sudden death of Abacha on June 8, 1998. His regime did not last long, but was credited to have re-established democracy in the country.
The administration registered three political parties to partake in the election. They were Alliance for Democracy (AD), All Peoples Party (APP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It conducted a successful general election which culminated in the enthronement of democracy on May 29, 1999.
Return of Obasanjo
The Olusegun Obasanjo administration was the first civilian rule after 16 years of military interregnum. Obasanjo became president on the platform of the PDP. The administration was reputed to have made some important policy decisions aimed at transforming the country. They include the privatisation of the federal public utilities such as National Electric Power Authority (NEPA); formation of anti-graft agencies to fight corruption and establishment of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDCC), an intervention agency to develop the environmentally-degraded oil-producing part of the country, among others.
Its first four years brought hopes to Nigerians, but the second term between 2003 and 2007 did not witness much national development, as there was alleged plot of tenure elongation otherwise referred to as ‘Third Term’ agenda which somehow distracted the government from its major priorities.
However, the administration is acknowledged for being able to, at least, conduct a civilian-to-civilian transition in 2007.
Yar’Adua becomes president
After Obasanjo’s administration came that of Umaru Yar’Adua, who also emerged from the PDP. The administration, which started on May 29, 2007, did not, however, last long as Yar’Adua ruled for just two years before he took ill and died on May 5, 2010. The election of Yar’Adua was strongly criticised by observers, as well as the two opposition candidates, Buhari of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Action Congress (AC). Yar’Adua acknowledged that there were flaws in the election and proposed a government of national unity (GNU). In late June 2007, two opposition parties, the ANPP and the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), agreed to join Yar’Adua’s government.
The government had seven-point agenda to transform the country, but could not achieve them before Yar’Adua’s death.
But it is on record that it was able to stop the militancy in the Niger Delta region by granting amnesty to the militants, after the latter laid down their arms.
Power falls on Jonathan
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, deputy to Yar’Adua first became Nigerian leader in acting capacity on February 9, 2010 due to Yar’Adua’s protracted illness and absence. During the period, the administration appeared to have been cautious in the handling of state policies and programmes. After Yar’Adua’s death and Jonathan assumed full authority, there were lots of agitation that caused many distortion until the tenure ran out.
But on April 16, 2011, Jonathan emerged as elected president under PDP and was sworn in May 29, 2011. He defeated Buhari of the then Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Nuhu Ribadu of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), among others, to emerge winner.
The election was characterised by bloodshed after the results were announced.
So far, the administration has had to contend with insecurity in the Northern part of the country, due to Boko Haram insurgency.
Nevertheless, it has made some landmark achievements like establishing more universities and rejuvenating the moribund railway among others.
Through its transformation agenda, the administration has also embarked on multi-faceted approach to turn around the economy and empower the youth.
But critics maintain that corruption is rampant in the administration and that economic offenders are allowed to go scot-free.
The first tenure of the administration ends on May 29, 2015. Jonathan, however, participated in yesterday’s election for second term on the ticket of his party.
This time, his party is facing a very formidable opposition in a merger party known as All Progressives Congress (APC) whose candidate is Buhari.
As the votes are being collated, Nigerians, thus, await for who would be the president from May 29.
