Military Rule in Nigeria – General Abdulsalami Abubakar Basic 6 History Lesson Note

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

• Discuss the circumstances that led to his emergence as Nigeria’s Military Head of State
• Examine the achievements of General Abdulsalami Abubakar
• Explain the challenges that faced the government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar

Content

General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar

Background:

• Full Name: Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar
• Born: June 13, 1942, in Minna, Niger State
• Ethnic Group: Gwari
• Religion: Islam
• Military Training: Nigerian Defence Academy, various international courses
• Duration of Rule: June 9, 1998 – May 29, 1999 (11 months and 20 days)
• Significance: Nigeria’s last military Head of State

Circumstances Leading to His Emergence:

1. Sudden Death of General Abacha

• Date: June 8, 1998
• Location: Aso Rock Villa, Abuja
• Cause: Officially reported as heart attack
• Impact: Created sudden leadership vacuum
• Surprise: Unexpected end to planned self-succession

2. Succession Process

• Military Hierarchy: Abdulsalami was Chief of Defence Staff
• Next in Line: According to military protocol
• Smooth Transition: No contest or power struggle
• Acceptance: Other military leaders accepted his leadership
• Constitutional: Followed established military succession rules

3. National and International Pressure

• Domestic Pressure: Nigerians wanted end to military rule
• International Isolation: Nigeria was isolated internationally
• Commonwealth Suspension: Needed to restore international relations
• Economic Sanctions: International sanctions were hurting the economy
• Democracy Demands: Growing calls for genuine democratization

4. Military Institution’s Decision

• Collective Decision: Military leadership agreed on transition
• Institutional Interests: Military wanted to restore its reputation
• Professional Concerns: Desire to return army to its primary role
• Legacy Protection: Wanted to leave power with dignity

5. Political Crisis Resolution

• June 12 Issue: Need to resolve the lingering political crisis
• Abiola’s Detention: International pressure to release political prisoners
• Legitimacy Crisis: Military rule lacked popular support
• National Unity: Need to heal national divisions

Major Achievements of Abdulsalami Abubakar:

1. Successful Democratic Transition

Transition Timetable:

• May 1999 Deadline: Set firm date for handover to civilians
• Electoral Schedule: Organized series of elections
• No Extension: Stuck to promised timeline despite challenges
• Credible Process: Ensured relatively free and fair elections

Electoral Process:

• December 1998: Local government elections
• January 1999: State assembly and gubernatorial elections
• February 1999: National Assembly elections
• February 27, 1999: Presidential election
• May 29, 1999: Handover to civilian government

2. Political Reforms

Political Party Registration:

• Multiple Parties: Allowed registration of several political parties
• Open Process: More inclusive than previous military governments
• Democratic Participation: Encouraged broad political participation
• Three Main Parties: PDP, AD, and APP emerged as major parties

Constitutional Framework:

• 1999 Constitution: Adapted and improved the 1979 Constitution
• Federal System: Maintained federal structure with strong states
• Bill of Rights: Strong protection for fundamental human rights
• Independent Institutions: Created framework for independent institutions

3. Economic Stabilization

Fiscal Responsibility:

• Budget Management: Maintained government spending discipline
• Debt Management: Continued servicing of national debt
• Revenue Allocation: Ensured fair distribution to states
• Economic Continuity: Maintained economic stability during transition

Exchange Rate Policy:

• Naira Stability: Maintained relatively stable exchange rate
• Foreign Reserves: Protected foreign currency reserves
• Import Management: Continued controlled import policies
• Investment Climate: Tried to improve business environment

4. International Relations Restoration

Commonwealth Readmission:

• Diplomatic Efforts: Intensive lobbying for readmission
• Policy Changes: Made changes to satisfy Commonwealth requirements
• Success: Nigeria readmitted to Commonwealth in 1999
• International Recognition: Restored Nigeria’s international standing

Bilateral Relations:

• Western Countries: Improved relations with US, UK, and European nations
• African Relations: Maintained leadership role in Africa
• UN Relations: Restored good standing with United Nations
• Economic Relations: Renewed economic cooperation agreements

5. Human Rights and Justice

Political Prisoners Release:

• Massive Release: Freed hundreds of political detainees
• Prominent Cases: Released high-profile political prisoners
• Amnesty: Granted amnesty to many political offenders
• Reconciliation: Began process of national reconciliation

Judicial Reforms:

• Judicial Independence: Restored some independence to judiciary
• Legal Reforms: Began process of legal system modernization
• Human Rights: Improved human rights record significantly
• Rule of Law: Restored respect for legal processes

6. Military Reforms

Military Reorganization:

• Professional Focus: Began returning military to professional roles
• Command Structure: Reorganized military command system
• Training Programs: Renewed focus on professional military training
• Equipment: Some modernization of military equipment

Civil-Military Relations:

• Civilian Control: Prepared military for civilian oversight
• Political Withdrawal: Began process of military withdrawal from politics
• Professional Ethics: Emphasized military professionalism
• National Service: Redefined military’s role as national service

7. Social and Administrative Reforms

Civil Service:

• Professional Standards: Began restoring civil service professionalism
• Administrative Efficiency: Improved government administrative processes
• Capacity Building: Training programs for civil servants
• Merit System: Emphasized merit-based appointments and promotions

Media Freedom:

• Press Liberty: Significantly relaxed restrictions on media
• Freedom of Expression: Allowed more open public discourse
• Independent Media: Encouraged independent journalism
• Information Access: Improved access to government information

Challenges Faced by Abdulsalami’s Government:

1. Time Constraints

• Short Duration: Only 11 months to complete complex transition
• Multiple Tasks: Had to accomplish many things simultaneously
• Pressure: Constant pressure to meet deadlines
• Quality vs Speed: Challenge of ensuring quality while working quickly
• Expectations: High public expectations for rapid change

2. Political Challenges

June 12 Issue:

• Abiola’s Death: MKO Abiola died in custody on July 7, 1998
• Controversy: Circumstances of death created more controversy
• Political Tension: Increased political tension in the country
• Reconciliation: Need for national reconciliation became more urgent

Party Politics:

• New Parties: Had to manage emergence of new political parties
• Old Politicians: Many politicians from previous eras returned
• Electoral Competition: Intense competition for political positions
• Ethnic Tensions: Political competition increased ethnic tensions

3. Economic Challenges

Limited Resources:

• Budget Constraints: Limited funds for development projects
• Debt Burden: Heavy national debt burden
• Oil Prices: Fluctuating oil prices affected revenues
• Economic Recovery: Need to restore economic confidence

Infrastructure:

• Decay: Years of infrastructure neglect
• Power Supply: Chronic electricity problems
• Transportation: Poor road and transport networks
• Communications: Limited telecommunications infrastructure

4. Security Challenges

Internal Security:

• Crime Rates: High levels of armed robbery and violent crime
• Ethnic Conflicts: Various ethnic and religious tensions
• Niger Delta: Beginning of serious Niger Delta problems
• Border Security: Porous borders and smuggling activities

Regional Security:

• West Africa: Continued instability in Liberia and Sierra Leone
• ECOMOG: Costly peacekeeping operations
• Refugee Problems: Large numbers of refugees from neighboring countries
• Arms Proliferation: Spread of small arms in the region

5. Social Challenges

National Unity:

• Ethnic Divisions: Deep ethnic and regional divisions
• Religious Tensions: Christian-Muslim tensions in some areas
• Regional Imbalance: Perceptions of regional inequality
• Trust Deficit: Low trust in government institutions

Expectations Management:

• High Expectations: People expected immediate improvements
• Limited Time: Insufficient time to address all problems
• Resource Constraints: Limited resources to meet all needs
• Institutional Weakness: Weak institutions to deliver services

6. International Pressures

• Conditionalities: International conditions for renewed cooperation
• Debt Negotiations: Complex negotiations with international creditors
• Investment: Need to attract foreign investment
• Reputation Restoration: Challenge of restoring Nigeria’s image

Legacy of Abdulsalami Abubakar:

• Democratic Success: Successfully conducted transition to democracy

• National Hero: Regarded as hero for keeping transition promises
• International Restoration: Restored Nigeria’s international standing
• Military Honor: Restored honor and respect for Nigerian military
• Peaceful Transition: Achieved first successful military-to-civilian handover since independence
• Constitutional Framework: 1999 Constitution still governs Nigeria today
• Democratic Culture: Helped establish culture of democratic governance

Activities

• Create timeline showing Abdulsalami’s 11-month transition program
• Compare his transition with previous failed transitions
• Role-play the handover ceremony on May 29, 1999
• Discussion on why his transition succeeded when others failed

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Abdulsalami Abubakar ruled for: a) 1 year b) 11 months c) 6 months d) 2 years 
2. He came to power after the death of: a) Babangida b) Buhari c) Abacha d) Gowon 
3. Nigeria was readmitted to the Commonwealth in: a) 1998 b) 1999 c) 2000 d) 1997 
4. MKO Abiola died in: a) June 1998 b) July 1998 c) August 1998 d) May 1998 
5. Abdulsalami handed over power on: a) May 29, 1998 b) May 29, 1999 c) June 12, 1999 d) October 1, 1999 

Homework

Write a thank you letter from Nigerian citizens to General Abdulsalami Abubakar after he successfully handed over power in 1999. Include appreciation for: (1) Keeping his promises, (2) Conducting free elections, (3) Releasing political prisoners, (4) Restoring international relations, (5) Giving Nigeria back to civilians.