7th Military Regime: Abdul Salam Abubakar (1998-1999) – SS2 Nigerian History Lesson Note (Second Term)

General Abdulsalami Abubakar led Nigeria’s seventh military regime, from June 1998 to May 1999. He became Head of State after the death of General Sani Abacha. He freed political prisoners, set up INEC, organised elections and handed power to the elected civilian leader, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on 29 May 1999, which began the Fourth Republic.

Behavioural objectives

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

• explain how General Abdulsalami Abubakar became Head of State;
• state the problems he inherited from the Abacha regime;
• describe his political, economic, foreign and military policies;
• list the stages and dates of the 1998 to 1999 transition to civilian rule;
• state the achievements, criticisms and legacy of his regime.

How did Abubakar become Head of State?

After the sudden death of General Sani Abacha on 8 June 1998, Nigeria needed a new leader. General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was the Chief of Defence Staff (the highest military position), became Nigeria’s new Head of State. Unlike previous military takeovers in Nigeria, this was a peaceful transition within the military following Abacha’s death from a heart attack.

General Abubakar was from Niger State in the northern part of Nigeria. He was a professional soldier who had received training both in Nigeria and abroad. When he took power, many Nigerians were tired of military rule and wanted democracy. The country was also facing serious economic problems and international isolation due to Abacha’s harsh rule.

What situation did Abubakar inherit?

When Abubakar came to power, he faced many challenges left by the Abacha regime:

1. Political prisoners: Many pro-democracy activists and politicians were in jail, including Chief M.K.O. Abiola (who had won the annulled 1993 election).
2. International isolation: Many countries had placed sanctions (penalties) on Nigeria because of Abacha’s human rights abuses.
3. Economic crisis: The economy was in bad shape, with high inflation, unemployment and poverty.
4. Corruption: Government corruption was widespread, with billions of dollars stolen by Abacha and his associates.
5. Ethnic tensions: There were tensions between different ethnic groups, especially in the Niger Delta region.
6. Military dominance: The military had been in power for most of the previous 15 years, weakening democratic institutions.

What were the key actions and policies of the Abubakar regime?

Political reforms

Abubakar quickly began to make changes to improve the political situation:

1. Release of political prisoners: He freed many people who had been jailed by Abacha for political reasons.
2. Transition programme: Within days of taking power, he announced a plan to hand over to civilian rule within one year.
3. New Constitution: He set up a committee to review the 1995 draft constitution, leading to the 1999 Constitution.
4. Electoral commission: He created the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise free elections.
5. Political parties: He allowed new political parties to form, leading to the registration of three parties:
   • People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
   • All People’s Party (APP)
   • Alliance for Democracy (AD)

Abiola’s death

One tragic event during this period was the death of Chief M.K.O. Abiola on 7 July 1998. Abiola had been in detention since 1994 for declaring himself president based on the 12 June 1993 election that he had won. He died of a heart attack just as he was about to be released, on the same day he was meeting with a U.S. delegation. His death led to riots in some parts of Nigeria, but Abubakar managed to calm the situation by promising to continue with the transition to civilian rule.

Economic policies

Abubakar took steps to improve Nigeria’s struggling economy:

1. Debt relief: He began talks with international lenders to reduce Nigeria’s large foreign debt.
2. Anti-corruption measures: He started efforts to recover money stolen by Abacha and his associates.
3. Privatisation: He continued the policy of selling government-owned companies to private investors.
4. Salary increases: Workers’ salaries were raised to help them cope with the high cost of living.
5. Fuel price adjustments: He reduced the price of fuel, which had been raised under Abacha.

Foreign policy

Abubakar worked to improve Nigeria’s standing in the world:

1. Diplomatic outreach: He sent representatives to other countries to explain Nigeria’s transition plan.
2. Commonwealth relations: He worked to bring Nigeria back into the Commonwealth, which had suspended Nigeria’s membership.
3. United Nations: He addressed the UN General Assembly to explain Nigeria’s return to democracy.
4. Regional leadership: He maintained Nigeria’s peacekeeping role in West Africa through ECOMOG.
5. Sanctions removal: He successfully convinced many countries to lift sanctions against Nigeria.

Military reforms

As a military leader overseeing a transition to civilian rule, Abubakar made changes to the military:

1. Retirement of officers: He retired military officers who had held political positions.
2. Professionalism: He emphasised that the military should focus on defence, not politics.
3. Restructuring: He reorganised the armed forces to make them more efficient.
4. Civilian control: He prepared the military to accept civilian leadership after the transition.

Niger Delta issues

The Niger Delta region, where Nigeria’s oil is produced, had many problems during this period:

1. Environmental concerns: Oil production had damaged the environment, affecting fishing and farming.
2. Resource control: Local communities wanted more control over oil resources.
3. Youth restiveness: Many young people joined militant groups to protest against the government and oil companies.
4. Development initiatives: Abubakar started some projects to develop the region and reduce tensions.

How did the transition to civilian rule take place?

Abubakar kept his promise to hand over power to an elected civilian government:

1. Local government elections: Held on 5 December 1998.
2. State elections: Held on 9 January 1999, for governors and state assemblies.
3. National Assembly elections: Held on 20 February 1999, for the Senate and House of Representatives.
4. Presidential election: Held on 27 February 1999, with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (a former military ruler turned civilian) of the PDP defeating Chief Olu Falae of the APP/AD alliance.
5. Handover: On 29 May 1999, Abubakar handed over power to Obasanjo, marking the beginning of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

The transition programme was completed in less than one year, making it one of the shortest transitions to civilian rule in Nigeria’s history.

What were the achievements of the Abubakar regime?

1. Successful transition: The main achievement was the quick and peaceful transition to civilian rule.
2. Political stability: Despite tensions after Abiola’s death, Abubakar maintained stability during a difficult period.
3. International rehabilitation: Nigeria’s image improved in the world under his leadership.
4. Economic stabilisation: He took steps to address economic problems and reduce hardship.
5. Press freedom: Journalists could work more freely than under Abacha.
6. Human rights improvement: Political prisoners were released, and human rights abuses decreased.

What criticisms and challenges did the regime face?

1. Abiola’s death: The death of M.K.O. Abiola while in detention raised questions and suspicions.
2. Short transition: Some critics said the transition was too rushed and did not allow for enough preparation.
3. Limited consultation: The 1999 Constitution was not widely debated by the Nigerian people.
4. Military influence: The quick transition meant that the military still had significant influence over the new civilian government.
5. Unresolved issues: Problems like corruption, poverty and ethnic tensions remained unsolved.

What are the key features of the 1999 Constitution?

The 1999 Constitution, which is still in use today (with amendments), was a key legacy of the Abubakar regime. Key features include:

1. Presidential system: A president who is both head of state and head of government.
2. Federalism: Power shared between the federal government and 36 states.
3. Separation of powers: Government is divided into executive, legislative and judicial branches.
4. Fundamental rights: Protection of basic human rights.
5. Federal character: Requirement that government appointments reflect Nigeria’s diversity.

However, the constitution has been criticised for being too centralised and for not being created through a truly democratic process.

What was the legacy of the Abubakar regime?

Abubakar’s brief rule had a lasting impact on Nigeria’s political development:

1. Democratic foundation: He laid the groundwork for Nigeria’s longest period of civilian rule since independence.
2. Military withdrawal: His regime marked the end of direct military involvement in Nigerian politics.
3. Constitutional framework: The 1999 Constitution he oversaw has shaped Nigeria’s political structure.
4. Regional standing: He restored Nigeria’s position as an important player in African affairs.
5. Corruption recovery: He began the process of recovering money stolen by previous regimes.

Abubakar’s willingness to hand over power voluntarily, and to do so quickly, earned him respect both within Nigeria and internationally. It also set a precedent for the transfer of power in Nigeria. His regime was too short to solve Nigeria’s deep-rooted problems, and the democratic system set up during his transition was not perfect. Nigeria has faced many challenges since 1999, but civilian rule has continued for over two decades.

How did the Abubakar regime differ from other military regimes?

Abubakar’s regime differed from other military governments in Nigeria in several ways:

1. Duration: At just 11 months, it was one of the shortest military regimes in Nigeria’s history.
2. Intent: From the beginning, it was clearly meant to be a transitional government.
3. Human rights: It had a better human rights record than most other military regimes.
4. International relations: It focused on improving Nigeria’s standing in the world.
5. Democratic commitment: It showed a genuine commitment to returning to civilian rule.

Evaluation

1. How did General Abdulsalami Abubakar become Head of State in 1998?
2. State four problems that Abubakar inherited from the Abacha regime.
3. Name the three political parties registered during his transition programme.
4. List the dates of the five stages of the transition to civilian rule, from the local government elections to the handover.
5. Give three achievements and two criticisms of the Abubakar regime.

Assignment

1. Describe the policies Abubakar introduced to improve Nigeria’s economy and its standing in the world.
2. Explain three ways in which the Abubakar regime differed from other military regimes in Nigeria.