1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Transition as project of democratization looms large of African political horizon. These projects
now occupy an important place on the political agenda of many African countries. Every where
on the African continent, one party regimes, one man rule, military rule and authoritarian rule
generally are under siege increasingly forced either by popular demonstration, intra-elite
accommodation, externally induced pressures, or a combination of these and other social forces
to pen up to liberate and to make important concession to competitive politics.

Nigeria like most Africa countries is at present infested by coups and counter-coups, it has
become a society where military rule has become a volatile political norm (Adejumbi and
Momoh (1995) the perennial rule of the military in Nigeria which began with the first coup led
by major Chukwuma Ezeogwu in 1966, has not only made the military define the nature of the
political economy of Nigeria but has often created the context for enthronement and
dethronement of civil regimes (Adejumbi and Momoh, 1995), paradoxically, civilian regimes in
Nigeria lack the disciplines and political will to protect civil society from the vulnerability of
military rule.

According to Ihonebere (1966) postulated that; the fractionalization of ruling elite and the
weakness of civil society and the fragility of the state helps to explain why the military has
emerged as the most powerful contender in the struggle for the power in contemporary Nigeria.

It is within this context that one can better understand the contradictions or military rule in
Nigeria.

The years of perennial military rule in Nigeria and a tradition of toying around with the political
class without political repercussions seems to suggest that there are two political parties in
Nigeria, one being self imposed and the other elected.

Therefore, it seems that the political systems obeys two contradictory impulses at one time,
authoritarianism and democracy. Either way, the military or the political elite in Nigeria have
demonstrated in recent times their inability to respect the democratic ethos of leadership
(Amuwo 1995).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

As will become clear from this research work, there has been a recurrent problems with the
transition programme of the Babangida and Abacha administration in Nigeria.

The notion of political crafting implies some in determining of the end-point and the end will of
the transition programme.

This research work examines the transition programme in Nigeria to civilian governance offered
by the various military leaders in Nigeria since 1985. A scrutiny of these programmes
implementation reveals a peculiar. Pattern typically, the designed junta leader proposes a military
withdrawal time table and soon thereafter connive with civilian and military collaborations to
abort the very programme he initiated.

The set up agencies, commission, and electoral bodies are usually a subterfuge aimed at retaining
power or at least prevailing the establishment of a genuine democracy. The attainment of a
bonafide democracy has remained elusive because of the culture of corruption. Various regimes
helped to institute amidst unattended mass poverty; the essentially antidemocratic nature of the
military institution has made it ill prepared to usher in democracy in Nigeria.

For 15 years (1984-1999) the Nigeria polity was held spell bound in the clutches of different
shades of treacherous military rules. Within this period, there was four military regimes namely,
Buhari/Idiagbo (1985-1993), General Ibrahim Babangida regime (1985-1993), General Sani
Abacha (1993-1993) and General Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998-1999).

Aside Buhari/Idiagbo regime, other regimes whipped up sentiment and appeared committed to
the pursuit of transition to democratic government.

All the resources whether monetary or materials or committed to the transition programmes went
down the drain in two, out of three occasions. For instances, while Babangida’s transition
resulted in contraception known as interim national government, that of Abacha linged on a
grand designed self succession device that was scuttled through his death in 1998. However, in
the process, many people paid the supreme price notably chief Alfred Rewane, Chief M.K.O
Abioloa Kudirat Abioloa among others.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To analyze the transition programme of Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha’s transition
2. To examine the success and failure of each transition programme of the two military
rulers (Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha)
3. To analyze how the failure of this transition programme had great implications to
democratic consolidation

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of this research work cannot be over emphasized. The studies are important in
the following way:

1. It is also relevant for student of comparative politics in other to be able to trace out the
similarities and difference inherent in the two transition programme
2. Awareness on the part Nigeria that the propagation of democracy rest on a true transition
programme
3. The study also helps in understanding the current democratic challenges and how it is
linked to the past and failed transition programmes of Ibrahim Babagida and Sani
Abacha.
4. The study highlight the decent, corruption, self aggrandizement, sit tight leadership and
its implication on the current democratic dispensation.
 5. Finally, this study is quite important to all Nigerians and students of public administration
because, it make us to understand the civil harms, damage in the military particularly in
the regimes of Ibrahim Babaindia and Sani Abacha has done to the democratic landscape
of this nation.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the programmes of the transition to democracy of Babangida and Sani Abacha?
2. Are they successful in their various attempts?
3. What are the various implications it has on the current democratic dispensation?

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study is centred on the comparative analysis of Ibrahim Babangida and Sani
Abacha’s transition programs and its implication on Democratic Dispensations which covers a
period between 1999 till date.

This is due to the peculiarity and intriguing nature of their administration and how their
transition programme impact the Nigerian people.

1. Nature of the school library and the state owned Stella Obasanjo’s library which were
supposed to be a better references place for the researcher.
2. Absence of researchable material: Since the topic of this research is a past military
regimes, the researcher was unable to access relevant materials for this research work due
to the ill-equipped.
3. Financial constraints: A research of this nature is money demanding since its respondents
are on the generality of Nigerian citizens, the researcher has to move from one place to
another in search for relevant answers from the people which therefore involve
transportation.
4. Time factor: The duration for this research is relatively too short, as the researcher has to
combine both lectures and other academic activities with the project completion which is
not an easy task as such contributed to the constraints of this research
5. The inability of the researcher to obtain all the desired and relevant information to the
study from the secondary sources of data easily. That is, from library, internet, newspaper
and journals among others.

1.7 CONCEPT CLARIFICATIONS

Democracy: Is simply a government through elected representative of the people chosen in a

free, fair and transparent election.

Ethnicity: It could be defined as the contextual discrimination by which members of one group
discrimination against others on the basis of differentiated system of socio-cultural symbol. This
could be referred as the contextual discrimination in which people are denied access to certain
opportunities and public goods.
Military regime: This is a self imposed authoritarian regime that is institutionalized in a given
country by military personal or the operative of the armed forces (comprising the Army, Air
force, Navy and the police force. It derives power and legitimacy through the board of gun.

Power: It is defined as the essence, orbit the heart and the conceptual; nerve of politics: it’s the
ability to control, rule or compel obedience.

Politics: This can be defined as the act of influencing manipulating and controlling or it is the
quest for power order and justice.

Political stability: For the purpose of this research work, the concept would be defined as
democratic system that has low level of actual or potential civil or military unrest or violence and
high probability of remaining inconsistent.

Transition

itary regime to a civilian regime.

Democratization: This could be concerned as the process of transforming a group or community

or state into a democratic entity.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This study is divided into five chapters, chapter one focus on introduction, statement of the
problem, significance of the study, research questions, objectives of the study, scope and
limitations of the study, conceptual clarifications and organization.

Chapter two dials with the literature review and emphasis will be on the clarification of
transition, democracy and civil society.

Get Complete Project Material File(s) Now! »

Achievement Of The Babangida Administration

CONTENT:

1. Upon assumption of office, the regime abrogated the unpopular decree No 2 and then
reorganize the Nigerian security organization.
2. The structural Adjustment programme (SAP) was introduced to restructure the economy.
3. There was commercialization and privatization of many parastatals in order to enhance
their efficiency and productivity.
4. The regime established the peoples Bank and community Bank to help the poor in both
urban and rural areas.
5. The programme “Better Life for Rural women” was established to improve the lot of
women.

FAILURES OF THE BABANGIDA ADMINISTARTION

1. The regime was characterized by a high level of indiscipline and corruption.

2. During this regime, incidents of hard drugs pushing by Nigerians became rampant.
3. Most of the bodies established and generously funded by the Babangida regime later
became avenues for the self-environment of a few e.g DFRRI, MAMSER and peoples’
bank.
4. There was little respect for popular opinion. The regime took IMF loan and swallowed
$12.8 billion United States dollars realized during Gulf war between USA and Iraq.
5. The regime annulled the June 12th 1993 presidential election believed to have been won
by late business Mogul Bashorun MKO Abiola.

THE ABACHA ADMINISTRATION

General Sanni Abacha came to power on 17th November 1993 having forced Chief Ernest
Shonekan to resign as the head of the Interim National Government. General Abacha was the
secretary of Defence in the same administration. The provisional ruling council (P R C) was the
highest organ of government and it comprised of the head of state as chairman and the chief of
General statff (Lt- General Oladipo Diya) as vice chairman and the service chiefs.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE ABACHA ADMINISTRATION

1. The administration brought relative peace, law and order.

2. There was stability in the exchange rate of the naira.
3. Abacha regime created six states namely Ekiti, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kebbi and
Bayelsa in 1996.
4. It created the federal character commission to address the imbalance in federal
appointment
5. The National reconciliation committee headed by chief alex Akinyele was created to
attempt to resolve various conflicts in the country.
FAILURES OF ABACHA’S REGIME

1. Abacha’s regime became dictatorial, thereby paying very little attention to the
constitution.
2. The economy became paralyzed with shortages of essential goods and commodities.
3. There were bomb blasts in several parts of the country
4. Members of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) that were pro-democracy
activities fled into exile.
5. Abacha and his associates reportedly looted the national treasury and slashed huge loot
abroad.

THE REGIME OF GENERAL ABDUSALAMI ABUBAKAR

General Abdusalam Abubakar became the head of state and commander in chief of the armed
forces, following the death of General Sanni Abacha on 8th June 1998. He initiated a ten-month
transition programme that would return the nation to civil rule on 29th of may 1999

ACHIEVEMENT OF ABUBAKAR’S REGIME

1. General Abubakar successfully conducted the transition to civil rule, and handed over
power to a popularly elected government.
2. The government set up a review panel for the 1995 constitution
3. The electoral commission (INEC) offered provisional registration to nine political parties,
out of which three of them, namely AD, APP and PDP were registered.
4. The regime returned full democracy to the country.
5. The government released political detainees incarcerated by Abacha administration.

FAILURES OF ABUBAKAR’S REGIME

1. The constitution was hastily produced

2. The government could not alleviate the economic difficulties facing the nation, for
example, shortage of fuel and depreciation of the Naira
3. The foreign policy lacked vibrancy
4. The government could not eliminate corruption among officials of the government.
5. It failed to release chief MKO Abiola from detention.