The Nigerian political terrain is agog with 2015 elections, campaigns are at its peak as Political Parties elect their flag bearers.
The story of Nigeria's journey to Democracy can not be told in full without making mention of the impacts of Rt. Major General Muhammadu Buhari, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Mohammed Sani Abacha, the three generals who ruled Nigeria. Theirs were eras perceived by many to have the greatest (positive and negative) impacts on Nigeria. Events from their times in office actuated into the democracy Nigeria relish today, these events could also divulge the path the Nigerians choose to forge ahead as a nation.
A beneficiary of a coup that dethroned the Alhaji Shehu Shagari led Second Republic government, by middle ranking Military officers, spear-headed by then Colonel Ibahim Badamasi babangida.
Then a Colonel in the Nigerian Army, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, a former Commissioner for Petroleum Resources under the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo, became the 7th Nigerian Head of State on January 1, 1984.
Major General Muhammadu Buhari's administration was popularised for his uprightness and stand against corruption, respected for his competence in keeping the country progressive through sheer economic ingenuity, even when it rejected IMF loan and conditionalities to devalue the Naira.
Nevertheless, as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) stated, "Buhari's attempts to re-balance public finances by curbing imports led to many job losses and the closure of businesses." These losses were reportedly accompanied by a rise in prices and a decline in living standards of Nigerians.
On assumption to power, the Press seemed a major target of the Buhari administration. An irony, considering the fact that this administration came into power via a coup d' etat prompted by campaigns from the Press and oppositions who accused the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) of mismanagement of the economy, electoral misconduct, and corruption.
General Buhari conscientiously kept to his word to then Editor of Newswatch Magazine, late Dele Giwa, to "temper with the Press freedom".
As evident in the enactment of the Public Officers Protection Against False Accusation, the infamous "Decree 4": "Any person who publishes in any form, whether written or otherwise, any message, rumour, report, or statement...which is false in any material particularly or which brings or is calculated to bring the Federal Military Government or the Government of a State or public officer to ridicule or disrepute shall be guilty of an offence under this Decree....two years imprisonment without option of fine, for individual; fine of not less than 10,000 for a corporate body".
This decree saw to bans, seizures, arrests and imprisonment of Journalists in Nigeria.
"Decree 4" authorised Buhari's administration to bar the circulation of any Newspaper considered as "detrimental to the interest of Nigeria", confiscate equipment of (Print/Broadcast) Media, found guilty his officers, unless they (officers) proved that materials was published without their consent. Interestingly, offenders were tried by government tribunals made up of four military officers and a High Court Judge.
Tribunal verdict was not subject to appeal and no court could inquire into the validity or otherwise of any verdict of the tribunal. In suite was another desensitised "State Security Detention of Persons" under "Decree 2".
So eager was this administration to sweep "corruption" out of Nigeria, that as at January 20, 1984, "Decree 2", which was supposed to come into effect on February 9th, 1984, reportedly already held 300 politicians for questioning and detained 600 of them at Kirikiri Maximum Prisons- Lagos. Among those detained was Alex Ekwueme, Vice President in the ousted Shehu Shagari's (NPN) Second Republic administration.
"Decree 2" likewise saw to banned strikes and lockout by workers. Politicians were jailed for 80-100 years for corruption, Nigerian popular musician late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, was sentenced to 10 years imprison on charges that Amnesty International denounced as fabricated and politically motivated.
Major General Muhammadu Buhari's administration arranged for and crated an ex- Transport Minister and one of its chief critics, Umaru Dikko, in London, with the intent to bring him back to Nigeria for prosecution.
On allegation championed by Tai Solarin, and published by New Nigerian Newspaper, concerning alleged disappearance of the sum of N2.8bn from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)'s accounts under his watch, Major General Buhari said: "I was disappointed with the Press. I was disappointed because some things are not supposed to be published.For example, if some illiterate brought to you something very sensational and unbelievable, you must have the integrity to resist it if it is against national interest. if we were going to do any meaningful work, the situation of things in Nigeria in 1984 demand that the Press be dealt with".
"Decree 2" was perceived by majority as a decree that repelled every citizen's right granted earlier by the 1979 constitution.
That being stated, in what was described as a rare "success story", the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) received accolades under Major General Muhammadu Buhari, for transparency.
72 -year- old now retired, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, is into Politics and is the Presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Find the story on Rt. General Ibrahim Babangida and Sanni Abacha from links below:
http://rovinginformant.blogspot.com.ng/2015/01/three-generals-who-ruled-nigeria.html
http://rovinginformant.blogspot.com.ng/2014/12/three-generals-who-ruled-nigeria.html
