THE EFFECT OF MILITARY RULE ON NIGERIA POLITICAL ECONOMY (A CASE STUDY OF ABACHA REGIME 1993 – 1998)

ABSTRACT

          Military rule has been one of the greatest factors responsible for the set back of the African continent. Infact General Sanni Abacha’s regime has been described by many scholar’s, as the most unconcerned government when it comes to the issue of economy. Therefore, this project assesses the effect of military rule on the Nigeria economy choosing the General Sanni Abacha’s regime as a case study. Chapter one serves as the general introduction to the study. Chapter two reviews the past relevant literatures on the issue of military rule of General Sanni Abacha’s regime in particular. In chapter three, General Sanni Abacha’s intervention in Nigeria politics and its aftermath on the economy and discussed. Chapter four guest the in-depth comparative analysis of the regimes policies with its achievements. Chapter five serves as the conclusion of the study where recommendations are govern. The research work, having observed the shortcomings of military rule concludes that all stakeholders in Nigeria politics should do everything possible to prevent military from coming to power in Nigeria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                i

Certification                                                                                       ii

Dedication                                                                               iii

Acknowledgement                                                                   iv

Abstract                                                                                  v

Table of Content                                                                     vi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1. Background of the Study                                                         1
2. Statement of the Problem                                              3
3. Purpose of the Study                                                     4
4. Significance of the Study                                               5
5. Research Questions                                                       6
6. Scope and Limitation                                                     7
7. Definition of Key Terms                                                          7

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

• Introduction                                                                   9
• Survey of Military Rule In Nigeria                                9
• Features of Military Rule                                               14
• Remote and Immediate Causes of Military Rule

of Nigeria                                                                       17

CHAPTER THREE: MILITARY RULE IN NIGERIA
SINCE ITS INCEPTION

• Introduction                                                                   20
• The Military Rule Under General Yakubu Gowon (1966 – 1975)  21

• The Military Rule Under Muritala

Muhammed/Olusegun Obasanjo (1975 – 1979)             23

• The Military Rule Under Muhammed Buhari and General Idiagbon (1983 – 1985)                                       25

• The Military Rule Under Ibrahim Babangida Regime (1989)             26

• The Military Rule Under Abacha’s Regime (1993 – 1998)    30

• The Military Rule Under Abubakar Abdulsalam

Regime (1998 – 1999)                                                    32

CHAPTER FOUR: ABACHA’S REGIME AND NIGERIAN POLITICAL ECONOMY AND HIS INTERNATIONAL RELATION

• Economic Situaton Under Abacha                                 34
• Political Situation under Abacha                                    35
• International Relations Under Abacha                                    36
• Consequences of Abachas Regime                                 37

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• Summary                                                                       43
• Conclusion                                                                     45
• Recommendations                                                                   45

References                                                                      48

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The most populous country on the African continent, the Nigerian experience with democracy has been paradoxical and ambiguous (Diamond, 1995). Although the military controlled the government for twenty-four of the first thirty-four years of independence, Nigeria has never accepted indefinite authoritarian rule, and no military rule that has not committed itself to a transition to democracy has been able to survive. Through ten national government, ix successful military coups, a civil war, and a dizzying economic boom followed by a crushing depression – not to mention repeated assaults by military regimes on human rights and associational life Nigerians have maintained a passionate commitment to personal freedom and political participation.

The various military regimes, in Nigeria have embarked on lasting reforms that have transformed Nigeria polity, hence, their impacts are seen in political and economic spheres (Aliu, 2000). The impacts of military rule in Nigeria is seen in political and economic lives. These have both positive and negative effects, politically the military has contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria through state and local government creation exercise, constitutional engineering and enunciation of transitional programmes. The military regimes that came to power had in their various ways contributed to the realization of the unity in Nigeria, on the other hand, military regimes had contributed to democratic instability and human right abuse in the country.

On the economic scene, the contributions of military rule is also felt, whether positive or negative. The military economic contributions and policies formulation and implementation for instance, the Nigeria Enterprises promotion Decree of 1972/1977 or the indigenization policy was formulated by the military rule. Additionally, the introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) by Babangida regime was aimed at revamping nation’s economy. Some other economy policies of successive military regimes in Nigeria are the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructures (DFRRI). Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) and so on.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM