Ibrahim Babangida Military Government In Nigeria (27th August 19 85 – 26th August 1993)
| Ibrahim | Babangida |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ibrahim Babangida |
| Date of Birth | 17 August 1941 79 Years – ( January 25, 2021 {Last Update}) |
| Nationality | Nigeria |
| Place of Birth | Minna, Nigeria |
| Political Party | NIL (Military) |
| Service | Nigerian Army |
| In Office | 27th August, 1985 – 26th August 1993, (President) January 1984 – August 1985 (Chief of Army Staff) |
Ibrahim Babangida Military Government In Nigeria
Ibrahim Babangida Military Rule (1985 – 1993)
In a palace coup that took place on 27th August, 1985, Major General Ibrahim Babangida, the Chief of Army Staff under the Muhammadu Buhari regime, emerged as the new Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.
On assumption of office, General Ibrahim Babangida quickly styled himself as President, a title which was usually reserved for an elected civilian Head of State. His immediate subordinate was called Chief of General Staff instead of Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters as was the case under the previous military regimes. He was re-designated Vice President just before the collapse of the regime in August 1993.
The holder of the office was usually a top military officer. Rear Admiral Ebitu Ukiwe was the first occupant of the office and was replaced in 1986 by Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, a more easy-going officer.
The government introduced some other changes. The name of the highest law-making body was for instance, changed from the Supreme Military Council (SMC) to Armed Forced Ruling Council (AFRC). But this appeared to be a mere change in nomenclature.
The General Ibrahim Babangida government came to power on the heels of a general disenchantment with the Buhari military junta which had through its stern measures alienated itself from important segments of the society and, particularly from former politicians, social critics and journalists.
On coming to power, the Babangida government attempted to ingratiate itself to those groups who were opposed to the Buhari regime. It proclaimed a five-point programme, namely:
- Economic reconstruction, that is, the development of agriculture and the rural economy, the revival of industry, provision of employment and reduction of government expenditures.
- Social justice which involved the mobilization of the people to produce more wealth and the equitable distribution of the wealth so produced.
- Self reliance which emphasized the development of the local economy.
- Human rights, that is, ensuring respect for individual rights and liberties.
- The establishment of a new political order for Nigeria.
The Babangida government emphasized consultation by subjecting a number of government projects and programmes to public debate. For Instance, the government encouraged Nigerians to debate openly the desirability or otherwise of taking a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The new transition programme was also subjected to open debate. The government set up the Political Bureau to chart a new political direction for the country. In all these however, the government usually had its way no matter what the public opinion was. For example, Nigerians generally objected to the IMF conditionalities but the government still went ahead to reach agreement with the IMF on the restructuring of the Nigerian economy.
The government also abrogated Decree No. 4 and released politicians and other Nigerians who were detained or jailed by the previous government.
It created new states on two occasions in 1987 and 1991 respectively and established two parties, namely, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Notwithstanding its determined attempt to win the support of major factions of the ruling class, the Babangida government was always prone to crises. On two occasions (1986 and 1990) it was rocked by two attempted coups, namely, the Mamman Vatsa coup of 1986 and the Godwin Orka coup of April 1990.
The government dealt decisively with those found guilty of involvement in the unsuccessful coups. Soon after the dust of the Orka coup had settled, the Babangida government, probably for security reasons, quickly relocated to the new Federal Capital, Abuja on 12th December, 1991.
Before then, the regime had secretly enlisted Nigeria in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). As a result, Christians were unwittingly pitted against Muslims and for the first time, Nigeria was polarized along, religious lines.
Ever since, Christians and Muslims in the country have been at loggerheads and are entangled in an undeclared battle for supremacy. There have been religious crises in parts of Northern Nigeria in particular and the harmonious relationship that used to exist between Christians and Muslims in the country was severely breached.
Perhaps, the greatest crises which the government had to contend with was the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections. As a result of the crises generated by the cancellation of the presidential elections, General Babangida was forced to resign on 26th August, 1993.
Before leaving office, however, the Babangida military regime constituted an Interim National Government (ING) which was led by Chief Ernest Shonekan, a kinsman of Chief M. K. O Abiola who allegedly won the 1993 presidential election.
General Sani Abacha, the Chief of Defence Staff, and a principal actor in the Babangida government and previous military regimes was installed as the deputy head of the Interim National Government (ING). It was not clear why General Sanni Abacha was retained in the new political arrangement especially since the other military chiefs had been retired, along with Ibrahim Babangida, but it would appear it was pay-back time for a loyal officer who had been the lynchpin of the last two successful coups including the one that brought Babangida to power.
