From: wsargeant@igc.apc.org (Winslow L. Sargeant)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:Nigeria, military versuus the civili'
Date: 25 Jul 92 17:08:44 GMT

/* Written 12:04 am  Jul 24, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "NIGERIA: MILITARY VERSUS THE CIVILI" ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Middle East
Title: NIGERIA: MILITARY VERSUS THE CIVILIANS


an inter press service feature

by remi oyo

lagos, jul 21 (ips) -- as nigeria heads towards the return of
civilian rule in january 1993, the concern in many minds here is
not who will win the presidential race, but how to keep the
military in the barracks and out of politics.

since independence from britain in 1960, this west african
nation has been led by civilians only twice, for a total of 10
years.

the first government was overthrown in 1966 with the country
on the verge of disintegration. after two palace coups later,
the military organised a return to democracy in 1979, only to
intervene again in 1983.

civilian administrations have been characterised by
corruption, mismanagement and ethnic polarisation. both the
westminster and presidential systems of government have been
tried and failed. now is the turn of president ibrahim
babangida's brand of democracy.

legislative elections this month were the penultimate step in
a transition programme begun in 1987 which has been tightly
controlled by the government. two parties were created with
their manifestos written by civil servants, and initially all
former politicians and office-holders were banned.

that has since been relaxed and there are some 75 aspirants,
including several powerful and influential past political
figures, vying for the presidential nomination of the welfarist
social democratic party (sdp) and the conservative national
republican convention (nrc).

''if the transition programme is accomplished in 1993,
nigeria will become a continental reference point for democracy.
other african countries would have no excuse not to
democratise'', executive secretary of the 16-member economic
community of west african states (ecowas), abass bundu, said
here recently. (more/ips)


nigeria: military (2)

''the success of the third republic will depend on the
ability of the military to resist the temptation to stage a
come-back. both the politicians and the military have equal
stake in the success of the transition programme and
enthronement of democracy'', oyo state governor kolapo ishola
warns.

babangida, involved in every coup since july 1966,
repeatedly states that the era of military rule is over.

''the military requires a redefinition of its role from that
which sought to justify its interference in the political
process...to that consistent with constitutionalism'', he said
earlier this month to graduating officers from the command and
staff college, jagi, in northern kaduna state.

the nigerian men in uniform have traditionally regarded
themselves as reformers, with a right to intervene.

however, what influence babangida has over the armed forces
while in office, sceptics point out that once he has left a
civilian administration could well still have to watch over
its shoulder what is brewing in the barracks from disaffected or
merely ambitious soldiers.

senior officers periodically bemoan the effect of nine-years'
of military rule on professionalism, and the politicisation of
the armed forces.

areoye oyebola, president of the ibadan action council for
return of democracy argues ''as good citizens of our country, as
many soldiers as possible, senior and junior, who are
politically inclined should be encouraged to resign and contest
elections''.

the transition process has been against the backdrop of a
dizzying decline in this oil-based economy. in 1979, under the
second republic presidency of shehu shagari, nigeria was
considered an aspiring middle-income country.

in little over a decade, per capita income has fallen from
1,000 dollars (based on an overvalued exchange rate) to around
250 dollars, and the country is ranked as the 13th poorest in
the world. for most naturally cynical 89 million nigerians,
interest in the transition has been relegated to concern for
day-to-day survival.

the economic crisis that civilians will inherit sets a tough
test for the sustainability of democracy. particularly as the
two parties are artificial creations, coalitions of factions
identifiable as elements of the former political parties and
whose cohesion is in question. (more/ips)


nigeria: military (3)

''given the present state of the nation's economy, only a mad
person could take over from president ibrahim babangida'', says
abubakar michika, governor of adamawa state in the north-east.

he is part of a controversial group calling for babangida to
stay on, and the resuscitation of an old concept in nigerian
politics of ''dyarchy'' in which power is shared by a military
executive president and civilian legislators.

dyarchy, or suggestions that the transition programme should
be extended, has brought a heated response from human rights
groups and politicians.

calling the idea provocative, sdp presidential hopeful and
until last year finance minister olu falae, asks what nigeria
will learn in one year of a postponed transition that it has
not learned in 32 years of independence.

but according to michika, ''let him (babangida) rectify the
economy and put it in good shape before handing over power to
civilians. there is no point for hurry in this case''.
(end/ips/ro/oa/92)