Military Rule and Political Transition in Nigeria an Appraisal of Abacha Regime
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
The general objectives or purpose of this study is to examine the problems and prospects encountered by military rule in Nigeria with special references to political transition in Nigeria 1993 –1998. The specific objectives are:
- To examine how corruption accounts for military intervention in Nigerian politics.
- To determine the roles played by ethno-political organizations in military intervention.
- To find out the major challenges in Nigeria democratic rule.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
DEMOCRACY
Few subjects have generated as much interest among scholars and policy makers alike, as civil-military relations in cotemporary times. This arises from the fact that the possibility of evolving a free and democratic society depends on the balance between military institutions on one hand, and democratic governance on the other. Consequently, a number of academic works have been done on the subject matter.
Democracy is often defined as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The people determine in a competitive environment, those who govern them. They get involved in the processes and decision that affect their lives through their representatives. Philippe Schimitter and Terry Lyn see democracy as a system of governance in which rulers are held accountable for their action in the public realm by citizens, acting indirectly through the competition and co-operation of their elected representatives.
The general consensus amongst scholars is that the people determine those who govern them, they have a say in the processes and decision that affect their lives through their representatives and those entrusted with power, serve the people who gave them the initial mandate. Democracy is led by the majorities, who have a duty to respect and uphold the right of minorities.
Normally democracy is enhanced by a virile and professional ,military. The military is expected to be adequately catered for by those in power, and members of the armed forces do not need to be in government for their needs to be met. It is in this light, that democracy will be treated in the project.
THE ARMED FORCES
The term ‘armed forces’ is used interchangeably with terms such as army and the military’. According to Windham, armed Forces can be defined as “a class of men set apart from the general mass of the community trained to particular uses, formed to peculiar notions, governed by peculiar laws, marked by peculiar distinctions…” In a clearer manner, Fredrick Engel’s described the sunned-forces as “the organized association of armed men maintained by a state for the purposes of offensive and defensive warfare. The armed forces therefore, exist for the purpose of war and for the defence and protection of the state.
In the literature the armed forces is discussed in relation to civil-military relations. According to Obed Malifia and Gideon Gonda, civil-military relations cover the entire sphere of the relationships between the armed forces on one hand and the civil society on the other. In the views of Samuel Huntington, the real issue in civil military relations is how to maximize military security at the least sacrifice of other social values, and this include a complex balancing of power and attitudes among civilian and military groups; SG Best refers to civil-military relations has also been describe as the complex of behaviour in which civilian and military interaction takes place. It may, therefore include political, economic, social and cultural interaction. It is basically about relationship, but tends to be dominated by the question of civilian political control of the military.
MODELS OR PATTERNS OF CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS
For our purposes, we may identity at least nine models of civil- military relations. These include:
The Liberal Western Model.
The Socialist Model.
The Developmental Militia.
Conscious civilianization.
Peripheral Participation
Civilian-Military Diarchy
Anarchist.
Militocratic
The Authoritarian One-party State Model.
CHAPTER THREE:
MILITARY INTERVENTION IN NIGERIAN POLITICS
The intervention of military in the political scene of Nigeria was not totally a surprise to most political observers and thinkers; this was because nearly all the pre-colonial ethnic groups in the country were ruled by traditional rulers who were more or less dictators (Yesufu, 1982). For example the Oba’s of the South West of Nigeria, the Emir’s of the Northern Nigeria and the Obi’s of the South Eastern Nigeria were monarchical dictators who were never democratically elected (Nordlinger, 1977; Janowitz and vanDoorn, 1972; Feit, 1968). For example before
the coming of the colonial masters, those in the south west were ruled by the Oba’s; those in the south east were under the Obi’s while those in the northern part were in the hands of the Emir’s; culturally, these traditional rulers were seen as divine representatives of God on earth, unquestionable and untouchable; in short they were absolute rulers and they ruled for life; some were even worshipped (Vaughan, 1991). When they die their children especially their sons – automatically took over; this was the situation for centuries in this part of the world before Colonization by Britain (Kennedy, 1975; Agbese, 2009). Military dictatorship is nearer to the civilian dictatorship which the pre-colonial institutions of Obaship, Obiship, and Emirship represented than the Parliamentary democratic system introduced by the British colonial masters which was far too distance from the institutions of Obaship, Obiship and the Emirship (Yesufu, 1982). Both the military and the institutions of Obaship, Emir ship and Obiship did not recognize opposition; oppositions were seen as enemies that must be eliminated at all cost (Kennedy, 1975). This is unlike the British democratic parliamentary system that recognizes opposition, with a fixed tenure of office for elected representatives, respect for the rule of law and freedom of speech (Bailey, 1978).
CHAPTER FOUR
THE MILITARY AND THE POLITICAL SYSTEM
IN NIGERIATHE POLITCAL SYSTEM
The political system includes groups, interest, values and institutions that participate in national development. For Michael Howard, it is “an abstract notion of many forces which impinge upon the state and the government” These include the private sector, political parties and individual voters. While David Easton Defines a political system “as one, which contains all the institutions and processes involved in the authoritative allocation of values for society.
The military is very central to all political system. Plato’ recognized early enough that the military and its role of defence arose out of the responsibility of the state to provide security. The first task of the modern state was the provision of law, order and security. To this extent, the military is a key institution of the state whose primary task is to secure its citizens against possible internal and external threat to security, law and order. While in the western societies a distinction was made between political office holders and the military institution, in many pre-colonial African societies, this distinction was not so clear, as the two were fused together. Nevertheless, there is a sense in which it can be argued that the ilitary is the guarantor of state power and the custodian of national interest in so far as it takes seriously its primary assignment of securing the state.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
CONCLUSION
Causes of military intervention in Nigeria range from economic and social problems from the society leading to violence and insecurity. Others include, the problem of greed among politicians, the violence associated with elections, electoral competition and the inadequacy in dealing with social, ethnic and economic problems. The consequence of these interventions by the military is that the military institution which is meant to strengthen the civil authority to enable a democratic culture grow, has itself become immersed in politics. Some of the implications are, democratic and representative institutions of government like the legislature, political parties and electoral system, are not allowed to grow. It has also led to decline in professionalism within the military, which was caused by neglect in areas of training and equipment for training institutions and units.
Several years of military involvement in governance has resulted in the negative image and social isolation associated with the military institution. This took an international dimension following the annulment of June 12, 1993 election, when Nigeria was considered a “pariah” while the military was subjected to international sanction and isolation.
Military rule has however resulted in fundamental changes in the Nigerian polity. One way is the preservation of the country’s unity through the civil war, which was successfully prosecuted, and the structural changes in the polity, especially the creation of more states. In this way, the military helped to promote unity and integration, which was complimented by the other schemes like NYSC, unity schools and national sport festival.
The lesson to learn from a review of civil-military relations in United State Brazil and Cuba is that Nigeria should establish mutual confidence and collaboration between civilian rulers on one hand, and the military on the other, such that the latter will internalize complete loyalty and subordination to civilian authority.
The challenge for Nigeria is not to adopt a particular form of civil military relations, but to re-orientate and educate the military to respect and subordinate itself to civil and democratic authority. They may serve as the custodian of national sovereignty, but not to take direct control of political power.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In the effort to evolve appropriate model of civil-military relations that can sustain and guarantee a democratic order, the following recommendations are being put forward:
The first task is the need for the re-orientation role in a democracy. This can be done through mass political education and military personnel on the need to appreciate democracy as the promoter and guarantor of peace, stability and progress.
Closely related to the above is the need to ensure professionalism in the armed forces through training within and outside the country. Training facilities in training institutions and units should be resuscitated and funds made available for realistic joint and combined training.
The politicians should elevate their performance to enhance the legitimacy of the democratic process. They should ensure the security and welfare of the people.
Apart from training exercise, there should be more involvement in peacekeeping operations for members of the armed forces. This will engage their minds and at the same time enhance professionalism.
The media should be used to enlighten the public about military activities, the role of the military in the society and the reorientation programme of the military.
There should be a constitutional provision that empowers the citizens to respond to military incursion by way of strike, protests, civil disobedience and work-to-rule.
The military should be integrated into the development process. Some specialists in corps like signals, engineers, medical, finance, electrical and mechanical engineering could put their technical expertise and facilities at the service of the public.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS
- ADEKAYE, J.B. Nigeria: In Search of a Stable Civil Military System (Gower, Westview 1981 Press.
- ADEKAYE, J.B. The Retire Military as Emergent Power Factors In Nigeria.
- APPADORIA. A. A Substance of Politics. (Delhi Oxford University Press 1975).
- AZIKIWE, N: Democracy with Military Vigilance, (Nsukka African Book Ltd 1974).
- NWANKWO, A.A. Civilianized Soldiers (Enugu, (Fourth Dimension Publishing Co Ltd, 1984).
- ALAN, R. London Modem Politics and Government, Macmillan Education Ltd. 1990.
- ANUGWON, E. The Military, Ethnicity and Democracy in Nigeria in Nigeria Forum, March/April 1998.
- EASTON, D. A Framework of Political Analysis (Englewood Cliffs: H.J. Prentice Hall, 1965).
- EMEZIC, A. The Military and Politics in Nigeria (Owerri, Krisdon Graphic Limited).
- GOODPASTER, A.P and Civil-Military Relations (Washington DC” American
