By Adediji Abdulwasiu Adeshina.
Max Siollun’s book offers an incisive look into Nigeria’s turbulent political journey, marred by military coups and their consequences. This book meticulously details how the country’s journey to democracy was repeatedly disrupted by military leaders, resulting in widespread corruption, instability, and national strife.
The narrative begins with the 1966 coup, which toppled the democratically elected government of Tafawa Balewa, ending Nigeria’s First Republic. This event set off a chain reaction of distrust and political manipulation, with subsequent coups involving key figures like Murtala Muhammad, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Olusegun Obasanjo. These leaders, each promising reform, only deepened the nation’s woes.
The military’s self-perception as the country’s “corrective surgeons” led to nearly 29 years of authoritarian rule. Each coup was justified by accusations of corruption, yet corruption flourished under military governance. Babangida’s regime, in particular, is highlighted for its detrimental economic policies, such as the Structural Adjustment Program, which impoverished Nigerians and devalued the naira.
A pivotal moment in the book is the 1993 presidential election won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola. The military annulled the election, sparking nationwide protests and leading to Babangida’s resignation. An interim government was briefly established, only to be overthrown by General Sani Abacha. Abacha’s government was heralded with gloomy promises, and by the time Abacha was sworn in the pro-NADECO activists and Afenifere groups, who believed Abacha would set in motion the process for Abiola’s emergence as the president, were in support of his every action. However, through his tactician skillful manipulation, Abacha had other plans. To buy more time for his devious plan, he contacted some of Abiola’s foot soldiers and NADECO members into his government, including Olu Onagoruwa, Lateef Jakande, and Abiola’s vice Babagana Kingibe.
Six months later, feeling betrayed by Abacha’s firm grip on the power without a clear plan to relinquish power to him. Abiola declared himself the president in the Epetedo area of Lekki in Lagos state and went into hiding. The state declared Abiola a fugitive and issued a warrant of arrest. Many commentators have described this as Abiola’s greatest miscalculation. Abiola was eventually arrested and put under house arrest. The Abacha government purged itself of Abiola sympathizers and built an empire of praise singers.
Abacha’s rule was marked by severe repression, including the execution of political opponents like Kudirat Abiola, and Pa Alfred Rewene while many activists and journalists paid the supreme price. Dele Giwa was bombed, through the infamous letter bomb, and Ken Saro-Wiwa and 13 other Ogonis environmental activists were executed despite international pressure. Many activists and former heads of state were imprisoned, like General Olusegun Obasanjo and his erstwhile deputy Lt-Gen. Shehu Musa Yaradua while others languish in prison awaiting death, the like of Lt-Gen Diya among others.
Abacha’s sudden death in 1998 paved the way for General Abdulsalami Abubakar. Following Abacha’s death international pressure was mounted on the Nigerian government to release Abiola and agitation for June 12 resumed at home. However, on July 7,1998 in what appeared to be an international conspiracy, Abiola was declared dead while meeting with an American government delegation, a death that occurred exactly one month after Abacha’s death. The nation was thrown into inconsolable mourning, and many saw a conspiracy in Abiola’s sudden death. Abubakar eventually handed over power to a civilian government on May 29, 1999, which was the beginning of the Nigeria Fourth Republic. However, the legacy of military rule left deep scars on Nigeria’s political and economic fabric.
Siollun’s work underscores the paradox of the military’s role, originally the military intervened to combat corruption, and they became the primary perpetrators of the same act. They became deeply infected by the very ills it sought to eradicate. The initial coup that toppled both Tafawa Balewa and Shagari’s government cited corruption as the reason, the successive coup saw the actors deeply entrenched in corruption, overseeing some of the most egregious deals in Nigeria’s history.
Siollun’s chronicles reveal how Nigeria’s politics have evolved as an offshoot of military governance. This has led to a situation where the commitment to nation-building is often sidelined. Like the military, every successive government has cited corruption while campaigning for election from Yaradua to Johnathan, to Buhari and now Tinubu, each government beat the other corruption scandal. Political class like their mentor in khaki frequently view political office as a vehicle for self-aggrandizement rather than a platform for genuine public service. This perspective has perpetuated a cycle of corruption, power struggle, and a lack of genuine national development. Siollun’s impartial assessment and thorough examination of the military government and its collaborators make it an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the root of Nigeria’s contemporary challenges. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of African political history, providing a clear, unvarnished look at the impact of military rule on Nigeria’s development and by extension Africa as a whole.
