Word: babangida
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...well as taking action on the economic front, Babangida moved aggressively to ensure basic human rights for Nigerians. An hour after taking the presidential oath of office, he abolished an edict that Buhari had used to muzzle criticism from the lively Nigerian press. Babangida permitted Buhari to retire honorably from the army. Buhari's right-hand man, Major General Tunde Idiagbon, a Muslim, was allowed to return from Saudi Arabia, where he was making a pilgrimage to Mecca when the coup occurred. Noted a Nigerian journalist: "In most countries, a man like Idiagbon would have been shot...
...headed the National Security Organization, Nigeria's intelligence arm. A former clerk in the Foreign Ministry, Rafindadi used his power to conduct a purge in Nigeria's diplomatic service, firing some of its very best people. He also rounded up many ordinary citizens and kept them in "protective detention." Babangida sacked Rafindadi and curbed the powers...
...President released more than 100 detainees and made a point of inviting critics of past Nigerian governments to serve in his administration. He took steps to defuse tribal conflicts by distributing important government jobs among representatives of Nigeria's major tribes, the Ibo, Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani. Babangida himself is a Muslim from the Nupe tribe in the northern part of the country. His striking wife Maryam is a Roman Catholic of Ibo background. The First Couple have become well known for their frequent soirees where guests can easily and openly engage in discussions of nearly every aspect of Nigerian...
...Babangida's pro-human rights stand did not endear him to some elements of the military. In December, 14 dissident officers planned to overthrow the government. Their plot was uncovered, but it underlined the fragility of Babangida's regime. As army Chief of Staff, his confident, wisecracking style won him the backing of the officers' corps. As President, however, he refused to exempt the army from wage cuts of up to 20% that he ordered for all workers. Said one Western diplomat: "Babangida is reaching outside the military, trying to create new political forces to sustain him. As long...
...Year's Day speech, Babangida pledged to sponsor a national debate on the transfer of power to a civilian government. Said he: "I wish to reaffirm that this administration does not intend to stay in power a day longer than is required to lay the necessary institutional framework to bring about a better and more stable Nigeria." The voluntary and orderly turnover of power to a civilian government would flout the norm in Africa, where coupmakers have all too often made similar pledges. Many observers, in fact, believe that Babangida's program will entrench military power for years to come...