Leadnaija
Nigeria saw a big shift in power on December 31, 1983, when the army seized control putting an end to the Second Republic and ousting President Shehu Shagari. Top military leaders spearheaded this action, which put Major General Muhammadu Buhari in charge as the new head of state.
Background
Nigeria switched back to civilian rule in 1979 after the military had been in control for years. The people elected Shehu Shagari as president kicking off the Second Republic. But his government ran into a lot of problems. People accused officials of corruption, the economy struggled, and social unrest spread. Many Nigerians thought the government wasn’t tackling these issues well enough. Things got worse after the 1983 elections, which people said were rigged and violent. These troubles made more and more people, including those in the military unhappy with how things were going.
Planning the Coup
The military grew more worried about the country’s path; top officers thought the civilian government was failing and stepping in was crucial to rescue Nigeria. Some of these officers started to plot a coup to kick out President Shagari and his team. At first, they wanted Brigadier Ibrahim Bako to lead the country after the coup. People looked up to Bako as an officer who had taken part in earlier military actions. His job was to arrest President Shagari to help the power change hands without a hitch.
Execution of the Coup
On December 31, 1983, as night fell, the coup began. Brigadier Bako and his group headed to the presidential home to capture President Shagari. But things didn’t go as planned. Captain Augustine A. Anyogo, who led the presidential guards, got wind of the coming attack. This led to a face-off, and shots were fired. Sadly, Brigadier Bako lost his life in this fight, which dealt a big blow to those behind the coup.
Leadership Shift
Bako’s demise threw the original scheme into disarray. The plotters had to pick a new chief. They opted for Major General Muhammadu Buhari, who led the 3rd Armored Division in Jos at that time. People saw Buhari as a strict honest man. After the successful power grab, Buhari became the new head of state.
What Happened Next
Once he took charge, Major General Buhari defended the takeover by pointing out the previous rulers’ dishonesty and poor management. He stressed the need to bring back order and honesty to Nigeria. The new military rulers put the constitution on hold, got rid of the National Assembly, and outlawed political groups. They also locked up various politicians and officials from the old government accusing them of being crooked.
Buhari’s government brought in tough rules to tackle the country’s issues. They kicked off the “War Against Indiscipline” to boost order and fight corruption. But some people thought their ways were too rough. For example, they passed laws that limited press freedom, and they locked up many reporters who spoke out against the government. On top of that, the leaders put in place laws that handed out heavy punishments for crimes like drug dealing even going as far as the death penalty.
The 1983 coup was a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s history. It highlighted the deep issues within the country’s political system and the lengths to which the military was willing to go to address them. While the coup leaders promised to tackle corruption and improve governance, their tenure was marked by controversial policies and actions. This period serves as a reminder of the challenges Nigeria faced in its journey towards stable and effective governance.Full Details
