From last week continues General Babangida’s address where he announced that  the AFRC had accepted the principles of grassroot democratic two-party system. He added that: “It is our belief that the system shall (among others):  

(g) Ensure the emergence of a new, more dedicated and more genuine leadership cadre, which will not be a mere proxy for old political warlords (h) chart a new pattern of political recruitment participation which will enhance Nigeria’s stability (i) establish strong instructional structures which not only sustain future governments, but also be strong enough to stand the test of time and (j) establish a political system that will be operated according to the spirit and letter of the Constitution of the Federal Republic. 

In his speech to the nation, General Ibrahim Babangida further declared that: “The two political parties shall be funded by the Federal Military Government. No financial contributions by any individuals or groups to any party treasury shall be permitted at this stage. NEC shall clearly specify the mechanism for fund raising by political parties at a later stage in the transition programme. Our decision to build political offices can now settle down to these buildings and conduct their respective business. They will be spared the ‘hostage politics’ of the past whereby people loaned out premises to a political party and used that fact to access, influence and patronage. All accounts of each party shall be audited before and after the first elections by external auditors appointed by NEC— at local, state and national levels of the two political parties. The AFRC strongly believes that our financial contribution to the parties at this stage is a vital investment in the future political stability of our nation. 

Party conventions shall be held after the registration exercise. Such conventions shall be held at the ward, local government, state, and finally, at the national levels in that order. The conventions shall (a) elect officers of the party at relevant levels (b) discuss and suggest to NEC for onward transmission to the AFRC, any amendments to the draft constitutions and manifestos. (c) establish modalities for fund-raising within the NEC guidelines on fiscal contributions to political parties and (d) establish strategies for campaigns, within NEC guidelines”. 

In his address at the Armed Forces dinner of 1990, General Babangida said: “Our political target is to ensure that we disengage in 1992, by which time we would have, at least, established the ground work for a successful take-off of a new political order that will provide justice, equality and social upliftment for the generality of Nigerians. The political system we are trying to create is one that has been worked in Nigeria by Nigerians for Nigerians”. 

The same General Babangida terminated the presidential election of June 12, 1993. The annulment put an end to the experiment of having a two-party system in Nigeria. The setting up of the Interim National Government in 1993 finally nailed the coffin on the two-party structure. If you invite ten Nigerians to a social event, the possibility is that ten of them will wear ten different kinds of dresses. That sums up who we really are.  Nigerians are different people with different backgrounds, interests and contradictions. And that extends to our political system. General Sani Abacha seized power in a palace coup in November 1993. Under General Sani Abacha, the main decision-making organ was exclusively the military Provisional Ruling Council, PRC, which ruled by decree. The 32-member Federal Executive Council composed of military officers and civilians. Pending the promulgation of the Constitution written by the Constitution Conference in 1995 and subsequently approved by the Head of State, the Government observed some provisions of the 1979 and 1989 Constitutions. The decree suspending the 1979 Constitution was not repealed and the 1989 Constitution was not implemented. In 1995, General Abacha announced a transition timetable designed to return the country to a democratically elected civilian government by October 1, 1998. 

Government continued to enforce its arbitrary authority through the Federal Security System (the military, the state security service, and the national police) and through decrees blocking action by the opposition in the courts. All branches of the security forces committed serious human rights abuses. Throughout his tenure, General Abacha’s government relied regularly on arbitrary detention and harassment to silence its many critics. The winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, remained in detention on charges of treason, and unidentified persons murdered Abiola’s senior, Kudirat, wife under mysterious circumstances. 

In September 1996, 39 people were reported dead in the Northern cities of Kaduna and Zaria after police attempted to break up demonstrations protesting the detention of Muslim Cleric and religious leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky. 

To be concluded…