Democracy in Nigeria:
Nigeria is today a democratic nation. However, the road to democracy has been thorny. From independence and until 1999, the country was mostly governed by the military rulers. The turning point came in 1993 after the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida annuled the result of a presidential election of June 12. That election was adjudged by the international observers to be the most peaceful, free and fair in the history of the country and it was believed to have been won by philantropist, business magnate Chief M.K.O. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a popular revolt by the people of Nigeria forced a military ruler to step aside and handed over to a hurriedly composed national unity government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. However, pressure continued to mount on the new administration and the pressumed winner of the annuled election regularly demanded his mandate. The unelected administration was characterised by violence and criticsm accros the country and this led to the return of the military junta. It was led by late General Sanni Abacha who took Abiola into custody and a sent out his hit men to assasinate the pro june 12 activists. Many people lost their lives including Kudrat Abiola (wife of the pressumed winner) and Pa Alfred Rewane ( a respected business magnate). It soon dawned on all that Abacha had come to stay and that only God could stop him. He did. Abacha died in June 1998 after a heart attack and General Abduslami Abubakar took the mantle of leadership with a promise to handover to a civillian regime. The following month Abiola died in custody also after a heart attack. The Abubakar adiministration claimed that he died on eve of being released. Nigerians belive he died a hero and he is today regarded as an icon of democracy in nigeria. On May 29, 1999, General Abubakar handed over power to former head of state Rtd General Olusegun Obasanjo after a general election. Obasanjo was himself a victim of the draconian rule of Abacha regime having jailed for plotting a coup against him.

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