Nigeria in 1996

Nigeria in 1996

A republic and suspended member of the Commonwealth, Nigeria is located in West Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea. Area: 923,768 sq km (356,669 sq mi). Pop. (1996 est.): 103,912,000. Cap.: Abuja. Monetary unit: naira, with (Oct. 11, 1996) an official par value of 22 naira to U.S. $1 (free rate of 34.66 naira = £1 sterling); a truer value of the naira was on the free market, where 79.70 naira = U.S. $1 (125.55 naira = £ 1 sterling). Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1996, Gen. Sani Abacha.

On Jan. 17, 1996, Ibrahim Abacha, the oldest son of the head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, was killed in a plane crash; his death led to the postponement of the budget. He was close to his father and was regarded by some as a restraint upon him. The delayed budget was presented by General Abacha on February 15. He reported that there had been a 2.7% level of growth in 1995 and that the fiscal deficit of 81 billion naira in 1994 had been converted into a small surplus of 1 billion naira in 1995. The 1996 target was for a 4.94% level of growth. Of the total expected revenues of 340 billion naira, 214 billion would come from the sale of oil.

Political opposition to the military regime and moves toward a return to civilian politics became increasingly significant during 1996. The military accused foreign governments of supplying arms and financial assistance to its exiled opponents, and Wole Soyinka, the exiled winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature, was accused of involvement in bomb explosions in Kano and Kaduna during February because one of his books was found on the body of the Kaduna bomber (the only casualty). Following secret talks in Oslo and Johannesburg, S.Af., a new umbrella organization to oppose the regime was established on April 1; it was to be called the United Democratic Front of Nigeria, and its object was to work for the restoration of democracy and to enable opponents of the regime to speak with one voice.

Local government elections were held in mid-March, but only five days of campaigning were allowed, and voters had to line up behind their chosen candidates. This was not seen as a move toward democracy, although many candidates ran for election, either for personal advancement or in order to deprive the military of the right to impose candidates. At the end of March, General Abacha dismissed the army and air force commanders; no reason was given. Then in April dozens of military officers were reported to have been "retired," a move that was interpreted as a purge of those who opposed Abacha. A move by Chief Moshood ("MKO") Abiola’s lawyers to facilitate his treason trial was not allowed by the Federal High Court. On June 4 Kudirat Abiola, Chief Abiola’s senior wife, was murdered; the government offered a 1 million naira reward for the killer and was clearly fearful it might be accused of the murder. Abiola was not allowed to attend his wife’s funeral. Bombs aimed at government officials in November further added to the turmoil.

On June 18 the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) published rules to govern the registration of political parties, and organizations seeking recognition were given until June 26 to obtain registration forms that had to be submitted by July 26. Twenty-three organizations did so. Subsequently, NECON announced the registration of five political associations for the next republic. These were: the United Nigeria Congress Party, the Committee for National Consensus, the National Centre Party of Nigeria, the Democratic Party of Nigeria, and the Grassroots Democratic Movement. When General Abacha addressed the nation on October 1, he announced the creation of 6 new states to bring the total to 36 and appealed to the five newly recognized political parties to be disciplined and orderly; he again insisted that the program for a return to democracy was on track.

A UN fact-finding mission visited Nigeria at the end of March (at the request of the government) to evaluate progress toward democracy and to examine judicial procedures in the wake of the executions of nine members of the minority Ogoni ethnic group. A member of the mission was reported as saying that the "problems of human rights are terrible and the political problems are terrifying."

by:Guy Arnold