Second Nigerian Republic

Second Nigerian Republic
Conventional long name	Second Nigerian Republic
Common name	Nigeria (1979–1983)
Era	Cold War
Status	Federal republic
Government type	Presidential republic
Event start	Constitution adopted
Date start	1 October
Year start	1979
Event end	Military coup
Date end	31 December
Year end	1983
Capital	Abuja
Largest city	Lagos
Official languages	English language
Currency	Nigerian naira
Leader1	Shehu Shagari
Year leader1	1979–1983
Title leader	President

Second Nigerian Republic was the federal republic established in Nigeria following the end of military rule in 1979 and lasting until the military coup at the end of 1983. It reinstated a presidential system modeled on the United States and sought to reconcile regional interests represented by major parties and traditional institutions such as the Oba of Benin and the Oyo monarchy. The period was marked by competing political coalitions, fluctuating oil revenues tied to the 1979 energy crisis and 1980s oil glut, and growing tensions between civilian leadership and the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Background and Origins

The transition to civilian rule built on legacies from the First Nigerian Republic, the 1966 Nigerian military coup, the Nigerian Civil War, and the Gowon administration which preceded a series of military regimes including the Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo juntas. The 1976 Nigerian local government reform and the 1977 Electoral Decree No. 73 set the stage for the 1979 Nigerian Constitution. Influential figures and institutions such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, the Action Group (Nigeria), the Northern People’s Congress, and the National Party of Nigeria shaped debates about federalism, state creation, and representation. International actors including the International Monetary Fund and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries influenced fiscal planning during the handover. The role of regional leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, and the Ojukwu legacy informed party alignments.

Constitutional Framework and Governance

The 1979 constitution established a presidential system drawing on models from the United States Constitution and debates within the Constituent Assembly (Nigeria). The office of President, occupied by Shehu Shagari, shared powers with a bicameral legislature comprising the Senate of Nigeria and the House of Representatives (Nigeria). Judicial authority was vested in the Supreme Court of Nigeria and provincial tribunals; notable jurists included figures akin to Atanda Fatai Williams and legal debates referenced the Nigerian Criminal Code. Administrative divisions reflected the states created under Murtala Muhammed, and federal appointments involved actors tied to the National Youth Service Corps. Civil service reforms mirrored recommendations from commissions inspired by models like the Tipperary Report and regional commissions.

Major Political Parties and Leadership

Dominant parties included the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Nigerian People's Party (NPP), People's Redemption Party (PRP), and the Great Nigeria People's Party (GNPP). The NPN, led by figures such as Shehu Shagari and allied elites from Plateau State and the Northern Region, formed a controlling coalition. The UPN under Obafemi Awolowo commanded support in Western Region strongholds like Oyo State and Lagos. The NPP drew backing from Enugu and Eastern Region constituencies with leaders recalling the influence of Nnamdi Azikiwe. Campaigning, patronage networks, and electoral disputes invoked institutions such as the Electoral Commission of Nigeria and personalities including Nwafor Orizu and party organizers linked to the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

Economic Policies and Social Conditions

Economic policy during the period was shaped by oil revenue swings tied to OPEC production decisions and global price shifts including the 1979 oil crisis. The Shagari administration pursued agricultural initiatives influenced by earlier programs from Murtala Muhammed and sought to implement rural development plans mirroring models from the Green Revolution and interventions similar to projects in Kenya and Ghana. Public expenditures on infrastructure, parastatals like Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and imports created fiscal strains managed through negotiations with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Social conditions saw urban migration to Lagos and Port Harcourt, labor unrest involving unions such as the Nigeria Labour Congress, and debates over subsidies and price controls recalling prior crises under the Shehu Shagari administration.

Challenges and Crisis Leading to Collapse

The republic confronted challenges including allegations of electoral malpractice during the 1983 Nigerian parliamentary election, corruption scandals implicating party elites, declining oil revenues during the early 1980s recession, and rising external debt from creditors including banks in Lagos and international lenders. Ethno-regional tensions among the Igbo people, Yoruba people, and Hausa–Fulani blocs exacerbated political rivalries. Security incidents, strikes led by the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, and public protests echoed historical flashpoints such as the Aba Women's Riot and the Zango Kataf conflict precedent. Judicial challenges to election results reached the Court of Appeal (Nigeria) and fuelled legitimacy crises for the administration.

Military Coup and Transition to Military Rule

On 31 December 1983, a coup led by senior officers including Major General Muhammadu Buhari overthrew the civilian leadership, suspended the 1979 constitution, dissolved the legislature, and installed a Supreme Military Council patterned on previous juntas. The coup referenced grievances about corruption, mismanagement, and national security similar to justifications from earlier coups in 1966 and the 1975 transition. The new regime initiated purges of party elites, established tribunals, and engaged with international partners including the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations while imposing policies affecting parastatals such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and reviewing agreements with OPEC and creditors.

Category:History of Nigeria Category:Former republics