Nigerian Second Republic
Encyclopedia
The Second Republic was the republican
government of Nigeria
between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.
in 1976, his successor General Olusegun Obasanjo initiated the transition process to terminate military rule in 1979. A new constitution
was drafted, which saw the Westminster system
of government (previously used in the First Republic
) jettisoned for an American
-style Presidential system
. The 1979 constitution mandated that political parties and cabinet positions reflect the "federal character" of the nation — Political parties were required to be registered in at least two-thirds of the states
, and each state was required to produce at least one cabinet member.
In the widely monitored 1979 election, Alhaji Shehu Shagari
was elected on the NPN platform. On October 1, 1979, Shehu Shagari was sworn in as the first President and Commander-in-Chief
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
, an educationist, mounted public podiums regularly, to speak-out in defiance of what he strongly felt were the negative views of the Second Republic government. Another such activist was Ayodele Awojobi
, a professor of Mechanical Engineering, who filed several law suits and organised political rallies in protest of the Nigerian election results that returned Shehu Shagari, the incumbent, as President in the Second Republic - he strongly believed the results were widely rigged.
, the leader of the rebellion, cited charges of corruption and administrative incompetence as reasons for military
intervention. President Shagari was placed under house arrest
, and several of his cabinet members were either jailed or exiled.
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
government of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.
Founding (1979)
Following the assassination of Nigerian military Head of State, General Murtala MohammedMurtala Mohammed
General Murtala Ramat Mohammed born was a military ruler of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976.-Role during 1960s coups:...
in 1976, his successor General Olusegun Obasanjo initiated the transition process to terminate military rule in 1979. A new constitution
Constitution of Nigeria
The Constitution of Nigeria is the supreme law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.Nigeria has had a series of constitutions. The current constitution was enacted on 29 May 1999, inaugurating the Nigerian Fourth Republic.-Colonial era :...
was drafted, which saw the Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
of government (previously used in the First Republic
Nigerian First Republic
The First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution.-Founding :...
) jettisoned for an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-style Presidential system
Presidential system
A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss it....
. The 1979 constitution mandated that political parties and cabinet positions reflect the "federal character" of the nation — Political parties were required to be registered in at least two-thirds of the states
States of Nigeria
Nigeria is currently divided into 36 states and Abuja, the federal capital territory. The states are further divided into 774 Local Government Areas....
, and each state was required to produce at least one cabinet member.
In the widely monitored 1979 election, Alhaji Shehu Shagari
Shehu Shagari
Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Turakin Sakkwato served as the President of Nigeria's Second Republic , after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government....
was elected on the NPN platform. On October 1, 1979, Shehu Shagari was sworn in as the first President and Commander-in-Chief
President of Nigeria
The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Presidents
| President | Term | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Shehu Shagari Shehu Shagari Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Turakin Sakkwato served as the President of Nigeria's Second Republic , after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government.... |
October 1, 1979 - December 31, 1983 | NPN National Party of Nigeria The National Party of Nigeria was the dominant political party in Nigeria during the Second Republic .-Formation:The party's beginning could be traced to private and sometimes secret meetings among key Northern Nigerian leaders after the proscription of political parties in 1966 by the military... |
Political parties
- Greater Nigerian People's PartyGreater Nigerian People's PartyThe Great Nigeria People's Party was one of the six major political parties that fielded candidates for elections in the Nigerian Second Republic. The party was formed by a splinter group from the Nigerian People's Party, the group was led by Waziri Ibrahim, a politician and businessman from Borno....
(GNPP) - National Party of NigeriaNational Party of NigeriaThe National Party of Nigeria was the dominant political party in Nigeria during the Second Republic .-Formation:The party's beginning could be traced to private and sometimes secret meetings among key Northern Nigerian leaders after the proscription of political parties in 1966 by the military...
(NPN) - Nigeria Advance PartyNigeria Advance PartyThe Nigeria Advance Party is a progressive political party headed by a radical Lagos lawyer, Tunji Braithwaite....
(NAP) - Nigerian People's PartyNigerian People's PartyThe Nigerian Peoples Party was one of the major political parties that contested elections in the Nigerian Second Republic. The party was made up of three major groups: the Lagos Progressives, Club 19, and the Nigerian Council of Understanding....
(NPP) - People's Redemption PartyPeople's Redemption PartyThe People's Redemption Party was a political party in Nigeria. Often considered the Second Republic incarnation of the Northern Elements Progressive Union, the party was created by the late Mallam Aminu Kano. The PRP was highly regarded as a progressive left of center political party. Some well...
(PRP) - Unity Party of NigeriaUnity Party of NigeriaThe Unity Party of Nigeria was a Nigerian political party that was dominant in western Nigeria during the second republic. The party revolved around the political leadership of Obafemi Awolowo, a sometimes polemical but effective administrator. However, the party's main difference with its...
(UPN)
Political activism
Tai SolarinTai Solarin
Augustus Taiwo "Tai" Solarin was a Nigerian educator and author. He established the famous Mayflower School, Ikenne, Ogun State in 1956....
, an educationist, mounted public podiums regularly, to speak-out in defiance of what he strongly felt were the negative views of the Second Republic government. Another such activist was Ayodele Awojobi
Ayodele Awojobi
Ayodele Oluwatuminu Awojobi , also known by the nicknames "Dead Easy", "The Akoka Giant", and "Macbeth", was a Nigerian academic, author, inventor, social crusader and activist....
, a professor of Mechanical Engineering, who filed several law suits and organised political rallies in protest of the Nigerian election results that returned Shehu Shagari, the incumbent, as President in the Second Republic - he strongly believed the results were widely rigged.
Abolition
The Shagari administration was ejected from power on New Year's Eve 1983. General Muhammadu BuhariMuhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
, the leader of the rebellion, cited charges of corruption and administrative incompetence as reasons for military
Military of Nigeria
The Nigerian Armed Forces are the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The military has active duty personnel in three armed services, totaling approximately 85,000 troops and 82,000 paramilitary personnel. Its origins lie in the elements of the Royal West African Frontier Force that...
intervention. President Shagari was placed under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
, and several of his cabinet members were either jailed or exiled.
See also
- Nigerian First RepublicNigerian First RepublicThe First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution.-Founding :...
(1963 - 1966) - Nigerian Third RepublicNigerian Third RepublicThe Third Republic was the planned republican government of Nigeria in 1993 which was to be governed by the Third Republican constitution.- Founding :...
(1993) - Nigerian Fourth RepublicNigerian Fourth RepublicThe Fourth Republic is the republican government of Nigeria. Since 1999 it has governed the country according to the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Second Republic, which was in place between 1979 and 1983 and suffers many of the same problems, such as multiple...
(1999 - present)