Former Military ruler General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over power to the democratically elected President of Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999, bringing to an end decades of military rigime in the country from 1966 to May 29, 1999 .
Shortly after gaining independence in 1960 from Great Britain, Nigeria fell prey to civil war and the first of many military coups in 1966.
Democracy was briefly restored from 1979 to 1983, but for most of its independent history, Nigeria was ruled by a series of military junta. The last major military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, died suddenly in 1998. His successor, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar promised a transition to democracy, and accordingly, a new constitution was adopted on May 5th, 1999. Elections were held and retired Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who had previously governed Nigeria as a military ruler, was elected the new president.
The end of military rule brought about a new era of regular elections as well as the return of civil liberties, free press and an end to arbitrary arrests and torture, although human rights violations still occurred regularly. Nigeria also began a long campaign against the bureaucratic and military corruption that paralyzed its economy and tarnished its international reputation.
It is a cheering news to learn that since 1999 to date, we have had three successive unbroken democratically elected presidents in this country without any trace of military incursion; ranging from chief Olusegun Obasanjo ( 1999 to 2007) late President Alhaji Umaru Musa Ya’adua ( 2007 to 2010) and President Goodluck Ebere Jonathan ( 2010 to date).
Despite the current security challenges in the country, Nigeria has witnessed so much improvement in virtually all sectors of economy ranging from improvement in infrastructural development , power sector reform, road and rail infrastructure to mention but a few.
Given the giant strides recorded within the last three years of President Jonathan’s administration’s transformation agenda, Nigerians are hopeful of better days ahead and that the remaining part of this administration will witness rapid development in virtually all sectors of the economy.
Source: Nigerian Pilot
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