POL 126 COMPLETE LESSON NOTE MILITARY IN POLITICS 2019 SECOND SEMESTER

The Traditional Role of the Military

From time immemorial the military has been known for protection of the citizenry, mostly in terms of war or any other external aggression or violence. They are not also left behind in terms of internal crisis. The Police Force are mainly the section created for peace and order in the country, but where it gets out of hand the military are invited to help in peace keeping order wise there will be a chaos in the country. It is the duty of the Police Force to maintain peace, order and harmony in the country and to see the life and property of the citizen is secured. In the case of Nigerian security especially now that the security system is porous both the Police and the Army work hand in hand to see that peace reigns.

The traditional role of the military is stipulated in sections 215 of the 1998 constitution and section 217 of the 1999 constitution of the federal government of Nigeria have three roles or duties as follows:

i.                    Defending Nigeria from external aggression

ii.                  Maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its boarders from violation on land , sea or air

iii.                Suppressing insurrection and acting in and of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the president but subject such conditions as may be prescribed by the national assembly.

Since these are stipulated duties of the military it is quite unfortunate that they have failed to abide by what they were trained for. They also abandoned their duties and joined politics as military in politics which is the course code of this discus.

Features / Characteristics of Military Government

•   They lack legitimacy: this has to do with their leadership style which is full of dictatorship which is unacceptable by the masses

•  Centralization of Authority: this also has to do with sharing of power which is in few hands. Their power is concentrated in central authority denying the people or civilians getting inner circle.

•  Rule by decrees and edicts: the military issues decree to the ruled whether they like it or not, therefore they issue order which is authoritative and cannot be negotiable.

•   No regard for fundamental right  

•  The rule of law are worthless when it comes to military rule

•  In terms of the workings of the organs of government it has no value in military government

•  In terms of principles of separation of power it is a no go area as far as the military is concerned

•   Democracy is being silenced or suspended

Reasons for Military Interventions in Politics

i.                    Personal ambition to rule

ii.                  Bribery and corruption

iii.                Protection of sectional ethnic interest

iv.                Breakdown of law and order

v.                  Embezzlement and misappropriation of fund

vi.                Desire to stay in power for a long time

vii.              Foreign influence

viii.            Absence of free and fair credible election

Structure of Military Government and its Legitimacy

The Presidency: it is assumed that any president in the country becomes the overall head of his entire subjects. Therefore the military head of state is the head of state and head of government as he discharges his duties judiciously. He presides or is the chairman of federal executive council and also the ruling council. 

The Ruling Council: this body is the highest legislative council, they make laws like decrees and approves every important matters at all national level. This body is very strong in such that without them approving certain essential matters the country will not move from forward. Different regimes have their own names but still perform the same thing or function. For instance the Supreme Military Council (SMC) was what J. T. U. Aguiyi Ironsi, Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Muhammed, Obasanjo and Buhari used during their own administrations. While during Ibrahim Babanginda administration from August 27, 1985- 26 August 1993 it was changed to be Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) whereas, the Abacha-Abdusalami era they called it the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC); the council comprises ass the senior military officers and commander of major military formation, chief of general staff, chief of Army staff, chief of Nevy staff and the overall chairman is the head of state (president).

Note: during the tenure of Gen. Aguyi Ironsi, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the military state governors were included then, but in the administration of Murtala Mohammed the state military governors were not included as a member of the council.

National Council of Ministers: The name was renamed in 1985 by the Buhari administration. The national council were in charge of formulation and implementation of government policies, advices the head of state concerning the policy initiatives, make available data for day to day administration of the government.

Note: under the Gowon’s administration, Obafemi Awolowo was the vice chairman executive council and also serves as the Federal Commission of Finance. 

The National Council of State: this was first created in 1975 during the Murtala Muhammed’s regime. It is very important body whereby they act as the adiviser to the head of state concerning crucial matters in the country. The member includes: head of state who is the chairman, chief of

general staff, former heads of state, all the military governors/administrators, one first class traditional ruler from each of the federation.

The state military governors /Administrators: they are the chief executive officer of states. It is by appointment from the head of state. The duty of the administrator is to be in

charge of his state, works as both executive and legislative functions and promulgates edict into law, sees that law and order are maintained, Prepares the budget of the state, he appoints his commissioners for assisting him on the day to day running of  state.

The state Executive Council: they are the major organs in terms of formulation and implementation of government programmes/policies. They advise the state administrator on political matters, initiates edicts and make prompt available data for the preparation of the state budget. They also help in maintenance of law and order. Member of this body includes; the administrator of governor as the chairman, commander of the military staff of the state, the state police commissioners, the secretary to the state government, other members depend on the magnanimity of the administrator on ground. In democratic government they are called State House of Assembly.

Dates and various types of Coup d’état in Nigeria

S/N	Date	Type of Coup d’état	Leader over thrown	leader of Coup d’état
1	15th Jan. 1966	Successful	Alhaji Tafawa Balewa  (murderd)	Major Chukwuma  Kaduna Nzeogwu
2	29th July 1966	Successful	Major Gen. J. T. U. Aguyi Ironsi	Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon
3	29th July 1975	Successful	Yakubu Gowon (not killed)	Brig. Gen. Murtala  Ramat Muhammed
4	13th Feb. 1976	Unsuccessful	Murtala Muhammed (killed)	Lt. Col. Sukar Bukar  Dimka
5	31 Dec. 1983	Successful	Alhaji Shehu Shagari	Major Gen. Muhammed  Buhari
6	27th Aug. 1985	Successful	Gen.Muhammed Buhari (not  murderd)	Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida
7	22nd April  1990	Unsuccessful	IBB (not overthrown)	Major Gideon Orka
8	17th Nov. 1993	Successful	Chief Ernest Shonekan Head of Interim government (ING) (not killed)	Gen. Sani Abacha

Brief History of 1996 Nigerian coup d'e'tat

There was political unrest during the mid-1960s that culminated into Nigeria's first military coup d'état. It all started on 15th January 1966, where  Major General Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and his fellow group (rebel) soldiers mainly from southern part of Nigeria led by Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna of the Nigerian Army, executed a bloody takeover of all institutions of government of which the Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, was assassinated along with the premier of Northern Nigeria, full of strength, Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto, Samuel Akintola, premier of the West and Festus Okotie-Eboh, the Finance Minister. No one can say why President Azikiwe's life was spared probably because he was out of the country as at that time, or has had information about what was going to happen that made him to move out of the country. But the story of his visit according to report was on a health ground.   After series of meeting the final decision taken was to make Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi the first Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria on January 16th, 1966. The reign of Aguiyi  Ironsi did not last as he was assassinated by the coup of General Yakubu  Gowon and co.

General Yakubu Gowon, took over the mantle of leadership 1996, whereby he established a Supreme Military Council (SMC). The achievement of  General,Yakubu Gowon was the creation of 12 states in Nigeria on 27th may 1967. The new government stayed in power until July 1975, where they were overthrown in a bloodless coup by the group of Brigadier Murtala Muhammed who assumed the seat a president. While Gen. Murtala Mohammed created 7 states that increased the number of states from 12 to 19 on the 3rd of Feb, 1976. February 1976, Mohammed was assassinated by Buka Suka Dimka and others in a violent coup attempt, but the plotters failed to kill Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ, who then succeeded Mohammed as head of state. The head of state was not allowed to last long despite his good intentions for the nation. The short reign of Murtala Muhammed really affected the nation even though it was military era his plans for Nigerians would have been the best if given chance to discharge his duties judiciously.

 During the reign of Obasanjo he dissolved the Supreme Military Council that lead to the election of civilian president. It is on record that it was Olusegun Obasanjo who cleared way for electing President Shehu Shagari who continued the Second Republic in Nigeria. 

On 23rd of Sept, 1987 Gen Ibrahim Badamosi Babaginda added 2 more states making the number of states in Nigeria to 21 states. On the 27th August 1991 General Babaginda (IBB) added 9 more states to make it 30. Then on the 1st of October, 1996 General Sani Abacha who was the last military head of state created 6 States making it 36 states and the Federal capital territory. Abuja.

Shagari’s administration was overthrown in 1983 by the Nigerian coup d'état and succeeded by Muhammadu Buhari,  who assumed the Chairman of a new Supreme Military Council of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The reign of Buhari lasted only two years1983- 1985. He was overthrown by General Ibrahim Babangida, who instituted himself the President of the Armed Forces Ruling Council of Nigeria (AFRC).

The language of any military president in Nigeria is to return democracy within the shortest time of which IBB was not exceptional the same statement was made by him when he seized power, but he ruled Nigeria for eight years and even annulled democratic election one of the best election Nigerians have ever had in their history that is the election of Moshood Abiola.  As a result of this, IBB temporarily handed power to the interim head of state Ernest Shonekan in 1993 in a move towards democratization. The interim government was also short lived. Two months later, however, Shonekan was overthrown by General Sani Abacha while Babangida was visiting Egypt.

Abacha overthrown the Interim Government (ING) which was headed by Ernest Shonekan and appointed himself Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council of Nigeria (PRC). They stayed in office from 1993-1998 until his death in 1998. As a result of the death of Sani Abacha, General Abdulsalami Abubakar took over the government who later handed over to Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ who again became the head of state under Peoples Democratic Party (PGP) in 1999, ending the new regime and establishing the Fourth Nigerian Republic. President Olusengun Obasanjo is a remarkable figure in Nigerian politics as a promoter of democracy.  We should also note that he is the first civilian president who continued the Fourth Republic from 1999 to 2007 and since his vacation from the office Nigeria has remained a democratic nation till date.

Problems & Failures of Military Government

•   Violation of human rights: the right of citizens is seized whenever the armed forces are in power. No right is being observed. There are intimidation of the masses and treatment of individual as nothing. The use of decree is promoted and the silencing of the federal republic’s constitution. This violation is mans inhumanities to man. 

•  Avarice and thirst for power:  There is so much greed in acquisition of wealth this is the situation whereby the military kills in other to be in power; and to this extent anyone that stands on their way are eliminated. They accumulate wealth for their own selfish purpose, thereby squandering the wealth of the nation and putting the life of the lead in jeopardy and hardship.

•  Protection and promotion of ethnicity and have sectional interest: Counter coup in Nigeria was based by ethnic politics apart from Aguiyi Ironsi who had a different mindset; the military government has been like that. For instance during the time of Major general Gedeon Orka in 1990 from the north central they came in to represent their people. The same ethnic politics has continued till date until measures or strategies to put it under control emerged, the nation will continue wallowing in poverty especially poverty of the mind which is the driving force to all the problems faced by Nigerians today.

•   Changes policies /law without the concert of the populace: they can wake up one day and change the constitution using their decree as a base. The non consultant of experts is very dangerous for a country to develop and meet the standard of living in world politics.

•  Bribery and corruption as the order of the day: This is a very big problem facing the developing country. The coups and counter coups are nothing else but to loot the treasury of the government. No one can challenge the people that are holding arms and ammunition for the fear of losing their lives. When the military are in power they do all sorts of things and get away with it. This is not obtainable in democratic dispensation.

•  Enjoy being in power for a life time: this is the case of president major general Babangida and Sanni Abacha who wanted to remain in power till eternity, but eventually Abacha lost his life and Babangida was forced to resign or move out of the office. This type of thing is obtainable in every other African country that has prevented them to grow like the developed world.

•  They are undemocratic: for the army the rule of law is a waste of time. They don’t obey or carry it out. They do whatever they like. Democracy for the military is like a ferry tales; they not only violate the law but promote violation of law among themselves. They select individuals that are corrupt and will be probed therefore harboring those that are close them, this is undemocratic and any nation that does not promote democracy can never move an inch in terms of growth or development.

•  Promotes lawlessness: Nigeria is said to be lawless country but the military are the engineer of it. Preferring decree to constitution is a great doom to any nation to see the light of the day. Lawlessness retards development and impoverish the people thereby escalating poverty at its peak. Lawlessness is what every nation will never wish to experience as it derives the peace makers and the best brain out of the country. Nigeria is among the nation that suffers brain drain because of lawlessness that promotes corruption.

•  Misappropriation of fund and embezzlement: In fact all the military regimes are indicted with this same problem misusing the nations fund to the detriment of the masses. This is a situation where by the military channeled what was meant for a particular project to irrelevant things that will not benefit all. Even till date the same thing is still happening in Nigerian system of government. It is like it has come to stay as the government has not provided a solution to end this menace.

•      Disregard for rule of law: military government work with decree which is easy to pilot and there by neglecting the rule of law. The rule of law only work in a democratic system of government of which African countries has never had a true democracy but autocratic democracy which does not favour any one.

•   Full of disrespect for human feeling and thought: Human being ought to be respected since the constitution promotes human rights. Humans are special being created in a special way by supernatural being as thus should be treated with all sense of dignity and respect. The military system of government is autocratic and has no respect to any one. This has been their problem of armed forces and no nation will allow maltreatment, disregard, injustice etc., to reign in their land.  

•   Sees the civilian as bloody civilians: The name (bloody civilian)  in a lay man undertone is the slang most used by the military. This could be as a result of the training they underwent of which some of the civilian cannot stand it. If after passing out to assume their duty the civilians are looked upon as helpless people or bloody civilian as the case may be indicating the difference and parity between the military and civilian. As a soldier they are not bloody but the civilian. There is an adage in Igbo land that a mother that has a soldier as her child should be considered having no child at all  (Nnee muru solja gba aka nwa). The meaning here is that a soldier is ready to die at any time. That is what they are trained for; to fight for their father land till death. If this is the case and according to the traditional role of the military in section 217 of Nigerian constitution we should think that the military are not meant to pilot the affairs of the country in terms of leadership. They should step aside in anything patterning politics.  

•   They are deadly: The military does not look back when it comes to action. They don’t care and does not take advice from the public, especially the civilians whom they look down on. When military is in power society are gripped with fear of expression and movement, thereby burying democratic activities. Military has a base and a place to stay (barracks), roles to play in Nigeria and not in politics. Taking over power from the civilian is an abuse of power. 

The Differences between Coup D’état and Revolution

COUP D’ETAT Ajor	REVOLUTION
1.Mainly to effect political change in leadership	1.      To effect socio-political change, i.e. social Transformation.
2. Highly, enclavistic, the work of a clique of conspirators working secretly to overthrow an existing government or existing individuals in a government.	2. The result of popular mobilization of an oppressed people over a period of time, with a large scale organization, strategy and tactics.
3. Relies mainly on the Armed Forces and public sympathy	3. The target is often to overthrow existing sociopolitical and economic order. It often relies on the people and the Vanguard Party or Mass Movement
4. Could be the result of external forces and intervention on behalf of, and in support of local allies, e.g. U.S intervention in Chile, and Grenada, Tanzania’s, intervention in Uganda, in order to tout Idi Amin.	4. Mainly the result of internal factors mainly social frustration, corruption, poverty, dictatorship, Oppression. But receive inspiration from successful Revolution, elsewhere.
5. Relies on circumstance, change and elaborate planning with strategic places as targets – airports, seaports, radio/TV stations, military installations and communications network.	5. Carried out by threats, sabotage, propaganda or even Armed insurrection. And often based on an ideology which is built around freedom, social justice, truth, equality and democracy, as an alternative to decadent status quo.
6. Can take place during period of wealth. Takes place at night to reduce the possibility of civilian causalities.	6. Exploits public frustration, can break out at any time.
7. Leads mainly to reforms aimed at stabilizing the political system.	7. Leads to social transformation.

The impact of military rule on the development of democracy in Africa

The military rule is an authoritarian system whereby the public has no other option than to obey by force/under duress. The rule is an oppression, exploitation, maltreatment and use of force.  No country in the world welcomes autocratic rule. That is why it is said that; the worst democratic government is better than the best military rule/government. Africans not only is still feeling the impact of military rule but are being faced with lots of hardship and underdevelopment as a result of the military take over for decades. At first these group of soldiers will announce that they have come to ameliorate the situation of the country and take it to its greatest high not knowing that it is a ploy to satisfy their selfish needs.

We cannot say totally that the military government has no good side but that their long stay in power has caused a great loss in African development. The good side of the military is that:

1.        They are quick decision maker:  in terms of national issue they waste no time in deciding what to do immediately. If compared with the democratic government it will waste a lot of time that is; passing from the representative’s house to the senate approval and then the president signatory.  Then in terms of state creation is very easy for creation.  Ever since 1999 till date the national assembly cannot decide on the creation of states which was part of recommendation for restructuring Nigeria for peace to reign in some marginalizes group, made in Oputa panel during the Jonathan administration 2011-2015. 

2.       They promote Unity and Integration: they help in prevention of war like the Nigerian civil war they played a greater part not allowing the Biafra’s to secede from Nigeria and till date it has been one Nigeria. If it was democratic system of government as at then Biafra would have gotten their independence dividing the nation into two or more.

3.       They played part in development of the nation: for instance under Babangida regime he promoted  Mass mobilization for Self Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Reliance (MAMSER) which later was renamed National Orientation Agency (NOA) their aim is to develop a Nigerian society, responsible and disciplined; where citizens demonstrate core values of honesty, hard work and patriotism; where democratic principles and ideals are upheld; and where peace and social harmony reign; to ensure that government policies are better understood by the general public.

4.       Provision of security: military presence scares bandits and hoodlum from operating and terrorizing the citizens; like the Boko Haram and Kiddnappers that is now a problem to the sitting government. Citizens enjoy security whenever the armed men are in charge of the government. Apart from these the military played a greater role in the underdevelopment of Africa by burring democracy which is characterized by the transparency and accountability, tolerance of opposition, rule of law, opinion poll, majority rule, minority protection, citizens participation, periodic election etc.

  Denial of  Democratic development in Africa

1.       The military abuse human right;

2.       Disregard to rule of law;

3.       Rule by decree instead of constitution;

4.       Poor accountability;

5.       Coup and counter coup;

6.       Unstable government;

7.       Lack of separation of power;

8.       Undemocratic nature of military system of government.