Like President Obasanjo before the 1999 election, General Buhari’s political experience is limited to that of military Head of State.
Buhari came to power as a result of a 1983 New Year’s Eve coup against the democratically elected Shehu Shagari.
The eviction of Shagari came as a welcome relief as did Buhari’s promise to root out corruption.
That relief, however, was short-lived as Nigerians watched despairingly as the Buhari regime’s promises to revive the economy and wipe out rampant corruption withered during 20 months of heavy-handed, largely ineffective rule.
In May 1984, Buhari ordered the brutal expulsion of 700,000 illegal immigrants from neighboring African states, jailed hundreds of political opponents and muzzled a once aggressive press.
His loyalty to the military also came into question as he dismissed 30,000 soldiers as a cost-cutting measure.
Buhari also soured Nigeria’s relations with Britain, when he was accused of masterminding a clumsy and unsuccessful attempt in July 1984 to kidnap President Shagari’s brother-in-law, former Transport Minister Umaru Dikko.
Moreover, Buhari undermined traditional rulers throughout Nigeria, slashing their benefits and questioning their authority.
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