Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari became Nigeria’s democratically elected president on 1 October 1979, ushering in the Second Republic after 13 years of military rule that began with a coup. Before assuming the presidency, he served in several federal positions, including Federal Commissioner for Economic Development (1970–1971) and Minister of Finance (1971–1975) under General Yakubu Gowon.
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Shagari’s rise revived optimism for democratic governance and national reconstruction after years of military control. Many Nigerians believed his administration would heal the divisions left by civil war, restore stability, and drive economic modernisation.
High Hopes and Early Challenges
At the dawn of the Second Republic, expectations soared. The Shagari administration launched the Fourth National Development Plan (1981–1985) to boost industrial growth, improve infrastructure, reform agriculture, and expand housing.
A key element of this vision, the Green Revolution, aimed to increase agricultural productivity through fertiliser distribution, mechanised farming, and subsidies. However, administrative inefficiency, corruption, and poor funding slowed progress.
Initially, rising oil revenues sustained Nigeria’s economy and encouraged ambitious spending. Yet, the boom did not last. Heavy dependence on oil exports, weak productivity in non-oil sectors, and ballooning import bills exposed deep structural flaws. Bureaucratic delays and patronage networks further obstructed key reforms.
By late 1980, overspending and falling oil income strained the economy. Fiscal mismanagement and the global oil slump pushed Nigeria into decline.
Economic Downturn and Structural Stress
Between 1981 and 1983, Nigeria’s economy deteriorated sharply as global oil prices crashed. Oil earnings, which once provided 90% of foreign exchange, plummeted. Inflation rose, unemployment increased, and essential goods grew scarce.
The government responded with austerity measures cutting budgets, restricting imports, and trying to diversify revenue through taxes and tariffs. Shagari opened talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilise the economy, but Nigerians rejected the IMF’s strict loan conditions.
Despite these steps, public debt ballooned, industries ran below capacity, and the naira lost value. Labour unrest spread as the government delayed wages and state administrations struggled to fund education and healthcare.
By 1982, Nigerians faced rising prices and food shortages. As hardship deepened, citizens lost confidence in the government.
Political and Social Tensions
Economic pain quickly turned into social anger. Citizens accused Shagari’s administration of corruption and weak leadership. Although Shagari maintained a reputation for personal integrity, his government failed to curb patronage and inefficiency.
In early 1983, the “Ghana Must Go” order expelled nearly two million undocumented West African migrants, mostly Ghanaians. Officials defended the move as a way to free up jobs and ease social pressure, but many viewed it as politically motivated and inhumane.
Internal divisions also plagued the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Regional factions fought for power, and opposition parties accused the government of authoritarianism and election manipulation. As corruption allegations grew, public trust in democratic institutions the courts, electoral bodies, and parliament fell sharply.
The 1983 Election and Legitimacy Crisis
The general election of 6 August 1983 became one of Nigeria’s most controversial. Shagari and his vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme, ran again under the NPN banner. The Electoral Commission announced Shagari’s victory with 47.5% of the vote and wins in 11 states.
Opposition parties rejected the results, alleging widespread fraud—ballot stuffing, vote inflation, intimidation, and manipulation of polling materials. Violence erupted in several states, including Rivers, Anambra, and Kaduna, leaving dozens injured and many properties destroyed.
Though Shagari took the oath for a second term on 1 October 1983, the legitimacy of his government had already collapsed. The economic crisis, political disunity, and allegations of corruption eroded public trust.
The Coup of 31 December 1983
On 31 December 1983, a group of senior army officers led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari overthrew Shagari’s government in a bloodless coup. Buhari, then commanding the 3rd Armoured Division in Jos, accused the civilian leadership of corruption and economic mismanagement.
The military declared that the government had betrayed public trust and that the armed forces would restore discipline and order. During the takeover, Brigadier Ibrahim Bako died while attempting to arrest Shagari reportedly the only casualty of the operation. Soldiers detained Shagari soon after and placed him under house arrest.
The coup involved several key figures, including Tunde Idiagbon, Ibrahim Babangida, and Sani Abacha, showing a coordinated effort within the army’s hierarchy.
Aftermath and Legacy
The new Buhari-led regime immediately suspended the 1979 Constitution, dissolved the National Assembly, and removed all state governors. It launched the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) to promote civic responsibility and curb corruption.
While the campaign sought moral reform, the regime soon gained notoriety for its authoritarian style, harsh decrees, and media repression.
In 1986, a judicial review cleared Shagari of corruption, confirming that he had not personally profited from public funds. However, the military government still banned him from politics for life.
Shagari’s presidency remains a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic journey. His fall revealed the fragility of political institutions, the dangers of overreliance on oil, and the need for stronger governance.
The coup reaffirmed a familiar pattern in Nigerian history: economic failure, political corruption, and weak institutions often create the path for military intervention.
Author’s Note
Shehu Shagari’s government (1979–1983) captured both the promise and peril of Nigeria’s return to democracy. It pursued modernisation but lacked the economic discipline and institutional strength to sustain it.
As oil revenues collapsed and corruption spread, public confidence vanished. The 1983 coup, though framed as a corrective act, ultimately reflected the accumulated failures of governance.
Four decades later, the lessons remain clear: democracy thrives not only on elections but also on transparency, strong institutions, and accountable leadership.
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References
Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Shehu Shagari” and “Nigeria: The Second Republic (1979–1983)”.
Toyin Falola & Matthew Heaton, A History of Nigeria (Cambridge University Press, 2008).
Richard Joseph, Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria: The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic (Cambridge University Press, 1987).
