...Previous holders need not apply.

A false constitutional crisis, fabricated by the Nigerian Presidency gradually draws to a close. Nigeria lies on the verge of post-Obasanjo days.

The First Republic

After independence from Great Britain in 1960, Nigeria adopted a bicameral parliamentary system of government modeled after that of its former colonial master. There was a largely ceremonial President and a powerful Prime Minister. The Federal Government was relatively weak in comparison to today's and regional governments had a great deal of autonomy and control. This was a legacy of British rule and the Richardson's and Macpherson's Constitutions which were in place in pre-independence Nigeria. This system did not last, for six years after independence, a military coup ushered in what became an era of dictatorial rule and snail-paced development in Africa's most populous nation.

Months later, there was another military coup. A civil war followed in 1967 in which roughly one million people (mostly of the Igbo ethnic group) died. After the war, the Federal Government became quite powerful (likely to prevent another war) while the powers of the provincial governments were greatly reduced. The number of provinces was trebled to make them even weaker. 1975 saw another military coup. The Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, was assassinated in 1976, and that year saw Olusegun Obasanjo (who was next in command) become Head of State. Obasanjo paved the way for democratic rule in 1979 after the constitution of the country had been re-written, this time around fashioned after the American system.

The Second Republic

The legislature remained bicameral—the upper house, known as the Senate, and the lower house as the House of Representatives. For four years, the 1979 Constitution was used to govern Nigeria till the military felt it was time to grab power once more in 1983.

The Third Republic

Refusal to hand over power to an elected government in 1993 meant that the Third Republic existed only on paper. Thanks in no small part to the government of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida which came to power by a military coup in 1985.

The Fourth Republic

1999 saw a new constitution, required to usher in the Fourth Republic. As in the United States, the Nigerian 1999 Constitution required that the legislature agree to bills approved by the President before such bills became law. A two-third majority was required for a bill to become law. In this way, the legislature exists to check the powers of the Presidency—the founding fathers of the United States must have been some of the smartest people to have walked the planet, for they knew that nothing could be more dangerous than a human being drunk with power!

Within the past few months, Nigeria has been facing what may rightly be called a fabricated constitutional crisis. This crisis centers on the desire of Mr. Obasanjo, the incumbent President to extend his stay in power. Because the constitution does not allow for this, Mr. Obasanjo's party has been trying to get it amended to achieve this goal. But amending the constitution is no small task. The bill has to be approved not only by the Senate and House of Representatives sitting in the capital city of Abuja, but also by at least two-third of the provincial legislatures, known as Houses of Assemblies.

The big question now is this: is Nigeria's constitutional crisis over? Given that the upper house of the Nigerian legislature (the Senate) has just rejected a clause in the reviewed constitution, which would have allowed the incumbent President, and State Governors serve an extra four-year term, it appears that by May 2007, Nigerians should have a new President. The last thing the government of Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo should dream of doing is disrespecting the outcome of this legislative vote, for that would be the straw which finally breaks the camel's back—the consequences of which no one can really tell, not even Mr. Obasanjo himself, who appears inept at controlling the Niger Delta region of his country without the use of military force.

With a vacancy at Aso Rock (the poetic name by which the Nigerian presidency is called, after the hill which surrounds it) all sorts of ex-looters and political misfits would undoubtedly start vying to become the President of Nigeria. And since it appears that it would be easier for the sun not to rise tomorrow than for the Nigerian Electoral Commission to conduct relatively free and fair elections, it is often the greatest manipulators who end up winning the day. The big question is: should that be the case in 2007?

When one takes a look at some of those who have shown interest in contesting the presidency, one can only wonder if such people actually need to seek psychiatric counseling. Top on the list is ex-General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (popularly known as IBB). Mainstream media recently reported that IBB, who ruled Nigeria for 8 good years between 1985 and 1993, is interested in making a comeback. In the name of all good things, what exactly does this man want? Isn't it bad enough that he led one of the most corrupt and unaccountable governments in Nigerian history? The fact that he has an army of supporters is even more baffling.

Furthermore, with indications that bribes were paid for the constitution to be amended, I hope that all those guilty—from the President himself to his cohorts in the ruling People's Democratic Party—would be brought to book. When Mr. Obasanjo eventually leaves office, I hope he will be forced to answer questions about this. No one should be spared in the War Against Corruption, not even the man who initiated it.

For now, it is such good news that Mr. Obasanjo's third-term bid has been thwarted. This is something definitely worth celebrating. Champagne anyone?

Photo: Aso Rock in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja

Related Article: Obasanjo Should Leave Office In 2007

Labels: Nigeria, Politics