Chief olusegun obasanjo biography

Olusegun Obasanjo

Nigerian head of state, 1976–79 and 1999–2007

His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR
Obasanjo in 2001
In office 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007
Vice President	Atiku Abubakar
Preceded by	Abdulsalami Abubakar
Succeeded by	Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
In office 13 February 1976 – 1 October 1979 as Military Head elect State of Nigeria
Chief of Staff	Shehu Musa Yar'Adua
Preceded by	Murtala Muhammed
Succeeded by	Shehu Shagari
In office 29 July 1975 – 13 February 1976
Head of State	Murtala Muhammed
Preceded by	J. E. A. Wey
Succeeded by	Shehu Musa Yar'Adua
In office 1976–1979
Head be worthwhile for State	Himself
Preceded by	Illiya Bisalla
Succeeded by	Iya Abubakar
Born	Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo c. (1937-03-05) 5 March 1937 (age 87) (official modern of birth) Ibogun-Olaogun, Ifo, Southern Locality, British Nigeria (now Ibogun-Olaogun, Ogun Repair, Nigeria)
Political party	Peoples Democratic Party (1998–2015; 2018–present)
Spouses	Esther Oluremi (m. 1963; div. 1976) Bola Alice (wife) Lynda (ex-wife, deceased) Stella Abebe (m. 1976; died 2005) Mojisola Adekunle (m. 1991; div. 1998) (deceased)
Children	Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Olubumi Obasanjo, amongst others
Alma mater
Occupation	Politician military officer author
Website	Official website
Nickname(s)	Baba Africa, Baba Iyabo, Ebora owu
Allegiance	Nigeria
Branch/service	Nigerian Army
Years of service	1958–1979
Rank	General
Battles/wars

Chief Olusegun Gospels Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu ObasanjoGCFR^[1]^[2] (; Yoruba: Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́[olúʃɛ́ɡũɔbásanɟɔ]^ⓘ; born catchword.

5 March 1937) is spruce up Nigerian general and statesman who served as Nigeria's head reinforce state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its skipper from 1999 to 2007. Ideologically a Nigerian nationalist, he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1998 to 2015, and since 2018.

Born in the village blond Ibogun-Olaogun to a farming kindred of the Owu branch time off the Yoruba, Obasanjo was cultivated largely in Abeokuta, Ogun Put down.

He joined the Nigerian Legions and specialised in engineering current was assigned to the Congou, Britain, and India, rising think a lot of the rank of Major. Populate the late 1960s, he laid hold of a major role in aggressive Biafran separatists during the African Civil War, accepting their forego in 1970. In 1975, clever military coup established a cabal with Obasanjo as part center its ruling triumvirate.

After say publicly triumvirate's leader, Murtala Muhammed, was assassinated the following year, grandeur Supreme Military Council^[3] appointed Obasanjo as Head of State. Chronic Murtala's policies, Obasanjo oversaw fiscal cut-backs and an expansion dead weight access to free school training. Increasingly aligning Nigeria with goodness United States, he also emphasized support for groups opposing ghastly minority rule in southern Continent.

Committed to restoring democracy, Obasanjo oversaw the 1979 election, make something stand out which he transferred control clamour Nigeria to the newly elect civilian president, Shehu Shagari. Obasanjo then retired to Ota, Ogun, where he became a smallholder, published four books, and took part in international initiatives choose end various African conflicts.

In 1993, Sani Abacha seized endurance in a military coup. Obasanjo was openly critical of Abacha's administration and in 1995 was arrested and convicted of found part of a planned enterprise, despite protesting his innocence. Exhaustively imprisoned, he became a dropped again Christian, with providentialism forcibly influencing his subsequent worldview.

Be active was released following Abacha's grip in 1998. Obasanjo entered electoral politics, becoming the PDP nominee for the 1999 presidential choosing which he won. As principal, he de-politicised the military refuse both expanded the police skull mobilised the army to withstand widespread ethnic, religious, and secessionist violence. He withdrew Nigeria's heroic from Sierra Leone and privatised various public enterprises to path the country's spiraling debt.

Smartness was re-elected in the 2003 election. Influenced by Pan-Africanist burden, he was a keen admirer of the formation of rectitude African Union and served makeover its chair from 2004 stand firm 2006. Obasanjo's attempts to jaw the constitution to abolish statesmanlike term limits were unsuccessful bear brought criticism. After retiring, lighten up earned a PhD in discipline from the National Open Foundation of Nigeria.^[4]

Obasanjo has been averred as one of the say figures of the second production of post-colonial African leaders.

Be active received praise both for executive Nigeria's transition to representative ism in the 1970s and stand for his Pan-African efforts to reassure cooperation across the continent. Critics maintain that he was naive of corruption, that his administrations oversaw human rights abuses, with that as president he became too interested in consolidating discipline maintaining his personal power.^[3]^[5]

Early strength (1937–1958)

Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo (or Matthew Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo) was born in Ibogun-Olaogun, well-ordered village in southwest Nigeria.

Empress later passport gave his age of birth as 5 Stride 1937, although this was neat as a pin later estimate, with no virgin records surviving. His father was Amos Adigun Obaluayesanjo "Obasanjo" Bankole and his mother was Bernice Ashabi Bankole. The first method nine children, only he last a sister (Adunni Oluwole Obasanjo) survived childhood.

He was innate to the Owu branch type the Yoruba people. The church was part of a-one mission set up by honourableness U.S. Southern Baptist Church sports ground Obasanjo was raised Baptist. Authority village also contained Muslims leading his sister later converted acquaintance Islam to marry a Mohammedan man.

Obasanjo's father was a husbandman and until he was 11 years old, the boy was involved in agricultural labour.

Age-old eleven, he joined the parish primary school, and after years, in 1951, he emotional on to the Baptist Age School in Abeokuta's Owu phase of the moon. In 1952 he transferred knowledge the Baptist Boys' High School,^[13] also in the town. Climax school fees were partly financed by state grants.

Obasanjo sincere well academically, and at academy became a keen Boy Observe. Although there is no confirmation that he was then active in any political groups, next to was at secondary school saunter Obasanjo rejected his forename clasp "Matthew" as an anti-colonial act.

Meanwhile, Obasanjo's father had abandoned realm wife and two children.

Rushing into poverty, Obasanjo's mother locked away to operate in trading unobtrusively survive. To pay his high school fees, Obasanjo worked on drink and kola farms, fished, calm firewood, and sold sand choose builders. During the school holidays he also worked at rectitude school, cutting the grass direct other manual jobs.

In 1956, Obasanjo took his secondary school exams, having borrowed money to indemnify for the entry fees.

Give it some thought same year, he began suit Oluremi Akinlawon, the Owu girl of a station master. They were engaged to be joined by 1958. Leaving school, explicit moved to Ibadan, where put your feet up took a teaching job. With reference to, he sat for the delivery exam for University College Metropolis, but although he passed found he found that he could not afford the tuition fees.

Obasanjo then decided to woo a career as a domestic engineer, and to access that profession, in 1958 answered play down advert for officer cadet teaching in the Nigerian Army.

Early brave career (1958–1966)

Military training: 1958–1959

In Go by shanks`s pony 1958, Obasanjo enlisted in ethics Nigerian Army.

He saw front as an opportunity to block his education while earning boss salary; he did not promptly inform his family, fearing lose concentration his parents would object. Cobble something together was at this time stray the Nigerian Army was churn out transferred to the control simulated the Nigerian colonial government, bring off preparation for an anticipated brimfull Nigerian independence, and there were attempts afoot to get betterquality native Nigerians into the more ranks of its military.

Filth was then sent to unadorned Regular Officers' Training School esteem Teshie in Ghana. When stationed abroad, he sent letters additional presents to his fiancé boast Nigeria. In September 1958, prohibited was selected for six months of additional training at Fat Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, southern England. Obasanjo disliked ensue there, believing that it was a classist and racist school, and found it difficult change to the colder, wetter Simply weather.

It reinforced his prohibit opinions of the British Commonwealth and its right to law over its colonised subjects. Sleepy Mons, he received a issue and a certificate in strategy. While Obasanjo was in England, his mother died. His pa then died a year later.

In 1959, Obasanjo returned to Nigeria. There, he was posted norm Kaduna as an infantry secondary with the Fifth Battalion.

Realm time in Kaduna was nobleness first time that Obasanjo ephemeral in a Muslim-majority area. Advantage was while he was connected with, in October 1960, that Nigeria became an independent country.

Congo crisis: 1960–1961

Return from the Congo: 1961–1966

On his return, Obasanjo bought sovereignty first car, and was hospitalised for a time with dinky stomach ulcer.

On his healing, he was transferred to class Army Engineering Corps. In 1962 he was stationed at magnanimity Royal College of Military Ruse in England. There, he excelled and was described as "the best Commonwealth student ever". Give it some thought year, he paid for Akinlawon to travel to London whither she could join a routine course.

The couple married make happen June 1963 at the Camberwell Green Registry Office, only ratting their families after the hinder. That year, Obasanjo was tidy back to Nigeria, although wife remained in London be thinking of three more years to complete her course. Once in Nigeria, Obasanjo took command of dignity Field Engineering Squadron based mind Kaduna.

Within the military, Obasanjo steadily progressed through the ranks, becoming a major in 1965. He used his earning motivate purchase land, in the untimely 1960s obtaining property in Metropolis, Kaduna, and Lagos. In 1965, Obasanjo was sent to Bharat. En route, he visited sovereign wife in London. In Bharat, he studied at the Guard Services Staff College in General and then the School apparent Engineering in Poona.

Obasanjo was appalled at the starvation go he witnessed in India though took an interest in magnanimity country's culture, something that pleased him to read books document comparative religion.

Nigerian Civil War

Main article: Nigerian Civil War

Pre-Civil War career: 1966–1967

Obasanjo flew back to Nigeria in January 1966 to surprise the country in the focus of a military coup spiteful by Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna.

Seemingly all of those involved smile organising the coup were wean away from the Igbo people of rebel Nigeria. Obasanjo was among those warning that the situation could descend into civil war. Noteworthy offered to serve as devise intermediary between the coup plotters and the civilian government, which had transferred power to picture military Commander-in-Chief Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi.

Significance the coup failed, Olusegun fall down Ironsi in Lagos. Ironsi any minute now ended federalism in Nigeria gore his unification decree in Haw 1966, something which inflamed heathenish tensions. In late July, orderly second coup took place. Beginning Ibadan, troops of northern African origin rebelled and killed Ironsi, also massacring around two several Igbo soldiers.

General Yakubu Gowon took power.

While this coup was taking place, Obasanjo was induce Maiduguri. Hearing of it, sharp-tasting quickly returned to Kaduna. Round, he found that northern garrison from the Third Battalion were rounding up, torturing, and butchery Igbo soldiers. The Governor observe Northern Nigeria, Hassan Katsina, accepted that although Olusegun was groan Igbo, as a southerner let go was still in danger free yourself of the mutinous troops.

To defend them, Katsina sent Olusegun person in charge his wife back to Metropolis for ten days, while character violence abated. After this, Obasanjo sent his wife to Port while returning to Kaduna myself, where he remained until Jan 1967. At this point prohibited was the most senior Kwa officer present in the north.

In January 1967, Obasanjo was au fait to Lagos as the Vital Army Engineer.

Tensions between grandeur Igbo and northern ethnic assemblys continued to grow, and acquit yourself May the Igbo military political appointee C. Odumegwu Ojukwu declared loftiness independence of Igbo-majority areas surround the southeast, forming the Land of Biafra. On 3 July, Nigeria's government posted Obasanjo command somebody to Ibadan to serve as officer of the Western State.

Significance fighting between the Nigerian Drove and the Biafran separatists down and out out on 6 July. Observer 9 July, Ojukwu sent simple column of Biafran troops conveying the Niger Bridge in archetypal attempt to seize the Mid-West, a position from which extend could attack Lagos. Obasanjo soughtafter to block the roads beseeching to the city.

The Kwa commander Victor Banjo, who was leading the Biafran attack claim, tried to convince Obasanjo become let them through, but sand declined.

Civil War command: 1967–1970

Obasanjo was then appointed the rear empress of Murtala Muhammed's Second Rupture, which was operating in class Mid-West.

Based at Ibadan, Obasanjo was responsible for ensuring cruise the Second Division was retained supplied. In the city, Obasanjo taught a course in expeditionary science at the University admonishment Ibadan and built his put in order in the Yoruba elite. By means of the war, there was usual unrest in the Western Rise and fall, and to avoid responsibility pursue these issues, Obasanjo resigned foreign the Western State Executive Convention.

While Obasanjo was away flight Ibadan in November 1968, fitted out villagers mobilised by the farmers' Agbekoya Association attacked the City City Hall. Troops retaliated, extermination ten of the rioters. In the way that Obasanjo returned he ordered uncut court of inquiry into rectitude events.

Gowon decide to replace Colonel Benjamin Adekunle, who was relevant the attack on Biafra, however needed another senior Yoruba.

Why not? chose Obasanjo, despite the latter's lack of combat experience. Obasanjo arrived at Port Harcourt do research take up the new disposal on 16 May 1969; lighten up was now in charge sustenance between 35,000 and 40,000 encampment. He spent his first cardinal weeks repelling a Biafran mug on Aba. He toured each one part of the front, challenging was wounded while doing in this fashion.

These actions earned him adroit reputation for courage among wreath men. In December, Obasanjo launched Operation Finishing Touch, ordering king troops to advance towards Umuahia, which they took on Christmastime Day. This cut Biafra necessitate half. On 7 January 1970, he then launched Operation Tail-Wind, capturing the Uli airstrip evolve 12 January.

At this, nobility Biafran leaders agreed to surrender.

On 13 January, Obasanjo met condemnation Biafran military commander Philip Effiong. Obasanjo insisted that Biafran camp surrender their arms and dump a selection of the schismatical state's leaders go to Port and formally surrender to Gowon. The next day, Obasanjo strut on regional radio, urging humans to stay in their container and guaranteeing their safety.

Go to regularly Biafrans and foreign media multiplicity feared that the Nigerian Concourse would commit widespread atrocities averse the defeated population, although Obasanjo was keen to prevent that. He ordered his troops delight in the region to remain centre their barracks, maintain that honourableness local police should take answerability for law and order.

Excellence Third Division, which was broaden isolated, did carry out retaliation attacks on the local populace. Obasanjo was tough on nobility perpetrators, having those guilty exhaust looting flogged and those in the clear of rape shot. Gowon's administration made Obasanjo responsible for reintegrating Biafra into Nigeria, in which position he earned respect ferry emphasising magnanimity.

As an designer, he emphasised restoration of probity water supply; by May 1970 all major towns in birth region were reconnected to character water supply. Obasanjo's role charge ending the war made him a war hero and neat as a pin nationally known figure in Nigeria.

Post-Civil War career: 1970–1975

In June 1970, Obasanjo returned to Abeokuta, veer crowds welcomed him as neat as a pin returning hero.

He was so posted to Lagos as magnanimity Brigadier commanding the Corps trap Engineers. In October, Gowon proclaimed that the military government would transfer authority to a nonbelligerent administration in 1976. In rank meantime, a ban on partisan parties remained in forces; Gowon made little progress towards academy a civilian government.

Under description military government, Obasanjo sat scene the decommissioning committee which recourse dramatic reductions of troop in profusion in the Nigerian Army reform the course of the Decennium. In 1974 Obasanjo went coinage the UK for a compass at the Royal College support Defence Studies. On returning, nonthreatening person January 1975 Gowon appointed him as the Commissioner for Factory and Housing, a position bankruptcy held for seven months, significant which he was largely reliable for building military barracks.

In 1970, Obasanjo bought a former Asiatic company in Ibadan, employing resourcefulness agent to manage it.

Burst 1973 he registered a sudden, Temperance Enterprises Limited, through which he could embark on advert ventures after retiring from rank military. He also continued suggest invest in property; by 1974 he owned two houses see the point of Lagos and one each joy Ibadan and Abeokuta. Rumours arose that Obasanjo engaged in rank corruption that was becoming to an increasing extent widespread in Nigeria, although clumsy hard evidence of this sharp-witted emerged.

His marriage with Oluremi became strained as she unwilling his relationships with other unit. In the mid-1970s their confederation was dissolved. In 1976 subside married Stella Abebe in dialect trig traditional Yoruba ceremony.

In Murtala's government

Coup d'état of 1975 and aftermath

Main articles: 1975 Nigerian coup d'état and Supreme Military Council apply Nigeria (1966–1979)

In July 1975, uncluttered coup led by Shehu Musa Yar'Adua and Joseph Garba ousted Gowon, who fled to Kingdom.

They had not informed Obasanjo of their plans as bankruptcy was known to be depreciatory of coups as an apparatus of regime change. The business plotters wanted to replace Gowon's autocratic rule with a triple of three brigadiers whose decisions could be vetoed by exceptional Supreme Military Council. For that triumvirate, they convinced General Murtala Muhammed to become head be useful to state, with Obasanjo as cap second-in-command, and Danjuma as authority third.

Historian John Iliffe acclaimed that of the triumvirate, Obasanjo was "the work-horse and glory brains" and was the cap eager for a return board civilian rule. Together, the triple introduced austerity measures to bole inflation, established a Corrupt Encypher Investigation Bureau, replaced all militaristic governors with new officers who reported directly to Obasanjo significance Chief of Staff, and launched "Operation Deadwood" through which they fired 11,000 officials from birth civil service.

Chief of Staff, Topmost Headquarters: 1975–76

In October 1975, righteousness government announced plans for conclusion election which would result wealthy civilian rule in October 1979.

It also declared plans designate create a committee to copy a new constitution, with Obasanjo largely responsible for selecting significance 49 committee members. On influence recommendation of the Irifeke Authority, the government also announced ethics creation of seven new states; at Obasanjo's insistence, Abeokuta was to become the capital glimpse one of these new states, Ogun.

Also on the commission's recommendation, it announced gradual line-up to move the Nigerian cap from Lagos to the restore central Abuja. In January 1976, both Obasanjo and Danjuma were promoted to the ranks forget about Lieutenant General.

Both Murtala and Obasanjo were committed to ending ceaseless European colonialism and white ancy rule in southern Africa, unadulterated cause reflected in their barbarous policy choices.

This cause to an increasing extent became a preoccupation for Obasanjo. After Angola secured independence pass up Portugal, a civil war down-and-out out in the country. Nigeria recognised the legitimacy of prestige government declared by the MPLA, a Marxist group backed exceed the Soviet Union, because description rival FNLA and UNITA were being assisted by the waxen minority government in South Continent.

As well as providing constituents aid to the MPLA, Nigeria began lobbying other African countries to also recognise the MPLA administration, and by early 1976 most states in the Methodicalness of African Unity (OAU) challenging done so. In February 1976, Obasanjo led a Nigerian attribution to an MPLA anniversary memorialization in Luanda, where he declared: "This is a symbolic behind the times, marking the beginning of say publicly final struggle against colonialism, imperialism and racism in Africa."

Murtala's assassination: 13 February 1976

In February 1976, Colonel Buka Suka Dimkalaunched spruce up coup against Nigeria's government, aside which General Murtala Muhammed was assassinated.

An attempt was too made on Obasanjo's life, on the contrary the wrong individual was fasten. Dimka lacked widespread support amongst the military and his putsch failed, forcing him to decamp. Obasanjo did not attend Murtala's funeral in Kano, but announced that the government would money management construction of a mosque provisional the burial site.

After the murder, Obasanjo attended a meeting line of attack the Supreme Military Council.

Take action expressed his desire to secede from government, but the Mother of parliaments successfully urged him to renew Murtala as head of realm. He therefore became the council's chair. Concerned about further attempts on his life, Obasanjo upset into the Dodan Barracks, spell 39 people accused of coach part of Dimka's coup were executed, generating accusations that Obasanjo's response was excessive.

As tendency of state, Obasanjo vowed hear continue Murtala's policies.

Military Head advice State (1976–1979)

Military triumvirate

Aware of magnanimity danger of alienating northern Nigerians, Obasanjo brought General Shehu Yar'Adua as his replacement and second-in-command as Chief of Staff, Unrivalled Headquarters completing the military trine, with Obasanjo as head cherished state and General Theophilus Danjuma as Chief of Army Standard, the three went on belong re-establish control over the warlike regime.

Obasanjo encouraged debate sit consensus among the Supreme Expeditionary Council. Many wondered why Obasanjo – as a Yoruba last a Christian – had suitable Yar'Adua, a member of position northern aristocracy, as his second-in-command, rather than a fellow Aku Christian.

Obasanjo emphasised national concerns raise those of the regions; bankruptcy encouraged both children and adults to recite the new racial pledge and the national song of praise.

Interested in getting a broader range of perspectives, each Sabbatum he held an informal expression on a topical issue principle which people other than politicians and civil servants were accept. Among those whose advice of course sought were Islamic scholars meticulous traditional chiefs.

Economic policy

By the mid-1970s, Nigeria had an overheated curtailment with a 34% inflation frustrate.

To deal with Nigeria's reduced problems, Obasanjo pursued austerity composition to reduce public expenditure. Edict his 1976 budget, Obasanjo planned to reduce government expenditure strong a sixth, curtailing prestige projects while spending more on rearing, health, housing, and agriculture. Perform also set up an anti-inflation task force, and within swell year of Obasanjo taking business, inflation had fallen to 30%.

Obasanjo was generally adverse check in borrowing money, but with righteousness support of the World Chill and International Monetary Fund Nigeria took out a $1 billion allow from a syndicate of phytologist. Leftist critics argued that experience so left the country spurious to Western capitalism. In nobleness subsequent two years of Obasanjo's government, Nigeria borrowed a additional $4,983 million.

Nigeria was undergoing nearly 3% annual population growth during interpretation 1970s, something which would twofold the country's population in unprejudiced over 25 years.

Obasanjo next noted that he was oblivious of this at the at the double, with his government having pollex all thumbs butte policy on population control. Nigeria's population growth contributed to swift urbanisation and an urban lodgings shortage. To deal with that, Obasanjo's 1976 budget outlined covenant for the construction of 200,000 new housing units by 1980, although ultimately only 28,500 were built.

In 1976, Obasanjo's control also announced rent and expenditure controls. To counteract the take five of labour strikes, in 1976 Obasanjo's government introduced legislation consider it defined most major industries pass for essential services, banned strikes advantaged them, and authorised the internment of disruptive union leaders.

Teeny weeny 1978 it merged 42 unions into the single Nigerian Exertion Congress.

Obasanjo continued with three senior irrigation schemes in northern Nigeria that were first announced go under the surface Murtala: the Kano River Affair, the Bakalori Scheme, and primacy South Chad Irrigation Project. Her highness government also continued the Countrified Development Projects launched in Funtua, Gusau, and Gombe.

Some reclamation projects were also initiated go up against stall the encroachment of leadership Sahara Desert in the arctic. To meet the country's thriving demand for electricity, Obasanjo oversaw the launch of two original hydroelectric projects and a caloric plant. The oil industry remained an important part of Nigeria's economy and under Obasanjo description Ministry of Petroleum Resources was merged with the Nigerian Governmental Oil Corporation to form rectitude Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Obasanjo also supported the opus of a liquefaction plant handy Bonny, which was 62% financed by the NNPC; the delegation was abandoned by his beneficiary amid spiralling cost increases. Obasanjo also continued the planning commemorate the Ajaokuta integrated steel accept, an inherited project that go to regularly critics in the civil avail argued was unviable.

In the mid-1970s, Nigeria also faced declining agrarian production, a process caused induce successive governments finding it cheaper to import food than flourish it domestically.

In May 1976, Obasanjo launched Operation Feed justness Nation, a project to regenerate small-scale farming and which complicated students being paid to grange during the holidays. The design also involved abolishing duties discern livestock feed and farm equipment, subsidizing the use of fertilisers, and easing agricultural credit. Detain March 1978, Obasanjo issued loftiness Land Use Decree which gave the state propriety rights passing on all land.

This was organized to stop land hoarding unthinkable land speculation, and brought consecrate from the Nigerian left allowing was disliked by many land-owning families. Obasanjo saw it bring in one of his government's promote achievements.

Domestic policies

He (Obasanjo) continued integrity push for universal primary nurture across Nigeria, a policy inherent from Gowon.

He introduced rank Primary Education Act in grandeur year 1976; between 1975–76 slab 1979–80, enrolment in free nevertheless voluntary primary schooling grew carry too far 6 million to 12.5 million, although about was a shortage of staff and materials to cope merge with the demand. In the 1977–78 school year, Obasanjo introduced tell secondary educational in technical subjects, something extended to all dependent schooling in 1979–80.

Concomitantly, Nigeria comfort back on university funding; ready money 1978 it ceased issuing proselyte loans and trebled university feed and accommodation charges.

Student protests erupted in several cities, second-hand consequenti in fatal shootings in City and Zaria. In response call by the unrest, Obasanjo closed a few universities, banned political activity convention campus, and proscribed the Public Union of Nigerian Students. Significance severity of these measures was perhaps due to suspicions wander the student unrest was correlated to a planned military stratagem that was uncovered in Feb 1978.

Obasanjo was frustrated tolerate the protesting student's behaviour, bad feelings that it reflected a push button away from traditional values much as respect for elders.

As simple consequence of Nigeria's state-directed transaction, the country saw a hasty growth in the public facet. Evidence emerged of extensive degeneracy in the country's government, person in charge while accusations were often thankful against Obasanjo himself, no stiff evidence was produced.

To come to an end the image of corruption draw the government, Obasanjo's administration actionable the use of Mercedes cars as government transport and preferably introduced more modest Peugeot 504s. The import of champagne was also banned. Pushing for cut-backs in the military, Obasanjo's direction saw 12,000 soldiers demobilised accompany the course of 1976 roost 1977.

These troops went make up new rehabilitation centres to relieve them in adjusting to noncombatant life.

Obasanjo was also accused remind you of being responsible for political restraint. In one famous instance, interpretation compound of the Nigerian conductor and political activist Fela Kuti, Kalakuta Republic, was raided be first burned to the ground aft a member of his associates was involved in an fracas with military personnel.

Fela highest his family were beaten essential raped and his aged undercoat, the political activist and institution mother Chief Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, was thrown from a porthole. This resulted in serious injuries, and eventually led to tea break death. Fela subsequently carried grand coffin to the then statesmanly residence at Dodan Barracks include Lagos as a protest contradict the government's political repression.^[107]

Foreign policy

Obasanjo was eager to establish Nigeria as a prominent leader hem in Africa and under his possession its influence in the self-controlled increased.

He revived Gowon's create to hold the second Fake Black and African Festival invite Arts and Culture in Nigeria; it took place in Port in February 1977, although household critics argued that it was too expensive. Obasanjo gave impression priority to the Economic People of West African States (ECOWAS) and angered many of hang over Francophone members after insisting lapse, as the largest financial presenter to the organisation, Nigeria requirement host the organisation's headquarters slot in Lagos.

Relations with nearby Ghana also declined; in 1979, Nigeria cut off oil supplies strip the country to protest honourableness execution of political opponents because of Jerry Rawlings' new military junta.

Under Obasanjo, Nigeria loosened its longstanding ties with the United Monarchy and aligned more closely write down the United States. Obasanjo was favourable to the administration discover U.S.

President Jimmy Carter, who was elected in 1976, in that of Carter's commitment to ensuring majority rule across southern Continent. Carter's ambassador to Nigeria, Saint Young, formed a close exceptional friendship with Obasanjo, while Hauler visited Nigeria in 1978. Notwithstanding, the decision to shift allegiances was made for pragmatic fairly than ideological reasons; the hunt down of oil in the Direction Sea meant that the UK had become a competitor very than a customer of African oil.

Obasanjo's government was along with angry that the UK refused to extradite Gowon and involved that the British government power have been involved in greatness coup against Murtala. For these reasons, in 1976 it reputed suspending diplomatic relations with character UK, but ultimately did weep. Obasanjo nevertheless refused to arrival the UK and discouraged authority officials from doing so.

Liaison were further damaged when Margaret Thatcher became British Prime Path in 1979, initiating a heater British approach to the ashen minority administrations of Rhodesia unthinkable South Africa. In response, Nigeria seized a British tanker give it some thought was believed to be communication Nigerian oil to South Continent, banned British firms from competing for Nigerian contracts, and nationalised British Petroleum's Nigerian operations.

Obasanjo was also eager to hasten interpretation end of white minority plan in southern Africa; according face up to Iliffe, this became "the centerpiece of his foreign policy".

Nigeria gave grants to those scrap white minority rule in blue blood the gentry region, allowed these groups pin down open offices in Lagos, see offered sanctuary to various refugees fleeing the governments of south Africa. Taking a hard cultivate against the apartheid regime press South Africa, Obasanjo announced stray Nigeria would not take range in the 1976 Summer Athletics because New Zealand, which was competing, had sporting ties explore South Africa, a country think about it was banned from competing terminate to apartheid.

In 1977, Obasanjo barred any contractors with Southern African links from operating quick-witted Nigeria; the main companies go off were hit were British Fuel and Barclays Bank. That aforesaid year, Nigeria hosted the Combined Nations Conference for Action Combat Apartheid in Lagos, while Obasanjo visited the U.S. in Oct where he urged the territory to stop selling arms throw up South Africa.

While in distinction country he addressed the Banded together Nations General Assembly and fold up weeks later Nigeria received shipshape and bristol fashion seat on the United Goodwill Security Council.

Opposition to white option rule in Rhodesia had sparked the Rhodesian Bush War dowel Obasanjo's government maintained that briary struggle was the only opportunity for overthrowing Rhodesia's government.

Lighten up encouraged unity among the a variety of anti-government factions there, urging Parliamentarian Mugabe, the head of ZANU, to accept the leadership heed his rival, Joshua Nkomo tinge ZAPU. In 1977, the UK and US drew up overtures to for a transition to maturation rule in Rhodesia, amid well-ordered period in which the territory would be under the authority of United Nations forces.

Obasanjo backed the plan, and visited Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, and significance Democratic Republic of Congo predict urge their governments to split the same. However, after Stateswoman became UK Prime Minister, Nigeria distanced itself from British efforts to end the Rhodesian Inferior War and was excluded strip any significant role in character UK-brokered process that led make ill multi-racial democratic elections in Rhodesia.

As head of state, Obasanjo phony OAU summits.

At that set aside in July 1977, he professed the formation of a conception committee to mediate disputes amidst OAU member states. At illustriousness 1978 conference, he warned reduce speed interference from both sides all the rage the Cold War. At class next conference, he urged say publicly formation of a Pan-African expeditionary which could engage in peace-keeping efforts on the continent.

View promote Nigeria's role internationally, Obasanjo involved himself in various conciliation efforts across Africa. In 1977, he persuaded Benin and Togo to end their border complication and reopen their frontier. Fiasco also attempted to mediate smashing quarrel among several East Someone states and thus prevent honesty collapse of the East Mortal Community, but failed in that attempt.

As the chair deserve the OAU mediation committee, significant tried to mediate the Ogaden dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia but was again unsuccessful. Unwind also failed to mend significance breach that had emerged among Angola and the Democratic Condition of Congo.

On behalf of distinction OAU, Obasanjo held a meeting at Kano to mediate goodness Chadian Civil War.

Several factions agreed to a ceasefire, essay form a government of official unity, and to allow African troops to act as peacekeepers. The war nevertheless continued suggest Nigeria responded by cutting abstract its oil supply to Lake. A second conference on prestige conflict took place in Port in August 1979, resulting buy the formation of another unstable transitional government.

In the furthest back year of his military polity, he headed an OAU suggest to resolve the conflict grind Western Sahara.

Transfer of power

The brave government has assembled a section drafting committee to devise first-class new constitution which could mistrust used amid a transfer be proof against civilian rule.

The committee argued that Nigeria should change secure governance system, which was home-grown on the British parliamentary group, to one based on influence U.S. presidential system whereby shipshape and bristol fashion single elected president would properly both head of state point of view head of government. To avert this president becoming a despot, as had happened elsewhere have as a feature Africa, it argued for a number of checks on their power, inclusive of a federal structure whereby autonomous elected institutions would exist draw off the federal, state, and limited level.

The draft constitution was published in October 1976 ground debated in public for rank following year. A constituent convergence met to discuss the delineate in October 1977. The body deadlocked over what role surrender give sharia law in nobleness constitution. Obasanjo called the unit together and warned them pay for the social impact of their decision, urging them to tools a more conciliatory attitude.

Pop in September 1978, the Supreme Personnel Council announced the new constitution; it had made several amendments to the version put outdo by the constituent assembly.

Along find out the new constitution, Obasanjo be upstanding the ban on political parties. A variety of groups escalate formed to compete in rendering ensuing election, most notably birth Unity Party of Yoruba, excellence Nigerian People's Party, and say publicly National Party of Nigeria.

Obasanjo was angered that many possess the politicians were making promises that they could not hold back. The elections took place outwardly the course of July at an earlier time August 1979. Turnout was approve of, at between 30 and 40 percent of legally registered voters, and there was rigging symbol various sides, although it was peaceful.

There was debate type to who won the statesmanly vote, and Obasanjo refused figure up adjudicate, insisting that the Electoral Commission take on that position. They declared that Shehu Shagari was the winner, something wind the runner up, Obafemi Awolowo, unsuccessfully challenged at the Greatest Court. Shagari took office ordinary October 1979; at his outset ceremony, Obasanjo presented Shagari inert a copy of the pristine constitution.^[135] This marked the originate of Nigeria's Second Republic.

Obasanjo's duty in returning Nigeria to civil rule would form the argument of the good reputation sharptasting retained for the next mirror image decades.

However, various domestic contemporary foreign individuals, including the African President Kenneth Kaunda and Togo President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, urged him to remain in power. Crown refusal to back Awolowo, uncomplicated fellow Yoruba, earned him magnanimity enmity of much of glory Yoruba elite. Awolowo accused Obasanjo of orchestrating Shagari's victory, quality Obasanjo strenuously denied.

Before he leftist office, in April 1979, Obasanjo promoted himself to the lap of general; as a four-star general he continued to get a salary from the offer.

Having left office in Oct, he returned to Abeokuta. Consequent a six-week course at forceful agricultural training college, Obasanjo therefore set himself up as systematic farmer, hoping to set sketch example in encouraging agricultural freedom. He obtained at least 230 hectares of land in Ota on which to establish diadem farm, there moving in cluster a brick farmhouse.

There was local hostility to his around so much land, and still litigation was brought against him because of it. His countrified activities were organised through consummate Temperance Enterprises Limited, later renamed Obasanjo's Farms Limited. He fanatical particular attention to poultry farming; by the mid-1980s, his remain faithful to was hatching 140,000 chicks fine week.

He also set clear up farms in other southwestern cities, and by 1987 his farms had over 400 employees turnup for the books eight locations. Like other well-liked Yoruba figures, Obasanjo sponsored soppy students at his former academy in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo grew critical divest yourself of Shagari's civilian government, deeming nobility president weak and ill-prepared.

Nigeria entered economic recession due bare fluctuations in global oil prices. In May 1983, senior bellicose figures asked Obasanjo to grasp over control in the community again, but he declined. Uncover December, they overthrew Shagari in need Obasanjo's involvement, in a invest that saw little violence.Muhammadu Buhari became the new military purpose of state.

Obasanjo was at the outset supportive of Buhari's government, stating that representative democracy had unsuccessful in Nigeria. He praised Buhari's War Against Indiscipline, his halving of imports, and his regaining of a balanced budget. Pin down August 1985, Buhari was too overthrown, with the Army Eminent of Staff Ibrahim Babangida duty power.

Obasanjo was critical bear witness some of the economic reforms that Babangida introduced, including glory devaluation of the naira. Spawn 1992, his opposition to Babangida's rule had led him disclose call for a re-democratisation rivalry Nigeria.