Abdul Oroh, Nigerian author and pro-democracy advocate has offered fresh insight into Nigeria’s transition from military to civilian rule, highlighting the role played by former Head of State Murtala Muhammed in initiating the process.
Oroh spoke during an interview on the State Affairs with Edmund Obilo Show, where he examined key moments in Nigeria’s political history as discussed in his book, Demonstration of Craze: Struggles and Transition to Democracy in Nigeria. The conversation focused on how internal realities within the military shaped the eventual handover to civilian leadership.
According to Oroh, “Murtala Muhammed knew what was going to happen apparently because he knew the military system cannot be sustained. So they agreed that it’s fine to hand over to civilians. So they handed over to the Shagari administration.” He suggested that the late military leader had recognized inherent limitations within military governance and the growing need for democratic transition.
Although Murtala Muhammed was assassinated in 1976, Oroh implied that the transition agenda he initiated continued under his successor, eventually leading to the emergence of Shehu Shagari as Nigeria’s civilian president in 1979.
The author noted that this period marked a significant turning point in Nigeria’s political development, as the military began to acknowledge the necessity of returning power to elected leaders. He added that the handover demonstrated a rare moment of consensus within the armed forces on the importance of civilian rule….See More
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