ABSTRACT
Right up to the formal transfer of power, when, on October 1, 1979, Alhaji Shehu Shagari was inaugurated as President, some people outside Nigeria doubted whether such a peaceful and well-organised transfer of power from a military to a civilian regime was possible. In fact, after the Murtala Muhammed regime, which overthrew the Gowon government in 1975, pledged return to civilian rule in 1979, most meticulous preparations began for that change (General Muhammed himself was assassinated in 1976, but his successor, General Obasanjo, honoured his pledge). A high-level and representative civilian committee was appointed to draft a new constitution, to be submitted to a largely elected Constituent Assembly. The popular demand for creation of new States was met by adding seven to the existing twelve; all State boundaries were adjusted. The site for a new Federal capital was approved. Electoral constituencies were delimited, a voters’ register was drawn up. Many reforms were undertaken in national institutions. National finances were also, on the whole, healthy; but here the civilians soon made improvements. The whole programme for return to civilian rule was completed with remarkable precision; and although, since the return to civilian rule, there has been growing criticism both of the concept of military rule and of many particular aspects of it, the President has always paid tribute to the soldiers’ planning for the hand-over.
