International records / OpenAlex research

Democracy in Nigeria

On December 31, 1983, a military coup marked the end of Nigeria's second attempt to goven itself under a democratic constitution.In his maiden broadcast to the nation on January 2, 1984, the new head of state, General Mohammed Buhari cited the country's continuing economic ills as the leading cause for the coup; he also referred to the former civilian administration as "corrupt, inept and insensitive" and complained that the last elections held in the fall of 1983 were not free.'The new military regime was received by the populous with general rejoicing and the Nigerian press warmly welcomed t…