News

News Analysis: Emergency Rule on Return to Democracy

Published

1 year ago

March 19, 2025

By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

When Nigeria returned to democracy on May 29, 1999, General Olusegun Obasanjo was the first beneficiary of the country’s return to civilian rule. A four-star general who had handed over power to President Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1979, twenty years later, destiny beckoned on Obasanjo, and he took charge again as Nigeria’s President.

But before General Obasanjo’s return in 1999, Nigeria, especially the northern part of the country, experienced serious religious upheavals and uprisings, starting from the Maitatsine riots of 1980 in Kano and the Zangon Kataf religious crisis of 1987 in Kaduna State, in which former Governor of Rivers State, General Zamani Lekwot, was the mastermind.

Then another religious crisis engulfed the city of Kano over the visit of a Christian monk in 1991, Reverend Rent Harnboky. The people of Kano resisted the visit because earlier, a renowned Islamic scholar of comparative religion, Sheikh Ahmad Deedat, intended to visit the state. He was denied, and when that of Rent Harnboky was approved, it turned into serious attacks on non-Muslims in the state.

It took the military Governor of Kano state retired Major General Idris Garba to deploy soldiers in Mosques and churches across the city.

Another deadly religious riot that shook northern Nigeria again was the 2000 religious Shariah crisis in Kaduna when former Governor Ahmad Makarfi intended to introduce Shariah in the state. An unaccounted number of people were killed during the Obasanjo regime. Another killing took place in Lagos by the Odua People’s Congress during the time of Governor Bola Ahmad Tinubu, now President Tinubu, in the year 2000.

In 2001, the once peaceful northern city of Jos, Plateau State, was rocked with a serious crisis of unprecedented proportion in which many Muslims and Christians were killed.

During the second term of President Olusegun Obasanjo, a local government in the depths of Plateau State, Yelwa Shendam, was thrown into religious conflict during the time of Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye, where Muslims were killed in unprecedented proportions.

On May 11,2004 , the Yelwa Shendam crisis spilled over to Kano, where reprisal attacks took center stage, in which many Christians were killed.

On Tuesday, May 18, 2004, President Olusegun Obasanjo addressed the nation, in which he declared a state of emergency in Plateau State and removed democratic structures in the state.

President Obasanjo accused Governor Joshua Chibi Dariye of aiding the Plateau crisis. He appointed General Chris Alli as the administrator of the state for six months, where it ended on November 18, 2004.

Analysts say the removal of Governor Dariye by President Obasanjo was because the crises were threatening the whole country, hence his decision to take decisive action.

In his address, Chief Obasanjo said the crisis had already reverberated to Kano and was now threatening the FCT and some parts of Katsina State. While his state was boiling, Governor Joshua Dariye was somewhere in Abuja attending the National Sports Festival.

Another political crisis in 2006 engulfed Ekiti State, where President Obasanjo suspended democratic structures, including Governor Ayodele Fayose, and appointed an administrator.

Obasanjo’s state of emergency differs from that of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who declared a state of emergency in three northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe in 2013 as a result of the Boko Haram crisis that turned the states into a killing field.

Governors Murtala Nyako, Kashim Shettima (now Vice President), and Governor Ibrahim Gaidam were not affected, as President Jonathan did not suspend the democratic structures, only massively deployed the military.

Jonathan’s approach, analysts say, is more in tandem with Nigeria’s constitution than Obasanjo’s. Now, President Tinubu’s declaration in Rivers State, where Governor Fubara and the state assembly were suspended on March 18, 2025, through a presidential broadcast, has sparked debate.

Some lawyers flayed President Tinubu’s declaration as autocratic and partisan because the Minister of the FCT is being accused of fueling the Rivers crisis due to the lack of influence he has over his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Many international human rights associations did not back President Tinubu’s declaration in Rivers State because they see it as more political than aimed at returning peace to the oil-rich state.

Of the four Presidents Nigeria has had from 1999 to date, only the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and President Muhammadu Buhari did not declare a state of emergency in crisis states like Zamfara, Borno, and Yobe during the term of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, when banditry took a serious toll on the lives of many.

Related Topics:Nigeria Obasanjo Rivers Rule Tinubu

Up Next

No Explosion at PHRC, NNPC Clarifies

Don't Miss

Fubara’s Whereabouts Unknown As Military Moves Trucks Into Rivers Govt House

News

Governor Yusuf Sacks Sagagi as Kano Commissioner Of Commerce

Published

1 hour ago

March 26, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has relieved Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi of his appointment as Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry with immediate effect.

This was contained in a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday.

According to the statement, the former Commissioner is directed to hand over the affairs of the ministry to the Director Commerce with immediate effect.

Governor Yusuf expressed appreciation for the services rendered by the former commissioner during his tenure.

He acknowledged Sagagi’s contributions to the development of the state, particularly in the areas of politics, religion, small and medium enterprises.

The Governor wished him success in his future endeavours as he reassured the public of his administration’s continued commitment to efficient service delivery and good governance in the state.

This decision is part of the ongoing strategic realighment of government structures for systematic growth and sustainable development.

News

Terrorist Logistics Suppliers Apprehended in Borno

Published

14 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, have apprehended 18 suspected logistics suppliers allegedly enroute Gubio, with plans to proceed to the Gudumbali axis, a known Boko Haram terrorists, BHTs, enclave.

This is contained in a daily operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday.

The military said the suspects were intercepted while travelling towards the location to deliver the goods to the terrorists.

According to the report, preliminary investigation revealed that all 18 suspects confessed to engaging in the supply of goods to the terrorist group.

“They admitted that they routinely purchase and convey items to the terrorists.

“Their justification was lack of employment, which points to a deeper socio-economic challenge in Maiduguri and its environs,” the army said.

The development, according to the reportt, validates recent remarks by the Chief of Defence Staff on the link between economic hardship and the sustenance of insurgency logistics networks.

“The arrest highlights the critical role of civilian collaborators in sustaining terrorist operations, particularly in remote areas such as Gubio and Gudumbali,” it added.

The army called for a comprehensive approach combining military operations with economic empowerment and job creation to address the root causes of insurgency in the region.

News

Kano Gov’t Offers Study Scholarship to SWAN Members

Published

21 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

Kano state government has facilitated and supported members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Kano chapter to proceed to pursue professional certification courses in sports journalism, our correspondent reports .

The Special Adviser , youths and sports to Kano state governor, Sani Musa Danja, disclosed that the offer covers their tuition fees.

He said , the beneficiaries have been identified and their enrolment process have been completed.

According to him, through interactions with stakeholders , the decision was reached for some sports writers, who are faced with the challenge of acquiring the required professional qualification to practice their trade should be given support to fill the gap.

said, findings have revealed that , for Kano sports writers to compete favorably there exists the urgent need to empower members of the association to acquire certain requisite qualification to enable them feature amongst the best in Nigeria and beyond.

Danja speaking, when he hosted SWAN members in his office , located within the premises of Kano state Library Complex, along Ahmadu Bello Way said that the state government, under Abba Kabir Yusuf , on discovering this major challenge , acted swiftly to address the lapses, by offering to sponsor 10 SWAN members to pursue professional diploma in Sports Journalism at El Roi London University.

In his word “ we give thanks to almighty Allah for his mercies, I want to thank our mentor and leader, his excellency governor, Abba Kabiru Yusuf , who made this possible.

“his excellency takes the issue of empowering our people very seriously, the challenge facing our sports journalists is principally the issue of professional certification, some of our sports journalists have their degrees in other fields, but we are aware that, they also require to obtain certain minimum qualification in journalism or other related fields to help them to excel .

“in line with the policy of the government of his excellency, we have moved in to make sure , these sons and daughter of Kano overcome this hinderance that may hinder their professional progress.

“the sports media is the back bone of sports development and sports promotion, our government is focused and committed to support and reshape the sports media to achieve the set out goal to empower Kano youths through sports.

“the mission of his excellency through this gesture is to empower our professional sports journalists and give them the required qualification to continue with their pursuit to upward steadily representation of Kano state in that sector.

Danja hinted that, Kano state government remains unrepentant in its upward investment drive to create a generation of professionals that would keep the state afloat on the terrain of quality and abundance human resources.

Reacting, chairman SWAN Kano chapter, comrade Zahradeen Saleh thanked the state government for the support.

He said, the scholarship offer is an major step towards uplifting the practice of sports journalism in the state.

He said the dividends of sports could only accrue with the effective operations of the sporting press through the training and re-training of sports writers.

He admitted that, acquiring the requisite qualification to practice sports journalism has been one of the major challenges confronting members of the association.

“ our members who are the beneficiaries of this offer are youths, on completion of the professional course, they will have stable professional growth and would be better equipped to contribute their quota to the development of the state.” Zahradeen said .