President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a long and rich list of forerunners in the office since October 1st, 1960, when Nigeria gained independence from Great Britain. From the First Republic Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, the list is a potpourri of those elected through participatory democracy and the
Vanguard News
Relocate Abuja to Lagos
By Emeka Obasi
Moving the nation’s capital to Abuja sounded rhetorically so alluring that necessary checks were not carried out. What was sold to compatriots was that Lagos was too close to the border and Abuja represented the centre of unity and country. Cursed, that is Abuja.
President Shehu Shagari took the Independence celebrations to Abuja in 1982. In 1983, he chose to spend Yuletide in the Federal Capital Territory. That was when the military decided to truncate the Second Republic.
Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was given the role of Head of State. Brigadier Ibrahim Bako was killed in the coup by Presidential guards led by Capt. Augustine Anyogo. Shagari was placed under House arrest. Vice President Alex Ekwueme was taken to Kirikiri prison.