But when will progress come? The richest and most populous country in Black Africa has never managed to govern itself democratically for very long. Corruption is endemic; an every-man-for-himself attitude permeates society. A widespread sense of political helplessness makes military coups seem inevitable. Abacha is the sixth officer to seize power since 1966. “In 33 years of independence, we’ve had 23 years of these army people, and we’ve gone backward economically, socially and politically,” says Beko Ransome-Kuti, head of the Campaign for Democracy, an umbrella organization whose strikes and demonstrations have paralyzed Lagos several times since last spring. “They can’t rid themselves of this drug of putting people under their feet.”
The latest lap in Nigeria’s voyage to nowhere began on June 12, when perhaps the cleanest election in the country’s history produced a presidential winner, Moshood Abiola, who was not to the army’s liking. The military ruler of the day, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, voided the election and stepped down after installing his ally Shonekan at the head of an interim government. Protests against the new regime intensified after Shonekan decided two weeks ago to raise gasoline prices by eliminating government subsidies, a step urged by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. General Abacha, an old rival of Babangida’s, apparently lost patience with the unrest. Taking over swiftly, he named himself head of state and dissolved most democratic institutions. He promised to “lay a very solid foundation for the growth of democracy” and prepare for new elections. But he didn’t say when they would be held. and 90 million dispirited Nigerians weren’t counting on anything.
