LAGOS, Nigeria, Jan. 7— The merchants of the Oke-Arin market, one of the best places to shop for most anything here, are a varied lot. They include members of all the country's major ethnic groups. There are old men in traditional dress, teen-aged boys in U.C.L.A. T-shirts, and nursing mothers. There are some who speak fluent English with a lilting accent and others who know only the language of their own tribe or region.

With such diversity, it thus comes as something of a surprise to a visitor to discover the extent to which the merchants appear to agree on one subject: the coup that last Saturday ousted the elected Government of President Shehu Shagari and replaced it with a military regime headed by Maj. Gen. Mohammed Buhari.

''This is a good thing that has happened,'' said Yabo Omot, a 21-year-old woman who sells canned goods under an elevated highway. ''That Shagari, he do nothing for the poor people. Buhari, everything I hear him talk from his mouth I like to hear.''

Along the narrow, littered streets of the Oke-Arin market are countless stalls and single-room shops offering everything from canned soup to packaged nuts, baby formula to Scotch whisky. The diversity of the neighborhood is further underscored by the nearby Unitarian Brotherhood Church, and, around the corner, a man selling gold-and- green decals that read, ''Islam is my religion.'' Most Merchandise Imported

Most of the merchandise in the market is imported and much of it is believed to have been smuggled into the country. That is why the variety and volume of goods is so rich in the market while Lagos's modern supermarkets are all nearly empty of both goods and customers.

The people of Oke-Arin market say they believe that the officials of the Shagari Government had been steadily enriching themselves while the prices of such basic items as soap and rice continued to rise.

''Under this civilian government a few were enjoying themselves but many people were suffering,'' said Bassey Vyire, a 35-year-old manager of a food shop. ''That's why I am happy about what has happened.''

The Shagari policy that irked the people of the market most was austerity, a term used to describe a list of measures meant to insure that Nigeria did not continue to spend far more on imports than it earned from exports.

''There will be no more austerity now,'' said Sunday Nwankwo, a 19- year-old who sells soda. ''That is the only reason we have been suffering is this austerity.''

Told that Mr. Buhari had also indicated that an austerity budget would be necessary for at least the next few years, Mr. Nwankwo replied: ''Well, I believe not. Anyway we pray to God to guide him.''

In recent days some prices have dropped because soldiers have come into the markets to persuade or force merchants to charge less. Mr. Buhari has said that no soldiers were given the authority to do this and that he would put a stop to it.

Soldiers have come to the Oke-Arin market, but even these intrusions seem not to have dampened enthusiasm for the new regime. ''The soldiers say, 'Bring prices down,' '' said Isyaku Mohammed, a 25-year-old cigarette seller. ''They want to change Nigeria, that's O.K.''

To many foreigners here it seems suprising that there are not more Nigerians lamenting the fall of the democratic system. In last summer's elections many people spoke with pride about taking part in their country's decision-making process. Many Seem Disillusioned

At this point, however, after months of angry charges of electoral fraud, many people seem to have simply become disillusioned.

''We like democracy,'' Mr. Nwankwo said, ''but prices are more important.''

Joe Akba, a 36-year-old driver for a Federal Government magistrate who was shopping in the market, was less equivocal. ''Nobody cares that there is no more democracy,'' he said. ''Why don't they care? Because the politicians were grabbing everything for themselves. The politicians were no good.'' That sentiment, though widely shared, does not appear to have led to fantasies of vengeance. ''I think the ill- gotten wealth should be taken back and those who took it should go to jail,'' said a merchant, Monday Inyang. ''I don't think Shagari or anybody else should be shot.''

''We were trying to have a democracy,'' said Mr. Vyire, ''but at long last we see that it does not work. The politicians are just not honest. Maybe next time they will have learned their lesson. In the meantime, Buhari has come to redeem us.''

http://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/08/world/nigerian-merchants-welcome-coup.html

This is not about Shagari's government. This is what was said when he came into fawa. What matters is what they said when he was booted out.

And the pdp dogs want us to believe everything was right with shagari gov't until buhari truncated it. Nigerians were happy when buhari took over 30 years ago, and they shall be happy again when buhari is sworn-in as POFTFRON come may 29th 2015.

Caseless:
[s]And the pdp dogs want us to believe everything was right with shagari gov't until buhari truncated it. Nigerians were happy when buhari took over 30 years ago, and they shall be happy again when buhari is sworn-in as POFTFRON come may 29th 2015.[/s]

The article below was from the say New York times 4 months later when Nigerians realised that not all that glitters is gold.

NIGERIAN MILITARY IS SEEN AS LOSING SUPPORT By CLIFFORD D. MAY Published: May 1, 1984
LAGOS, Nigeria, April 29— Four months after seizing power, Nigeria's military leaders appear to be suffering an erosion of popular support. Last Dec. 31, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Buhari led a group of young officers in a coup against the civilian Government of President Shehu Shagari, saying the takeover was necessary to save Nigeria, Africa's richest and most populous nation, from economic collapse. The military intervention appeared at the time to enjoy enthusiastic support from a broad range of Nigeria's population. Many intellectuals argued that the corruption and
incompetence of the Shagari administration had made drastic action both necessary and inevitable.
Traders, merchants and people in the streets welcomed the soldiers and looked forward to a quick improvement in their standard of living.
Growing Disappointment
Recently, however, there seems to be growing
disappointment with both the military Government's approach and pace. ''Since coming to power, this Government has not
found a single problem,'' said Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, a prominent lawyer and a longtime opponent of theShagari administration. ''But it has managed to
alienate the judiciary, the press, labor and students - all the groups that supported it just a few months ago.'' Critics of the military Government point out that it has yet to present its budget. Loan negotiations with the International Monetary Fund continue but
Western economists say that Nigeria and the I.M.F. appear to be further apart now than during the final days of the Shagari administration. Early indications that General Buhari would agree to devalue Nigeria's currency, liberalize trade and reduce domestic petroleum subsidies have so far not materialized. Prices Have Climbed In addition, prices for food and other essential commodities, which fell in the first weeks after the coup largely because of the presence of soldiers in the marketplaces, have now returned to or exceeded their levels before the coup.
Unemployment has been rising, and many of the imported raw materials and spare parts needed to keep factories running have been lacking. Critics note further that political activity and even debate have been banned and some students organizations have been outlawed. There has been a clampdown on Nigeria's press, and the country's traditionally independent judiciary has also seen its
role sharply diminished. ''At the moment we're looking at a clear movement toward authoritarian dictatorship,'' said Stanley N.
Macebuh, executive editor of The Guardian, an
independent newspaper that had often taken the Shagari administration to task. ''It's a trend that disturbs a lot of people, not least those who welcomed the change of government.'' Spokesmen for the military leadership maintain that they know what they are doing and refuse to be rushed. They deny the charges of inaction, saying that steps have been taken. Trials Being Prepared The Government, they say, has put much energy into investigating the corruption of the Shagari administration and in preparing tribunals to try the accused, close to 500 of whom are now under detention. Officials say about 2,000 illegal aliens have been ejected from the country and several thousandpeople have been detained in a crackdown on suspected criminals and Moslem extremists. They say Nigeria's bloated bureaucracy has been streamlined through the dismissal of thousands of officials and civil servants. Three weeks ago an agreement was reached in London on converting a part of Nigeria's uninsured trade debts into loans. The Government's critics respond that the economic initiatives treat symptoms rather than causes and aid the larger issue of how to restructure Nigeria's economy. A Western diplomat said General Buhari ''could have accomplished so much if he had moved quickly and boldly in the early days when his popularity was still so high and when he could have credibly blamed everything on Shagari.''
www.nytimes.com/1984/05/01/world/nigerian-military-is-seen-as-losing-support.html