The Fourth Republic differs from the three previous Republics we had in Nigeria in several respects. For one, it is the longest. While the First Republic lasted 5 years from Independence, the Second Republic lasted four years and three months while the Third Republic was inconclusive. It had elected state governors, state assemblies and even a National Assembly, to which the AFRC ceded some inconsequential powers including the power to legislate on museums, monuments and public libraries.


However, the Third Republic never had a civilian President. Even though a presidential election was held on June 12, 1993, the Returning Officer, Prof Humphrey Nwosu, did not declare the result until 15 years later, at an awkward and legally inconsequential public lecture in Abuja in 2008. Two federal elections were held in the 1st Republic, in 1959 and 1964; two were held in the 2nd Republic, in 1979 and 1983, and 6 have so far been held in the 4th Republic, in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019.

The four presidents that we have had in this Republic differ from one another in democratic temperament, in tolerance of criticism, in anti-democratic short fuse, and in overarching ambition to dominate the environment. While some of them kept their political party on a short leash, others dined with their political party with a long spoon.


All four Presidents of the Fourth Republic are better known for their frown than for their smiles. Only one of them had the art of comic relief. None of the four is famous for his oratorical skills. Even though one of them is a PhD, none of the four is regarded to be an engaging intellectual, and certainly none of the four qualifies as a Philosopher-King…

Speech delivered at an event of the Centre for Democracy and Development, commemorating the recent democracy day celebrations
Read more here https://www.cddwestafrica.org/a-reflection-on-20-years-of-democracy-in-nigeria-by-mahmud-jega/