POLITICAL ASSASSINATION AND NIGERIA’S 4TH REPUBLIC: 1999-2007

Abstract

Not long after the return to democratic rule in 1999 following 15 years of uninterrupted military rule,
Nigeria witnessed a troubling wave of political assassination. Political assassination became an
instrument of settling political scores in Nigeria. Although some of the killings were
discountenanced as ordinary murders, the timing of killings leaves no doubt that they were
politically motivated. Actions by the government and police to stem the ugly tide and find the killers
were insufficient and ineffective.
This paper examines this subject from the standpoint that there is no real democracy where people
are afraid to engage in political competition for fear of being assassinated. Hence, political
assassination constitutes serious danger to Nigeria’s democracy. The paper reviews incidents of
political assassination in Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, and proffers reasons for the unhealthy
development, using narrative-analytical approach to accomplish its tasks. It concludes by suggesting
ways of stopping or at least discouraging political assassination in Nigeria.
For the purposes of this article, political assassination is defined as the deliberate, premeditated
murder of a prominent figure for political reasons.