May 29, 1999: The hopes, the aspirations

The swearing-in of President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999 marked the beginning of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and the longest stretch of uninterrupted democratic governance in the nation’s history. It was a watershed moment as soldiers returned to the barracks, civilians returned to the ballot, and a country long accustomed to decrees began speaking once again in the language of constitutions and rule of law.

The mood across the country was that of relief, renewed confidence and high expectations. In his inaugural address at the Eagle Square titled: “The New Dawn,” Obasanjo promised a decisive break with military authoritarianism and pledged a government that would be “humane, civil, and respect the rule of law.” Those words set the tone for the next 26 years of democratic experimentation.

The promises

Obasanjo’s message upon assumption of office was clear. He vowed to restore rule of law and human rights, fight corruption and abuse of office, revive a distressed economy, reform and professionalise the military and reintegrate Nigeria into the international community.

Recognising the damage done by years of authoritarian governance, he declared that corruption had become a “full-blown cancer” and vowed to confront it.

“Corruption, the greatest single bane of our society today, will be tackled head-on. There will be no sacred cows,” Obasanjo said.

He pledged to restore due process and rebuild trust in democratic institutions.

“The rule of law will be restored, and the abuse and disregard for due process will be firmly checked”, he said. Obasanjo promised national reconciliation and unity, calling on Nigerians to look forward rather than remain trapped in the bitterness of the past.

“Let us put the past behind us. Let this be a day of new beginning. Let us work together in love and unity for our common good.”

He identified clear priorities for his administration including fighting corruption and indiscipline, stabilising and reforming the economy, improving electricity, roads, railways and water supply, reviving education and health sectors, tackling poverty and unemployment, addressing the grievances in the Niger Delta and restoring Nigeria’s international image.

He particularly promised zero tolerance for corruption, saying those who engaged in it would “face the full consequences of their actions.” The speech also emphasised national reconciliation and unity, declaring that the era of fear and intimidation was over.

His administration rolled out sweeping reforms including establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), telecommunication liberalisation which gave birth to GSM, banking consolidation, privatisation drive, and successful debt relief negotiations, among others. The foundation of post-1999 democratic governance was laid during this period.

Hopes and aspirations of Nigerians

Ordinary Nigerians remember 1999 as a turning point. For many, democracy meant freedom to speak without fear; having leaders chosen through free and fair elections, an economy that could provide jobs and dignity; security, unity and national healing.

Today, those same citizens speak with mixed emotions. Some say democracy has delivered voice with little prosperity; others believe the journey has been slow but irreversible. Many still hold on to hope that the promise of 1999 has not died but only delayed.

When Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, Ibrahim Obansa, a labour activist remembers a feeling he describes as ‘liberation’ and a sense of stepping out of the tight military rule into a new, uncertain but hopeful dawn.

For years, he had been active in the labour movement and civil society, and among those who insisted that the country must return to civil rule. His conviction was that no matter its imperfections, democracy would always be better than dictatorship.

“We believed we were moving into a new era. An era that would free us from military domination and allow institutions to grow,” he recalled.

For Obansa and many like him, 1999 was not only about changing uniforms to suits; it was about the promise of continuity. He draws lessons from countries such as South Korea, which he said, once shared comparable development levels with Nigeria but surged ahead largely because they sustained democratic governance. For him, Nigeria’s frequent interruptions of civilian rule had stalled national progress.

He points to the Ajaokuta Steel Complex as a symbol of frozen promise. The project, he says, remains almost exactly where President Shehu Shagari left it in 1983. “If Shagari had stayed another four years, Ajaokuta would have moved further,” he argues. Continuity, in his view, could have built on that foundation and extended to many sectors of the economy that were similarly abandoned midstream.

“So, when Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in as president in 1999, expectations were high. Nigerians looked forward to a government that would fight corruption, respect the rule of law, and revive an ailing economy. The establishment of anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC showed a genuine intent to confront the problem”, Obansa said.

Two and a half decades later, he admits that the journey has not matched the initial speed of hope Nigerians had at the beginning of the Fourth Republic.

“When democracy came, we were not moving at the pace we thought we would. Corruption persisted, slowing reforms and weakening institutions. We have made some progress. We may not have moved at the pace we wanted, but we have moved, he said.”

He also believes that recent reforms by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, however painful, signal attempts to correct old distortions. The removal of fuel subsidy, for instance, has stopped the flow of public funds into private pockets, even though it has come with hardship. He recalls how Nigerians once slept at filling stations in December to buy fuel, a scene that has now largely disappeared, even if the price remains high.

On his part, Yahuza Muhammad, a postgraduate scholar at the Nasarawa State University, believes Nigeria’s democratic experience has yielded some gains but has fallen far below expectations.

“I would be insensitive if I say we have not made progress,” he said. “We have made a little progress. But looking at it holistically, we did not achieve much.”

He measures the nation’s record not only against its own promises but also against countries that began their democratic journeys at similar times and have since raced ahead in development, governance, and accountability.

For Yahuza, corruption and disregard for the rule of law remain the biggest stains on Nigeria’s democracy. He sees a system where corruption has not diminished but instead grown more entrenched, and where powerful individuals operate above the law.

“There are people you can rightly say are above the law,” he lamented. “If you belong to certain circles, you are immune. If you don’t, then the law comes after you.”

He cited examples of politicians whose legal troubles seemed to appear or disappear depending on their political alignment. To him, this selective justice reinforces impunity, weakens institutions, and erodes public trust.

Despite the constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, he believes impunity has become normalised with people committing wrongs without fear of consequences because they can hire influential lawyers, drag cases endlessly, and eventually walk free.

Looking to the future, however, Yahuza sees a turning point approaching. Around the world, he observes citizens demanding accountability and better governance, toppling complacent leadership and rejecting false promises. Nigerian leaders, he warns, should pay attention.

“The time of deceiving people is over,” he said firmly. “People are yearning for good governance everywhere. Our leaders should wake up and do the right thing. Everyone knows the right thing, but many refuse to do it because there are no consequences.”

The journey so far

Nigeria’s trajectory under the Fourth Republic has been shaped by five administrations.

Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007); this era witnessed laying of democratic foundation and stabilisation, setting up of anti-corruption institutions, telecommunication revolution and debt relief. However, corruption remained entrenched, power sector reforms stumbled, unemployment persisted and the third-term controversy put a stain on democratic trust during the last lapse of Obasanjo’s administration. Still, his era is widely viewed as the foundation phase of the Fourth Republic.

Yar’Adua (2007-2010) – President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua arrived with unusual modesty, admitting flaws in the electoral process that brought him to power and pledging an electoral reform with the setting up of the Justice Mohammed Uwais Electoral Reforms Committee. His government was guided by the 7-Point Agenda including: power and energy, food security, wealth creation, transport sector reform, land reform and security. He gave attention to the Niger Delta amnesty and rule of law. His illness and eventual death cut short his reforms.

Jonathan (2010–2015) – Propelled to office by constitutional succession and later by electoral victory, President Goodluck Jonathan anchored his government on the ‘Transformation Agenda’. Key focus areas of his administration include infrastructure revival, especially roads and railways; education expansion (establishment of federal universities); economic reforms and YouWin entrepreneurship scheme; power-sector privatisation and agricultural reforms led by e-wallet fertiliser system

Jonathan presided over the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP making it Africa’s largest economy. However, his era also witnessed worsening Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, corruption controversies, oil theft and fiscal leakages.

Buhari (2015–2023) – President Muhammadu Buhari came on board with ‘Change Agenda’ focusing on anti-corruption push and tackling insecurity. He came up with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and infrastructure expansions. However, economy suffered recessions, insecurity escalated, poverty deepened.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2023–date) – He rode to power on the ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra. His administration has so far undertaken major reforms including, fuel subsidy removal, exchange-rate unification and tax reforms. These brought widespread hardship but government has assured the reforms are long-term economic correction.

While the Nigerian democracy has endured six election cycles, stronger civil society, vibrant media, yet core challenges of insecurity, unemployment, corruption perception, weak public institutions and uneven social services still remain.

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