Nigeria's Military Ruler Quits; Appoints Interim Government

LAGOS, NIGERIA, AUG. 26 -- President Ibrahim Babangida formally stepped down as leader of black Africa's most powerful nation today and installed a businessman and political neophyte to lead the country out of its most serious crisis since the civil war of two decades ago.

Babangida, a 52-year-old army general who has ruled Nigeria since taking power in a military coup in 1985, had been pressed at home and abroad to cede control to a democratic government -- particularly since he annulled the results of a June 12 presidential election that was to have produced a civilian successor.

While the newly appointed government is to rule only until another round of elections can be held next year, critics of the ostensible transfer of power complained that it fails to fulfill Babangida's numerous pledges to return power to elected civilian leadership. Indeed, many here expressed the belief that Babangida -- backed by an military command that has governed Nigeria for all but 10 of its 33 years of independence -- will continue to rule behind the scenes despite today's changes.

Most senior military officers in the outgoing government resigned along with Babangida, but three key portfolios in the interim government -- the ministries of information, defense and capital region administration -- were retained by close allies of Babangida. The holdover defense minister is Maj. Gen. Sani Abacha, one of just two military figures remaining in the government and a longtime backer of Babangida who played a key role in the 1985 coup. Another senior officer is Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Gado Nasko, whose ministry oversees Abuja, the federal capital, and its surrounding territory.

Reacting to opposition outrage over the move, Babangida denied in a televised speech that his "carefully crafted and cautiously implemented programs of political reform" were aimed at maintaining his grip on power. "The tasks we set for ourselves were arduous and daunting, but we were determined to pursue them with singlemindedness and conviction, characteristics of our military profession," he declared.

To head the interim government, Babangida chose Ernest Shonekan, 57, a top executive of the United African Co., Nigeria's largest conglomerate, and chairman of a national council designed to prepare the way for transition to democratic rule. Human rights activists immediately branded Shonekan a Babangida puppet and the new government an "extension of dictatorship."

"Shonekan is a lackluster person who has absolutely no charisma whatsoever; there was nothing outstanding that he ever did as the head of UAC," said Harriet Lawrence, an editor at the independent Guardian newspaper.

Most of the democratic opposition supports millionaire industrialist Moshood Abiola -- the apparent winner of the aborted June election -- to head any new government. But Moshood left the country early this month to seek international support for his cause, and there are fears for his safety here.

In London today, Moshood denounced the new interim government as illegitimate and said he would fly to the United States Friday to consult with U.S. and U.N. officials on what his next moves might be. On Wednesday, Abiola said he would return to Nigeria within a week but only if it was safe.

It is unclear how far the appointment of Shonekan might go to calm political passions here, where a three-day general strike organized by the democratic opposition has left Lagos paralyzed since Wednesday. In addition, many people stayed off the streets, fearing resumption of the widespread anti-government rioting that left scores of people dead last month. More than a dozen human rights activists subsequently were arrested, and the government shut down at least four opposition newspapers, including one owned by Abiola.

The political crisis has been fueled in no small part by Nigeria's economic troubles. Although the West African nation earns $9 billion annually in oil revenues, corruption and mismanagement have considerably lowered the standard of living here. Average per capita income has plunged to just $250 a year, compared with $1,000 a decade ago. Just this week, transportation costs nearly doubled as the government began a phased removal of subsidies on petroleum products.

"I'm not unaware of the present deterioration of the quality of life of sections of our people and the escalating costs of basic commodities even in our rural areas," Babangida said in his televised speech. "These, I'm convinced, are not unconnected with a hostile international economic environment as well as the actions of some unpatriotic and exploitative actors in our society."

The United States, Nigeria's biggest oil customer, suspended most aid and sharply cut military training programs and other assistance following Babangida's abrogation of the elections, which he claimed were rigged in favor of Abiola but which international observers pronounced free and fair. Britain has also imposed limited sanctions.