Lesson Plan: Military Rule in Nigeria – General Sani Abacha (1993–1998)

Subject: History

Class: Primary 6
Term: Second Term
Week: Week 3
Topic: Military Rule in Nigeria – General Sani Abacha (1993–1998)
Duration: 60 minutes

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Behavioral Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain the background and rise to power of General Sani Abacha.
2. Discuss the reasons for the emergence of military rule in Nigeria.
3. Analyze the challenges and weaknesses of General Sani Abacha’s government.

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Keywords

• Military rule
• General Sani Abacha
• Coup
• Authoritarian
• Human rights abuses
• Corruption
• Challenges
• Weaknesses

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Learning Resources/Materials

• A timeline showing Nigeria’s military rulers.
• Pictures of General Sani Abacha.
• Map of Nigeria.
• Relevant textbooks (e.g., Lagos State Scheme of Work).

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Set Induction

The teacher will ask the students to name some military leaders in Nigeria they have heard of. The teacher will then explain that today’s lesson focuses on one of them, General Sani Abacha, and his rule between 1993 and 1998.

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Entry Behavior

Students have some knowledge about past Nigerian leaders from previous lessons.

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Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher will connect today’s topic to earlier discussions on Nigeria’s political history, particularly the era of military rule.

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Embedded Core Skills

• Critical thinking
• Historical analysis
• Communication

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Instructional Materials

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Chart on Nigeria’s military regimes
• Video clips on military rule in Nigeria (if available)

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Content

Background of General Sani Abacha

1. General Sani Abacha was born on September 20, 1943, in Kano State.
2. He became a soldier and rose through the ranks in the Nigerian Army.
3. Abacha was involved in several military coups in Nigeria, including the one that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power in 1983.
4. He became Nigeria’s head of state on November 17, 1993, after overthrowing the interim government of Chief Ernest Shonekan.

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Reasons for the Emergence of Military Rule in Nigeria

1. Political instability: Frequent disagreements and crises among politicians led to military takeovers.
2. Corruption: Widespread corruption in civilian governments created dissatisfaction among the people.
3. Weak leadership: Some civilian leaders were seen as weak and unable to govern effectively.
4. Economic challenges: Poor economic policies and financial crises often led to military intervention.

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General Sani Abacha’s Government (1993–1998)

1. Authoritarian Rule: Abacha ruled Nigeria with an iron fist, controlling all aspects of government and silencing opposition.
2. Human Rights Abuses: His regime was known for imprisoning activists, journalists, and political opponents.
3. Corruption: Abacha’s government was accused of embezzling billions of dollars from Nigeria’s treasury.
4. Achievements: He stabilized Nigeria’s currency and launched the Vision 2010 economic plan.
5. Challenges: His government faced international criticism and sanctions due to human rights violations.

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Weaknesses of General Sani Abacha’s Government

1. Lack of freedom of speech.
2. Widespread corruption and embezzlement of public funds.
3. Harsh treatment of political opponents and activists.
4. Economic sanctions by the international community.
5. Poor reputation and legacy due to authoritarianism and abuses.

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Evaluation Questions

1. Who was General Sani Abacha, and when did he rule Nigeria?
   a) 1990–1993
   b) 1993–1998
   c) 1985–1993
   d) 1998–2001
2. What led to the emergence of military rule in Nigeria?
   a) Corruption in civilian governments
   b) Economic stability
   c) Effective leadership
   d) Peaceful elections
3. What was one major weakness of General Abacha’s government?
   a) Promotion of democracy
   b) Freedom of speech
   c) Corruption and human rights abuses
   d) Economic prosperity
4. Which economic plan did Abacha introduce?
   a) Vision 2020
   b) Vision 2010
   c) Economic Stabilization Plan
   d) SAP
5. Abacha’s government was accused of:
   a) Promoting education
   b) Embezzling public funds
   c) Supporting political activists
   d) Encouraging democracy

(Continue with 10 additional questions based on the lesson content.)

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Class Activity Discussion FAQs

1. Who was General Sani Abacha?
   General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military ruler who governed from 1993 to 1998.
2. Why did the military often take over power in Nigeria?
   Reasons included corruption, political instability, and weak civilian leadership.
3. What were some weaknesses of Abacha’s government?
   Human rights abuses, corruption, and lack of freedom of speech.
4. What did Abacha achieve during his rule?
   He introduced the Vision 2010 economic plan and stabilized the currency.
5. Why was Abacha’s government criticized internationally?
   For human rights abuses and authoritarian rule.

(Continue with 10 more FAQs based on the lesson content.)

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Presentation Steps

1. Introduction: The teacher revises the concept of military rule and introduces General Sani Abacha.
2. Development: The teacher explains the rise of military rule, Abacha’s government, and its weaknesses.
3. Student Participation: Students discuss the reasons for military rule and share thoughts on Abacha’s impact.
4. Summary: The teacher summarizes the key points and addresses any questions.

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Assessment

1. Describe the rise of General Sani Abacha to power.
2. List three reasons for the emergence of military rule in Nigeria.
3. Mention two achievements and two weaknesses of Abacha’s government.

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Conclusion

The teacher marks students’ answers, provides corrections, and summarizes the lesson.

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