Engineer Vincent Maduka, former president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, recounted his unexpected reinstatement as Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) by General Muhammadu Buhari’s military regime in 1983, after being sacked by President Shehu Shagari’s civilian government. In an exclusive Daily Trust TV interview, Maduka shared that his reinstatement, announced the day after the December 31, 1983 coup, came as a shock....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.>>
Curious about the decision, Maduka later inquired with Buhari. The former head of state revealed that on the coup’s night, while watching television, one of his supporters spontaneously advocated for Maduka’s return to lead NTA.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Buhari explained that the decision was finalized in that moment, reflecting the impromptu nature of some appointments during the regime change.
In Maduka’s words: “Buhari told me they were watching TV on the night of the coup and one of his supporters said ‘TV, we must take Maduka back’.
So he told me that is how. Because I asked him, I said the coup was Friday night and on Saturday you picked me up to return to NTA. So I got on well with him, he was straight”
Maduka’s account highlights the turbulent political shifts following the 1983 coup, which toppled the Second Republic amid economic woes and electoral controversies.
His reinstatement underscores the influence of personal recommendations and rapid decision-making in Nigeria’s military era, reshaping institutional leadership overnight.
The episode illustrates the unpredictability of power transitions, where professional fates could pivot on chance encounters or fleeting endorsements, offering a glimpse into the dynamics of governance under Buhari’s early military rule.
You can watch the video from 38:52
