Africa’s other surviving despots are raptly watching the struggle. As the continent’s most populous and influential country, Nigeria sets an example for the region’s other states. “They may well feel there is no need to democratize if Nigeria doesn’t do it,” warns Anthony Kirk-Greene, an Africa specialist at Oxford University. To head off a grass-roots rebellion, Babangida has begun jailing dissenters. So far, most Nigerians have reacted to the crackdown by carrying on with their daily lives. But Babangida’s tactics may backfire: once set in motion, pro-democracy activists aren’t likely to let up.
