Nigeria Military Dictator Names Nearly All-Civilian Cabinet

Nigeria’s new military dictator named a nearly all-civilian Cabinet on Thursday, confusing his detractors by including several politicians known for their opposition to military rule.

The appointments by Gen. Sani Abacha appeared to be an effort to dampen international condemnation of his Nov. 17 takeover.

Also Thursday, at least 31 people were reported killed in unrest in central and southwestern Nigeria. However, all but two of the deaths appeared to be unrelated to Abacha’s takeover.

Among those named to the Cabinet, which will administer the West African nation under a military-dominated ruling council, were two members of the interim government ousted by Abacha last week.

The appointees included former state governors and three candidates from the country’s annulled presidential election.

The June 12 election was to have ended a decade of military rule in Nigeria. But Abacha’s predecessor, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, declared the results void and installed an interim government instead. Widespread protests forced Babangida to resign in August.

Several people named to Abacha’s Cabinet had outspokenly criticized the military for canceling the election and strongly supported Moshood K.O. Abiola, the billionaire tycoon who apparently won the election.

The 32-member Cabinet includes only two soldiers, Abacha and his newly appointed chief of general staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya. Abacha did not say what jobs the new Cabinet members would hold.

On Wednesday, Abacha stunned the nation by appointing three well-known critics of the military to his ruling council and Cabinet, including Abiola’s running mate, diplomat Baba Gana Kingibe.