 His rule was the longest serving in peacetime and his administration typified the military dictatorships of the 20th century.Babangida promised a return of democracy when he seized power, but he ruled Nigeria for eight years, when he temporarily handed power to the interim head of state Ernest Shonekan in 1993 in a move towards democratization.Two months later, however, Shonekan was overthrown by General Sani Abacha while Babangida was visiting Egypt.