Nigeria at 54: The Nigeria story
Today, Nigeria is exactly 54 years. On this
particular day and month in 1960, the nation,
acclaimed to be the ‘giant of Africa,’ got her
independence from the British Colony.
On the historic day, the British Union Jack was
lowered and replaced by the nation’s Green-
white-green flag. Many popped champagne with
the freedom from the colonial masters. And
with the independence, a new constitution,
establishing a federal system with an elected
prime minister and a ceremonial head of state
was established. From then, Nigerians took over
the reins of leadership from foreigners.
Recognising the country’s particular multi-ethnic
configuration or diversity, the British
government had established for Nigeria a
federal structure of government, with three
regions. Each of the three regions had its own
constitution and a good measure of autonomy
while there was a fairly weak Federal
Government at the centre. The three regions
were the Eastern Region, Northern Region and
Western Region.
It is then not surprising that since October 1,
1960, the date has remained an emotionally
memorable one for the majority of Nigerians.
Critical observers will today, as usual, ponder
and reflect on the journey so far. Like in
previous anniversaries, Nigerians will reflect on
issues, concerning the economic, social and
political development of the country.
For many, there is so much to thank God for,
with regards to the height the nation has
attained so far in the comity of nations. Those in
this school of thought believe that despite the
challenges facing the nation, it has not done
badly in many of the indices for measuring the
progress of a country. Proponents of this
argument believe that for having stayed
together all these years as one united country,
the nation has done well.
However, there are those who argue that at 54,
the nation has failed largely in meeting the
expectations of the people. In the estimation of
those in support of this position, virtually all the
various sectors of the nation’s socio-political
economy are in shambles.
In any case, many believe that irrespective of
which side of the divide one belongs in the
argument, the political history of the nation
contributed to where she is today.
Nigeria under military rule
Nigeria’s first attempt at a democratic
government was truncated on January 15, 1966,
barely six years after the country got her
independence. In that coup, led by five idealistic
Majors of the Nigerian Army, the Prime
Minister, Tafawa Balewa, and other topshots in
that administration were killed. Although, the
coup plotters did not fully actualise their dream,
the civilian administration did not survive the
onslaught.
The then President of the Senate, Nwafor Orizu,
who was acting president, invited the military
high command to take over the reins of
government. Consequently, the head of the
Nigeria Army, Major-General Johnson T. U.
Aguiyi-lronsi became the country’s first military
ruler. Within six months, he was replaced by
General Yakubu Gowon in a very bloody
counter-coup. Gowon was in the saddle from
1966-1975, when his regime was overthrown by
General Murtala Muhammed. In 1976, his
second-in-command, General Olusegun
Obasanjo, became Head of State, after
Muhammed was killed in a botched coup by Col.
Buka Suka Dimka.
Obasanjo handed over to the civilian
administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari on
October 1979. The Shagari administration was
truncated by another military coup by Major
General Mohammadu Buhari on December 31,
1983, a few months after it started its second
term.
General lbrahim Badamasi Babangida overthrew
Buhari on August 27, 1985, and ruled the
country until August 26,1993. He instituted the
Interim National Government (ING) headed by
Chief Ernest Shonekan.
General Sani Abacha toppled the ING in less
than three months, after it was put in place. He
ruled the country from 1993 to 1998 when he
died in office.
The then Chief of Defence Staff, General
Abdulsalami Abubakar replaced him. He handed
to a civilian administration headed by Obasanjo
on May 29, 1999, less than one year after he
assumed office.
In totality, the military has ruled Nigeria for
about 29 years and two months.
Nigeria under civil rule
Until 1999, civil rule in the country was very
epileptic. Nigeria started off with a
parliamentary system of government with Alhaji
Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister. Balewa’s
tenure was cut short in the aftermath of the
first coup in Nigeria.
At the return of civilian rule in 1979, Shehu
Shagari was elected president, under a
presidential system of government.
In 1999, Chief Obasanjo became the country’s
second democratically elected president. He
spent eight years as president and handed over
to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in
2007.
Yar’Adua died in office in 2010, before he could
complete his first term in office. Consequently,
his deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in,
as president. Jonathan completed the tenure
and was elected president in the 2011 general
election.
The problems
It must be noted that soon after independence,
the forces of disintegration began to manifest.
Between October 1960 and late 1961, charges
of treasonable felony were made against
leaders of the Action Group, the Yoruba ethnic-
based political party, the late Chief Obafemi
Awolowo. In 1962, criminal proceedings against
Chief Awolowo and some members of his party
were concluded. They were convicted and given
varying prison sentences.
With this, it was clear that the newly born
Nigerian nation had begun to totter. In 1963, a
national population census exercise was
conducted for the country. Because of the
politicisation of the exercise, even the
introduction of religion into it, the entire
process was regarded as unsatisfactory, and
became disputed. New territories and villages
and new ethnic nationalities were being
discovered in certain parts of Nigeria as if such
people were the pre-historical cave men. All
these were in an attempt to inflate the Census
figures.
In 1964, Federal Government elections were to
be held, so as to elect the Prime Minister and
members of the National Assembly. Again,
because of intractable problems that bedeviled
the election processes, the Eastern Region, one
of the four Regions of Nigeria, decided to
boycott the elections.
Nigeria had become four regions since
Independence in 1960, following the creation of
the Mid-Western Region in 1963. The crisis
following the elections was eventually resolved,
and in March 1965 a mini-federal election was
held for the Eastern Region of Nigeria.
Thereafter, the first post-independence National
Assembly convened and began full legislative
duties. But the tottering Nigerian nation was
already developing into a political tinderbox.
In 1965, the Western Region government was in
crisis and the Federal Government had to
declare a state of emergency in the whole of the
Western Region. This led to the appointment of
Senator Dr. Moses Majekodunmi as sole
administrator for the Western Region. Both the
government and the Western Region House of
Assembly were also dissolved.
Inevitably, the country was already sitting on
kegs of gunpowder. With this, on Saturday,
January 15, 1966, the political tinderbox finally
exploded. A group in the Nigerian Army, led by
Major Kaduna Nzeogwu struck in a bloody
military coup d’état, overthrowing the
government. The coup was certainly a first in
the history of Nigeria.
particular day and month in 1960, the nation,
acclaimed to be the ‘giant of Africa,’ got her
independence from the British Colony.
On the historic day, the British Union Jack was
lowered and replaced by the nation’s Green-
white-green flag. Many popped champagne with
the freedom from the colonial masters. And
with the independence, a new constitution,
establishing a federal system with an elected
prime minister and a ceremonial head of state
was established. From then, Nigerians took over
the reins of leadership from foreigners.
Recognising the country’s particular multi-ethnic
configuration or diversity, the British
government had established for Nigeria a
federal structure of government, with three
regions. Each of the three regions had its own
constitution and a good measure of autonomy
while there was a fairly weak Federal
Government at the centre. The three regions
were the Eastern Region, Northern Region and
Western Region.
It is then not surprising that since October 1,
1960, the date has remained an emotionally
memorable one for the majority of Nigerians.
Critical observers will today, as usual, ponder
and reflect on the journey so far. Like in
previous anniversaries, Nigerians will reflect on
issues, concerning the economic, social and
political development of the country.
For many, there is so much to thank God for,
with regards to the height the nation has
attained so far in the comity of nations. Those in
this school of thought believe that despite the
challenges facing the nation, it has not done
badly in many of the indices for measuring the
progress of a country. Proponents of this
argument believe that for having stayed
together all these years as one united country,
the nation has done well.
However, there are those who argue that at 54,
the nation has failed largely in meeting the
expectations of the people. In the estimation of
those in support of this position, virtually all the
various sectors of the nation’s socio-political
economy are in shambles.
In any case, many believe that irrespective of
which side of the divide one belongs in the
argument, the political history of the nation
contributed to where she is today.
Nigeria under military rule
Nigeria’s first attempt at a democratic
government was truncated on January 15, 1966,
barely six years after the country got her
independence. In that coup, led by five idealistic
Majors of the Nigerian Army, the Prime
Minister, Tafawa Balewa, and other topshots in
that administration were killed. Although, the
coup plotters did not fully actualise their dream,
the civilian administration did not survive the
onslaught.
The then President of the Senate, Nwafor Orizu,
who was acting president, invited the military
high command to take over the reins of
government. Consequently, the head of the
Nigeria Army, Major-General Johnson T. U.
Aguiyi-lronsi became the country’s first military
ruler. Within six months, he was replaced by
General Yakubu Gowon in a very bloody
counter-coup. Gowon was in the saddle from
1966-1975, when his regime was overthrown by
General Murtala Muhammed. In 1976, his
second-in-command, General Olusegun
Obasanjo, became Head of State, after
Muhammed was killed in a botched coup by Col.
Buka Suka Dimka.
Obasanjo handed over to the civilian
administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari on
October 1979. The Shagari administration was
truncated by another military coup by Major
General Mohammadu Buhari on December 31,
1983, a few months after it started its second
term.
General lbrahim Badamasi Babangida overthrew
Buhari on August 27, 1985, and ruled the
country until August 26,1993. He instituted the
Interim National Government (ING) headed by
Chief Ernest Shonekan.
General Sani Abacha toppled the ING in less
than three months, after it was put in place. He
ruled the country from 1993 to 1998 when he
died in office.
The then Chief of Defence Staff, General
Abdulsalami Abubakar replaced him. He handed
to a civilian administration headed by Obasanjo
on May 29, 1999, less than one year after he
assumed office.
In totality, the military has ruled Nigeria for
about 29 years and two months.
Nigeria under civil rule
Until 1999, civil rule in the country was very
epileptic. Nigeria started off with a
parliamentary system of government with Alhaji
Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister. Balewa’s
tenure was cut short in the aftermath of the
first coup in Nigeria.
At the return of civilian rule in 1979, Shehu
Shagari was elected president, under a
presidential system of government.
In 1999, Chief Obasanjo became the country’s
second democratically elected president. He
spent eight years as president and handed over
to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in
2007.
Yar’Adua died in office in 2010, before he could
complete his first term in office. Consequently,
his deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in,
as president. Jonathan completed the tenure
and was elected president in the 2011 general
election.
The problems
It must be noted that soon after independence,
the forces of disintegration began to manifest.
Between October 1960 and late 1961, charges
of treasonable felony were made against
leaders of the Action Group, the Yoruba ethnic-
based political party, the late Chief Obafemi
Awolowo. In 1962, criminal proceedings against
Chief Awolowo and some members of his party
were concluded. They were convicted and given
varying prison sentences.
With this, it was clear that the newly born
Nigerian nation had begun to totter. In 1963, a
national population census exercise was
conducted for the country. Because of the
politicisation of the exercise, even the
introduction of religion into it, the entire
process was regarded as unsatisfactory, and
became disputed. New territories and villages
and new ethnic nationalities were being
discovered in certain parts of Nigeria as if such
people were the pre-historical cave men. All
these were in an attempt to inflate the Census
figures.
In 1964, Federal Government elections were to
be held, so as to elect the Prime Minister and
members of the National Assembly. Again,
because of intractable problems that bedeviled
the election processes, the Eastern Region, one
of the four Regions of Nigeria, decided to
boycott the elections.
Nigeria had become four regions since
Independence in 1960, following the creation of
the Mid-Western Region in 1963. The crisis
following the elections was eventually resolved,
and in March 1965 a mini-federal election was
held for the Eastern Region of Nigeria.
Thereafter, the first post-independence National
Assembly convened and began full legislative
duties. But the tottering Nigerian nation was
already developing into a political tinderbox.
In 1965, the Western Region government was in
crisis and the Federal Government had to
declare a state of emergency in the whole of the
Western Region. This led to the appointment of
Senator Dr. Moses Majekodunmi as sole
administrator for the Western Region. Both the
government and the Western Region House of
Assembly were also dissolved.
Inevitably, the country was already sitting on
kegs of gunpowder. With this, on Saturday,
January 15, 1966, the political tinderbox finally
exploded. A group in the Nigerian Army, led by
Major Kaduna Nzeogwu struck in a bloody
military coup d’état, overthrowing the
government. The coup was certainly a first in
the history of Nigeria.
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