CHANGES IN NIGERIA BEFORE AND AFTER 1960

MILITARY RULE IN NIGERIA

MILITARY RULE IN NIGERIA

In early hours of January 15, 1966, Nigeria witnessed he  first military coup led by chukwuma nzeogu and other majors in the army. It was a bloody military intervention in the political history of Nigeria, some key political leaders the prime minister, sir abubakar  tafawa balewa , s.l. a, premier of western region, the minister of finance, chief okotie eboh, sir ahmadu bello, premier of northern region, and many other top ranking officers in the armed forces were killed. Later, major general aguyi irosi, came into the scene to take the mantle of leadership of the country. His tenure was however, short-lived. A counter coup was staged on july 29, 1966 and aguiyi irosi  was toppled and killed and lt. colonel yakubu  gowon took over the political leadership of the country. General yakubu spent nine year in office and was removed by brigadier murtala Mohammed. Also after spending 200 days in office, murtala Mohammed was assassinated in an abortive coup led by lt. colonel dimka on February 13, 1976. general olusegun obasajo the next in command to murtala Mohammed,  became the head of state. It was at this time that the military kept to its promise of handling over power to a democratically elected civilian government <1979-83 second republic>. However, the cilian government was going for the second term in office <1979-1983>, when major-general mohammed buhari through a military coup sacked the democratically elected government. Major-general ibrahim babangida removed buhari on august 27, 1985, through what was described as ’palace coup’ and subsequently made himself the president of Nigeria, abandoning the titled of the head of state. An unsuccessful coup attempt was staged against babangida by Major Gideon orkar led military coup on April 22, 1990. There was also the vaster coup attempt in December, 1985, babangida retired from the army after stepping aside in 1993. He had earlier set up an interim government with chief Ernest sonekan as the head of state. Lt. General abacha acked the interim government and assumed the new military head of state of Nigeria. Abacha the 8^th of june , 1998 and was succeeded by general abdulsalam abubarkar.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE MILITARY RULE IN NIGERIA

1. ARMED FORCES RULING COUNCILS   <A.F.R.C>

2. THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL <F.E.C.>

3. THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE  <N.C.S.>

THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA.

1. Creation of state.
2. Sitting of a new federal capital territory at Abuja. By gen. ibrahim babangida.
3. Establishment of iron and steel industry at oshogbo  and ajaokuta respectively.
4. Restoration of peace to Nigeria in 1966.
5. Establishment of more universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, secondary schools, pry schools and technical schools were commonly witnessed during the military era.
6. They open grant to local government.
7. Protection of fundamental human rights of individuals, e g the release of the detainees under IBB.

THE WEAKNESSES OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA.

1.      Corruption.

2.      Over staying in power.

3.      Brutality of rule and abuse of power.

4.      Lack of rooms and freedom for opinions, contributions and criticisms. Those who attempted to do so were jailed. E.g. tai solarin in the northern prison, professor wole soyinka, late gain fawehinmi, oladipo diya, est.

5.      Hasty and unthoughtful decisions.

6.      Promulgation of harsh decrees without referring them to the public for debate.

7.      Dictatorship rule.

THE NIGERIAN COUNCIL OF 1914

On becoming the governor general of Nigeria after the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorate in 1913, lord laggard established the Nigerian council which existed side by side with the small legislature council of the colony of Lagos in 1914. The establishment of the council marked a milestone in the constitutional development of Nigeria. The council consisted of 36 members made up of 23 European officials, and 13 non- official members of which 7 of them were Europeans and 6 Nigerian.

The 7 European non-official members interests like the chambers of commerce, shipping, banking and mining business. The 6 Nigerian non-official members that were appointed to represent chieftaincy interests included; two emirs from the north, the alafin of oyo and one members each from calabar, lagos and benin-warri area.

This council had no executive authority.