Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960. After independence, Nigeria adopted a federal system of government, with power divided between the central government and the regional governments.
In this post, we trace the history of political development of Nigeria from independence to 1979, the beginning of a new era of civilian rule in Nigeria and overall assessment.
In 1963, Nigeria became a republic with Nnamdi Azikiwe as the first President. However, the real power lay with Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who was the leader of the ruling Northern People’s Congress (NPC).
In 1965, the NPC won a controversial election that was marred by allegations of fraud and violence. The election was followed by a series of military coups and counter-coups that plunged the country into political instability.
In January 1966, a group of army officers led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu staged a coup and overthrew the government of Prime Minister Balewa. The coup leaders established a military government with Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi as the Head of State.
The military government abolished the regional governments and replaced them with a system of military administration. This move was highly unpopular, especially in the North, which felt it was being marginalized by the new government.
In July 1966, a group of northern soldiers staged a counter-coup and killed Aguiyi-Ironsi. The counter-coup was followed by a wave of violence against Igbo people in the North, leading to the death of thousands of people.
General Yakubu Gowon, a northerner, took over as Head of State and promised to restore order and stability to the country. In 1967, the Eastern Region, led by Igbo politician Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, declared independence as the Republic of Biafra, triggering a civil war that lasted from 1967 to 1970.
The war ended with the defeat of the secessionist forces, and General Gowon announced a plan to reintegrate the country and restore civilian rule. The plan included the creation of 12 new states, with the aim of addressing regional imbalances and promoting national unity.
In 1975, General Gowon was overthrown in a bloodless coup by General Murtala Mohammed, who promised to restore democracy and tackle corruption. Mohammed introduced a new constitution that provided for a presidential system of government and established a Federal Executive Council to advise the President.
However, in February 1976, Mohammed was assassinated in a failed coup attempt, and he was succeeded by his deputy, General Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo continued the process of restoring civilian rule and handed over power to a civilian government in 1979.
In 1979, Nigeria held its first elections since the civil war, and Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was elected President. The election was marred by allegations of fraud, but it marked the beginning of a new era of civilian rule in Nigeria.
In summary, the history of political development in Nigeria from independence to 1979 was characterized by a series of coups, counter-coups and civil war, which resulted in political instability, ethnic tensions and economic challenges.
The country struggled to find a balance between the various ethnic groups and regions, leading to a highly centralized system of government that marginalized some groups and regions.
The military interventions in politics, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, also undermined the development of democratic institutions and the rule of law.
Despite the challenges, there were some positive developments during this period, including the adoption of a federal system of government, the establishment of a republic, and the creation of new states aimed at addressing regional imbalances. The civil war, although devastating, helped to reinforce the importance of national unity and integration.
The period also saw the emergence of some notable political figures, including Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Shehu Shagari, who contributed to the development of Nigerian politics and governance.
Overall, the history of political development in Nigeria from independence to 1979 was a mixed one, with both achievements and challenges. The country continued to face political, economic and social challenges in the decades that followed, but the lessons learned during this period helped to shape Nigeria’s future political and democratic development.