On October 1, Nigeria will mark the 54th anniversary of its independence from British colonial rule. This is a time for reflection than celebration, considering the political turmoils, upheavals and economic pillage our country had passed through over the turbulent years.
It is a time not only to take a glance into history, but also a time to look at the nation’s crystal ball and assess its chances of survival. Moreso, the illusion of becoming one of the 20 most developed economies on earth in year 2020, after Vision 2010 had failed.On the first of October, 1960, Nigerians celebrated with sweet rhetoric and colourful parades amidst pomp and pageantry by happy citizens. It was a day Princess Alexandria of Kent handed the instrument of independence to Late Alhaji (Sir) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister. The British Union jack flag was lowered at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos and at the same spot, Nigeria’s Green-White-Green national flag was hoisted. That was 54 years ago.
At that time, the country was a federation with a loose centre and three powerful regions. The West had Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Premier under Action Group (AG) party, Eastern Region with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as Premier under National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon, NCNC and the North had Alhaji Ahmadu Bellow as Premier, with the Northern Peoples Congress, NPC in power. Three years later, a fourth region was carved out from Western Region called Mid-West with chief Dennis Osadebay as Premier under NCNC.
This was the political arrangement of the federation until the army struck in the early hours of the morning of January 15, 1966. Before then, there was political instability in the West. Its Premier, Chief Awolowo of Action Group who lost in the 1959 federal elections and had resigned and handed over to his deputy, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola. Awolowo later became leader of the Opposition in the federal parliament in Lagos. He betrayed Awolowo and allied with the North. This led to political unrest in the West in which several people were killed and houses destroyed.
The East also changed its own Premier to Dr. Michael Okpara as Azikiwe left to contest the 1959 federal election but lost. He became ceremonial President at independence. Awolowo, not in good terms with the Northern leaders, was accused of trying to overthrow the Federal Government, charged for treason, convicted and sent to 10 years imprisonment.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Alhaji Ahmadu Bello
The army revolted in Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu and Kaduna. Many leading politicians were killed including Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Alhaji Ahmadu Bellow, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Federal Minister of Finance.
Against the wish of Major Nzeogwu, the coup was not far reaching enough as many political leaders escaped. The mantle of leadership after the army revolt fell on major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, then Chief of Army Staff who reluctantly became Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. He ordered for the arrest of the coup plotters but unable to get them to face charges.
Northern army officers, who saw the coup as sectional, staged a counter operation and July 28, 1966 barely six months after. General Ironsi, the Head of State was killed in Ibadan together with his host, Lt.-Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, the military Governor f Western Region. Immediately after, on the following day, July 29, 1966, Lt-Col. Yakubu Gowon emerged as the new military Head of State. A number of officers of Igbo or Eastern origin were killed in the counter coup.
Lt-Col. Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, military Governor of Eastern Region frowned at this reckless killing of General Ironsi and several officers of Eastern origin by the Northerners. Thousands of Easterners were killed in the north. It was a pogrom. A major national crisis erupted as Ojukwu refused to recognise Gowon as new head of state after the killing of General Ironsi.
Then came the civil war which broke out in 1967. Cessation of hostilities was January 1970 after three years of bloody confrontation between Biafra Republic headed by Ojukwu and federal army of Gowon. Over one million Easterners were killed during the civil war, especially Igbos with economic blockade against Biafra causing massive starvation and ill-health. The economy of the East was completely destroyed. People lost their homes, houses, businesses, money and other fortunes due to the civil war. Even with the much-lauded programme of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation, the damage had been done. The fratricidal civil war was costly in terms of human and material resources. Destruction in the East was amazing. It has taken the Igbos over 40 years to recover. But the scars are still visible till today.
After nearly nine years in power, General Gowon was overthrown in a palace coup while away in Kampala, attending a Summit of Organisation of African Unity, OAU. He was replaced by Brigadier Murtala Ramat Muhammed on July 29, 1975. 38 years old, he was former Inspector of Signals. As head of State, Murtala’s time was a period of great clean-up that shook the nation. There was massive retirement of public officers, restructuring of the country into 19 states and moving the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja.
Just barely six months after, there was another coup attempt on February 13, 1976 by Lt-Col. B.S. Dimka in which General Murtala Muhammed was assassinated. Kwara State military Governor, Col. Ibrahim Taiwo was abducted and later killed. The dissident soldiers were arrested, quickly tried and executed. It took sometime before Dimka was arrested, tried also and executed.
Meanwhile, Muhammed was succeeded by Lt-general Olusegun Obasanjo as head of State. He promised to follow the programmes of his predecessor who had plans to bring back democracy. Before three years, Obasanjo had put some democratic structures in place culminating in the peaceful handover of power to civilians. In 1979, a presidential election was held with Alhaji Shehu Shagari emerging as elected President. And the Second Republic was born. But it was short lived.
On December 31, 1983, three months into President Shagari’s second term, the army struck again. The civilian government was overthrown. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari emerged as a new military Head of State and Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon next in leadership. They ordered the arrest of Shagari, his Vice Dr. Alex Ekwueme, ministers, governors and top politicians, putting them in prison. This military regime was rigid, tough and hard, feared and highly disciplined. They were uncompromising.
On August 27, 1985, Major-General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, chief of Army Staff, replaced Major-General Muhammadu Buhari as the nation’s leader in another coup. He took the title of President, embarked on restructuring, created more states, revamping economy, political and social engineering.
Under him, a free and fair presidential election won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola on June 12, 1993, was annulled to the anger and disappointment of most Nigerians. Abiola refused to renounce his mandate, was arrested, charged for treason and later died in military detention. But before this, General Babangida, under public outcry, was compelled to step aside after about eight years in power. An Interim National Government was inaugurated with chief Ernest Shonekan as Head of State.
Lt-General Sani Abacha, a long time friend and ally of military President Babangida was left behind and so he was able to ease out Shonekan in a bloodless coup. Abacha became head of State and most brutal military ruler ever in Nigeria, coming to power in 1994.
He was tyranny personified, dictator of the first order, without any respect for human rights, and very corrupt and wicked. In bid to perpetuate himself in office for life, he formed five political parties, all to adopt him as sole presidential candidate. His five parties were later dubbed the “five fingers of a leprosy hand.”
A brutalized nation heaved sigh of relief when Abacha later died mysteriously in Abuja, paving way for emergence of General Abdulsalam Abubakar as new Head of State. He released all the high profile prisoners including General Olusegun Obasanjo and others jailed by Abacha in his five inglorious years as Nigeria’s most brutal, terrible military dictator. Abubakar midwifed the democracy which brought elected civil government in 1999. General Obasanjo became President.
How can Nigerians compare the days of military era and those of democracy?
Many would argue that there’s no basis of comparison in terms of political and social freedom. But many would also argue that although democracy has its gains there appeared to be difference in the empowerment of the citizenry. The politicians are accused of not allowing the massive funds to reach down to the people. During military rule, a lot of development projects were implemented like bridges, refineries and housing. In terms of real development, the country had it so good.
Although more funds are available to elected democratic governments now not commensurate development is in place.
The ingenuity of those people who suffered during the civil war and have bounced back seemed unimaginable. The civil war stunted national development and reduced the contribution of our brothers across the Niger. They have sat back and watching because of marginalisation. But they have much to offer particularly in terms of industrialisation, invention, Science and Technology. Poverty, unemployment, hunger, illiteracy , housing deficit, insecurity, crime still ravage the nation.
Corruption is on rampage. It is the bane of our nation. No regime military and civilian has been exonerated from this canker worm which has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation. It has been instituionalised by both military and civilian leaders. EFCC, ICPC, Police all have failed woefully to check corruption largely because those in government take the lead in corrupt practices. Nigeria can be better and should be better. It is a matter of leadership and also followership.
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