Pdf the impact of military rule on democracy in nigeria. The impact of military rule on nigerias nation building, 19661979 abdulrahman, ajibola a. Sani abacha, born september 20, 1943, kano, nigeriadied june 8, 1998, abuja, nigerian military leader, who served as head of state 199398. Here, i will give you a detailed explanation of military rule in nigeria and its achievements.
The military rules by force and not by the will of the people. In 1974, the nigerian head of state, general yakubu gowon, declared that a return to civilian rule would be postponed indefinitely. Historical contributions, military rule, tertiary education gowons. For most of human history, attaching military to rule would have been. The coup was led by major chukwuma nzeogwu and other majors in the army. Nigeria has had long years of military rule and this eroded the democratic culture of dialogue and consensus building. Military rule in nigeria first started on january 15, 1966, when a group or army officers overthrew the npcnndp government and killed many of the countrys political rulers. The term military rule as used here is synonymous with military regime and refers to a subtype of authoritarian regime. Nigeria and the ruins of military rule the guardian nigeria. To them, nigeria has taught the world the difference between democracy and civil rule. Eventually, there were so many riots that a military coup occurred in 1966.
What are the achievement of military rule in nigeria since. Between 1966 and 1999, the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a shortlived return to democracy from 19791983. Major general johnson aguiyiironsi was made the head of the federal military government of nigeria, but was soon overthrown and murdered in a coup in july of the same year. Some achievements and impact of the military regime in the history of nigeria includes. In the history of nigeria, the period of military rule was also a period of military juntas. The military history of nigeria since the colonial rule began precisely on the 1 st october 1966.
No respect for the rule of law since the military is conducted without a constitution. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a short. Military regimes are sometimes replaced by a new version of the same type of regime, as in nigeria in. The impact of military rule on nigerias nation building. Abacha received his formal military training at nigerian and british military training colleges.
Celebrating nigerian leaders and their achievements zodml. The first military coup in nigeria took place on january 15, 1966. Scholars agree that since 1966 when the military intervened in the nigeria government and politics up to 1999 civil service has enjoyed enormous popularity due to the inability of the military class to dictate the pace of government without recourse to bureaucrats wealth of experience. History of military rule in nigeria pdf summary yes, i know youd want to keep this for offline use, so weve created the military rule in nigeria pdf file. Measures that could be taken to prevent military intervention in nigeria. Nigeria is endowed with diverse and huge resources both human and material. Pdf the paper seeks to explain the rationale of the militarize dispositions of politicians in the current. Advantages of military rule in nigeria 2 years ago 72956 views by george ibenegbu nigeria has experienced both sides of the military rule.
However, years of negligence and adverse policies have led to the underutilization of these resources economic watch, 2010, and this has. The military succeeded in the aspect of creating new states and local councils. May 29, 20 as nigeria marks democracy day, senate leader chief victor ndomaegba, san, has said that the country has recorded remarkable achievement since the enthronement of democracy after many years of. Political change came about far more frequently through military intervention in politics than through open, competitive.
Nigeria has been governed for a longer period by the military junta than by civilian rule after her independence in 1960. A military coup is the violent or nonviolent overthrow of an existing political regime by the military. There have been a large number of successful and failed military coups in nigeria since the countrys independence from the british empire in 1960. Since its creation the scheme has recorded laudable achievements in. With these early military achievements of the federal government, the operation indeed could be said to be a police action. Military rule in nigeria there have been a number of recorder military coups, which led to military rule, in nigeria since the country gained its independence from the british empire. The political situation in nigeria, then under military rule, continued to be unstable.
Pdf the military incursion into nigeria politics in january 1966 was an. Military intervention in the nigerian politics and its impact citeseerx. The achievements of nigerian military rule since independence is that there has been less crime, less destruction and bombings, and less violence. Nigeria has therefore been governed for a longer period over thirty years of her independence by the military. Military regimes and nation building in nigeria, 19661999. It is instructive to note that the era of military rule can only end with good governance. Nigerias first military junta began following the 1966 nigerian coup detat which overthrew. Nigeria s achievements and failures under the military. Military governments and economic development sheffield hallam. Not all transitions actually lead to civilian rule, of course. Opposition to gowon s rule grew, and in 1975 obasanjo, along with murtala muhammed, led a bloodless coup that overthrew him.
Chief olusegun matthew okikiola aremu obasanjo, gcfr, o. Military rule is seldom for the good of the people. Military rule and topdown rule in general is bound for failure. He rose through the ranks in the nigerian military and by 1983 had achieved the rank of brigadier. Relationship by focusing on the constitutional role of the military in a democracy. The most remarkable achievement of the military rule in nigeria is. Of course, nigerias independence meant it had to try to unify the nation, which proved difficult due to its extreme diversity in languages, religion, culture and politics. Military rule are noted for violating fundamental human rights.
Look at india, brazil and america in the late 19th century all of these places dont have the best democracies but theyve been strengthened over the years. Nigeria has recorded remarkable success in democracy ndoma. The military prevented the country from breaking into units, e. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a shortlived return to democracy between 19791983. The nigerian military juntas of 196679 and 198399 were a pair of military dictatorships in. Nov 30, 2016 military rule and the republic of biafra.
Formations, aspirations, and achievements volume 33 issue 1 amos perlmutter. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire. He is the first president of nigeria and the founder of nigerian nationalism. Major general johnson aguiyiironsi was made the head of the federal military government of nigeria, but was soon overthrown and murdered in a. The military took over the machineries of government in. Nigeria, the years of corruption, civil war, military rule, and mismanagement have hindered economic growth of the country. Since then, military rule has been a recurring phenomenon in nigeria. Achievements of military rule in nigeria archives school. The constitution drafting initiatives embarked by the various military regimes were mainly aimed at legitimising the military in power. In light of the above, if you have been searching the internet to know the achievements of military rule in nigeria, this is the right article for you. Nnamdi azikiwe governorgeneral 19601963, president 19631966. Download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf the impact of military rule on democracy in nigeria article pdf available december 2012 with 51,528 reads. Mar 02, 2018 instability in a post military state like nigeria is proportional to civil military behavior.
Nigerian military juntas of 196679 and 198399 wikipedia. The country was at its infantile stage and was still trying to adapt to. Civil rights, in fact basic human rights are often none existent under military rule. Nigeria became an independent country in october 1 st 1960 after about a century occupation by the british colonial masters. Analysing civil services and national development in nigeria. Such as construction of roads, airports, bridges, establishment of institutions, etc. History of nigeria the history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc.
If we take a look at the military s achievements in nigeria s administrative development, we will recall that since independence in 1960, both the military and civilian administrations have been. My list of nigerias achievements since independence. These positive sides can be said to be a factor that influenced the development of nigeria under the rule of the military. Nigeria sierra leone the gambia liberia formation, objectives, sources of finance, achievements and failures 16. Oct 10, 2016 nigerias first military junta began following the 1966 nigerian coup detat which overthrew prime minister alhaji sir abubakar tafawa balewa. This behavior may reach a crisis level, or a relatively stable or balanced level, which is proportional to high, average or low political instability. Military regimes and nigerias economic development, 19661999. Nigeria in 1966 in order to check the drift towards anarchy and disintegration staring the. Unfortunately the military struck in january 16 1966 and ruled the country for over 30 years. Sierra leone the gambia liberia causes, effects and various military regimes. The military style of coming into power negates the principle of. This is an achievement whether we want to accept it or not.
The fraudulent election was used as an excuse for the takeover, although the military was in fact closely associated with the ousted government. On december 31, 1983, the military seized power once again, primarily because there was virtually no confidence in the civilian regime. Zik helped establish the university of nigeria after independence in 1962. The most remarkable achievement of the military rule in. Civil military relations and national security in nigeria. Military rule, political regime in which the military as an organization holds a preponderance of power. It will interest you to note that one of the commendable achievement of the military government visavis nigerian press is that the government empowered privately owned electronic media in nigeria by granting license to nongovernmental bodies to commence broadcasting in nigeria upon fulfillment of some requisite conditions through the.
Today, we mark nigerias independence day by celebrating our leaders and their achievements. In the area of foreign policy, nigeria has made strides and at one point nigeria was a highly respected country in africa in international politics under the old regime of president obasanjo. Nigeria s democracy will get stronger if allowed to grow and mature. Military politicians in power from january 15, 1966 until 1999 destroyed nigerias economy, ruined the currency, desecrated the civil service which was the best on the continent then and killed. From the onset of independent government in nigeria in 1960 to the end of 1990, the military had ruled for twentyone years. The military in nigerias administrative development. This module discusses the military era in nigeria, highlighting the major political, economic, social and cultural developments that occurred during military rule, the cause, problems, means and degree of these developments and of nigeria s integration as a sovereign nation. Nigeria gained independence on 1 october 1960 with a population of 36million people. He was one of the leading figures of nigerian nationalism and the first nigerian head of state. Nigeria s military is the largest in west africa, but is significantly less capable than its size and equipment inventory would indicate. The problem, however, was that although military officers accepted this rationale, military rule usually became selfsustaining.
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