Nigeria at 60, Celebration of Lawlessness and Corruption
Anthony Enahoro moved the first motion for self government in 1953, which the leaders of the Northern region opposed vehemently “As soon as practicable” which the aftermath resulted to the infamous Kano riot of 1953 and also led to the adoption of a federal system of government.
The Eastern and Western region gained self government in 1957 while the Northern region gained theirs in 1959. The independence election was held in 1959 and Sir Tafawa Balewa became Nigeria’s first Prime Minister.
In 1960 Nigeria gained her independence from the British Colonial Masters and became a republic in 1963. All thanks to the Modern Nationalist Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Chief Nnamdi Azikwe,S.L Akintola,Remi Fani-Kayode ,Chief Raymond Njoku e.t.c
Series of catastrophes unfold after the independence. Nigeria witnessed its first Military coup on January 1966 ,arguably the bloodiest coup in the history of Nigeria led by Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and other military officers and which saw the killing of Sir Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Festus Okotie-Eboh ,many senior politicians, senior army officers (Including their wives and workers)
Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi became the Head of State and thereby inadvertly putting Nigeria’s. democracy on hold. Six months after the unfortunate events, the country witnessed another massacred coup d’état “July Rematch” mastermied by Lt.Colonel Murtala Muhammed and many Northern military officers , a reaction to the Killings of Northern politicians and officers. The July mutiny/counter coup resulted in the murder of Nigeria’s Military Head of State General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi(who hosted Aguiyi Ironsi in Ibadan).
Few months later the Eastern region through their Leader Lt.Colonel Odumegu Ojukwu declared “The Sovereign Nation of Biafra Republic” which the aftermath led to “Nigeria civil war “. The war lasted for 3 and half years (6 July1967–15 January 1970). Thanks to our Nigerian officers and Leaders that fought to keep Nigeria as a united country, “No Victor No Vanquished”.
After the war, the then Military Head of State General Yakubu Gowon introduce the “Three R, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reconciliation” to repair the extensive damage done to the economy and infrastructure of the Eastern Region during the war. The program was a failure, especially Gowon’s administration policy of giving 20 pounds to Biafran who had a bank account in Nigeria before the war, regardless of how much money had been in their account.
On July 30 1975 General Yakubu Gowon was ousted in a coup and Brigadier Muritala Muhammed became the New Head of State. On 13th of. February 1976 “Dimka Coup which was a bloody and aborted coup led to the assassination of General Muritala Muhammed alongside aide-de-camp Lieutenant Akintude Akinsehinwa. He was succeeded by Chief of Staff Supreme HQ Olusegun Obasanjo who completed his plan of transfer of civilian rule to Alhaji Shehu Shagari on 1st of October 1979.
On December 1983, the present President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari, Major General Babaginda, Sani Abacha and other senior army officers over threw the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari. The coup conspirators appointed Major General Buhari as Head of State.
On August 1985 the Palace coup led by the then Chief Of Army Staff Major General Ibrahim Babaginda overthrew. Buhari/Tunde Idiagbon regime. The alleged Vatsa coup of December 1985 which Hundred of Military officers were arrested ,tried ,convicted and executed for conspiring to overthrow the Babaginda administration. It was alleged that Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa led the coup. Major Gideon Orkar also failed a staged violent coup to overthrow Maradona government. He established the Armed Forces Ruling Council and promulgated his official title as the first military President of Nigeria.
On June 12 1993 the presidential election was finally which Moshood Abiola and Babagana Kingibe of the Social Democratic Party(SDP) defeated Bashir Tofa and Slyvester Ugoh of the National Republican Convention. The most peaceful election in Nigeria till date was annulled by Major General Ibrahim Babaginda citing electoral irregularities and national security considerations which he failed to specify till date.
The June 12 lingering crisis led to the resignation of Babaginda in August 1993 and he signed a decree establishing the Interim National Government led by Ernest Shonekan. He became the Interim President and appointed Moshood Abiola as the Vice-President, who vehemently rejected the appointment. The crisis lingered for months culminating the seizure of Power by General Sani Abacha.
On 17 November 1993, Abacha forced interim president Ernest Shonekan to resign. He cited during his nationwide broadcast that socio-political uncertainty under the interim National Government as a cause for his resignation. His regime was ruthless, he issued a decree that placed his government above the jurisdiction of the court (Absolute power).
Moshood Abiola proclaimed himself as the president, he was jailed for treason and died in custody. Abacha administration coerced the country’s five political parties to endorsed him as the sole presidential candidate and was accused of human rights abuses, especially the hanging of Ogoni Activist “Ken Saro Wiwa”.
On 8th of June 1998 ,The Nigerian Dictator SanniAbacha died in the Aso Rock and General Abdul Salami Abubakar ushered the Fourth Nigeria Republic into existence (May 29,1999) till date.
Former Head of State Olusegun Obasanjo became the first elected and civilian Head of state on May 29,1999 –May 29 2007 (Democracy day) later changed to June 12 in honor of Moshood Abiola by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018. Umaru Musa Yardua took over power from Obasanjo and became the president from May 29 2007–5 May 2010). He died in office and Acting President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as the President, to complete the administration of Yar’Adua.
Goodluck Jonathan contested for the president of Nigeria and he won the election. He contested for the second term in office and lost the presidential election to All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, who was sworn in to succeed him on 29 May 2015.
Muhammadu Buhari (The present president of Nigeria) became the President of Nigeria on May 29, 2015 and was reelected for his second term in office after defeating Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar.
60 years after Independence and 21 years of Democracy, the level of corruption and lawlessness as skyrocketed. Election malpractice, abuse of human rights, abuse of power ,corruption, banditry, Bokoharam, Police/Sars brutality, internet fraudsters, Rape,poverty,child abuse,domectic violence, health challenges , maternal mortality , unemployment, lack of social amenities e.t.c
The level of gross incompetence, mismanagement of public funds ,the privatization of public sector for mostly their selfish interest in other to create a wide margin between the rich and the poor ,neglect of non-oil sectors. Especially the abandonment of agricultural sector and over dependent on oil sector. which due to the frequent fluctuations in oil price led to an unstable economy. It contributed to the lack of development. Nigeria still belongs to the Third World Countries despite the natural resources.
