Military in Nigeria – SS3 Government Lesson Note (First Term)

Military rule in Nigeria is the period when soldiers governed the country after taking power by coup. The first coup took place on 15 January 1966, and military governments ruled for most of the years until 29 May 1999, when power passed to an elected president. Students learn the reasons soldiers intervened in politics and what military governments achieved.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Discuss the reasons for military intervention.
2. Describe the achievements of military administration.

Instructional techniques

• Identification
• Explanation
• Questions and answers
• Demonstration
• Videos from source

Instructional materials

• Videos
• Loudspeaker
• Textbook
• Pictures

How did military rule develop in Nigeria?

The 1966 coups and the Gowon regime

The first military regime in Nigeria started on 15 January 1966. It was staged by five Majors led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. It was a bloody coup in the annals of Nigeria’s politics. Prominent politicians were killed, including the Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa; the Premier of the Western Region, S.L. Akintola; the Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie Eboh; and Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of the Northern Region. Many top-ranking officers in the armed forces were also killed.

This coup brought General Aguiyi Ironsi to power. On 29 July 1966, Northern officers in the army staged a counter-coup. Aguiyi Ironsi’s government was toppled and he was killed. Col. Yakubu Gowon then took over from him.

From Murtala Mohammed to the Second Republic

The coup of 29 July 1975 ended the nine-year rule of Yakubu Gowon while he was attending an O.A.U. Summit in Kampala, Uganda. General Murtala Mohammed, the coup leader, took over as Head of State.

General Murtala Mohammed was assassinated on 13 February 1976 in an aborted coup led by Lt. Colonel Buka Suka Dimka. General Olusegun Obasanjo, the next in command, took over as Head of State. He eventually handed over power to the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari on 1 October 1979.

From Buhari to the return to civil rule

On 31 December 1983, a coup headed by General Mohammed Buhari ended the civilian government. On 27 August 1985, General Ibrahim Babangida, the Chief of Army Staff under Buhari, took over from him. He became the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. In December 1985, the late General Mamman Vatsa led an unsuccessful coup.

In April 1990, the late Major Gideon Orkar led another unsuccessful coup. Babangida retired from the army after handing over in 1993. He set up an interim government with Chief Ernest Shonekan as Head of State.

The late General Abacha sacked the interim government and became Military Head of State. Abacha died on 8 June 1998 and was succeeded by General Abdulsalam Abubakar. General Abubakar handed over power to a democratically elected President on 29 May 1999.

Why did the military intervene in politics?

1. The military may intervene when the process of changing political leadership is in doubt.
2. Politicisation of the army.
3. Nepotism, tribalism and favouritism pervert justice.
4. Regional differences were so acute that they precipitated a crisis leading to a direct assumption of power.
5. Mismanagement of the national economy, for example under Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
6. Corruption and abuse of office by political leaders in the First and Second Republics.
7. Clumsy handling of the census exercise, for example the 1962 and 1963 censuses.
8. Lack of free and fair elections, for example the Western Nigeria election of 1965.
9. Long stay in office: most Nigerian leaders wanted to make themselves life president.
10. Bad administration has contributed to the frequent coups in the country.

What did military regimes achieve in Nigeria?

1. Preservation of the unity of Nigeria: the civil war was fought to preserve it.
2. Infrastructural development, such as the construction of roads, bridges and airports, and the establishment of institutions.
3. The creation of more states, which gave room for self-determination by different ethnic groups in the country.
4. The National Youth Service Corps (N.Y.S.C.) was established to promote unity among the different ethnic groups in Nigeria.
5. The military brought about a positive change in Nigeria’s foreign policy.
6. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established by Gowon and Eyadema.
7. The pattern of driving was changed on 2 April 1972.
8. The military administration of Murtala/Obasanjo created a new Federal Capital Territory.
9. Teaching hospitals, polytechnics, colleges of education and universities were established.

Evaluation

1. Give three reasons for the intervention of the military.
2. State four achievements of the military administration.

Classwork: As in evaluation.

The teacher commends the students positively.

Assignment

1. Name the leader of the coup of 15 January 1966.
2. State two reasons for military intervention in Nigerian politics.
3. Name two achievements of the Murtala/Obasanjo administration or the Gowon administration.