Researching political finance in nigeria is very demanding because funds are spent mostly in cash and informally. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. The 1966 nigerian countercoup, or the socalled july rematch, was the second of many military coups in nigeria. The first military coup in nigeria january 15, 1966 coup. There is no doubting the fact that, with the possible exception of the january 1966 coup and the revenge coup of july 29 1966, all subsequent. Party politics, military coups and political assassination in postindependence nigeria 19662016 article pdf available january 2017 with 177 reads how we measure reads. Oct 01, 2016 how 1966, 1975 and 1983 military coups destroyed nigeria tanko yakassai on october 1, 2016 10. This makes it difficult to trace or scientifically establish patterns of income or trends of expenses. Fellow nigerian citizens, on behalf of the patriotic and wellmeaning peoples of the middle belt and the southern parts of this country, i, major gideon orkar, wish to happily inform you of the successful ousting of the dictatorial, corrupt, drug baronish, evil man, deceitful, homosexuallycentered, prodigalistic, unpatriotic administration of general.
Jul 29, 2016 but there was a difference between the rash of coups that occurred elsewhere and the one of january 15, 1966 in nigeria. Mar 12, 20 a video profiling nigeria s history of coups and military governments between 1966 and 1983. It focused mainly on the coups and counter coups, betrayals, violence and bloodbath that plagued the early years after nigeria s independence. Army command and general staff college in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree master of military art and science general studies by fredrick c. A video profiling nigerias history of coups and military governments between 1966 and 1983. Prior to the coup nzeogwu gave other cryptic clues about his intentions. Footage of generals gowon, muhammed, and obasanjo, and coverage of the 1983 coup that overthrew.
Nigeria the 1966 coups, civil war, and gowons government. The first military coup in nigeria took place on january 15, 1966. Let us take a look at the top 5 reasons for military intervention in nigerian politics. The death of major johnson aguiyi ironsi and the lucky escape of his aidedecamp, andrew nwankwo on july 29, 1966. D student of political science at the department of political science university of ibadan ibadan, nigeria abstract the military is not by inclination trained to rule, but to defend. How 1966, 1975 and 1983 military coups destroyed nigeria. Jan 03, 2019 nigeria civil war effects causes of civil war in nigeria and its effects.
Fellow nigerian citizens, on behalf of the patriotic and wellmeaning peoples of the middle belt and the southern parts of this country, i, major gideon orkar, wish to happily inform you of the successful ousting of the dictatorial, corrupt, drug baronish, evil man, deceitful, homosexuallycentered, prodigalistic, unpatriotic administration of general ibrahim. Nigeria gained independence on the first of october, 1960. Akintola, the premier of western region, sir abubakar tafawa balewa, prime minister of. All subsequent coups if at all, will merely confir m and energize this conclusion. The impact of military coup detat on political development. A brief history of famous african coups and their endings it is much too early to call the results of the military takeover of the zimbabwean government by the zimbabwean defence force. The 1966 coups, civil war, and gowons government nigeria table of contents by the time a disparate group of junior officers struck first in january 1966, the officers were still politically naive and had yet to master the art of coup planning and execution.
Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. Nigerias first military junta began following the 1966 nigerian coup detat which overthrew the first nigerian republic. This number is not inclusive of the numerous occurrences where individual administration leaders were removed by force without a change in regime. Jan 30, 2016 a special feature on the 50th anniversary of nigeria s first military coup, aired on television continental tvc. Colonel murtala muhammed and many northern military officers. Here is a true narration of the incident by andrew nwankwo, maj. Akintola, the premier of western region, sir abubakar tafawa balewa, prime minister of nigeria, chief festus okotieeboh, federal. The fourth coup detat constitutes a historic turning point in nigeria s political evolu tion. Mar 29, 2009 history of coup detat in nigeria the first coup in nigeria on january 15, 1966, chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu led the first evermilitary coup in nigeria that led to the death of sir ahmadu bello, the sardauna of sokoto and premier of northern nigeria, chief s. A tale, from 1966 to 1999, of coups, successful and attempted, to better comprehend a dark but important period of nigerian and african history. The history of the nigerian army and the implications for the future of nigeria a thesis presented to the faculty of the u. 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 the 1950s, thereve been a total of 206 coups attempts in africa, according to a dataset compiled by two us political scientists, jonathan powell and clayton thyne. Be that as it may, that first military coup in nigeria laid the infamous foundation for coups and counter coups in nigeria, a situation that seems to have been laid to rest since 1999.
Major general johnson aguiyiironsi was made the head of the federal military government of nigeria, serving for six months before being overthrown and assassinated in the 1966 nigerian countercoup. It was carried out by a group of young leftists under major emmanuel ifeajuna and major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu the coup plotters assassinated the prime minister of nigeria, sir abubakar tafawa balewa, the sardauna of sokoto, sir ahmadu bello and premier of the western region, ladoke akintola. Interview 1990 coup was aimed at restructuring nigeria col tony nyiam 1990 coup was aimed at restructuring nigeria col tony nyiam on august 19, 2017 8. Nito alves, jose van dunen 200 benin 10 28 1963 1 gen. The press, military coups, and the nigerian polity. There have been a large number of successful and failed military coups in nigeria since the. The models produced are shown to support the theory and predictions for future coups and policy implications are considered. April 1990 coup detat speech on nigerias social and. Apr 27, 20 we all know that nigerias first military coup took place on january 15 1966. The history of coup detat in nigeria it is all about. From the time of the egyptian revolution in 1950s, africa has experienced over ninety military coups, though a number of them have been unsuccessful. But there was a difference between the rash of coups that occurred elsewhere and the one of january 15, 1966 in nigeria. What are the causes of military coup in africa answers.
Military coups and military regimes in africa scientia. On january 15, 1966 the first ever coup detat in nigeria was staged. Nevertheless, nigeria also reflects the hopes, the resources and the bright future that african nations have at their horizon. This inexperience partly explains why major kaduna nzeogwu and others who.
In order to have a serious and professional military organization worth its salt, three basic criteria must be met. Jan 15, 2016 although most of nigeria s current population of about 170 million was not born when the countrys first coup was staged 50 years ago, its legacy lingers on, writes nigerian historian and author. Causes of civil war in nigeria and its effects information. Although most of nigerias current population of about 170 million was not born when the countrys first coup was staged 50 years ago, its legacy lingers on, writes nigerian historian and author.
Understanding the root causes of military coups and. The author, a highranking officer in the government toppled by nigeria s fourth coupdetat, offers a detailed account of the coup and nigeria s history leading up to it, as well as a discussion of what lessons can be learned from it for nation building in africa. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a shortlived return to democracy between 19791983. Coups, rumours of coups the guardian nigeria news nigeria. Nigerian coup of 1966 january 15, 1966the first of two military coups in 1966 was carried out primarily by ethnic ibo officers the ibo are an ethnic group in southern nigeria, including major k. Yet, these formalisms of procedural democracy have also concealed a much more profound pattern of declining press freedom on the continent, as african. Nigerias population is continuing to mushroomthe u. Journal of nigeria studies volume 1, number 2, fall 2012 political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. The inside story of nigerias first military coup part 1. Whether your country is democratic or totalitarian, you can still get the military forces involved in politics. The 1966 nigerian coup detat began on 15 january 1966, when mutinous nigerian soldiers led by chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu and emmanuel ifeajuna killed 22 people including the prime minister of nigeria, many senior politicians, many senior army officers including their wives, and sentinels on protective duty. The ftrst military intervention in politics was in january 1966. Nzeogwu and major ifeajuna, who were backed by other ibo officers.
Although there are many widely accepted theories about the causes of military coups in africa, there are some explanations that are almost universally agreed on. The major causes of war in nigeria is traced down to the attempted secessions of the southern region or province of nigeria and also religious, economic, ethnic, and cultural tensions between the hausas of the northern region of nigeria and the igbos of the eastern part of nigeria. A major reason that has been responsible for her socioeconomic stagnation is the phenomenon. Nigeria has undergone six military coups and plunged into major disorders several times in the past 25 years, including a civil war between the. The impact of military coup detat on political development in nigeria olorungbemi simeon toyin ph. Strangely for a man who disliked military coups and military governments, he served as a member of firstly majorgeneral buharis supreme military council from 198485, and in ibrahim babangidas armed forces ruling council thereafter. A special feature on the 50th anniversary of nigerias first military coup, aired on television continental tvc. Tracing the development of a single african army coup detat does, i believe, tell more. Growth of military statesas late as 1961 the african image had not been tarnished to any great extent by the incidence of military coups. Apr 11, 2019 since the 1950s, thereve been a total of 206 coups attempts in africa, according to a dataset compiled by two us political scientists, jonathan powell and clayton thyne. By the time a disparate group of junior officers struck first in january 1966, the officers were still politically naive and had yet to master the art of coup planning and execution.
It focused mainly on the coups and countercoups, betrayals, violence and bloodbath that plagued the early years after nigerias independence. The first military coup in nigeria was said to be not entirely successful. As with many of the territories governed by the british in africa and elsewhere, nigeria is a nation cobbled together from many distinct ethnic groups, or tribes, and different religions. History of coup detat in nigeria the first coup in nigeria on january 15, 1966, chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu led the first evermilitary coup in nigeria that led to the death of sir ahmadu bello, the sardauna of sokoto and premier of northern nigeria, chief s. Between 1966 and 1999, the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a shortlived return to democracy from 19791983. Military coups and military regimes in africa the journal. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Cost of politics in nigeria westminster foundation for. How 1966, 1975 and 1983 military coups destroyed nigeria tanko yakassai on october 1, 2016 10. Though the takeover had many characteristics of a coup, the zdf has been stressing that it has not carried out a coup. Indeed, a field study tour conducted in 1960 1 the year of independence as it has been called to investigate the place of the armed forces in societies in africa did not provide the evidence on which to forecast the eventual spate of coups.
The 1976 nigerian coup detat attempt was a military coup attempt which took place in nigeria on february 1976 when a faction of armed forces officers, led by lieutenant colonel buka suka dimka, attempted to overthrow the government of general murtala mohammed who himself took power in the 1975 coup detat. Have we forgotten that it was the misadventure of a few misguided reactionaries that launched nigeria on the path of military coups and countercoups with the attendant. The nigerian coup took an immediate ethnic colouration, and for reasons. Some events which have sometimes been defined as coups in the literature. The conspirators killed prime minister alhaji abubakar tafawa balewa, who. 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. It must be properly trained, appropriately equipped, and populated by quality. Nigerian military juntas of 196679 and 198399 wikipedia. In this article the first of a two part series, my intention is to accurately describe the sequence of the events that guided and led to that tragic. However, it would be impossible as well as unfair to dismiss the excellent manner in which max rendered the events year this is a book you definitely want to lay your fingers on if you are anyone. Nigeria civil war effects causes of civil war in nigeria and its effects. The coup plotters attacked the cities of kaduna, ibadan, and.
The mere mention of coup detat, the unconstitutional and violent overthrow. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Nigeria gained independence from the british in 1960, after generations as a colony. Welch has recently analysed the coups in ghana, nigeria, and sierra leone in terms of the emergence of an anglophone praetorian syndrome. However the actions and motivation of the principal actors has been the subject of misintepretation over the years. Top 5 reasons for military intervention in nigerian politics. Major general johnson aguiyiironsi was made the head of the federal military government of nigeria, serving for six months before being overthrown and assassinated in the 1966 nigerian countercoup first junta 19661979. The coup was led by major chukwuma nzeogwu and other majors in the army. The author, a highranking officer in the government toppled by nigerias fourth coupdetat, offers a detailed account of the coup and nigerias history leading up to it, as well as a discussion of what lessons can be learned from it for nation building in africa. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a short. Alex thomas, an introduction to african politics, chapter 4, case study.
Why is nigeria one country and who wants to divide it. Successful 1, attempted 2, plotted 3, and alleged 4 country month day year success leaders deaths angola 10 27 1974 2 antonio navarro inter alia 0 angola 5 27 1977 2 cdr. Nigeria, a country richly endowed with natural resources and high quality human capital is yet to find its rightful place among the comity of nations. She gives detailed accounts of the coups in nigeria,the sudan and ghana, and includes material on the role of the army in algeria and egypt,showing the. The impact of military coup detat on political development in nigeria. How first coup still haunts nigeria 50 years on bbc news. Deskbased research was also conducted on the drivers of the cost of politics in nigeria. The person in power at that time was president nnamdi azikiwe, while. The coup began as a mutiny at roughly midnight on july 28, 1966 and was a reaction to the killings of northern politicians and officers by mostly igbo soldiers on january. It wasnt a propitious start the election was marked by boycotts, malpractice and violence. Some lessons from ghana and nigeria volume 20 issue 2 edward feit skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites.