The nigerian military juntas of 196679 and 198399 were a pair of military dictatorships in. 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. Since the first military coup in january 1966, a number of questions on the role and place of the military in nigeria have been raised1. The coup plotters attacked the cities of kaduna, ibadan, and lagos while also blockading the niger and benue river within a twoday span of time. 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. There were the 1960 and 19641965 uprisings in the tiv country of the middle belt, and fractious elections in western nigeria in 1964 and 1965. The january 1966 coup propelled a group of young military officers onto the national stage. The history of coup detat in nigeria it is all about. The war began with ethnic rivalry within the military. Colonel murtala muhammed and many northern military officers. The source of this myth is the we were five in number comment, which the coup s most visible, participant. The first military intervention in nigeria occurred in january 1966 when the civilian government was overthrown in a military coup. General ironsis military administration which lasted a mere six months had itself been overthrown in.
We learn, for example, that in much of the developing world, accession to power, as either a president or a prime minister, is a sure process for amassing power and wealth. When the military came to power in nigeria on january 15, 1966, they became deeply involved in the political process. Nzeogwu and major ifeajuna, who were backed by other ibo officers. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria pdf download. Nigerias military coup culture 1966 1976, is a historical treatise on military adventurism in nigerian politics as the infant nation took its first tottering steps shortly after independence.
Before the coup plotters were able to take control of. The coup that took place on january 15, 1966, was conceived and planned together by majors nzeogwu, ifeajuna and ademoyega. The coup was led by major chukwuma nzeogwu and other majors in the army. The military succeeded in the aspect of creating new states and local councils. The army returned to power again in 1984 and did not leave until 1999. The july mutinycounter coup resulted in the murder of nigerias first military head of state general johnson aguiyiironsi. In recent years, political instability, religious competition, ethnic differences and the need to become more modern continue to plague nigeria. The problems of nation building in nigeria, most of which are congenital, dating to the birth of the.
The 1966 nigerian coup detat began on january 15, 1966 when rebel soldiers led by kaduna nzeogwu assassinated 11 senior nigerian politicians and two soldiers as well as kidnapping three others. Military regimes and nation building in nigeria, 19661999. It was later that all those facts were emerging and people started analysing that nnamdi azikiwe got to know about the coming coup and escaped. 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. Origins of the war nigeria, a nation roughly the size of texas on africas west coast, has a larger population. By january 15, 1966, a military coup had overthrown the government of prime minister tafawa balewa and a gradual, though clearly discernible slide toward disunity and civil war was imminent. After the january 1966 coup, a succession of military governments led nigeria for thirteen years until a military regime headed by general olusegun obasanjo the current democratic president restored the country to civilian democratic rule in 1979. Apr 27, 20 the inside story of nigerias first military coup part 1 editor apr 27, 20 9. Political killings had risen to a dangerous level and the whole country was heading towards chaos and disaster. Why we struck tells the story of the first military intervention in nigerian politics. Oct 01, 2016 in this interview, he blames the entire problems of nigeria on the three military coup detats of 1966, 1975 and 1983, as he forecasts that getting out of the current economic recession may not. Unfortunately, struggles for power have resulted in many military coups in the country. There have been a large number of successful and failed military coups in nigeria since the countrys independence from the british empire in 1960.
Major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu, made in an interview with dennis ejindu africa and the world may 1967. The first military coup in nigeria january 15, 1966 coup. The constitution is suspended and the regional government and elected assemblies are. At first, nigeria was one of the more stable governments in africa.
And since my good people of yoruba kporoakpor intl always say anioma people are not igbo, so why are you tagging it as igbo coup. To commemorate this anniversary i have reproduced the full text of the famous radio broadcast made by major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu announcing the coup in nigerias northern region. The 1966 nigerian counter coup, or the socalled july rematch, was the second of many military coups in nigeria. 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. How first coup still haunts nigeria 50 years on bbc news. Jan 15, 2016 how first coup still haunts nigeria 50 years on. On 15 january 1966, a group of young, idealistic, uktrained army majors overthrew nigerias democratic government in a violent military coup. The history of the nigerian army and the implications for the future of nigeria a thesis presented to the faculty of the u.
Jan 15, 2017 it was later that all those facts were emerging and people started analysing that nnamdi azikiwe got to know about the coming coup and escaped. The first military coup of january 15 1966 which led to the death of many northern leaders has generated controversies which many expected general aguiyi ironsi to address but he. 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 15, 1966 see 1966 nigerian coup detat. The conspirators killed prime minister alhaji abubakar tafawa balewa, who. J 1985 military leadership in nigeria 19661979, ibadan. On january 15, 1966 when the first military coup was being carried out i wasnt in nigeria. One enduring myth is that nigeria s first military coup was carried out by five igbo majors. Barely five years after, the country experienced political convulsion. That intervention was to last almost forever, and at a staggering cost to the nation and its quest for democracy. A military coup in 1966 brought majorgeneral johnson aguiyiironsi, an ethnic ibo from the eastern region, to power. Relations became extremely poor between the federal government and the ibos of the eastern region. Origins of the war nigeria, a nation roughly the size of texas on africas west coast, has a larger population than any other african nation, and is home to over twohundred and fifty different ethnic groups. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a shortlived return to democracy between 19791983.
Jan 17, 2016 i decided to put this together fifty years after the 1966 bloody military coup. The impact of military rule on nigerias nation building, 19661979 abdulrahman, ajibola a. The impact of military coup detat on political development in nigeria olorungbemi simeon toyin ph. Military rule commenced in nigeria on january 15, 1966 when a military coup detat led by an army major, chukwuma nzeogwu, overthrew the government of prime minister abubakar tafawa balewa. Nigeria suffered from violence and military rule from 1966 until 1999, when a democratic government was established. The leading authority on nigerias post independence history from 19601979. I call it nigerias defining moment and i keep wondering if indeed it has defined nigerias future. 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. Below is major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwus speech announcing the first military coup in nigeria on january 15, 1966. The impact of military rule on nigerias nation building.
Military coups and military rule which began as an emergency aberration became a seemingly permanent feature of nigerian politics. But the coup plotters were not the beneficiaries of it, they were swept aside by the senior officer and the rein of power fell to general aguiyilronsi. Written by waidi adebayo january 15, 2016 january 15, 2017. There are many inventions that were originally created by the military but are now used by civilians. The coup was carried out by young officers in the nigerian army, and it was also a boldly one, making it the first bloody coup in the history of the country. The inside story of nigerias first military coup part 1 editor apr 27, 20 9. Buhari was the one who lead the military coup of 1983. The political economy of militarization in nigeria jstor. The major casualties were the prime minister of nigeria, sir abubakar tafawa balewa, the. Aguiyiironsi speaking at the first press conference of the nigerian military regime established after the overthrow of the civilian government in january 1966.
Like many other african nationalists akintola was a teacher in the 1930s and early 1940s and a member of the baptist teachers union and the nigerian. A special feature on the 50th anniversary of nigerias first military coup, aired on television continental tvc. 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. The first military coup in nigeria took place on january 15, 1966.
However, he was killed a few months later, and was followed by ltcol yakubu gowon from the christian north. Nigeria became an independent country in october 1 st 1960 after about a century occupation by the british colonial masters. Nigeria has experienced vast changes, evolving from a collection of ancient kingdoms to a. The military intervention into nigerian politics is an invention introduced by the military coup of 1966. In the wee hours of july 29 1966, nigeria experienced what is today referred to as one of the bloodiest military coup detat in africa. 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. It stretched through the shortlived regime of majorgenera. Between 1966 and 1999, the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a shortlived return to democracy from 19791983.
Speech by major kaduna nzeogwu announcing the first coup. Samuel ladoke akintola, administrator and politician, premier of the western region of nigeria and an early victim of the january 1966 military coup. How 1966, 1975 and 1983 military coups destroyed nigeria. Nigeria has therefore been governed for a longer period over thirty years of her independence by the military. In this interview, he blames the entire problems of nigeria on the three military coup detats of 1966, 1975 and 1983, as he forecasts that getting out of the current economic recession may not. Wars, conflicts, and coups of nigeria the history guy.
This coup detat was led by kaduna nzeogwu and emmanuel ifeajuna. In the name of the supreme council of the revolution of the nigerian armed forces, i declare martial law over the northern provinces of nigeria. Nigeria experienced military intervention first in 1966, when the elected government of prime minister abubakar tafawa balewa was overthrown in 1966 by a group of young military officers. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in nigeria without interruption. The inside story of nigerias first military coup 2. Military interventions in the nigerian politics international journal. A special feature on the 50th anniversary of nigeria s first military coup, aired on television continental tvc. I decided to put this together fifty years after the 1966 bloody military coup. This effectively marked the beginning and succession of military governments in the nations political history. There was the highly controversial national census exercise of 1963, and there was the military action of isaac boros niger delta volunteer force. The first ever military coup in nigeria took place in 1966 when some young majors made up of primarily southeasterners overthrew the incumbent government leadong to a military take over. Nigeria s military coup culture 1966 1976 and soldiers of fortune. Background to military rule the attainment of independence was a landmark not only in the history of nigerias nationbuilding but the countrys history as a whole. Akintola, the premier of western region, sir abubakar tafawa balewa, prime minister of nigeria, chief festus okotieeboh, federal.
By january 15,1966, a military coup had overthrown the government of prime minister tafawa balewa and a gradual, though clearly. Nigerian military coup announcement is essentially a subset of political language. Max siollun is a nigerian historian, writer, and author of the books oil, politics and violence. The impact of military coup detat on political development. The inside story of nigerias first military coup part 1. Nigerias first military junta began following the 1966 nigerian coup detat which overthrew. The 1966 nigerian countercoup, or the socalled july rematch, was the second of many military coups in nigeria. The erstwhile constitution became replaced with military decrees. He was a strong member of the defunct zikist movement and since the first bloody military coup on january 1966. The military, politics and power in nigeria, tells us a lot about african politics, with an emphasis on nigerian political history. Dec 07, 2006 after the january 1966 coup, a succession of military governments led nigeria for thirteen years until a military regime headed by general olusegun obasanjo the current democratic president restored the country to civilian democratic rule in 1979.
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 15, 1966 see 1966. Speech by major kaduna nzeogwu announcing the first coup of. 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. Nigerian military juntas of 196679 and 198399 wikipedia. The story of the first nigerian coup 1966 ademoyega, adewale on. I call it nigeria s defining moment and i keep wondering if indeed it has defined nigeria s future. The coup detat toppled the government of president nnamdi azikiwe and prime minister tafawa balewa thereby rewriting the political, social and military history of the country. Samuel ladoke akintola nigerian politician britannica. 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. Jan 30, 2016 a special feature on the 50th anniversary of nigeria s first military coup, aired on television continental tvc. Unfortunately the military struck in january 16 1966 and ruled the country for over 30 years.
Anniversary of nigerias first military coup nigerian. Nigeria suffered from violence and military rule from 1966 until 1999, when a. Causes of military intervention and prevention in nigeria. In 1966, a a violent military coup detat ushered in military dictatorship for the fist time in nigeria, and the 1963 constitution was therefore abolished. A military coup was attempted in 1990, but was suppressed on the same day. The coup leaders were backed by a combination of officers and junior officers. The impact of military coup detat on political development in nigeria. The 1966 nigerian coup detat on january 15, 1966, was the first military coup that was carried out in nigeria by junior officers. May 23, 2006 military rule commenced in nigeria on january 15, 1966 when a military coup detat led by an army major, chukwuma nzeogwu, overthrew the government of prime minister abubakar tafawa balewa. The military history of nigeria since the colonial rule began precisely on the 1 st october 1966.
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. Nigeria the 1966 coups, civil war, and gowons government. The history of coup detat in nigeria it is all about the. The person in power at that time was president nnamdi azikiwe, while tafawa balewa was the prime minister. The nigerian civil war miamidade county public schools. A military coup is the violent or nonviolent overthrow of an existing political regime by the military. Today is january 15 2009, the 43rd anniversary of nigerias first military coup on january 15, 1966. Oil, politics and violence nigerias military coup culture.