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Nigeria was one of the many African countries involved with Decolonization process that began with Ghana (1956). Nigeria as Africa's most populace country was a major step in the Decolinization process. The first step was to set up an African political structure (mid-1950s). A Federal prime minister was elected (1957). The Western and Eastern regions were granted internal self-government (1957). This was granted to the Northern region (1959). Full independence was granted (October 1960). Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa leding a coalition and became the country's first independent prime minister. The tensions between the country's etnic and religious communities was a problem tht Britain wrestled wih during the colonial period. Even before inependence, they were a major concern of Migeria's emerging new leaders. After only a few years of civilian rule, the military seized power (1967). Both the military tke over nd yhe Biafran Wa began in the same year (1967). The most serious outbreak was the deadly Biafran War which occurred only a few years after independence (1967-70). Many African countries were terribly poor, limiting their development capabilities. This was not the case in Nigeria which has a sizeable oil resources. The oil revenue, tragically does not seem to have been used to develop the country. In recent years, a fundamentalist Islamic sugency ha created chaos in the north. Regional hostilities continue to be a a major aspect of independent Nigeria. More than half the country's Fulani and Hausa territories in the north. Northerners thus have their own regional assembly, but also are represented in the federal government in Lagos.
Nigeria was one of the many African countries involved with Decolonization process that began with Ghana (1956). Nigeria as Africa's most populace country was a major step in the Decolinization process. The first step was to set up an African political structure (mid-1950s). A Federal prime minister was elected (1957). The Western and Eastern regions were granted internal self-government (1957). This was granted to the Northern region (1959). Full
Britain granted full independemce (October 1960). Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa leding a coalition and became the country's first independent prime minister. The tensions between the country's etnic and religious communities was a problem tht Britain wrestled wih during the colonial period. Even before inependence, they were a major concern of Nigeria's emerging new leaders. One of the first major issues was independemce was granted (October 1960). Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa leding a coalition and became the country's first independent prime minister. The tensions between the country's etnic and religious communities was a problem that Britain wrestled wih during the colonial period. Even before inependence, they were a major concern of Nigeria's emerging new leaders. The cpimtry's first independent census proved to be highly controversial (1962-63). The Census served as a basis for representation in Parliament, meaning the distribution of power among ethnic groups in independent Nigeria.
After only a few years of civilian rule, the military eized power. Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi launches a military coup and heads up a military government (January 1966). Primeminister Balewa was killed in the bcoup. Gen. Ironsi was killed in counter-coup (July 1966). Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon replaced him.
The most serious outbreak of ethnic and regional cobflict was the deadly Biafran War also clled the Nigerian Civil War. This occurred only a few years after independence (1967-70). Three southeastern states secede as the Republic of Biafra (July 6, 1967). The Igbo people aspired for their own independent state. The Christian Igbo leadership felt that they could no coexist with the Northern-dominated and Muslim-influence Federal government. The conflict was the result of political, economic, ethnic, cultural and religious tensions which predated indeoendence. The precipitaying evenys was the 1966 military coup, a counter-coup, and ongoing persecution of Igbo living in Northern Nigeria. Control over oil production in the Niger Delta have the Igbo a vital strategic asset. The Igbo manaaged to seize control of the three state which they dominated, but meanwhile Federal forces
managed to surrounded Biafra, capture the coastal oil facilities, and the impoert port city of Port Harcourt. This nable the Federal forces to blockae Biafra. which was not self suggient infood producrion. A terribke famine resulted. Starvation became an important strategy of the Federal Government. Some two million Biafran civilians are believed to have perished from starvation and diseases. The Warwa no closely followed in the est until photigraphs of malnourished and starving children suddenly appeared in th international press (mid-1968). The tragedy of starving Biafran children became a cause célèbre. Iinternational non-governmental organisations raised mpney for a relief effort. Britain and the Soviet Union backed the Federal Military Government in Lagos. France and some non-govermental groups supported Biafra. The Biafras managed to smuggle some arms in, but this becme increaingky difficulr as they lost territory. Dinally Biafran leaders surrendered January 150, 1970) and the three secesionist states are reintegrated into the country (1970).
Brigadier Murtala Ramat Mohammed launches another military coup (1975). President Gowon is overthrown. He flees to Britain which offered him refuge. Mohammed began the process of moving the federal capital to Abuja. Mohammed is killed in a failed coup attempt. Lieutenant-General Olusegun Obasanjo, Mohammed's deputy, replaced him. Obasanjo helped introduce an American-style presidential constitution.
Election were held to estore civilan rule (1979). Alhaji Shehu Shagari won the election. The government expeled more than one million foreigners, mostly Ghanaians (January 1983). The Government alledged that they had had overstayed their visas and were taking jobs from Nigerians. The move was wudely condemned abroad but proved popular among Nigerians. Shagari ridung the popularity wave from expelling foreigers was reelected(Aigust-September). Accusations of irregularitiessurface. .
Soon adter President Shagari's reelection, Major General Muhammad Buhari seized power in bloodless coup (Secember 1983). Two years later, Ibrahim Babangida seized power in anoter bloodless coup (1985). He acts to sharply curtail political activity. An attempt to return to civilan rike fails (1993). Preliminary results showed a victory by Chief Moshood Abiola (June 1965). The military annuled the results. Power was transferred to Interim National Government (August 1993). Soon after, General Sani Abacha seizes power (November 1993). He moves to strongly suppress opposition and begin an iron-fisted grip on the country (November 1993). Abacha has Chief Abiola arrested after proclaiming himself president (1994). Ken Saro-Wiwa, writer and campaigner against oil industry damage to his Ogoni homeland, becomes an increasingly strong voice. Abacha orders a drum head trial and execution. The European Union imposed sanctions which stay in place until Abacha dies. The Commonwealth expels Nigeria which also lasts until Abacha's death. Abacha is believed ti have stole some $3 nillion during his bloody 5-year rule. Abacha died (1998). He is replaced by Major General Abdulsalami Abubakar. Chief Abiola suddenly died in custody a month later.
The military allows presidential elections (1999). Olusegun Obasanjo wins the presidential election. As a concession to Nigeria's large Mulim population in the north, Islamic or Sharia law is adopted by several northern states over the opposition of Christians (2000). This proves highlt controiversial and the tension leads to widespread clashes and hundreds of deaths. Tribal war breks out in in Benue state in eastern-central Nigeria (2001). Thousands of people are displaced. Army units sent to Benue state to stop the fighting kill more than 200 unarmed civilians (October 2001). The soldiers were reacting to the abduction and murder of 19 soldiers. Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, South African President Mbeki, and Algerian President Bouteflika launch the New Partnership for African Development (NPED). The effort souhjt to promote development, open government, and end trinal and other fighting. The grouo was able to offer aid, foreign investment and the lifting of trade barriers to African exports. Ethnic violence continued in Nigeri. some
Some 100 people are killed in Lagos as a result of clashes between Hausas (Islamic northern tribe) and ethnic Yorubas (Christian southwest tribe) (February 2002). More than 200 people are killed uring four days of rioting(November 2002). Muslims were furious about the Miss World beauty pageant schelued in Kaduna for ecember. The [agentis is relocated to Britain. Military rule was inded in 1999, but parlimentary elections were delayed for 4 years. Thy were finally held (April 2003). They did not go smoothly and there were akgation of fraud and ballot stuffing. President Obasanjo's People's Democratic Party wins a clear parliamentary majority. Preident Obasanjo wins reelection with more than 60 percent of the vote. Opposition parties reject the result and claim widespread election fraud. EU poll observers eported 'serious irregularities'.
Jama’atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda’Awati Wal Jihad (Boko Haram) is an extremist Islamic group that has launched a guerrilla and terrorist campaign aginst the Nigerian Goverment. The group has roots dating bak to the early-200s, but began to stage attacksonly in the 2010s. They have carried out bloody attacks on government offices, the United Nations, and civilians, especially Christians, in an effort to destabilize not only Nigeria, but also neighboring Niger and Cameroon. The group is not well understood. analysts have put forward many often conflicting narratives. The groups origins, motivations, and future plans are still largely a mystery. Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS), aligning itself with Islamic state in the global Jihadist movement. Despite heightened Nigerian security operations, Boko Haram has contunued to stahe horrufying attacks just as kidnpping and enslaving school girls. Boko Haram's primary areas of operations has been in the MUslim north (Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, Borno and Kaduna), but as it hasgained in strengthhas moved further south. They have tended to hit aspects of western civilization. They esprcially resent Western education calling it inful, and raided schools--killing the boys and jidnpping the girls. President Obama and many other Westerners as well as many Muslims dismiss the group by saying it is un-Ilanic. The problem ith this assessment is tht the movement developed in the Muslim north, has support from Mosques, is funded i part by Muslims in the Middle East, are devoted to the Koran which many read and study, and are intent on 'purifying' Nigeria from all non-Islamic influences and Muslims with Western attitudes.
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