Nigeria

Stages in Nigerian History Pre-Colonial Period (800-1900) Colonial Period (1860-1960) British 1st Republic (1960-1966) 2nd and 3rd Republics and Predatory Military Rule (1979-1999)

Pre-Colonial Geography encouraged growth of centralized states Early states and kingdoms Kanem-Bornu – northeast region Hausa states – northwest region Junkun kingdom Tributary of the Bornu Empire by the end of the 1600’s

Trade Routes Lead to Islam Trade routes across the Sahara with northern Africa Arabic education Islam Wealth Replace traditional political and social practice Tribal groups to the south (Tiv) maintain tribal culture

Islamic Empire Sokoto Caliphate (Islamic Empire established 1808) The Fulani brought jihad from land to the west of Nigeria (led by Uthman dan Fodio) Brought groups together with Islam Language (Hausa) Islamic (Qur’anic) Law Governed the northern regions until British Colonial authority in 1900

Colonial Era British Control – (1860-1960) Indirect governance Installed tribal chiefs and natives at heads of governments and strengthened their power System of government designed to support British economic interests In the north the British left the Islamic governmental structure in place but strengthened the positions of the elite

Impact of British Colonialism Created Nigeria in 1860 Installment of governmental system Democratic institutions but an authoritarian political culture Strengthening Division Fostered political competition among ethnic groups British played off ethnic and social division Division of Nigeria into three regions Becomes basis for ethnoregional conflict

Impact of British Colonialism Western Education Christian Missionaries funded by the British Gov’t set up schools for elementary education higher education established in the 1930’s and 40’s Created a literate population Created more separation between the elites and the people Division between north and south – most British Christian schools were located in the south – the north had primarily Islamic education

Adapting to Independence 1960-1966 – Republic – elected parliamentary government (Westminster model) Tafawa Balewa – Prime Minister Assassinated – government overthrown by a military coup Political parties Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) Hausa-Fulani elites Dominated the federal government soon after independence Policy of northernization puts them in conflict with the southern groups the Yoruba and Igbo

Adapting to Independence The Yoruba dominated Action Group (AG) had an internal conflict NCP seizes the opportunity to subdivide the Western Region Weakens Yoruba political power NCP – engages in widespread political corruption Causes unrest and violence

Military Rule and Civil War January 1966 – group of Igbo officers seize power Highest ranking officer Aguiyi Ironsi became head of state Ironsi killed in July 1966 in a second coup Yakuba Gowon – middle belt Christian head of state put in power by the non-Igbo coup plotters Igbo Persecution persists Eastern Igbo areas attempt to secede in 1967 to form their own country

Military Rule Civil War Military led government in the northern and western region focusing on unity War in eastern region lasts 3 years Takes over 1 million lives After war Gowon breaks the four region federation into 12 states Later becomes 19 states Increase in military Gowon overthrown in 1975 by Murtala Muhammad Gowon refused to relinquish military control

Emergence of the 2nd Republic Muhammad committed to restoring democratic rule Assassinated in 1976 Emergence of General Olusegun Obasanjo Obsanjo cedes power to a civilian government in 1979 beginning the 2nd Republic

Short lived 2nd Republic Widespread corruption causes the government to loose legitimacy National Party of Nigeria (NPN) a spin off of the first Republic’s NPC gained outright majorities in 1983 state and national elections through fraud Within months the military seized power under General Muhammadu Buhari Buhari refused to restore democratic rule and failed to restore the economy

Military Rule By 1985 General Ibrahim Babangida had seized power Announced a program for restoring democratic gov’t but stalled heavily In 1993 he annulled the presidential election Babangida resigns in 1993 and appoints his successor Ernest Shonekan General Sani Abacha (minister of defense) seizes power from Shonekan in Nov. 1993

Rule under Abacha Abacha promised to restore democracy but often delayed Very oppressive Corrupt Dies June 1998 Death is celebrated in the streets Successor quickly handed over power to civilian gov’t headed by Olusegun Obasanjo and the (PDP) in 1999

The Fourth Republic Obasanjo was a Yoruba candidate that people in the north could trust WHY? Retires all military officers that held a political position under any military government Initiates reform of the oil industry Cracked down on corruption Forced resignation of a Speaker of the House and two Senate Presidents

Obasanjo Is Not Perfect Still surrounded by the corrupt Wanted reelection and nomination from party Didn’t get along with the National Assembly Two unsuccessful motions to impeach him Wins reelection in 2003 Through widespread voter malpractice and rigged election Public confidence falls National Political Reform Conference 2005 Review the constitution and structure of the government and boost political legitimacy