GST123...HISTORY OF NIGERIAN PEOPLE PT.2.pdf

www.covenantuniversity. Raising a new Generation of Leaders GST 123: NIGERIAN PEOPLE AND CULTURE SUB TOPIC: HISTORY OF NIGERIAN PEOPLE LECTURER: Dr. Olawale Olonade Colonial Era Colonial contact started with peaceful trade fol...

www.covenantuniversity. Raising a new Generation of Leaders GST 123: NIGERIAN PEOPLE AND CULTURE SUB TOPIC: HISTORY OF NIGERIAN PEOPLE LECTURER: Dr. Olawale Olonade Colonial Era Colonial contact started with peaceful trade followed by the trans-atlantic slave trade from 1500-1900. Over 11 Million Africans mostly Nigerians were forcibly transported to Europe – for the development of the Industrial Revolution. 2  By 1861, Lagos had become a Colony under the control of Lt. John Glover who formed the Hausa Constabulary which is the origin of the Nigerian Military. Sir George Taubman Goldie in 1862 became leader of the Royal Niger Company just as Slave trade was ending. 3  Between 1884/1885, the German Otto Van Bismark organized the partitioning of Africa and Britain undertook the systematic military conquest of Nigeria using the Gun/Boat Diplomacy. 4  By 1900, Nigeria had become a British Protectorate. Lord Federick Lugard arrived Nigeria from Hong Kong in 1912 to become its 1st Governor General after the 1914 amalgamation into one colony. 5  Miss Flora Shaw a British Journalist who became wife of Lord Lugard gave the name Nigeria as the country was before then known as the Niger Area; Land of Mighty Rivers or Land of Great Waters. 6  1906 – Lagos Colony was amalgamated with Southern Protectorate. 1914 – Amalgamation of Northern & Southern Protectorates. 7  Administratively, Nigeria remained divided as Western education and development of a modern economy proceeded more rapidly in the South than in the North – this is the genesis of how ethnicity emerged in all aspects of our lives. 8  Hugh Clifford constitution of 1922 introduced the elective principle leading to the 1st Political Party – the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) of 1923 under the leadership of Herbert Macaulay who is refereed to as the father of Nigerian Nationalism. 9  The policy of divide and rule continued with Bernard Bourdillon’s constitution of 1939. The Richards constitution of 1946 introduced regionalism and the Federal Legislative Council of 1947 where leaders of the North & South met for the 1st time – leading to severe distrust and suspicion. 10  Macpherson constitution came into being in 1951 (Operated the Unitary System of Government) Lyttleton constitution of 1954 transformed Nigeria from Unitary to Federalism (sharing of power between Federal and Regional Government) after the constitutional conference of 1953. 11  There was disagreement between the North and South over self- government in 1956 due to the motion introduced by Chief Anthony Enahoro in 1953, who was representing the Action Group in the Federal House of Representatives. 12  In 1944, Herbert Macaulay & Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). In 1951, Chief Obafemi Awolowo founded the Action Group (AG). The Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) was formed in 1952 with Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto) as its leader. 13 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Nigeria gained Independence in 1960 from Great Britain and adopted the Westminster (parliamentary) system of Government. It was a “Flag” Independence as she lacked functional sovereignty. What emerged in the Parliamentary structure were 3 Regions that were stronger than the Centre. 14 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe emerged as Governor-General and Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister. Nigeria became a Republic in 1963 and Azikiwe became its first President (Ceremonial Head of State). 15 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era The Western Region in 1962 witnessed very serious political crisis between Obafemi Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola leading to the declaration of a State of Emergency. 16 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Nigeria’s 1st Military Coup took place Jan. 15, 1966 and was led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. This brought Gen. Aguiyi-Ironsi to power as Military Head of State. 17 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era The 2nd Military Coup took place July 29, 1966 and it brought Gen. Yakubu Gowon to power. Gen. Gowon on 27th May 1967 divided Nigeria into 12 States. 18 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era The Independent Republic of Biafra was declared on May 29, 1967. This was after the failure of Aburi Accord in Ghana & OAU conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to settle the disagreement between Gowon and Odumegwu Ojukwu. 19 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era: Nigerian Civil War The Civil War in Nigeria broke out on July 1, 1967 and was initially described as a Police Action by the Federal Government. The War however lasted for 30 Months, from July 1, 1967 - January 15, 1970. 20 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Gen. Gowon was overthrown in a bloodless coup in 1975 by Gen. Murtala Muhammed while attending an OAU conference in Kampala, Uganda. 21 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Gen. Murtala Muhammed was assasinated after 6 Months in Office in a bloody coup masterminded by Col. Yaka Suka Dimka. This paved the way for Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo as Military Head of State. 22 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Gen. Obasanjo subsequently handed over power to Alhaji Shehu Shagari after the 1979 elections with Dr. Alex Ekwueme as Vice President. 23 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Shagari’s government was overthrown in a bloodless coup on 31st Dec. 1983 by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, with Gen. Tunde Idiagbon as Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters. The government lasted for 20 Months (30th Dec. 1983-27th Aug. 1985). It is credited with War Against Indiscipline (WAI). 24 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Gen. Ibrahim Babangida took over from Gen. Buhari and in 1986 introduced the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) based on the advice of the World Bank. 25 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era The Presidential elections of June 12, 1993 (said to have been the fairest ever in Nigeria and won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola) was annuled by Gen. Babangida on June 23, 1993. 26 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era August 27, 1993, Gen. Babangida handed over power to an Interim Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan. 27 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Nov. 17, 1993, Chief Shonekan was forced out of Office by General Sani Abacha. June 11, 1994, Chief Moshood Abiola declared himself President and went into hiding until his arrest on June 23, 1994. 28 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Early in 1995, Gen. Obasanjo and his deputy, Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua were arrested and eventually jailed for life after a secret tribunal convicted them of trying to overthrow Abacha’s government. 29 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Dec. 21, 1997, Gen. Abacha’s Chief of Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya, 10 other Officers and 8 Civilians were tried for Coup Plotting and sentenced to death. On June 8, 1998, Gen. Abacha died of an alleged heart failure. 30 Nigeria in the Post-Independence Era Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar who took over power from late Gen. Abacha after the 1999 general elections handed over power to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who was civilian head of state from May 1999 – May 2007. 31 Post independence Era Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was sworn in as Nigeria’s 13th President on May 29, 2007. On Nov. 23, 2009 he left for Saudi Arabia to receive treatment for Pericardites. He returned to Nigeria on Wed. Feb. 24, 2010 and died 5th May, 2010. 32 Post independence Era Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan became President of Nigeria on 5th May 2010 becoming Nigeria’s 14th President. Also, Arch. Namadi Sambo was made Vice President on 18th May, 2010. 33 Post independence Era He was Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State on 29th May, 1999 and eventually became Governor from 9th Dec. 2005 – 29th May, 2007 after the arrest of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha for money laundering in the United Kingdom. 34 Post independence Era Dr Goodluck Jonathan handed over power on 29th May, 2015 to Rtd. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who is currently Nigeria’s Head of State. 35 Post-independence Era General elections were held in Nigeria on February 16, 2019 to elect the President and members of the National Assembly. President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osibanjo of the APC were re-elected for another 4 year term in office. 36 END Thank you for listening 37