The Role of the Military in Nigeria Politics
THE ROLE OF THE MILITARY IN NIGERIA POLITICS
BY
IRABOR IKECHUKWU EMMANUEL.
MPA 822.
THIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN PARTIAL FUFILLMENT OF THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTERS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (MPA).
UNIVERSITY OF BENIN.
LECTURER
DR EBOHON
JANUARY, 2012
INTRODUCTION
The role of the military in Nigeria politics cannot be over looked. We are going to analyse this issue from 1966-1979, 1983-1999 and their role in present day democracy. The Federation of Nigeria, as it is known today, has never really been one homogeneous country, for its widely differing peoples and tribes. This obvious fact notwithstanding, the former colonial master decided to keep the country one in order to effectively control her vital resources for their economic interests. Thus, for administrative convenience the Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated in 1914. Thereafter the only thing this people had in common was the name of their country since each side had different administrative set - up. This alone was an insufficient basis for true unity. Under normal circumstances the amalgamation ought to have brought the various peoples together and provided a firm basis for the arduous task of establishing closer cultural, social, religious, and linguistic ties vital for true unity among the people. There was division, hatred, unhealthy rivalry, and pronounced disparity in development. This and so many others were the political arena before the advent of the military in Nigeria politics.
1966- 1979
The Federation was sick at birth and by January 1966, the sick, bedridden babe collapsed. From independence to January 1966, the country had been in a serious turmoil; this situation led to a coup in January 15th 1966. This I will call the cosmology of the military in Nigeria politics. The aim of the coup was to establish a strong, unified and prosperous nation, free from corruption and internal strife.
BY
IRABOR IKECHUKWU EMMANUEL.
MPA 822.
THIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN PARTIAL FUFILLMENT OF THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTERS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (MPA).
UNIVERSITY OF BENIN.
LECTURER
DR EBOHON
JANUARY, 2012
INTRODUCTION
The role of the military in Nigeria politics cannot be over looked. We are going to analyse this issue from 1966-1979, 1983-1999 and their role in present day democracy. The Federation of Nigeria, as it is known today, has never really been one homogeneous country, for its widely differing peoples and tribes. This obvious fact notwithstanding, the former colonial master decided to keep the country one in order to effectively control her vital resources for their economic interests. Thus, for administrative convenience the Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated in 1914. Thereafter the only thing this people had in common was the name of their country since each side had different administrative set - up. This alone was an insufficient basis for true unity. Under normal circumstances the amalgamation ought to have brought the various peoples together and provided a firm basis for the arduous task of establishing closer cultural, social, religious, and linguistic ties vital for true unity among the people. There was division, hatred, unhealthy rivalry, and pronounced disparity in development. This and so many others were the political arena before the advent of the military in Nigeria politics.
1966- 1979
The Federation was sick at birth and by January 1966, the sick, bedridden babe collapsed. From independence to January 1966, the country had been in a serious turmoil; this situation led to a coup in January 15th 1966. This I will call the cosmology of the military in Nigeria politics. The aim of the coup was to establish a strong, unified and prosperous nation, free from corruption and internal strife.