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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