At 66, hope is not lost for Nigeria. The nation-state can count its blessings. Citizens can also reflect on the gaps, and resolve to make the country live to the expectation of the founding fathers.
The euphoria of civil rule has endured. It is not the ultimate goal. Political stability was not achieved on a platter of gold. Nigerians worked for it through the ballot box, which is undergoing continuous reforms. The country has started the journey to the final destination, which is democratic consolidation.
The phase of democratic consolidation would really affirm the survival of the constantly troubled heterogeneous country. It should herald economic progress, leading to prosperity for citizens.
It has been a long voyage, full of ups and downs. The breakthroughs are hardly recalled by people. Only the debate over the unmet goals are on the front burner, with an intent to blackmail the government of the day.
From the initial three, and later four regions, Nigeria is now made up of 36 states and 776 local governments, although they were lopsidedly created by the military.
From the lone University of Ibadan created by the colonial masters in 1948, the country now has 312 universities, according to the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The accurate census figure is unknown, but there are suggestions that the population of the country is about 120 million. The sixth largest producer of oil does not have a refinery of its own. The present government is being inundated with complaints about mass unemployment, inflation, soaring poverty, poor power supply and infrastructural decay. It is also grappling with insecurity, kidnapping and other forms of violence.
In its chequered history, Nigeria has survived the threats of disintegration. It has grown in leaps and bounds. It has achieved a measurable level of integration. The critical sectors have not been static, although there is still gaps between expectation and reality.
Two issues that stare the country in the face are the modalities for sharing political power and economic resources. The solution to the first is zoning. The answer to the second is true federalism, and the enthronmement of equity, fairness and justice.
In Africa, Nigeria remains a promising country, described as a crawling giant by critics. If there is good governance, as it is being recorded under the Tinubu government, the country has the prospects of a brighter future.
The genesis
Nigeria, made up of over 250 ethnic groups, began its problematic journey to a difficult future from the 1914 amalgamation of the incompatible tribes who never dreamt of co-existence.
While the tribes owed to Europe the forceful end of tribal wars, they also owed to the colonial masters the destruction of their traditional institutions.
The fight for freedom, undertaken by early educated nationalists, was fierce. It culminated in the internal-self rule for the different three regions, and independence for the country in 1960.
While power was taken from traditional rulers, it was restored to the educated political class, who negotiated independence with the British interlopers based on federalist principles.
That neglect created multiple crises of nation-building and development.
Nigeria’s post-independence history from 1960 to 2026 is defined by milestones. After independence, it became a republic in 1963. Then, the soldiers seized power and plunged the country into a needless civil war. After 13 years of military rule, civilians ruled for four years six months in the Second Republic. Democracy was destroyed again by ambitious military rukers until civil rule was restored in 1999.
October 1, 1960
Nigeria gained independence from Britain, with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa serving as Prime Minister and Nnamdi Azikiwe as Governor-General.
October 1, 1963
The country became Federal Republic, cutting final ties to the British monarchy and making Azikiwe the first (ceremonial) president.
Military rule: January 15, 1966
The first military coup overthrew the civilian government, resulting in the deaths of Prime Minister Balewa and regional leaders in the hands of soldiers from a section of the country, bringing Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi to power. He abrogated the federal principle and foisted on the country the unitary system through Decree 2 that unified the civil service.
July 29, 1966: A northern counter-coup killed Ironsi, boxing the country into a succession crisis. The second-in-command, Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe, was shoved aside. He commanded, and his orders were disobeyed. He was helpless. Ethnicity, having crept into the Nigerian Army, never left. Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon was installed Head of State. The Military Governor of Eastern Region, Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, rejected his leadership and declared a Biafra Republic.
1967-1970
The Civil War erupted after the Eastern Region attempted to secede as the Republic of Biafra. The war was fought for 30 months. Lives were lost and property destroyed.
1975-1979
General Murtala Mohammed seized power in 1975, initiated plans to move the capital to Abuja, and was succeeded by General Olusegun Obasanjo, who handed power back to civilians.
1979-1983
The Second Republic operated under President Shehu Shagari until a military takeover by General Muhammadu Buhari, who accused the regime of corruption.
1985-1993
General Ibrahim Babangida seized power in a palace coup. He became a sit-tight leader, annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), which plunged the nation into deep political crisis. Babangida later stepped aside ingloriously.
1993-1998
General Sani Abacha ruled through a military dictatorship until his sudden death in 1998, paving the way for a transition to civilian rule.
The Fourth Republic. He waged war against democracy and politically brought the country on its knees.
May 29, 1999
Nigeria returned to civilian democracy under the Fourth Republic, with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo sworn in as civilian president. In the regime, the bloc of retired soldiers was a factor. Obasanjo never paid attention to the requirements of federalism through restructuring.
2007-2015
Nigeria was lucky to have a president who understood the need to set the country on the path of federalism, due process, rule of law and good governance. But Umaru Yar’Adua died without due to illness. He was succeeded by Dr Goodluck Jonathan. The period was marked by the rapid growth of the telecommunications and tech sectors, alongside the intensification of the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.
2015-2023
Buhari returned to power through the ballot box. He defeated an incumbent civilian president. He served two terms defined by infrastructure projects and economic headwinds.
But in October 2020, widespread youth-led protests against police brutality under the banner of EndSARS swept across major cities.
2023-2026
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu succeeded Buhari on May 29, 2023. He immediately enacted major economic reforms, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the Naira. He has also been fighting the infrastructure battle.