THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA
The problems of Nigeria’s federalism was exacerbated by the incursion of the military into politics in January 1966 following the overthrow of the democratic government led by Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa. Balewa, the Premiers of Northern and Western
Regions, top politicians and military officers were killed in the coup carried out by mostly Igbo officers.
The conflict threw up the head of the army, General Aguiyi Ironsi, an Igbo, as Nigeria’s first military Head of State. He promulgated Unification Decree 34 - unitary
system, to resolve the widening division in the country, but this caused more disaffection having weakened the federating regions.
The Hausa-Fulani group whose hold on power was upturned by the coup opposed Ironsi’s decree, leading to his assassination on 29 July 1966 in a
counter coup championed by Hausa-Fulani officers. General Yakubu Gowon became the Head of State following Ironsi’s death.
A fall-out of the July coup was the killing of Igbo people living in Northern Nigeria in continuation of the mission to avenge the death of northern leaders
in the 15 January 1966 coup. This resulted in the Nigerian Civil War.
Picture: General Aguiyi Ironsi
#TheTroubleWithNigeria
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