POL 126: MILITARY IN POLITICS
1.Narrate the various coups that took place in Nigeria starting from 1966 - 1998
In each administration state their achievements and failures
2. How can we prevent military interventions state five points and explain them properly
Note: It should be handwritten, to be submitted on 1st June 2017
FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
ReplyDeleteP.M.B. 2001 EHA-AMUFU
ASSIGNMENT
THE IMPACT OF MILITARY RULE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA
BY
HERO GROUP
1. EKE ERNEST .O. 10. IJIOMA JULIANA .C.
2. EBE ERNEST .E. 11. UZU COMFORT .O.
3. EZEMA CHARITY .O. 12. ODO JEREMIAH .C.
4. AYOGU SHEDRACK .N. 13. VICTOR CHIMA .C.
5. OBEAGU JOHN .C. 14. KELLE EUNICE .U.
6. OKETE OGECHI 15. UGWUODO NOEL .O.
7. UZU TIMOTHY .O. 16. EJIM GLORY .I.
8. UGWUOKE CHIKADIBIA
9. ONAH DOMINICA .C.
DEPT.: POLITICAL SCIENCE
LEVEL: 100
COURSE CODE: POL. SCI. 126
COURSE TITTLE: MILITARY IN POLITICS
LECTURER: MRS. M.N. OGENYI
DATE: 9TH MAY, 2017
WHAT IS DEVELOPMENT
ReplyDeleteA multitude of meanings is attached to the idea of development; the term is complex, contested, ambiguous, and elusive. However, in the simplest terms, development can be defined as bringing about social change that allows people to achieve their human potential. An important point to emphasize is that development is a political term: it has a range of meanings that depend on the context in which the term is used, and it may also be used to reflect and to justify a variety of different agendas held by different people or organizations. The idea of development articulated by the World Bank, for instance, is very different from that promoted by Greenpeace activists. This point has important implications for the task of understanding sustainable development, because much of the confusion about the meaning of the term 'sustainable development' arises because people hold very different ideas about the meaning of 'development' (Adams 2009). Another important point is that development is a process rather than an outcome: it is dynamic in that it involves a change from one state or condition to another. Ideally, such a change is a positive one - an improvement of some sort (for instance, an improvement in maternal health). Furthermore, development is often regarded as something that is done by one group (such as a development agency) to another (such as rural farmers in a developing country). Again, this demonstrates that development is a political process, because it raises questions about who has the power to do what to whom.
MILITARY GOVERNMENT FROM 1966 - 1999
First Junta (1966–1979)
Supreme Military Council of Nigeria (1966-1979)
Nigeria's first military junta began following the 1966 Nigerian coup d'état which overthrew Prime Minister Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was made the Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria, but was soon overthrown and murdered in a coup in 29th July, 1966.
Aguiyi-Ironsi was succeeded by General Yakubu Gowon, who established a Supreme Military Council. Gowon held power until 29thJuly 1975, when he was overthrown in a bloodless coup.
Brigadier (later General) Murtala Mohammed, who succeeded Gowon. Months later, in 13thFebruary 1976, Mohammed was assassinated by Buka Suka Dimka and others in a violent coup attempt, but the plotters failed to kill Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ, who then succeeded Mohammed as head of state in 13th February 1976.
The Supreme Military Council was formally dissolved when Ọbasanjọ handed power to the elected Shehu Shagari, ending the military regime and establishing a Nigerian Second Republic.
Second Junta (1983–1999)
ReplyDeleteMain articles: Supreme Military Council of Nigeria (1983-1985) and Armed Forces Ruling Council (Nigeria)
Shagari was overthrown in the 31st December 1983 Nigerian coup d'état and succeeded by Muhammadu Buhari, who was appointed Chairman of a new Supreme Military Council of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces by the junta. Buhari ruled for two years, untiluntil 27th April 1985, when he was overthrown by General Ibrahim Babangida, who appointed himself with the position of President of the Armed Forces Ruling Council of Nigeria.
Babangida promised a return of democracy when he seized power, but he ruled Nigeria for eight years, when he temporarily handed power to the interim head of state Ernest Shonekan in 1993 in a move towards democratization. Two months later, however, Shonekan was overthrown by General Sani Abacha while Babangida was visiting Egypt.
Abacha appointed himself Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council of Nigeria. After Abacha's death in 8th June 1998, General Abdulsalami Abubakar took over on 9th June 1998 and ruled until 29th May 1999. Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ again became head of state (via the 1999 presidential election), ending the junta and establishing the Fourth Nigerian Republic.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF MILITARY RULE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA
1. Introduction of New Constitution: Under the administration of the military rule of Murtala & Obasanjo in Nigeria, they provided new constitution. The constitution made provision of presidential system of government.
2. States Creation: Nigeria was separated into 12 states on May 27, 1967 and 19 states on February 3, 1976 by Gowon and Murtala’s regimes respectively. The creation of those states have contributed extremely to bring the government and development closer to the people.
3. Introduction of New Currency: The Nigerian currency was changed under the leadership of military in 1973 from pound shillings and pence to Naira and Kobo. The Ancient currency was introduced during the colonial era by British colonial leadership. The change of currency was one of the tactics of shaking off colonial legacies.
4. Relocation of Nigeria’s Capital: Lagos was Nigeria’s capital was relocated in the regime of Murtala& Obasanjo to Abuja, and it is argued that Abuja is centrally located to be the Nigerian Capital.
ReplyDelete5. Return to Civilian Government: The military in spite of the merits derived from the government and no opposition, successfully returned Nigeria to democratic government in 1999 after thirteen years of military intervention.
6. Introduction of N.Y.S.C: TheNational youth service corps (NYSC) programme was set up in 1973 during the administration of General Gowon, at a time the indigene of Nigeria at the end of the civil war were panicking to go, live and work in other parts of the country other than theirs. The major aim and objectives was meant to encourage mobility of labour in the country, fight common ties among Nigerian youths and then promote national unity.
7. Miscellaneous Achievement: Other aspects in which the military in Nigeria had some achievements includes, the establishment of iron and steel industries, establishment of more universities, building of oil refineries at Warri and Kaduna and abolishment of geographical state names e.t.c.
8. ECOWAS Formation: History has showed that in West Africa that our former military head of state; General Yakubu Gowon was one of the two brains behind the establishment of ECOWAS in African countries.
9. The Dynamic Nature of Foreign Policy: The military leaders played a great meaningful success in the area of foreign policy. Under the regime of late General Murtala Mohammed, the Nigerian foreign policy was second to none in Nigeria since independence in the year 1960. The foreign policy at that period contributed greatly to the independence of Zimbabwe and Angola.
10. Changing in the pattern of Driving: In April 2nd 1972, Nigeria changed from driving on the left hand side to the right hand side.
11. Infrastructural Development: such like construction of roads, airports, bridges etc, were done by the military.
REFERENCES
Asadu Ifechukwu (2014); First Class In Government For Schools And Colleges: Great A.P. Express Publishers Limited.
Johnson Ugoji Anyaele (2003); Comprehensive Government: A Johnson Publishers Limited.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_military_juntas_of_1966%E2%80%9379_and_1983%E2%80%9398
http://allafrica.com/stories/200409071511.html
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00396336708440710?journalCode=tsur20
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_achievement_of_military_rule_in_Nigeria_since_independence?#slide=4
https://passnownow.com/government-military-rule-nigeria/
https://passnownow.com/tag/achievements-of-military-rule-in-nigeria/