By Livinus Nnebedum
Across the over 200 countries in the world, including 55 countries in Africa, Nigeria inclusive, there had been struggle in the past for independence. Many countries in Africa had witnessed Military Regimes; interventions in politics, call it military junta or coups. Egypt experienced the first military coup in 1952 when Colonel Abdel Nasser took over power. Togo was the first West African State to experience major coup which brought in General Eyadema to power in 1963 after removing President Olympio. In 1966 Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana was removed from power. In Nigeria, on 15th January 1966, the first Military coup sacked the Civilian Government from Power. This can be called battle for leadership that is, Military Versus Civilians. At this juncture, let us have brief over-view of some independence dates of African countries;
The earliest was Liberia in West Africa that got her independence in July 1847
South Africa in May 1910
Egypt in Feb 1922
Ghana on 6th March 1957
Nigeria Oct 1, 1960
Eritrea 24th May 1993
South Sudan July 2011 etc
Coming down to our dear country Nigeria, since after independence, in 1960, there had been 29 year of Military Junta. The historical analysis of Military and Civilian Regimes in Nigeria can throw more light on this.
Military Regimes in Nigeria
Jan 15 to July 29, 1966; Major-General Aguiyi Ironsi was the Military Head of States (HOS) for 6 months.
July 29, 1966 to July 29, 1975, General Yakubu Gowon was the Military HOS for 9 years.
July 29, 1975 to Feb 13, 1976; General Murtala Mohammed was the Military HOS for 7 months
Feb 13, 1976 to Sept 30, 1979 General Olusegun Obasanjo was the Military HOS for 3 years
Civilian Regime
October 1,  1979 to Dec 31,  1983, Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the Civilian HOS/President for 4 years.
Another Military Regime
Dec 31, 1983 to August 27, 1985; General Muhammadu Buhari was the Military HOS for 2 years.
August 27, 1985 to August 1993 General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) was the Military HOS for 8 years.
Interim National Government
August 1993 to Nov. 1993 Chief Ernest Shonekan was the Head of Interim National Government for 3 months.
Military Regimes Continued
Nov. 1993 to June 1998 General Sani Abacha was the Military HOS for 5 years.
June 1998 to May 29, 1999. Appointed Military HOS in the person of General Abdulsalami Abubakar for one year.
Civilian Regimes in Nigeria Continues from May 1999 to Date:
May 29, 1999 to May 2003; Chief Obasanjo was the Civilian HOS/President (1st tenure for 4 years).
May 2003 to May 2007; Chief Obasanjo was the Civilian HOS/President for 2nd tenure (4 years).
May 2007 to May 2010; Alhaji Musa Yar’adua was the Civilian HOS/President for 3 years.
May 6, 20 10 to May 2010; Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was the Acting President of Nigeria after the death of Musa Yar’Adua for one year.
May 2011 to May 2015; Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was the Civilian HOS/President for 4 years.
May 2015 to 2023 General Muhammadu Buhari was Civilian HOS/President of Nigeria for 8 years.
May 2023 to date; Abmed Bola Tinibu is the current Civilian President of Nigeria.
Coups and Counter-Coups and Military Interventions in Nigeria Politics
The first military coup was on Jan 15, 1966. Other ones follows;
On 29th July 1966
On 29th July 1975
On l3thFeb 1976
On 3 1st Dec 1983
On 27th August 1985
In 1986
On April 22nd, 1990
On Nov. 1993
In 1995
On Dec 1997
From Daily Times Publications Special Edition 2003, Nigeria had recorded at least 11 coups in the country. From my Analysis and records Nigeria had 29 years of Military Regimes, call it Military Junta or Military Politics. It is on records that Nigeria had only 27 years of Civilian Regimes with Military guidance and 3 months of National Interim Government.
All the levels of Government in Nigeria with the Arms or Estates/Realms of Government should work as a team for progressive Nigeria. The levels of Government in Nigeria are:
Federal
State
Local Government, now extended to;
Town Union Government and
Ward Levels
It is worthy to extend it to other levels in no distance time, such levels to include:
Village Levels
Clans or Quarters
It is good to note that some towns in Anambra State for instance Adazi-Nnukwu has 3 clans with 19 villages, Nnewi has 4 Quarters.
Kindred Levels
Family Levels
At present Nigeria has four Arms or Estates or Realms of Government namely:
Executives
Legislature
Judiciary
Press
The Press is the 4th Estate or Realm of the Government, the Media that relay information which is power from the seat of Government to the door step of the Governed and Vice-Versa.
Livinus Nnebedum, former Director in Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), writes from the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State.
