Military Rule in Nigeria

 Historical background

Introduction

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 July of the same year.

Major  Patrick Chukwuwa Kaduna Nzeogwu

Reasons for Military Rule or intervention

•Politicisation of the military

•Tribal loyalties

•Regional based political parties

•Disputes over 1962 and 1963 census results

•General election crisis of 1964

•The Action Group crisis of 1962

•Western Nigeria Election crisis of 1965

•Allegation of corruption, nepotism, etc among politicians

•Mismanagement of public funds

•Low level of honest and reliable leadership

•Low level of economic development

Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi

General Yakubu Gowon