NIGERIA LEADERS AND THEIR ROLE IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Nigeria is a country located on the western coast of Africa. The history of Nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers living in the area as early as 11000BC. Numerous ancient African civilizations settled in Nigeria. Examples of the civilizations that settled in Nigeria were the Benin Empire, Nri kingdom, Oyo Empire,  Fulani Empire, Hausa Kingdoms, Ibibio Kingdom, etc. Historically, before Nigeria got her name, Nigeria was known by other names, such as Central Sudan, Niger Sudan, Hausa Territories and Royal Niger Company Territories. The name, "Nigeria", was given to us by Flora Shaw, the wife of former colonial master, Sir Frederick Lugard .The name was captured in her article in Times of London in 1897. On 1 January 1901, Nigeria became a British protectorate, part of the British Empire. In 1914, the area was formally united as the colony and protectorate of Nigeria. Administratively, Nigeria remained divided into Northern and Southern Provinces and Lagos Colony. On 1 October 1954, the colony became the autonomous Federation of Nigeria. By the middle of the 20th century, the great wave for independence was sweeping across Africa. On 27 October 1958, Britain agreed that Nigeria would become an independent state on 1 October 1960.

 In October 1963, Nigeria proclaimed itself the federal republic of Nigeria. The 1965 national election produced a major realignment of politics and a disputed result that set the country on the path to civil war. On 15 January 1966, a group of army officers (the Young Majors) mostly south-eastern Igbos, overthrew the NPC-NNDP government and assassinated the prime minister and the premiers of the northern and western regions. On 30 May 1967, Lt. Col. Emeka Ojukwu, the military governor of the eastern region, declared the independence of the eastern region as the Republic of Biafra. This resulted to the civil war, where about 3.5 million people died. In 1970, Biafran leaders surrendered.  On May 1999, the emergence of democracy in Nigeria ended the 16 years of consecutive military junta suffering economic stagnation and deterioration of most democratic institutions.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

National development refers to the ability of a country to improve the social welfare of the people, for example, by providing social amenities like good education, infrastructures, medical care and social services. The goal of all national development is to improve the lives of the citizens.

Scope of   National development

·        Political Development

·        Economical Development

·        Religious Development

·        Education

·        Moral Development

·        Cultural Development

·        Technological Development

LIST OF NIGRIAN LEADERS FROM 1960 - 2010

·        Nnamdi  Azikiwe ( 16th November 1960 - 1st October 1966)

·        Major-General Johnson Aguiyi- Ironsi  (16th January, 1966 - 12th July, 1966)

·        General Yakubu Gowon (1st August, 1966 - 29th July, 1975)

·        General Murtala Mohammed (29th July, 1975 - 13 February, 1976)

·        Major-General Olusegun Obasanjo (13th February, 1976 - 1st October 1979)

·        Shehu Shagari (1st October, 1979 - 31st Decenber, 1983)

·        Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (31st December, 1983 - 27th August, 1985)

·        General Ibrahim Babangida (27th August, 1985 - 26th August, 1993)

·        Ernest Shonekan (26th August, 1993 - 17th November, 1993)

·        General Sani Abacha (17th November, 1993 - 8th June, 1998)

·        General Abdulsalami Abubakar (8th June, 1998 - 29th May, 1999)

·        Olusegun Obasanjo (29th May, 1999 - 29th May, 2007)

·        Umaru Yar'Adua (29th May, 2007 - 5th May, 2010)

1.     NNAMDI AZIKIWE ( 16th November 1960 - 1st October 1966)

Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, popularly known as "Zik" was born on November 16, 1904, Zungeru, Niger State. Zik is an indigene of Onitsha in Anambra State. He was one of the leading figures of Nigeria nationalism, who became the first president of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the united kingdom on October 1, 1960; holding the presidency throughout the first republic of Nigeria. He died on May 11, 1996, Enugu, Nigeria.

Zik contributed greatly in the national development of  Nigeria;

·        Political Development;

Azikiwe played a vigorous role in Nigeria's march towards independence. He founded the Zik Group of Newspapers, making it easy for information to circulate round the country and also stimulating Nigeria nationalism. He founded the political party National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).

·        Economical Development;

Zik founded the African Continental Bank . The first International trade fair was opened by Zik at Victoria Island on 27th October, 1962. Also, He opened a Guinness Breweries and the New Engineering Base and Hangar in 1963. He opened the Royal Mint at Victoria Island on April 10, 1965 and subsequent issuance and circulation of New Currency notes on July 1, 1965.He opened the Obudu Tourism and Entertainment Ranch.

·        Education;

Zik established the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, on 7th October, 1960. Also, he established the University of Nigeria Library(-named after himself-) and the National Library of Nigeria.

2.    MAJOR-GENERAL JOHNSON AGUIYI- IRONSI (16th January, 1966 - 12th July, 1966)

Major General Johnson Aguiyi - Ironsi was born on March 3, 1924,      Umuahia,Abia State. He led the first military coup in the country     ( in Africa as a whole), leading to the end of the first republic. He succeeded Nnamdi Azikiwe. He died on July 29, 1966, Lalupon, Oyo State. He was murdered by a group of mutinous Northern army soldiers who revolted against his government.The Northerners belief that the 1966 coup was an Igbo conspiracy.

During his very short regime, he promulgated a raft of decrees. Among them were;

The circulation of Newspaper Decree No. 2, which removed the restrictions on press freedom. Also, he passed the controversial Unification Decree No. 34 aimed to unify Nigeria into a unitary state.

3.    GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON (1st August, 1966 - 29th July, 1975)

General Yakubu Gowon succeeded Aguiyi-Ironsi. He was given birth to on October 19, 1934, Kanke, Plateau state. He took power after a military coup d'etat and was overthrown in another.

   Gowon's role in national development of the country;

·       He decreed the creation of 12 states to replace the four regions because of the anticipation of the eastern secession, in other to weaken the base of the region.

·       He suceeded in bringing the civil war to a halt, declaring a state of  no victor and no vanquished. Therefore he defeated the eastern secession.

·       Programme of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction (the 3Rs).This reconciliation programme was indeed highly successful.

·       Construction of the Lagos-Ibadan express road.

·       He established the National Youth Service Corpse scheme (NYSC), a programme that has remained a binding force of the nation's unity till date.

4.   General Murtala Mohammed (29th July, 1975 - 13 February, 1976)

Mohammed who is usually referred to as the pragmatic and action leader was born on November 8, 1938, Aviele, Bendel state. He suceeded Yakubu Gowon. He died by assasination on February 13, 1976, Lagos state.

General Murtala's regime was short; But he contributed in defeating the eastern secession, when he was the General Officer Commanding(GOC) of the Nigeria's 2nd division.

During his regime;

·       His first act was to scrap the 1973 census, which was weighted in fabor of the north, and to revert to the 1963 count for official purposes.

·       He created an additional 7 states, making Nigeria 19 states.

·       Immediate and purposeful programme for transition to democratic rule. In this regard, had target dates of implementation and this was religiously followed up by his successor.

·       He set up the 1975 Constitution Drafting Committee that produced the draft of the 1979 Constitution.

·       Provision for the guarantee of equitable distribution of power among all the various groups that make up Nigeria.