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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? (10073 Views)
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Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Beaf: 12:14pm On May 28, 2012 |
Nigeria was effectively declared a confederacy. What went wrong and how did we miss the boat? This is one for the best minds on NL, the input of legal and constitutional minds will be especially appreciated. Please let the discussion be cordial, cerebral and respectful. [size=14pt]Decree No. 8 of 1967[/size] |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by LogicMind: 12:54pm On May 28, 2012 |
Beaf: Nigeria was effectively declared a confederacy. What went wrong and how did we miss the boat? Which part of that nonsense declared Nigeria a confederation? 1 Like |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Beaf: 2:24pm On May 28, 2012 |
Logic Mind: That is the general concesus of legal minds according authoritative litterature out in the wild. Tell us what you have against the decree. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by LogicMind: 2:46pm On May 28, 2012 |
Beaf: So you are saying that you can't see anywhere where it says so but we should all accept that it says so because "authoritative literature out in the wild" said it was the "general concensus of legal minds"? Mmh! May I suggest that we use our own eyesight and brains and knowledge gained through education that our parents toiled to pay, and look at that decree again. It is one of the most useless and senseless document produced in history. Very ambiguous and open to any interpretation. The intention was clear: to calm the easterners while maintaing power with the northerners. 1 Like |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Nobody: 3:00pm On May 28, 2012 |
So what happened to this decree? Why did the military government embark on a state creation spree instead? |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Obiagu1(m): 3:37pm On May 28, 2012 |
HNosegbe: So what happened to this decree? Why did the military government embark on a state creation spree instead? You may ask that again. 1 Like |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Nobody: 4:32pm On May 28, 2012 |
Where's the remaining part of the document? |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Beaf: 5:46pm On May 28, 2012 |
However, the home stretch of the final dash to the tape of eastern secession began on March 17, when Decree No. 8 - also known as the Constitution Suspension and Modification Decree 1967 - was promulgated, ostensibly to implement the Aburi agreements. The decree, for all practical intents and purposes, restored much of the autonomy of Military Governors in their respective regions which had been taken away on January 17, 1966 by Decree No. 1 of 1966. http://www.kwenu.com/biafra/nowa_may30.htm |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by naptu2: 6:30pm On May 28, 2012 |
Unfortunately, we've been going back and forth along this path. I was surprised and shocked when I read the 1960 and 1963 constitutions for the first time. They contain most of what we need to solve our problems (state police, resource control and derivation, state constitutions, flags, etc. The regions even conducted foreign affairs!). Then came Military rule and Ironsi tried to consolidate power by concentrating power at the centre. The document you posted above would have returned things to the way they were pre-Ironsi or even provided a looser federation, but the civil servants and military boys were afraid to lose power and ended up concentrating power at the centre and conferring enormous power on the person of the head of state. Garba, Yar'Adua and (I forget the name of the third coupist) reduced the power of the head of state and vested more power in the SMC, but we were still running a unitary system. The military were skillful in using propaganda to sustain this system. The Federal Military Government was the big father that was everything to his children. People who clamoured for devolution, privatisation, resource control, etc were greedy people who wanted to break up the family. The people saw the federal government as the symbol of Nigeria. A nice father that was consolidating power in order to protect the interests of the people. They didn't realise that the dictators were consolidating power for their own selfish reasons. 1 Like 2 Shares |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by naptu2: 6:33pm On May 28, 2012 |
The link to the 1960 and 1963 constitutions is broken. I'd love to copy and paste the entire thing on nairaland, but I'm worried about getting banned. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by ACM10: 6:50pm On May 28, 2012 |
naptu2: Unfortunately, we've been going back and forth along this path. I was surprised and shocked when I read the 1960 and 1963 constitutions for the first time. They contain most of what we need to solve our problems (state police, resource control and derivation, state constitutions, flags, etc. The regions even conducted foreign affairs!). Thank you! What we've been practisin since Jan. 1966 till date iz a unitary system of government. But the military boyz are so smart to tag it federal system of government. At no point in time since 1966 did we return to confedration. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by ACM10: 7:55pm On May 28, 2012 |
Beaf: Nigeria was effectively declared a confederacy.Beaf, I will suggest that you borrow Government textbook from your couzin and note the difference between FEDERATION, CONFEDERATION and UNITARY system of government. In Confederation, the centre iz at the mercy of the regionz. The region controls security, some aspectz of foreign policy, monetary policy, resources(and payz a token to the centre to keep them alive) and makez its own law without consultin the center. In Federation, the relationship iz 50:50. Unitary system iz the reverse of Confederation. What aspect of Decree 8 iz consistent with Confedracy? I'm convinced that you did not read the explanation of Decree 8 which u posted. So it becomez necessary that I explain it to u. Decree No. 8 of 1967:By this decree, the powers of the presidency and the National Assembly has been collapsed into the hands of the few khaki boyz called the Supreme Military Council headed by Gowon. The implication iz that the balance of power iz lost. The boyz are free to do what they like. Loot as they like with no one to question them. Decree No. 8 of 1967:For the first time, the exclusive and concurrent list wz introduced. Some areaz like the security, defence foreign policy, monetary policy, appointment of judges, etc are now the sole function of the center. Upon that, the center haz the exclusive right to take over the function of the region in the event of emergency. Just like Obasanjo did in Plateau state. Decree No. 8 of 1967:Meaning that any regional law that comes in conflict with the constitution iz automatically declared null and void. Besides, the military governor can only exercize its executive power in close consultation with the center. Itz an offence to commit any act that can put the coutry on the path to disintegration. Decree No. 8 of 1967:They can also sack the governor of the region, suspend all right and maintain control of the region for as long as they want. Also, all the appointments, tenure of office and terms of service of High Court Judges, Public Servive Commission, Police Service Commission, Consolidated Revenues(like tax and mineral resources) are now the functionz of the center. Besides, the functionz of the Federal Civil Service Commission and Police Service Commission were severely limited. So Beaf, how does this extreme form of unitarizm relate to confederation? |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by LogicMind: 12:04am On May 29, 2012 |
^^^^^^^^^I'm still wondering which school Beaf attended. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Beaf: 2:00am On May 29, 2012 |
@ACM10 Your interpretation is so faulty that its laughable. Allow me ask a single damning question: What was the SMC? |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by PhysicsQED(m): 3:22am On May 29, 2012 |
It may be incorrect to call decree 8 a confederation rather than a loose federation but it's absolutely ridiculous to call it unitary. @ ACM, I don't think you understood what the smc represented. When you find out what it was, you should reread the document. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by PointB: 5:32am On May 29, 2012 |
Decrees are just what they are - whims and caprices of some power drunk men. Which means, the fellow who issues a degree can effectively abrogate such degree if it is evident that it may not be favourable to his intended design. To hinge your hope on a decree issued by a man who will not honour an agreement, is not in my opinion, pragmatic. Decree 9, 10, or 11 can effectively erode the supposed benefit of decree 8. People should not be rule by decree, not matter how 'well-meaning' they might initially sound. 2 Likes |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Nobody: 6:02am On May 29, 2012 |
PointB: Decrees are just what they are - whims and caprices of some power drunk men.[quote author=PointB] may olisa bless you, |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Nobody: 6:34am On May 29, 2012 |
If we are to look into past decree and laws then you will almost at one point or the other agree that they all re perfect and can be of good to Nigeria rather the results always comes out to be of negative to this country, ok why not we ask why? my own reason is that we dont really put into practise what we have on paper. Right now we got a federal system of govt and thats exactly what Nigeria want(I bet) but is it fully implemented? NO! Do the people which this system govern cares to know about it talkmore ask questions? No! Though Im always on the move of those that suggest regional govt cos of sentiments and protection of lives in Nigeria I still think nothing is wrong with this recent system just that it will take so long for every Nigeria to know all about it and its effect gonna take long too(it surly the only way to unite Nigerians if actually nigeria is made to be) |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by ACM10: 7:52am On May 29, 2012 |
Beaf: @ACM10 SMC, just like AFRC iz a body of unelected top khaki boyz that are vested with executive and legislative power. But don't be fooled. The person that runs the show iz the Commander-in-chief, while the SMC iz a rubber-stamp body filled with hiz loyalists. Anyone that disagreez with the C-in-C iz either liquidated on trumped-up charges or summarily retired. Now back to the topic. 1. What provisionz in this decree made Nigeria a Confederation? 2. How does this decree differ from 1999 Constitution?(frankly I see no difference) |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by naptu2: 8:02am On May 29, 2012 |
The Supreme Military Council we had then is very different from subsequent SMC, AFRC and PRC. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by naptu2: 8:11am On May 29, 2012 |
At that time, the Supreme Military Council was composed of the Head of State, the Chief of Staff and Regional Governors (that is, at first, Ironsi, Ogundipe, Ojukwu, Katsina, Fajuyi, Ejoor and Mobolaji Johnson, later on, Gowon, Adebayo and Wey). During the first republic the regions had considerable autonomy. This continued at the beginning of military rule. For example, the military governor of Mid-West Region, David Ejoor, could declare his region neutral and state that he didn't want Federal or Biafran troops in his region. No military governor in the subsequent regimes could make such a declaration. He would have been sacked and detained, that is if he isn't shot. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by naptu2: 8:15am On May 29, 2012 |
Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, the military governor of Western Region, demanded that northern troops should be withdrawn from the West. Any governor that made such a demand during, for example, the Babangida or Abacha regimes, would have been sacked and detained. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by ACM10: 8:16am On May 29, 2012 |
PhysicsQED: [s]It may be incorrect to call decree 8 a confederation rather than a loose federation but it's absolutely ridiculous to call it unitary.[/s] @ ACM, I don't think you understood what the smc represented. When you find out what it was, you should reread the document. The decree effectively put Nigeria on the path to Unitary system of government. This iz a decree that concentrated all the powers that matterz in the handz of C-in-C and hiz rubber-stamp body called the SMC. If you argue that Decree 8 made Nigeria a loose federation, then why iz it not acceptable to Awolowo and the Western region? Remember that they clamoured for a loose federation. You can better still point out the provisionz in the decree that are consistent with loose federation. If Beaf can make a bold assertion that Decree No. 8 iz the answer to 95% of Nigeria's problems, then I can as well say that 1999 constitution iz the answer to 99.9% of Nigeria's problems. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by ACM10: 8:26am On May 29, 2012 |
naptu2: At that time, the Supreme Military Council was composed of the Head of State, the Chief of Staff and Regional Governors (that is, at first, Ironsi, Ogundipe, Ojukwu, Katsina, Fajuyi, Ejoor and Mobolaji Johnson, later on, Gowon, Adebayo and Wey). He wz not sacked because Gowon wz distracted by the issue of Ojukwu. It could have a dumb move to make new enemies in the midwest when he iz already dealin with formidable ones in the east. In essence, Gowon wz tryin to make as many friendz as possible. So he overlooked the actionz of Ejoor. Remember that he later replaced him when the event wz under control |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by naptu2: 8:27am On May 29, 2012 |
(In summary) In the first republic we had federalism. Ironsi introduced a unitary system. After the coup and progrom, Ojukwu feared northern domination. He therefore requested (demanded) that those provisions should be included in the decree. This was to ensure that the Head of State cannot make decisions unilaterally. The SMC, which is composed of the regions, must concur. in effect, the regions (whose governors were in the SMC) could veto the head of state's decisions. I believe it was Joe Garba, Shehu Musa Yar'Adua and Abdullahi, who staged the coup that brought Murtalla to power, that insisted that the governors should be removed from the SMC. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by naptu2: 8:37am On May 29, 2012 |
After the war, David Ejoor was promoted. He became a Major General and Chief of Army Staff (or rather, Chief of Staff, Army). |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Beaf: 12:42pm On May 29, 2012 |
ACM10: Dude, you are empty and just making all sorts of emotional stuff up. Ojukwu was part of the SMC, now this is your second chance to go and find out what it was instead saying things that are from Pluto. Go and find out what the SMC was and come back. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Beaf: 12:48pm On May 29, 2012 |
naptu2: At that time, the Supreme Military Council was composed of the Head of State, the Chief of Staff and Regional Governors (that is, at first, Ironsi, Ogundipe, Ojukwu, Katsina, Fajuyi, Ejoor and Mobolaji Johnson, later on, Gowon, Adebayo and Wey). I hadn't read this. Thanks, bro. The above is 100% factual. Another point of note was that Decree 8 created a situation where at least three of the governors of the four regions (including Ojukwu and Ejoor) would need to be in agreement before any fundamental steps at FG level could be taken (such as troop movements etc). |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Beaf: 12:53pm On May 29, 2012 |
[size=14pt]The Aburi Accord[/size] 1. Members agree that the legislative and executive authority of the Federal Military Government should remain in the Supreme Military Council, to which any decision affecting the whole country shall be referred for determination provided that where it is possible for a meeting to be held the matter requiring determination must be referred to military governors for their comment and concurrence. http://www.dawodu.com/aburi3.htm |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by Beaf: 1:05pm On May 29, 2012 |
ACM10: Forget this forge, bro. Gowon and Ejoor were always the best of friends at a personal level and remained so. Accept the facts for what they are; Ejoor stood on principle and the war could have been won without firing a single shot. All these would have been for the betterment of Nigeria. A golden opportunity was thrown away. I do not see how Ejoor, Ojukwu and Mobalji Johnson would have voted on different sides. Decree 8 gave the regions all the power and made Gowon their puppet. |
Re: Decree No. 8 Of 1967 - The Answer To 95% Of Nigeria's Problems? by naptu2: 1:22pm On May 29, 2012 |
I've been searching my files for an account of the Aburi Conference (I should index my stuff better). I've finally found it. I hope I don't get banned when I post it. |
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