Independent Nigeria
Nigeria was granted independence on October 1, 1960. A new constitution established a federal system with an elected prime minister and a ceremonial head of state. The NCNC, now headed by Azikiwe (who had taken control after Macaulay’s death in 1946), formed a coalition with Balewa’s NPC after neither party won a majority in the 1959 elections. Balewa continued to serve as the prime minister, a position he had held since 1957, while Azikiwe took the largely ceremonial position of president of the Senate. Following a UN-supervised referendum, the northern part of the Trust Territory of the Cameroons joined the Northern region in June 1961, while in October the Southern Cameroons united with Cameroun to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. On October 1, 1963, Nigeria became a republic. Azikiwe became president of the country, although as prime minister Balewa was still more powerful.

Nigeria's administrative boundaries in 1960
Nigeria's administrative boundaries in 1960
Nigeria's administrative boundaries in 1960.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

After a brief honeymoon period, Nigeria’s long-standing regional stresses, caused by ethnic competitiveness, educational inequality, and economic imbalance, again came to the fore in the controversial census of 1962–63. In an attempt to stave off ethnic conflict, the Mid-West region was created in August 1963 by dividing the Western region. Despite this division, the country still was segmented into three large geographic regions, each of which was essentially controlled by an ethnic group: the west by the Yoruba, the east by the Igbo, and the north by the Hausa-Fulani. Conflicts were endemic, as regional leaders protected their privileges; the south complained of northern domination, and the north feared that the southern elite was bent on capturing power. In the west the government had fallen apart in 1962, and a boycott of the federal election of December 1964 brought the country to the brink of breakdown. The point of no return was reached in January 1966, when, after the collapse of order in the west following the fraudulent election of October 1965, a group of army officers attempted to overthrow the federal government, and Prime Minister Balewa and two of the regional premiers were murdered. A military administration was set up under Maj. Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, but his plan to abolish the regions and impose a unitary government met with anti-Igbo riots in the north. The military intervention worsened the political situation, as the army itself split along ethnic lines, its officers clashed over power, and the instigators and leaders of the January coup were accused of favouring Igbo domination. In July 1966 northern officers staged a countercoup, Aguiyi-Ironsi was assassinated, and Lieut. Col. (later Gen.) Yakubu Gowon came to power. The crisis was compounded by intercommunal clashes in the north and threats of secession in the south.

Gowon’s attempt to hold a conference to settle the constitutional future of Nigeria was abandoned after a series of ethnic massacres in October. A last-ditch effort to save the country was made in January 1967, when the Eastern delegation, led by Lieut. Col. (later Gen.) Odumegwu Ojukwu, agreed to meet the others on neutral ground at Aburi, Ghana, but the situation deteriorated after differences developed over the interpretation of the accord. In May the Eastern region’s consultative assembly authorized Ojukwu to establish a sovereign republic, while, at the same time, the federal military government promulgated a decree dividing the four regions into 12 states, including 6 in the north and 3 in the east, in an attempt to break the power of the regions.


The civil war

On May 30, 1967, Ojukwu declared the secession of the three states of the Eastern region under the name of the Republic of Biafra, which the federal government interpreted as an act of rebellion. Fighting broke out in early July and within weeks had escalated into a full-scale civil war. In August Biafran troops crossed the Niger, seized Benin City, and were well on their way to Lagos before they were checked at Ore, a small town in Western state (now Ondo state). Shortly thereafter, federal troops entered Enugu, the provisional capital of Biafra, and penetrated the Igbo heartland. The next two years were marked by stiff resistance in the shrinking Biafran enclave and by heavy casualties among civilians as well as in both armies, all set within what threatened to be a military stalemate. Peacemaking attempts by the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) remained ineffective, while Biafra began earning recognition from African states and securing aid from international organizations for what was by then a starving population.

The final Biafran collapse began on December 24, 1969, when federal troops launched a massive effort at a time when Biafra was short on ammunition, its people were desperate for food, and its leaders controlled only one-sixth of the territory that had formed the Biafran republic in 1967. Ojukwu fled to Côte d’Ivoire on January 11, 1970, and a Biafran deputation formally surrendered in Lagos four days later.



https://www.britannica.com/place/Nigeria/Independent-Nigeria#ref517364

gvg

Nothing like mistake of 1914 by lord lugard

British caused what They left Nigeria as Regional Entities but johnson Aguiyi ironsi brought Unitary System in 1966

That’s the fact

Ok let's assume igbos made mistakes but are ready to correct it by calling for division in Nigeria ...my deep question is ..yorubas have access to sea , large population and land , educated population ..why don't they want this country to split
Why do yorubas want one Nigeria when it's obvious oduduwa republic would be better ?

This country is not working for anyone ...no one ...why don't we split and save ourselves the stress ..we owe it to our children

Ovoko!

But how come we are just knowing this now?

sarrki:
Nothing like mistake of 1914 by lord lugard

British caused what They left Nigeria as Regional Entities but johnson Aguiyi ironsi brought Unitary System in 1966

That’s the fact

that was d past
so Wats d way forward

Their great grandfathers put Nigeria into this mess, Ironsi see ur life, now ur people are trying to fix your mistake, but with hatred and propaganda.

sarrki:
Nothing like mistake of 1914 by lord lugard

British caused what They left Nigeria as Regional Entities but johnson Aguiyi ironsi brought Unitary System in 1966

That’s the fact

If unitary system is not working, they should change it na, why do they keep doing the same thing. Except you wanna argue that naija is still being colonised by proxy.

They should UNUNIFY the system.

This habit of Nigerians blaming Lord Luggard who died many decades ago and now blaming late General Ironsi for their woes and misfortune is really laughable,

Something is not working fix it put it right

At the moment there are widespread protests in nearly all the four corners of the world, but Nigerians will not used this opportunity to protest for good governance and demand for accountability.

sarrki:
Nothing like mistake of 1914 by lord lugard

British caused what They left Nigeria as Regional Entities but johnson Aguiyi ironsi brought Unitary System in 1966

That’s the fact

It was an own goal. He did that for the sake of the igbos that was scattered all over the country then.
Unification was particularly popular among the Igbos.

They were the most travelled and best qualified of the major ethnic groups, and amply confident of their ability to compete on equal terms with anybody.

For the Igbos regionalism had always meant treatment as second class citizens in the North, and a double system in the making of public appointments outside the Eastern Region.

Right from time, It was the North which in a sense was the most realistic. Northern leaders made no secret of their separatist wish. Sporadic violence against Easterners had occurred in the past, notably during the bloody Jos Riots of 1945. They never wanted the Igbos.

zionmde:

that was d past
so Wats d way forward

The way forward is for every citizen to change systemic

It’s a societal problem we are facing in Nigeria

Once We change How we think , reason and operate things we will all see the changes we all crave for

VeeVeeMyLuv:

If unitary system is not working, they should change it na, why do they keep doing the same thing. Except you wanna argue that naija is still being colonised by proxy.

They should UNUNIFY the system.

This habit of Nigerians blaming Lord Luggard who died many decades ago and now blaming late General Ironsi for their woes and misfortune is really laughable,

Something is not working fix it put it right

At the moment there are widespread protests in nearly all the four corners of the world, but Nigerians will not used this opportunity to protest for good governance and demand for accountability.

I am of the same school of thought with your submission

Just setting the records straight for those that always wants to distort facts

I saw mrvitalis here but seeing the truth he couldn’t comment

OP but you know Igbo doesn't like to remember that Ojukwu ran away from war zone as a coward. Please don't let them be angry.

sarrki:



I am of the same school of thought with your submission

Just setting the records straight for those that always wants to distort facts

I saw mrvitalis here but seeing the truth he couldn’t comment

U didn't see my comment ? Oh I forgot u are allergic to truth

Why do your people yorubas want one Nigeria ? That's the question u should be asking

mrvitalis:

U didn't see my comment ? Oh I forgot u are allergic to truth

Why do your people yorubas want one Nigeria ? That's the question u should be asking

Don’t take it tribal young lad

State your facts without insulting people

mrvitalis:

Ok let's assume igbos made mistakes but are ready to correct it by calling for division in Nigeria ...my deep question is ..yorubas have access to sea , large population and land , educated population ..why don't they want this country to split
Why do yorubas want one Nigeria when it's obvious oduduwa republic would be better ?

This country is not working for anyone ...no one ...why don't we split and save ourselves the stress ..we owe it to our children

There you are again blaming Yoruba. Have you heard about Racism in recent time how it is threatening USA? Tribalism is another type of evil as dangerous as racism. We are blacks,can't we find a way to work together to challenge the whites as a formidable black nation? is it impossible?

Nigeria as it stands today can and be great if we devise a way to work together, eliminate tribalism. It is especially very sad the level to which the current administration of GMB has taken it. If Nigeria is restructured as in regions are made to generate and spend money without the Unitary system imposed by Aguyi Ironsi and confirmed by Gowon / Awolowo, then we can be sure that the noise of tribalism will die down. Focus will now be at states and LGA where monies are allocated and position shared. Even then , tribalism will still persisit at smaller scale.

There are groups in Kwara and Kogi state that wish to be returned to SW because the are Yorubas and also groups from Delta state and perharps part of Kogi State that may wish to go to SE. All these issues must be addressed.

Do small research that primary school pupils can easily handle but you no gree. You want to blame Ironsi for your woes when it was Gowon that created states and dissolved the regions.

Instead of you to blame that brown toothed, stinking criminal Tinubu for refusing to participate in Goodluck Jonathan's Confab and work for re-establishing the regions you are here chasing shadows of dead men. Tinubu has enslaved his people for the next 100 years at least because he thinks fulani will give him presidency. The narcotics never clear from him eye but it will still clear

Make I spread my mat on this thread.

NL, beware of my Son, Henry, this land is not for sale.

sarrki:


The way forward is for every citizen to change systemic

It’s a societal problem we are facing in Nigeria

Once We change How we think , reason and operate things we will all see the changes we all crave for

and for over 100yrs d country has existed, things keep getting worse, and right now things are still going south wards, dont u think its time to forget who did wat he did in the past and sort a different approach like dividing d country?

mrvitalis:

Ok let's assume igbos made mistakes but are ready to correct it by calling for division in Nigeria ...my deep question is ..yorubas have access to sea , large population and land , educated population ..why don't they want this country to split
Why do yorubas want one Nigeria when it's obvious oduduwa republic would be better ?

This country is not working for anyone ...no one ...why don't we split and save ourselves the stress ..we owe it to our children

Yorubas want it but not with blood shed... This is a democratic govt, we can achieve it Tru the right process, not by killing ur people......


Moreover will the UN allow a country break into 3 pieces

nku5:
Do small research that primary school pupils can easily handle but you no gree. You want to blame Ironsi for your woes when it was Gowon that created states and dissolved the regions.

Instead of you to blame that brown toothed, stinking criminal Tinubu for refusing to participate in Goodluck Jonathan's Confab and work for re-establishing the regions you are here chasing shadows of dead men. Tinubu has enslaved his people for the next 100 years at least because he thinks fulani will give him presidency. The narcotics never clear from him eye but it will still clear

LEAVE our Tinubu for us.... Face ur region, Tinubu deny ur barren land of access to sea.... Pained

mrvitalis:

Ok let's assume igbos made mistakes but are ready to correct it by calling for division in Nigeria ...my deep question is ..yorubas have access to sea , large population and land , educated population ..why don't they want this country to split
Why do yorubas want one Nigeria when it's obvious oduduwa republic would be better ?

This country is not working for anyone ...no one ...why don't we split and save ourselves the stress ..we owe it to our children

Please stop falsely accusing Yorubas that we are the ones that don’t want to secede, some Igbos don’t want to secede either, and most of the SS region don’t want to be part of Biafra okay thanks.

Now that, that’s out of the way, let’s say both parties have made up. Bygones are now bygones and we are unified (the whole south) and now all on board to secede. What is your plan of achieving this secession that we’ve all agreed to and want so badly.

mrvitalis:

Ok let's assume igbos made mistakes but are ready to correct it by calling for division in Nigeria ...my deep question is ..yorubas have access to sea , large population and land , educated population ..why don't they want this country to split
Why do yorubas want one Nigeria when it's obvious oduduwa republic would be better ?

This country is not working for anyone ...no one ...why don't we split and save ourselves the stress ..we owe it to our children

nobody stopped IBO's from leaving, but ojukwu was using military power to forced other minority(Niger delta) to joined Biafra .IBO's like dominating others, that is why ironsi bring unitary system of government upon themselves.

mrvitalis:

Ok let's assume igbos made mistakes but are ready to correct it by calling for division in Nigeria ...my deep question is ..yorubas have access to sea , large population and land , educated population ..why don't they want this country to split
Why do yorubas want one Nigeria when it's obvious oduduwa republic would be better ?

This country is not working for anyone ...no one ...why don't we split and save ourselves the stress ..we owe it to our children

How exactly have you shown that you want to split,by wailing online ?

What I find funny is that those who say that Ironsi brought unitary rule are the same people who have been ruling Nigeria since Ironsi was removed in 1966 and they ended up making Nigeria worse than Ironsi did. For 54 years since Ironsi died, they have been ruling Nigeria and turned Nigeria into a disaster that is far worse than whatever Ironsi did.

During Ironsi's time, there was resource control, today it is gone

During Ironsi's time, there was 4 Regions, today we have 36 states

During Ironsi's time, the Regions paid the federal government and kept majority tax. Today, the Federal government pays the states and keeps the majority tax



Ironsi's regime may not have been the best in the world but one thing is certain, Ironsi's regime war far better than any of the military that later came.

People from the erosion ridden redmudland should be blamed for one Nigeria.

mrvitalis:

Ok let's assume igbos made mistakes but are ready to correct it by calling for division in Nigeria ...my deep question is ..yorubas have access to sea , large population and land , educated population ..why don't they want this country to split
Why do yorubas want one Nigeria when it's obvious oduduwa republic would be better ?

This country is not working for anyone ...no one ...why don't we split and save ourselves the stress ..we owe it to our children

How does that start igbo from achieving biafra?

chukslawrence:

It was an own goal. He did that for the sake of the igbos that was scattered all over the country then.
Unification was particularly popular among the Igbos.

They were the most travelled and best qualified of the major ethnic groups, and amply confident of their ability to compete on equal terms with anybody.

For the Igbos regionalism had always meant treatment as second class citizens in the North, and a double system in the making of public appointments outside the Eastern Region.

Right from time, It was the North which in a sense was the most realistic. Northern leaders made no secret of their separatist wish. Sporadic violence against Easterners had occurred in the past, notably during the bloody Jos Riots of 1945. They never wanted the Igbos.

Yoruba’s were the most educated. Not Igbos. Igbos were just nepotistic when they enter power and they started the division in this country along tribal lines even before the wars. You will see Ibo man with certificate he cannot defend working in Civil service. Many higher institutions were in the habit of selling certificates in the East even until recently. They found themselves in power and abused it again by unifying the country for sinister motives but this has proven to be their greatest mistake. They thought they could take advantage and seize the whole country but no tribe in Nigeria can ever achieve that because we are very diverse. Just do your best and leave the position for others, you say no.

When they cry of nepotism and tribalism, I laugh.