Thursday, June 4, 2009

Nigeria, Towards democratisation

Nigeria was granted full independence in Oct. 1960. After 3 constitutional arrangements ( 1. 1960, 2. 1979, 3 1989 and finally 1999) it got a permanent constitution to be followedas a democratic Government. The following steps had been taken :
Duration.....Type of rule.............Ruler...............
Oct.1960.... Civil .................Nnamdi Azikiwe
,,1963 New constitution
Jan. 1966.... Military ............Major Ifeajuna
july 1966 ..... ,, ............Lt.Col.Yakubu Gowon
May, 1967 ..... ,, ............Lt.ol.Emeka Ozukwu
1970 Biafra war
July, 1975 ... military...........Gen.Murtala Muhammed
Feb., 1976 .... ,, ............Lt.Gen.Obasanjo
Sept. !978 .... New Constitution
Second Republic ....Alhaji Shagari
Dec. 1983......Military............. Maj. Gen Buhari
Aug.,1985....... ,, ...........Maj. Gen. Babangida
1989..........................New Constitution
Nov.1993.....Military..........Sani Abacha
Oct. 1998... ,, .........Gen.Abubakar
1999 ..... New constitution
May, 1999....,, ........Obasanjo
April 21, 2007, ..Gen.Election... 35 pol. Parties
On may 29,2007,President Obasanjo stepped down and newly elected President Umaru yar'Adua, a moderate and a respectable governor from the northern state of Katsina, pleged publicly to make electoral reform , peace and security in the niger Delta and continued electoral reform his top priorirties.nigeria's Supreme court also became active.