Greetings!
Source
A nation once colonized by the british colonialist and now by popular saying the giant of africa, Nigeria is my father land. Though, the country has been in existence before the coming of the BRITISH colonialist whom we were been told came to colonize us through the use of the indirect rule as we were being taught both in the history and government class in our secondary school days.
But, in the year 1914, there's what was known as amalgamation which was the bringing or joining the southern protectorate to the northern protectorate. Though many see this as a marriage of inconvenience due to the diverse culture and tongue, but to me, the beauty of the country Nigeria lies in it unity in diversity. So, like I was saying, the amalgamation of the country was by Lord Lugard and it's in the year 1914, but prior to that time, Independent empires and kingdoms had been in existence in the country. Also, the name was formed from the Niger River.
Immediately after the amalgamation, the country with the name Nigeria was brought into existence with the indirect rule system being adopted by the colonialist to rule over the empires and kingdoms that made up the western African country, Nigeria. So, this was what existed between then and the year 1957, a year, where nationalist rose up to demand for the independent rule which was later granted to the country in the year 1960, the independence being given to Nigeria was referred to as the one that comes on a platter of gold when compared to others that were being colonized by the colonialist where blood were being shed for their independence to come.
So, thank God, the self rule started on the 1st of October, 1960. Though, still under the British monarch, the nationalist who fought for the Nigerian independence came together to form the government with sir Tafawa Balewa, becoming the first prime minister of the country and the Queen still maintained her status as the ceremonial head of state. But in the year 1963 when Nigeria became a republican nation, the man, called Zik became the first indigenous president of the country, though in a ceremonial status which equally means he has taken over from the Queen. So, the great Nnamdi Azikiwe was the president from the year 1963-1966 and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa from 1960-1966.
Though, the country got independent from the British colonialist, but with that self rule being agitated for granted to the country, there were series of power tussle among the leaders of the country right from the independence, and this was what led to the first couple of the January 1966. The January 1966, was the first military coup the country witnessed and after that, there were other four successful coup de tat that were recorded in the country. Also, there were three unsuccessful coup witnessed in the country as well.
Apart from this, the country tasted his greatest unrest from the year 1967 to the year 1970 under the leadership of the then head of state, general Yakubu Gowon, it was a civil war that almost wreck the country apart and this was because a section of the country led by a military man named Odemegwu Ojukwu wanted to secede from the the country Nigeria. But thank God, the country was able to overcome the challenges. Though , the agitation still persist till today, with so many lives lost already, but in unity we stand.
So, afterwards the country has been experiencing relative peace with the first democratically election to have taken place in the year 1979 and another 7 subsequent elections followed after the first after the Nigerian independence. But out of this elections, one of this elections was best adjudged the best, that election was the 1993 election that was known to be won by the SDP candidate in the person of the late Chief MKO Abiola, though, history made us to know that he won the election, but was not declared as the winner, but was later annulled on the june 12 of the same year. Though, some state actors were arrested and detained, while some lived, some were dead including the adjudged winner of the election.
Though, the election came and gone, but he debris still remained, so,it's after the election that the supreme ruler then General Ibrahim Babangida who annulled the election left the office and here came the appointed interim leader chief Ernest Shonekan who was appointed as the interim leader of the country. Though, his appointment was to see to the affair of the state and conduct a democratically election, though, he ruled the country, but his leadership and ruling was shortlived by being overthrown by the General Sani Abacha, who ruled the country as a dictator, the man Sani Abacha died in 1998 and another military man came on board. General Abdulsalami Abubakar also had his own stint at the helms of affairs before conducting the election that brought us to the fourth republic in the the country where Rtd General Olusegun Obasanjo became the second recognized democratically elected president of the country after his previous stint as a military ruler from 1976 to 1979.
So, since then, though face with challenges, such as economic challenges, political challenges, territorial challenges, security challenges, ecological challenges and so on, the country has been able to weather all these storm and has been enjoying seamless transition from one democratically dispensation to the other. So, since 1999 till date, Nigerian has had 5 democratically elected president, with the current President Bola Ahmed Tinubu being sworn in as the democratically elected president on the 29th of May,.2023, having won the 2023 election conducted under the electoral umpire Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). Though faced with Economic challenges, but the country has been moving forward and thank Gos the running of the Government has stopped.
Also, less I forget, the country also has 36 state.and run a federal system of government where much of the power is in the hand hand of the president and commander in chief. So, like I said earlier, we have 36 states and a federal territory which is headed by the states governors and the minister of the federal capital territory respectively. Also, there's are 774 local government in the country and a bicameral legislature's are in place at the central level.but when it comes to the state legislative assembly, there's only one house and this make it a unicameral legislature, headed by the speaker. Bit in the case of the central, twe have the house of representatives and senate headed by the speaker and the senate president respectively. The federal is in Abuja after being relocated from the commercial city of Lagos..also, the supreme court is the highest court in the land.
Also, the country is divided into 6 geopolitical zones which are: the south south, south west, south east, north central, north east and the north west. My country Nigeria has passed through so many political and economic unrest, but here we are seeing through the challenges. Though our tribe and tongue may differ, but we stand in brotherhood. UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL. I believe in our strength which is our unity.
This is my entry to the week 152, Edition 02 of the weekly Featured contest in the Hive learners Community.
Thanks for reading.
Picture sourced.
Nigeria my country.
Nigeria my father's land.
Thank you sir.
You're welcome
We came a long way to this point. It was not really an easy journey. I have this strong believe that someday things will be good again. The labor of our hero's past will never go in vain
Amen. Thanks for stopping by.