BRIEF HISTORY OF NIGERIA

Transcription

1

2 2

3 BRIEF HISTORY OF NIGERIA Before the colonial period, the area which comprises modern Nigeria had an eventful history. More than 2,000 years ago, the Nok culture in the present Plateau state worked iron and produced sophisticated terra cotta sculpture. In the northern cities of Kano and Katsina, recorded history dates back to about 1000 AD. In the centuries that followed, these Hausa kingdoms and the Kanem-Bornu empire near Lake Chad prospered as important terminals of northsouth trade between North African Berbers and forest people who exchanged slaves, ivory, and kola nuts for salt, glass beads, coral, cloth, weapons, brass rods, and cowrie shells used as currency. In the southwest, the Yoruba kingdoms of Ife and Oyo were founded about Ife reached its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, producing the famous, naturalistic terra cotta and bronze heads associated with Ife. The kingdom of Oyo developed later, and at its height from the 17th to 19th centuries attained a high level of political organization and extended as far as modern Togo until civil war between the Yoruba cities reduced its power. In the south central part of present-day Nigeria, as early as the 15th and 16th centuries, the Kingdom of Benin had developed an efficient army; an elaborate ceremonial court; and artisans whose works in ivory, wood, bronze, and brass are prized throughout the world today. The 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia wrote, "Numerous explorers had long before reconnoitred the river and the neighbouring country. Among the most famous were Mungo Park ( ), Clapperton (1822), René Caillé (1825), Lander, Barth, Mage, and the French officers Galliéni, Mizon, Hourst, and Lenfant. In 1879, on the initiative of Sir George Goldie, the English societies established in the region purchased all the French and foreign trading stations of Lower Niger and in 1885 obtained a royal charter which constituted them the Royal Company of the Niger. The Royal Company developed rapidly and acquired immense territories, often at the cost of bloodshed." In the 17th through 19th centuries, European traders established coastal ports for the increasing traffic in slaves destined for the Americas. Commodity trade, especially in palm oil and timber, replaced slave trade in the 19th century, particularly under anti-slavery actions by the British Navy. In the early 19th century the Fulani leader Usman dan Fodio brought most areas in the north under the loose control of an Islamic Fulani Empire centered on Sokoto. A British Sphere of Influence Following the Napoleonic wars, the British expanded trade with the Nigerian interior. In 1885, British claims to a sphere of influence in that area received international recognition and, in the following year, the Royal Niger Company was chartered under the leadership of Sir George Taubman Goldie. In 1900, the company's territory came under the control of the British Government, which moved to consolidate its hold over the area of modern Nigeria. On January 1, 1901 Nigeria became a British protectorate. In 1914, the area was formally united as the "Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria." Administratively, Nigeria remained divided into the northern and southern provinces and Lagos colony. Western education and the development of a modern economy proceeded more rapidly in the south than in the north, with consequences felt in Nigeria's political life ever since. Following World War II, in response to the growth of Nigerian nationalism and demands for independence, successive constitutions legislated by the British Government moved Nigeria toward self-government on a representative, increasingly federal, basis. Independence Nigeria was granted full independence in October 1960, as a federation of three regions (northern, western, and eastern) under a constitution that provided for a parliamentary form of government. Under the constitution, each of 3

4 the three regions retained a substantial measure of self-government. The federal government was given exclusive powers in defense and security, foreign relations, and commercial and fiscal policies. The British Monarch was still head of state, but legislative power was vested in a bicameral parliament, executive power in a prime minister and cabinet, and judicial authority in a Federal Supreme Court. Political parties, however, tended to reflect the make up of the three main ethnic groups. The NPC, (Nigerian people's Congress), represented conservative, Muslim, largely Hausa interests, and dominated the Northern Region. The NCNC (National Convention of Nigerian Citizens), was Igbo and Christian dominated, ruling in the Eastern Region, and the AG (Action Group) was a left-leaning party that controlled the Yoruba west. The first post-independence National Government was formed by a conservative alliance of the NCNC and the NPC, with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a Hausa, becoming Nigeria's first Prime Minister. The Yoruba-dominated AG became the opposition, under its charismatic leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Nigeria, republic in western Africa, with a coast along the Atlantic Ocean on the Gulf of Guinea. Most of Nigeria consists of a low plateau cut by rivers, especially the Niger and its largest tributary, the Benue. The country takes its name from its chief river. Until 1991, the capital was the largest city, Lagos, on the southwestern coast; at that time, the city of Abuja, in the country s interior, became capital. NIGERIA SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT Nigeria operates the Presidential sysytem of Government three arms namely THE EXECUTIVE, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE JUDICIARY, each acting as a check on the other two. THE EXECUTIVE arm of Government consits of the President,Vice President and other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC),while at the State level, It is made up of the Governor, the Deputy Governor and other members of the State Executive Council(SEC). THE LEGISLATURE is equally found at the Federal and State levels. The Federal Legislature comprises a 109- member Senators and a 360-member House Representatives. The two combined is known as THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (NASS). The Senates is presided over by the Senate President, While the House Representatives is presided over by a Speaker of the House. THE JUDICIARY interprets the Laws and adjudicates in conflicts between Executive and the Legislature. It carries out these functions through various established courts. The Supreme Court is the highest court of the land, followed by Court of Appeal,the Federal High Court, Magisterate Court,Area Court, Customary Court and Sharia Court. 4

5 ELECTIVE POLITICAL POSTS/OFFICE IN NIGERIA VACANCIES NUMBER POST/OFFICE COUNTRY 1 PRESIDENT STATES 36 GOVERNOR SENATORIAL DISTRICTS 109 SENATOR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCIES 360 REPRESNTATIVE STATE CONSTITUENCIES 990 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOCAL GOVERNMENT 774 LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN WARDS 8810 COUNCILORS NIGERIA NATIONAL ANTHEM Arise, O compatriots Nigeria's call obey To serve our fatherland With love and strength and faith The labour of our heroes past Shall never be in vain To serve with heart and might One nation bound in freedom Peace and unity. Oh God of creation Direct our noble cause Guide our leaders right 5

6 Help our youth the truth to know In love and honesty to grow And living just and true Great lofty heights attain To build a nation where peace And justice shall reign. LYRICS IN YORUBA Dide eyin ara. Wa je-pe Nigeria, ka fife sin-ilewa pelu okun ati igbagbo Ki ise awon akoni wa ko ma se ja sa-san, ka sin tokan-tara ile tominira wa, alafia so-dokan. LYRICS IN HAUSA Yaku 'yan Nijeriya ku farka; Ku amsa kiran Nijeriya; Domin mu taimaki kasarmu ta haihuwa; Don aiki ga kasata cikin soyayya da rikon gaskiya; Domin gudumawar da shuwagabaninmu 'yan kishin kasa suka bada; kada ta zama a banza; Muyi aiki da zuciya daya da girmamawa a gareta; LYRICS IN IGBO Kulienu umunem, 6

7 Nigeria na akpo oku zaa ya, Ife ala nna anyi Jide ihunnaya, ike na okwukwe, Olu ndi nna anyi luru na ngbe garaaga, Ogaghi abu ihe efu, Ife ala nna anyi, jide obi sirike na ike, Otu obodo juputara na nwere onwe, udo na idi na otu. The Pledge is recited immediately after the National Anthem I pledge to Nigeria my country To be faithful, loyal and honest To serve Nigeria with all my strength To defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory So help me God. FORMAL FOUR REGION IN NIGERIA PREMIERS REGIONS DATE Chief Obafemi Awolowo Western region Sir Ahmadu Bello Northern Region Chief S.L Akintola Mid Western Region Dr. Michael Okpara Eastern Region Chief Dennis Osadebe Mid Western Region Gen. Usman Kastina Gen.David Ejor Col. Emeka O. Ojukwu First Military Governor Of Northern Region First Military Governor Of Mid Western Region First Military Governor of Eastern Region 7

8 Sir Adesoji Aderemi Chief Samuel J. Mariere Sir Kazeem Ibrahim Col. Adekunle Fajuyi Dr. Akanu Ibiam First Gov. of Western Region First Gov. of Mid Western Region First Governor Of Northern Region First Military Gov. Of Western Region First Gov. Of Eastern Region Nigeria Six Zones Geo-Political North-East Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe North-West Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto,Zamfara North-Central 8

9 Benue, F.C.T, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Nassarawa South-East Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo South-South Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross-River South- West Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Lagos Oil Producing States Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Ondo, Rivers FORMER COLONIAL MASTERS NIGERIA Sir Fredrick Lord Lugard 1990 to 1919 Sir Hugh Clifford 1919 to 1925 Sir Creamer Thompson 1925 to

10 Sir Donald Cameroon 1931 to 1935 Sir Benard Bourdilion 1935 to 1943 Sir Anthony Richard 1943 to 1958 Sir John McPherson 1948 to 1958 Sir James Robertson 1958 to

11 NIGERIAN PAST AND PRESENT LEADERS FROM 1960 TILL PRESENT DR.NNAMDI AZIKIWE: Born on November 16, 1904, he hails from Nnewi in Anambra State and died in 1996 at the University Of Nigeria Teacher Hospital, Enugu. His portrait adorns Nigeria s five hundred naira currency note N500. He was one of the leading figures of Nigeria nationalism. He also espoused African nationalism liberation and emancipation. Armed with a Master s degree from the University Of Pennysylvania, US, Zik became an instructor at instructor at Lincoln University. He later joined the African Morning Post in Accra,Ghana as Editor.He went on to become one of the leading lights of journalism in Nigeria, founding the West African Pilot and the Zik Group of Newspapers which published several newspapers across Nigeria.Following a successful career in publishing, he went into politics alongside Sir Herbert Macaulay, he cofounded the National Council Of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC) which later became National Council of Nigeria Citizens(NCNC). In 1947, Zik was elected into the Legislative Council of Nigeria and in 1951, he became leader of opposition to the government of Obafemi Awolowo in the Western region House of Assembly in 1954, he became the premier.in 1960 he became 1st senate president. SIR A.TAFAWA BALEWA: He was the first prime minister of an independent Nigeria. Born a commoner in the north of colonial Nigeria, he trained as a teacher. Balewa entered the government 1952 as Minister of Works, and later served as Minister of Transport. In 1957, he was elected Chief Minister, forming a coalition government between the NPC and the National council for Nigeria and the Cameroons, led by Nnamdi Azikiwe.He was overthrown and killed in a military coup on January 15, 1966, as were many other leaders, including his old companion Ahmadu Bello. His body was discovered by a roadside near Lagos six days after he was ousted from office Balewa was buried in Bauchi.The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in his honour. 11

12 GEN. AGUIYI IRONSI: JTU AGUIYI- Ironsi Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi ( ) was a Nigerian Igbo political figure. He served as the President of Nigeria from January 16, 1966 until he was overthrown and killed in a coup on July 29, Major General J.T Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria s first military Head of State was born in 1924 in Umuahia, Abia State. He later joined the Nigeria Army in 1942 as a private and was promoted Major General in GEN.YAKUBU GOWON: He took power after one military coup d etat and was overthrown in another. He remains the youngest person to have ruled the country. His government fought to keep Nigeria one during the civil war( ), which broke out in the aftermath of the regional tensions arising from the January and July 1966 coups d etat. A Christian from Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Gowon had a thorough bred career before the circumstances of the time thrust upon him a leadership role.he fought in congo(zaire) as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in 1960 to 1961 and in 1963.Highlights of Gowon s nine year old government included development of the country s former capital, Lagos creation of 12 states, and expansion of government bureaucracy.he is also remembered for his indigenization policy in 1972, which is dedicated to seeking the face of God for the good of the country.an elder statesman in African politics, he is involved in the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme and the HIV Programme with Global Fund of Geneva. GEN.MURTALA MUHAMMED : Was a military ruler (Head of Federal Military government) of Nigeria ( ). Mohammed opposed the regime of Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi which took power after a coup d etat on January 15, On july 29, 1975, General Mohammed was made head of state by younger soldiers who wanted to 12

13 ensure that Nigeria was returned to democratic rule. The armed forces chose thirty- eight- years old Brigadier (later General) Murtala Ramat Mohammed, a Musli m northerner, to succeed Gowon.A hausa, trained at the British military academy at sandhurst, murtala muhammed had command of federal field forces in the had played a prominent role in rallying northern offices behind the july1996 coup that fell ironsi.murtala Muhammed was however killed on February 13,1976 in an abortive coup attempt when his car was ambushed in traffic in lagos.he was succeeded by chief of staff Olusegun Obasanjo,who completed the plan of an orderly transfer to civilian by handing power to Alhaji Sehu Shagari on October 1,1979.his portrait adorns Nigeria N20 currency note. GEN.OLUSEGUN OBASANJO :He was a chief of staff during Muritala R Muhammed regime before he was named as a military leader in the country.he was the first military leader in the country.he handed over power to a civilian government, Alhaji Sehu Shagari, he became elected civilian president on may 29,1999.The division he headed during the nation s civil war, 3 rd marine commando, helped bring the war to an end,when it took owerri, in the then eastern Nigeria heartland.obasanjo s first time in power was marked by improvemaent in education, through the universal primary education policy and other programmes, and attempts to expand the country s industrial base with huge revenues from the oil boom at the time, and the Operation Feed the Nation,a programme designed to encourage farmers in the country.on October 1, 1979 handed power to Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Obasanjo was born on March 5, 1937 in Ogun State.He grew up in Owu, Abeokuta, and enlisted in the Nigeria Army in 1958.He trained at Aldershot, a military city and centre in Hampshire, Southern Nigeria. ALH.SHEHU SHAGARI: Nigeria s Second Republic President, was the first elected president of Nigeria to exercise full executive powers, after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo caretaker Government. Shagari rose from very humble origins to the highest political throne in the country.he thaught briefly before going into Politics in 1954 as elected member of the Federal House of Repesentatives. He made housing, industries, transportation, and agriculture the major goals of his presidency, launching large scale housing programme that built estates, like the Shagari Estate. In industries, Shagari completed the Delta Steel Complex in 1982, and invested heavily on the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and the Steel Rolling Mills. Shagari initiated and Economic Stabilisation Programme meant to protect the country against any shortfalls in oil revenue after the highs of the 70 s and to guide the economy towards positive growth. Key objectives of the programme included reduction of import licencec and government spending and the upward review of custom duties.he was born on the February 25, 1925 in Shagari village, Sokoto State. Shagari was considered a Champion of Democracy and Government due to his programmes target at improvement of the lives of the great majority. Rampant corruption under Shagari s administration, include an election marked by accusations of fraud, coupled with a decline in world oil price, led to a marked determination in the national finances under Shagari s watch, while religious and political violence became so endemic that his overthrow by General 13

14 Muhammadu Buhari on New Year s Eve in the 1983 was actually looked upon with relief by most of the Nigeria Public at the time. MAJ. GEN MUHAMMED BUHARI: Born on December 17,1942.His ethnic Background is Fulani and his faith is Islamic,his family is from katsina State.Buhari first came to lime light in 1975 when he became the Minister for Petroleum And Natural Resources under the then Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo.Before then he was the Governor of the newly created North Easthern State of Nigeria during the regime of Murtala Mohammed.he later became the head of the newly created Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in Major General Buhari and Major General Tunde Idiagbon were selected to lead the country by middle and high rank military offices after a successful military coup d etat that overthrew civilian President Shehu Shagari on December 31,1983. Buhari was appointed Head of State and Commander in Chief, of arm forces and Idiagbon was appointed as Chief of General Staff(the Defactor #2 in the Administration. Buhari justified the military s seizure of Power by castigating the civilian government hopelessly corrupt and his administration subsequently initiated a public campaign against indicipline known as War Against Indiscipline (WAI).Later became the leader of the All Nigerian People Party(ANPP), contesting and losing presidential elections to the ruling PDP candidates in 2003 and 2007 elections.also in 2011 he became the leader of CPC contested and loosed in presidential election to PDP. GEN.IBRAHIM BABANGIDA: Born on August 17, 1941 in Minna, popularly known as IBB. He introduced the concept of military president into the Nigerian political lexicon and till date remains the country s only military leader addressed by that title. He maintained a firm grip on power and tried to abrogate the unpopular policies he inherited in office. Babangida s regime was popular for its liberal economic policies. He tried to introduce the culture of debate into politics, with the open deliberations that preceded his lunching of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund(IMF) supported Structure Adjustment Programme (SAP). He administered an eight years political transition prgramme that, though did not culminate in the enthronement of civil democracy but succeeded in throwing up new crop of leaders in various spheres of the country s political life. He departed from office under heavy popular pressure in 1993, after his annulment of elections held that year which were widely held to have been the freest and fairest in Nigeria s Post Independence History. 14

15 CHIEF ERNEST SHONEKON : Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan was born on 9 May 1936 in lagos, South-West Nigeria.He is a British trained Nigerian Lawyer, Industrialist and political.he was appointed as interim president of Nigeria by Nigeria General Ibrahim Babangida on 26 August Babangida resigned under pressure to cede control to a democratic government. Shonekan s transitional administration only lasted three months, as a palace coup led by General Sani Abacha via Shonekan s resignation forcefully dismantled the remaining democracy institutions and brought the Government back under military control, on United African Company (UAC), a large Nigerian Conglomerate. GEN.SANNI ABACHA: General Sani Abachi ( 20 September June 1988) was a Nigerian politician and military leader.he was the de facto president of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998 Political Life: Abacha was a muslim of kanuri extraction.he was instrumental in the two bloodless military coup d etat brought and removed General Mohammadu Buhari from power in 1983 and 1985.When General Ibrahim Babangida was named president and commander in chief of the armed force of the federal republic of Nigeria in 1985, abacha was named chief of army staff.he was later appointed minister of defence in Abacha took over power from the caretaker government of chief Ernest Shonekan, which was put into place by General Ibrahim Babangida after his annulment of the 12 june 1993 elections (won by Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola) caused a massive popular uproar.abacha s government was accused of human rights abuses, especially after the hanging of Ogoni activist Ken Saro-Wiwa by the Auta tribunal. His regime suffered stiff opposition internally and externally pre-democracy activists who made the regime unpopular. General Abacha died at the age of 54 of an alleged heart attck at the presidential villa Abuja, and was buried on the same day without an autopsy fuelling speculation that the General may have been poisoned by political rivals.after his death, Sani Abacha s name is often used in 419 scam letter as the source for money that does not exist. His Sudden Death : Here is a wide held believe amongst Nigerians that Abacha died due to a Viagra overdose.general Abacha served during the controversial execution of Ken Saro Wiwa. On the 10 th of November 1995, Saro Wiwa was hanged by Abacha, resulting in the immediate suspension of Nigeria from the commonwealth of Nations. 15

16 GENERAL ABDULSALAAM ABUBAKAR : Born June , became Nigeria s 8 th military head of state in 1998.he was born in minna, Niger State in Northern Nigeria.He schooled locally and outside Nigeria, he also served locally and outside Nigeria, before he emerged as Head of State in Nigeria.Abubakar is one of the few generals in Nigeria who rose to the top without holding political office.he has previously held Military Positions, and had, in general, stayed out of the political limelight. His wife, Fatima, was a high court Judge.At the time of his appointment, He was just away from his 56 th birthday on june 13.Abubakar was appointed head of state upon the sudden death of his predecessor, Sani Abacha.He notably re-established the democracy tradition in Nigeria arranging for general corruption-free election that resulted in 1999 ascension of Olusegun Obasanjo as the democritically elected leader of the country as opposed to its previous rule(1976 to 1979) as inheritor of the power structure of coup leader Murtala. GENERAL CHIEF OLUSEGUN OBASANJO : Obasanjo was born on march 5, 1937 in Ogun state.he grew up in Owu Abeakuta,and enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958.he trained at Aldershot. A military city and centre in Hampshire, Southern England.he was a chief of staff during Murtala R. Mohammed regime before he named as a military leader in the country.he was the first military leader in the country to hand over power to the civilian government. He became the elected president on May 29, 1999.He also conducted the country first civilian to civilian hand over on May He is the only Nigerian to have ruled twice as a military and later as elected leader..political Party, People democratic Party, Spouse Stella Obasanjo(deceased) ALHAJI.UMARU MUSA YAR ADUA: Umaru Musa Yar Adua(16 August May 2010) Yar Adua was born into an aristocratic Fulani family in katsina; He stated his education at Rafukka Primary School in1962.in 1971 he received a a Higher School Certificate from Barewa 16

17 College.He attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria from 1972 to 1975, attaining a Bsc in Education and Chemistry, and then returned in 1978 to achieve an M.Sc Degree in Analytical Chemistry. Professional Career: Yar Adua s first employment was at Holy Child College in Lagos ( ). He later served as a lecturer at the College of Arts, Science, and Technology in Zaria, Kaduna State, between 1976 and Board Chairman of katsina State Investment and Property Development Company(KIPDECO) between 1994 and 1996.Yar Adua served as a director of many companies, including Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd. Presidency: In the presidential election held on 21 April 2007,Yar Adua won but strongly criticized by observers, as well as the two primary opposition candidates, Mohammed buhari of all Nigeria peoples party (ANPP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Action Congress(AC). After the election, Yar Adua proposed a government of National unity. In late june 2007, two opposition parties, the ANPP and the Progressive Peoples Alliance(PPA), agreed to join Yar Adua s government. On 28 June 2007, Yar Adua publicly revealed his declaration of assets(becoming the first Nigeria leader to do so).this disclosure, which fulfilled a pre-election promise he made, was intended to set an example for other Nigerian politician and discourage corruption. ILLNESS AND DEATH : President Yar Adua left Nigerian 23 November 2009, and was reported to be receiving treatments for pericarditis at a clinic in Saudi Arabia.On 22 January 2010,the supreme court of Nigeria ruled that the federal executive council (FEC) had 14 days to decide on a resolution about whether he is incapable of discharging the function of his office. On 9 february 2010, the senate decided that presidential power be transferred to vice president Goodluck Jonathan, and that he would serve as acting president, with all the accompanied powers, until Yar Adua returned to full health. The power transfer has been called a coup without the word by opposition lawyers and lawmakers. However, there are others that felt the power vacuum will lead to instability as a political military take over. On 24 february 2010, Yar Adua returned to Abuja. His state of health was unclear, but there was speculation that he was still on a life support machine. Yar Adua died on 5 th of May 2010 at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.An Islamic Burial took place on 6 th Of May in his hometown. DR. GOODLUCK JONATHAN: Early Life, Education And Personal Life: Jonathan was born in Otueke in Ogbia Local Government Area of the then eastern region, later River State, now Bayelsa State.He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in zoology in which he attained Second Class Honours, Upper Division.He also holds an M.Sc in Hydrobiology/Fisheries biology and a Doctor Of Philosophy(Ph.D) in zoology from the University Of Port- Harcourt. He is married to Patience and has two children. Jonathan is an Ijaw. Presidential Race : In December 2006, Jonathan was selected as running mate to Umaru Yar Adua for ruling PDP presidential ticket in April 2007 election. 17

18 Vice Presidency: Following the PDP s disputed electoral victory, militants blew up Jonathan s country house in Otueke Bayelsa State on 16 th May; two policemen were killed in the attack.jonathan was not present at the time, after taking office, Yar adua publicly declared his assets, and on 8 th August 2007, Jonathan also did so. Action President: On 13 January 2010, a federal court handed Vice-President Jonathan the power to carry out State affairs in the presidents continued absence. On 9 february 2010, the Senate determined that presidential power should be transmitted to the Vice- President.He will serve as Acting President, with all the accompanied powers, until Yar Adua has returned to full health. The Power transfer has been called a coup without the word by opposition lawyers and law makers.jonathan remains the Acting president while Yar adua continues ro recover. President : Following Yar adua death on 5th May 2010.Jonathan was sworn in as Yar;adua s replacement on 6 th May 2010, becoming Nigeria s 14 th head of state. He will serve as president until the next election.he states that he came to office under very sad unusual circumstances.on 18 th May 2010, the National assembly approved President Goodluck Jonathan s nomination of former Kaduna s State Governor, Nnamdi Sambo an architect, for the position of Vice- president on 17 th March 2010.Jonathan dissolved the country s cabinet while he appointed his own cabinet. Elected President: On 16 th April Jonathan emerged as elected president, and was sworn in 29 th May 2011.The election was marred by bloodshed and the death of ten Corp members killed by suspected Boko Haram gang members. MUHAMMADU BUHARI GCFR (born 17 December 1942) is the President of Nigeria. He is a retired Nigerian Army major general and was Head of State of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d'état. The term Buharism is ascribed to the Buhari military government. He unsuccessfully ran for the office of President in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 general elections. In December 2014, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the March 2015 general elections. Buhari won the election, defeating the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. This marked the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate 18

19 THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR ( ) The Nigerian Civil War was between 6 July, 1967 and 15 January, 1970 as the southeastern part of Nigeria attempted to secede. This was caused by the perceived marginalization of the Igbos who dominated the southeast by the then Major General Yakubu Gowon led military government that created a new 12-state structure in May, This new structure divided the eastern region into three states, two of them dominated by non-southeastern groups and it also severed the vast majority of Igbo from the profitable coastal ports and rich oil fields that had just been discovered in the region. This exclusion of the southeasterners from power made them fear that the oil revenues would be used to benefit areas in the north and west rather than their own areas. So on 30 May, 1967, Colonel Odemugwu Ojukwu the then military governor of the Igbo-dominated southeast declared independence as the Republic of Biafra. War began on 6 July, 1967 when the Nigerian Federal troops led by Colonel Shuwa advanced south to retake the secessionist territory. The town of Nsukka in the northern part of the southeast was captured on 14 July. The Biafrans responded with an offensive on 9 August, 1967 moving west into the Mid-Western Nigeria across the Niger river and led by Lt. Colonel Banjo. A division of Nigerian forces led by Colonel Murtala Muhammed stopped them, forced them to retreat and retook Benin City on 22 September. Then Gowon launched another offensive into Biafra south from the Niger Delta to the riverine area using the Lagos Garrison command under Colonel Benjamin Adekunle. The Federal troops were repulsed thrice as they attempted to cross the River Niger in October, many of them were killed and their tanks and equipment were destroyed. The Federal troops then settled down to a period of a siege by blockading Biafra. Though the Nigerian marines led by Major Isaac Adaka Boro had captured the Bonny, Okrika and Port Harcourt on 26 July, and the port city of Calabar was taken on 18 October by Colonel Benjamin Adekunle led forces. Also, the Biafran capital, Enugu city was captured on 4 October. But the Biafrans continued to resist in their core Igbo heartlands. The Federal troops made little progress at the start o f 1968 until April when they launched an offensive closing in on the Biafrans. Already, the blockade on the Biafran territories was causing widespread civilian hunger and starvation. Many volunteer bodies organized blockade-breaking flights into Biafra, carrying food, medicines and sometimes weapons. There were arms-carrying aircraft that closely follows the aid aircraft, making it more difficult to distinguish between aid aircraft and military supply aircraft. The Biafrans launched in June, 1969 a desparate offensive against the Nigerians in their attempts to keep the Federal troops off-balance, through the support of foreign mercenary pilots continuing to fly in food, medical supplies and weapons. Although the Federal troops were taken off-guard by the surprise, they soon recovered and held off the Biafrans long enough for the offensive to stall out. Then the Nigerian federal forces launched final Nigerian offensive, named "Operation Tail-Wind", which was launched on 7 January 1970 with the 3rd Marine Commando Division attacking, and supported by the 1st Infantry division to the north and the 2nd Infantry division to the south. one of their final offensive the Biafrans on 23 December 1969 with a major thrust by the Nigerian marines led by Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo which split the Biafran enclave into two. Another offensive was launched on 7 January, 1970 which led to the surrender of the Biafran forces on 13 January, 1970 with Ojukwu fleeing to Ivory Coast. During the three-year war thousands of lives were lost with most deaths caused by hunger and disease. Functions of the Vice-President of Nigeria The executive functions of the Nigerian vice president includes participation in all cabinet meetings and, by statute, membership in the National Security Council, the National Defence Council, Federal Executive Council, and the Chairman of National Economic Council. Although the vice president may take an active role in establishing policy in the Executive Branch by serving on such committees and councils, the relative power of the Nigerian vice president's office depends upon the duties delegated by the president. 19

20 List of Vice Presidents Name of VP Head of State/President Inaugurated Left Office Political Party Babafemi Ogundipe JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi 16 January July 1966 Military Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey Yakubu Gowon 29 July July 1975 Military Olusegun Obasanjo Murtala Muhammed 29 July February 1976 Military Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Olusegun Obasanjo 13 February September 1979 Military Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme Shehu Shagari 1 October December 1983 NPN Tunde Idiagbon Muhammadu Buhari 31 December August 1985 Military Ebitu Ukiwe Ibrahim Babangida 27 August 1985 October 1986 Military Augustus Aikhomu Ibrahim Babangida October August 1993 Military Oladipo Diya Sani Abacha 17 November December 1997 Military Michael Akhigbe Abdulsalami Abubakar 9 June May 1999 Military Atiku Abubakar Olusegun Obasanjo 29 May May 2007 PDP Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Umaru Musa Yaradua 29 May May 2010 PDP Namadi Sambo Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 19 May May 2015 PDP Yemi Osinbajo Muhammadu Buhari 29 May 2015 Till Date APC 20

21 The President of the Senate is the presiding officer of the Senate of Nigeria,elected by its membership. The Senate President is second in line for succession to the Nigerian presidency, after the Vice President of Nigeria.The current President of the Senate is Bukola Saraki. List of Senate Presidents SENATE PRESIDENT TERM PARTY NNAMDI AZIKIWE 1960 NCNC DENNIS OSADEBAY NCNC NWAFOR ORIZU NCNC JOSEPH WAYAS NPN IYORCHIA AYU SDP AMEH EBUTE 1993 SDP EVAN ENWEREM 1999 PDP CHUBA OKADIGBO PDP ANYIM PIUS ANYIM PDP ADOLPHUS WABARA PDP KEN NNAMANI PDP DAVID MARK PDP BUKOLA SARAKI 2015 present APC SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1960 TILL DATE 21

22 SPEAKER PARTY JAJA WACHUKWU EDWIN EZEOKE SALISU BUHARI GHALI NA ABBA AMINU B MASARI PATRICIA ETEH DIMEJI BANKOLE AMINU WAZIRI TAMBUWA YAKUBU DOGARA NCNC NPN PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP APC APC The First Lady of Nigeria is the title of the wife of the President of Nigeria. The current First Lady is Aisha Muhammadu Buhari who has held the title since 29 May The Constitution of Nigeria does not create an office for the country's First Lady or potential First Gentleman. However, official funding and staff have been allocated to the First Lady of Nigeria since the country's independence. The First Lady is addressed by the title, Her Excellency. Stella Obasanjo is the only Nigerian First Lady to have died in office. First Ladies of Nigeria Name Term Begins Term Ends President or Head of State Flora Azikiwe 1 October January 1966 Nnamdi Azikiwe Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi 16 January July 1966 Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Victoria Gowon 1 August July 1975 Yakubu Gowon Ajoke Mohammed 29 July February 1976 Murtala Mohammed Esther Oluremi Obasanjo 13 February October 1979 Olusegun Obasanjo No First Lady 1 October December 1983 Shehu Shagari 22

23 Safinatu Buhari 31 December August 1985 Muhammadu Buhari Maryam Babangida 27 August August 1993 Ibrahim Babangida Margaret Shonekan 26 August November 1993 Ernest Shonekan Maryam Abacha 17 November June 1998 Sani Abacha Fati Lami Abubakar 8 June May 1999 Abdulsalami Abubakar Stella Obasanjo 29 May October 2005 (Died in office) Olusegun Obasanjo Office vacant 23 October May 2007 Olusegun Obasanjo Turai Yar'Adua 29 May February 2010 Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Patience Jonathan (acting) 9 February May 2010 Goodluck Jonathan (acting ) Patience Jonathan 6 May May 2015 Goodluck Jonathan Aisha Muhammadu Buhari 29 May 2015 Present Muhammadu Buhari CURRENT GOVERNORS IN NIGERIA, STATE AND PARTY 23

24 24

25 25

26 Leaders of Nigeria Police from 1930 till date Personality Post Tenure Mr C.W Duncan Inspector General Mr S.H Tranthan Major A Sanders Col A.S Navrogordato Mr W.C King Commissioner Mr. T.V Friday Commissioner Sir Ivor Stourton Commissioner Mr R.J Maclaughlan Inspector General Sir BovellKerr Mr J.E Hodge Mr. L.O Edet Mr. Kamsalem Mr M.D Yusuf Mr Adam Suleman Mr S.A Adewusi Mr E.O Lnyang Mr M. Gambo Aliya Ibrahim Attah Ibrahim Coomasie Mr M.A K Smith Mr Tafa Balogun Mr Sunday Ehindero Mr Mike Okiro Mr Ogbonna Onovo Afiz Ringim Muhammed Abubakar Sulaiman Abba Acting Inspector General Solomon Arase 2015 Till Date CHIEFS OF DEFENCE STAFF FROM 1980 NAME TENURE 26

27 Lt. General Ipoola Alani Akinrinade ( ) Lt. General Gibson Jalo ( ) General Domkat Bali ( ) General Sani Abacha ( ) Lt. General Oladipo Diya ( ) General Abdulsalami Abubakar ( ) Air Marshal Al-Amin Daggash ( ) Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi ( ) General Alexander Ogomudia (June 2003 June 2006) General Martin Luther Agwai (June 2006 May 25, 2007) General Owoye Andrew Azazi (May 25, 2007 August 20, 2008) Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike (August 20, 2008 September 8, 2010) Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin (September 8, 2010 October 5, 2012) Admiral Ola Ibrahim (October 5, 2012 January 16, 2014) Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh (January 16, 2014 July 13, 2015) General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (July 13, present) CHIEFS OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY Officer Title Period Served Remarks Maj Gen Kenneth G. Exham Duke of Wellington's Regiment 27

28 Maj Gen Foster GOC Maj Gen John Alexander GOC 1963 Maj Gen Sir Christopher W-Everard GOC Last British GOC Maj Gen Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi GOC Later military ruler Lt Col Yakubu Gowon FSS COAS January July 1966 Later military ruler Lt Col Joseph Akahan OFR FSS COAS May May 1968 Maj GenHassan Katsina rcds psc COAS May January 1971 Maj Gen David Ejoor COAS January July 1975 Lt GenTheophilus Danjuma COAS July October 1979 Lt Gen Ipoola A Akinrinade CFR FSS COAS October April 1980 Nil Lt Gen Gibson Jalo CFR FSS JSS COAS April October 1981 Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi CFR COAS October October 1983 Maj Gen Ibrahim Babangida COAS January August 1985 Later military ruler Lt Gen Sani Abacha GCON, DSS mni COAS August August 1990 Later military ruler Lt Gen Salihu Ibrahim FSS FHWC COAS August September 1993 Lt Gen Aliyu Gusau Mohammed DSS COAS September November 1993 Maj Gen Chris Alli CRG DSS COAS November August 1994 Maj Gen Alwali Kazir DSS COAS August March 1996 Lt Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi DSS COAS March 1996-May 1999 Lt Gen Victor Malu DSS COAS May April 2001 Lt Gen Alexander Ogomudia COAS April June 2003 Later Chief of Defence Staff Officer Title Period Served Remarks Lt Gen Martin Luther Agwai COAS June 2003 June 2006 Later Commander of the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur. Lt Gen Owoye Andrew Azazi COAS 1 June May 2007 Later Chief of Defence Staff Lt Gen Luka Yusuf CFR COAS June August 2008 Lt Gen 28

29 Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau CFR COAS August September 2010 Lt Gen Onyabor Azubuike Ihejirika CFR COAS September January 2014 Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah GSS COAS January 2014 July 2015 Major-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai COAS July 2015 Date Commander Multinational Joint Task Force (May July 2015) CHIEFS OF AIR STAFF Year Rank Name Colonel Gerhard Kahtz Colonel Wolfgang Thimmig Lieutenant Colonel George T Kurubo Colonel Shittu Alao Brigadier Emmanuel E Ikwue Air Vice-Marshal John Nmadu Yisa-Doko Air Vice-Marshal Abdullahi Dominic Bello Air Marshal Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa Air Vice-Marshal Nuraini Yussuff Air Marshal Akin Dada Air Vice Marshal Femi John Femi Air Marshal Nsikak-Abasi Essien Eduok Air Marshal Isaac Alfa Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep Air Marshal Paul Dike Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar 29

30 Air Vice Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar 30

31 31

32 32

33 CURRENT SERVICE CHIEFS General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin Major-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai Sadique Abubakar Real Admiral Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas Solomon Arase Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) Colonel Hameed Ali Lawal Musa Daura David Paradang Zakari O. Ibrahim Boboye O. Oyemi Anebi Joseph Garba Chief Of Defence Staff Chief Of Army Staff Chief Of Air Staff Chief Of Naval Staff Inspector General Of Police Chief Of Defence Intelligence National Security Adviser Comptroller General Of Customs Director General DSS Comptroller General Of Immigration Comptroller General Of Prison Corps Marshal Of FRSC Controller General of Fire Service Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu Commandant General Of Civil Defence CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA TILL DATE Hon Justice Sir Ademola Adetokunbo, KBE, CON Hon Justice Taslim Olawale Elias, CFR, GCON Hon Justice Darnley A. Alexander, CBE, KCIVG,CFR Hon Justice Atanda Fatai Williams, CON

34 Hon Justice Justice George Sodeinde Sowemimo, CON,GCON Hon Justice Ayo Gabriel Irikefe, OFR,CON, GCON Hon Justice Mohammed Bello, CON, GCON Hon Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, CON, GCON Hon Justice Salihu Moddibo Alfa Belgore, CON, GCON Idris Legbo Kutigi Aloma Mukhtar GCON(First Female Chief Justice) July Mahmud Muhammed CON,OFR November 2014 Till Date 34

35 GOVERNORS OF CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA TILL DATE Ray Pentelow Fenton 24 July July 1963 Aliyu Mai-Bornu 25 July June 1967 Clement Nyong Isong 15 Aug Sept 1975 Adamu Ciroma 24 Sept June 1977 Ota Vincent 28 June June 1982 Abdulkabir Ahmed 28 June Sept 1993 Paul Agbai Ogwuma 1 Oct May 1999 Joseph O. Sanusi 29 May May 2004 Charles C. Soludo 29 May May 2009 S. Lamido Sanusi 3 June Feb 2014 Sarah Alade 20 Feb June 2014 Godwin Emefiele 3 June -Till Date 35

36 NIGERIA GOVERNMENT AGENCIES Communication and Media Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) National Information Technology Development Agency(NITDA) Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) New Agency of Nigeria(NAN) Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria(FRCN) Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Nigeria Communication Satellite(NIGCOMSAT) Economic Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Bereau of Public Enterprises (BPE) Federal Mortgage Bank Of Nigeria(FMBN) National Council of Privatisation (NCP) Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission(NIPC) Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS) National Insurance Commission(NAICOM) National Pension Commission (PenCom) Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Nigerian National Petroleum Commission(NNPC) Department of Petroleum Resources(DPR) Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency(PPPRA) National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) 36

37 Intelligence State Security Service (SSS) National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Directorate of Military Intelligence(DMI) Law Enforcement Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) Independent Corrupt Practices Commission(ICPC) Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS) Nigeria Custom Service(NCS) Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Others National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Federal Environmental Protection Agency(FEPA) Federal Housing Authority(FHA) Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACoN) National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) National Orientation Agency (NOA) National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) National Environment Regulation and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) 37

38 National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) National Planning Commission(NPC) National Centre for Remote Sensing (NCRS) National Sports Commission (NSC) National Water Resources Institute(NWRI) National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Nigerian Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (NARDP) National Agricultural Extension, Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS) Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) National Directorate of Employment(NDE) National Poverty Alleviation Program (NAPEP) National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) National Office for Technology Acquisation and Promotion(NOTAP) Industrial Training Fund (ITF) National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) Computer Professionals Resources Commission (CPRC) Nigerian Intergrated Water Resource Commission (NIWRC) Comsumer Protection Council Infrastructure Concession (CPCIC) Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) 38

39 STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Federal Capital Territory: Gwagwalada,Kuje, Abaji, Abuja Municipal,Bwari,Kwali Abia - Umuahia : Aba North, Aba South, Arochukwu, Bende, Ikwuano Isiala-Ngwa, North Isiala-Ngwa,South Isuikwato, Obi Nwa, Ohafia, Osisioma, Ngwa,Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East,Ukwa West Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Umu-Neochi Adamawa - Yola : Demsa, Fufore,Ganaye,Gireri,Gombi,Guyuk,Hong,Jada,Lamurde,Madagali,Maiha,Mayo Belwa,Michika,Mubi North,Mubi South,Numan,Shelleng,Song,Toungo,Yola North,Yola South Akwa - Ibom Uyo : Abak,Eastern Obolo,Eket,Esit Eket,Essien Udim,Etim Ekpo,Etinan,Ibeno Ibesikpo Asutan,Ibiono Ibom,Ika,Ikono,Ikot Abasi,Ikot Ekpene,Ini,Itu,Mbo,Mkpat Enin,Nsit Atai,Nsit Ibom,Nsit Ubium,Obot Akara,Okobo,Onna,Oron,Oruk Anam,Udung Uko,Ukanafun,Uruan,Urue-Offong/Oruko,Uyo Anambra - Awka : Aguata,Anambra East,Anambra West,Anaocha,Awka North,Awka South,Ayamelum,Dunukofia,Ekwusigo,Idemili North,Idemili south,ihiala,njikoka,nnewi North,Nnewi South,Ogbaru,Onitsha North,Onitsha South,Orumba North,Orumba South,Oyi Bauchi - Bauchi: Alkaleri,Bauchi,Bogoro,Damban,Darazo,Dass,Ganjuwa,Giade, Itas/Gadau,Jama'are, Katagum,Kirfi,Misau,Ningi,Shira,Tafawa-Balewa,Toro, Warji,Zaki Bayelsa - Yenagoa : Brass,Ekeremor,Kolokuma/Opokuma,Nembe,Ogbia,Sagbama,Southern Jaw,Yenegoa Benue - Makurdi : Ado,Agatu,Apa,Buruku,Gboko,Guma,Gwer East,Gwer West Katsina-Ala Konshisha,Kwande,Logo,Makurdi,Obi,Ogbadibo,Oju,Okpokwu,Ohimini,Oturkpo,Tarka Ukum,Ushongo,Vandeikya Bornu - Maiduguri : Abadam,Askira/Uba,Bama,Bayo,Biu,Chibok,Damboa,Dikwa,Gubio Guzamala,Gwoza,Hawul,Jere,Kaga,Kala/Balge,Konduga,Kukawa,Kwaya Kusar,Mafa, Magumeri,Maiduguri,Marte,Mobbar,Monguno,Ngala,Nganzai,Shani 39

40 Cross River - Calabar : Akpabuyo,Odukpani,Akamkpa,Biase,Abi,Ikom,Yarkur,Odubra,Boki Ogoja,Yala,Obanliku,Obudu,Calabar South,Etung,Bekwara,Bakassi,Calabar Municipality Delta - Asaba: Oshimili,Aniocha,Aniocha South,Ika South,Ika North-East,Ndokwa West,Ndokwa East,Isoko south,isoko North,Bomadi,Burutu,Ughelli South,Ughelli North,Ethiope West,Ethiope East,Sapele,Okpe,Warri North,Warri South,Uvwie,Udu,Warri Central,Ukwani,Oshimili North,Patani Ebonyi - Abakaliki : Afikpo South,Afikpo North,Onicha,Ohaozara,Abakaliki,Ishielu,lkwo,Ezza, Ezza South,Ohaukwu,Ebonyi,Ivo Edo - Benin City : Esan North-East,Esan Central,Esan West,Egor,Ukpoba Central,Etsako Central, Igueben,Oredo,Ovia SouthWest,Ovia South-East,Orhionwon,Uhunmwonde, Etsako East, Esan South-East Ekiti Ado Ekiti : Ado,Ekiti-East,Ekiti-West,Emure/Ise/Orun,Ekiti South-West,Ikare,Irepodun, Ijero,Ido/Osi,Oye,Ikole,Moba,Gbonyin,Efon,Ise/Orun,Ilejemeje. Enugu - Enugu : Enugu South,,Igbo-Eze South,Enugu North,Nkanu,Udi Agwu,Oji- River,Ezeagu, IgboEze North,Isi-Uzo,Nsukka,Igbo-Ekiti,Uzo-Uwani,Enugu Eas,Aninri,Nkanu East,Udenu. Gombe - Gombe : Akko,Balanga,Billiri,Dukku,Kaltungo,Kwami,Shomgom,Funakaye,Gombe, Nafada/Bajoga,Yamaltu/Delta. Imo - Owerri : Aboh-Mbaise,Ahiazu-Mbaise,Ehime-Mbano,Ezinihitte,Ideato North,Ideato South, Ihitte/Uboma,Ikeduru,Isiala Mbano,Isu,Mbaitoli,Mbaitoli,Ngor- Okpala,Njaba,Nwangele,Nkwerre,Obowo,Oguta,Ohaji/Egbema,Okigwe,Orlu,Orsu,Oru East,Oru West,Owerri-Municipal,Owerri North,Owerri West Jigawa- Dutse : Auyo,Babura,Birni Kudu,Biriniwa,Buji,Dutse,Gagarawa,Garki,Gumel,Guri, Gwaram,Gwiwa,Hadejia,Jahun,Kafin Hausa,Kaugama Kazaure,Kiri Kasamma,Kiyawa, Maigatari,Malam Madori,Miga,Ringim,Roni,Sule-Tankarkar,Taura,Yankwashi Kaduna- Kaduna : Birni-Gwari,Chikun,Giwa,Igabi,Ikara,jaba,Jema'a,Kachia,Kaduna North, Kaduna South,Kagarko,Kajuru,Kaura,Kauru,Kubau,Kudan,Lere,Makarfi,Sabon-Gari,Sanga, Soba,Zango-Kataf,Zaria Kano- Kano : Ajingi,Albasu,Bagwai,Bebeji,Bichi,Bunkure,Dala,Dambatta,Dawakin Kudu, Dawakin Tofa,Doguwa,Fagge,Gabasawa,Garko,Garum,Mallam,Gaya,Gezawa,Gwale,Gwarzo, Kabo,Kano Municipal,Karaye,Kibiya,Kiru,kumbotso,Kunchi,Kura,Madobi,Makoda,Minjibir, Nasarawa,Rano,Rimin Gado,Rogo,Shanono,Sumaila,Takali,Tarauni,Tofa,Tsanyawa, Tudun Wada,Ungogo,Warawa,Wudil 40

41 Katsina - Katsina : Bakori,Batagarawa,Batsari,Baure,Bindawa,Charanchi,Dandume,Danja,Dan Musa,Daura,Dutsi,Dutsin-Ma,Faskari,Funtua,Ingawa,Jibia,Kafur,Kaita,Kankara,Kankia,Katsina, Kurfi,Kusada,Mai'Adua,Malumfashi,Mani,Mashi,Matazuu,Musawa,Rimi,Sabuwa,Safana, Sandamu,Zango Kebbi - Birnin Kebbi : Aleiro,Arewa-Dandi,Argungu,Augie,Bagudo,Birnin Kebbi,Bunza,Dandi, Fakai,Gwandu,Jega,Kalgo,Koko/Besse,Maiyama,Ngaski,Sakaba,Shanga,Suru,Wasagu/Danko, Yauri,Zuru Kogi - Lokoja : Adavi,Ajaokuta,Ankpa,Bassa,Dekina,Ibaji,Idah,Igalamela-Odolu,Ijumu, Kabba/Bunu,Kogi,Lokoja,Mopa-Muro,Ofu,Ogori/Mangongo,Okehi,Okene,Olamabolo,Omala, Yagba East,Yagba West Kwara - Ilorin : Asa,Baruten,Edu,Ekiti,Ifelodun,Ilorin East,Ilorin West,Irepodun,Isin,Kaiama, Moro,Offa,Oke-Ero,Oyun,Pategi Lagos - Ikeja : Agege,Ajeromi-Ifelodun,Alimosho,Amuwo-Odofin,Apapa,Badagry,Epe,Eti- Osa, Ibeju/Lekki,Ifako-Ijaye,Ikeja,Ikorodu,Kosofe,Lagos Island,Lagos Mainland,Mushin,Ojo, Oshodi-Isolo,Shomolu,Surulere Nasarawa - Lafia : Akwanga,Awe,Doma,Karu,Keana,Keffi,Kokona,Lafia,Nasarawa,Nasarawa- Eggon,Obi,Toto,Wamba Niger - Minna : Agaie,Agwara,Bida,Borgu,Bosso,Chanchaga,Edati,Gbako,Gurara,Katcha, Kontagora,Lapai,Lavun,Magama,Mariga,Mashegu,Mokwa,Muya,Pailoro,Rafi,Rijau,Shiroro, Suleja,Tafa,Wushishi Ogun Abeokuta : Abeokuta North,Abeokuta South,Ado-Odo/Ota,Egbado North, Egbado South,Ewekoro,Ifo,Ijebu East,Ijebu North,Ijebu North East,Ijebu Ode,Ikenne, Imeko-Afon,Ipokia,Obafemi-Owode,Ogun Waterside,Odeda,Odogbolu,Remo North,Shagamu Ondo - Akure : Akoko North East,Akoko North West,Akoko South Akure East,Akoko South West,Akure North,Akure South,Ese-Odo,Idanre,Ifedore,Ilaje,Ile-Oluji,Okeigbo,Irele,Odigbo, Okitipupa,Ondo East,Ondo West,Ose,Owo 41

42 Osun Oshogbo : Aiyedade,Aiyedire,Atakumosa East,Atakumosa West,Boluwaduro,Boripe, Ede North,Ede South,Egbedore,Ejigbo,Ife Central,Ife East,Ife North,Ife South,Ifedayo,Ifelodun, Ila,Ilesha East,Ilesha West,Irepodun,Irewole,Isokan,Iwo,Obokun,Odo-Otin,Ola Oluwa,Olorunda, Oriade,Orolu,Osogbo Oyo Ibadan : Afijio,Akinyele,Atiba,Atigbo,Egbeda,IbadanCentral,Ibadan North,Ibadan North West,Ibadan South East,Ibadan South West,Ibarapa Central,Ibarapa East,Ibarapa North, Ido,Irepo,Iseyin,Itesiwaju,Iwajowa,Kajola,Lagelu Ogbomosho North,Ogbmosho South,Ogo Oluwa,Olorunsogo,Oluyole,Ona-Ara,Orelope,Ori Ire,Oyo East,Oyo West,Saki East,Saki West, Surulere Plateau Jos : Barikin Ladi,Bassa,Bokkos,Jos East,Jos North,Jos South,Kanam,Kanke, Langtang North,Langtang South,Mangu,Mikang,Pankshin,Qua'an Pan,Riyom,Shendam,Wase Rivers - Port Harcourt : Abua/Odual,Ahoada East,Ahoada West,Akuku Toru,Andoni,Asari- Toru,Bonny,Degema,Emohua,Eleme,Etche,Gokana,Ikwerre,Khana,Obia/Akpor,Ogba/Egbema/N doni,ogu/bolo,okrika,omumma,opobo/nkoro,oyigbo,port-harcourt,tai Sokoto Sokoto : Isa,Kware Binji,Bodinga,Dange-shnsi,Gada,Goronyo,Gudu,Gawabawa,Illela kebbe,rabah,sabon birni,shagari,silame,sokoto North,Sokoto South,Tambuwal,Tqngaza,Tureta,Wamako,Wurno,Yabo Taraba Jalingo: Ardo-kola,Bali,Donga,Gashaka,Cassol,Ibi,Jalingo,Karin-Lamido,Kurmi Lau,Sardauna,Takum,Ussa,Wukari,Yorro,Zing Yobe Damaturu : Bade,Bursari,Damaturu,Fika,Fune,Geidam,Gujba,Gulani,Jakusko, Karasuwa,Karawa,Machina,Nangere,Nguru Potiskum,Tarmua,Yunusari,Yusufari Zamfara- Gusau : Anka,Bakura,Birnin Magaji,Bukkuyum,Bungudu,Gummi,Gusau,Kaura, Namoda,Maradun,Maru,Shinkafi,Talata Mafara,Tsafe,Zurmi. 42

43 List of Nigerian states by date of statehood The following table presents a listing of Nigeria 's states and the dates of their creation. STATE DATE CREATED PRECEDING ENTITY Abia State 27 August 1991 Imo State Adamawa State 27 August 1991 Gongola State Akwa Ibom State 23 September 1987 Cross River State Anambra State 27 August 1991 (old) Anambra State Bauchi State 3 February 1976 North-Eastern State Bayelsa State 1 October 1996 Rivers State Benue State 3 February 1976 Benue-Plateau State Borno State 3 February 1976 North-Eastern State Cross River State 27 May 1967 Eastern Region ; known as South-Eastern State from 1967 to Delta State 27 August 1991 Bendel State Ebonyi State 1 October 1996 Enugu State and Abia State Edo State 27 August 1991 Bendel State Ekiti State 1 October 1996 Ondo State Enugu State 27 August 1991 (old) Anambra State Gombe State 1 October 1996 Bauchi State Imo State 3 February 1976 East Central State Jigawa State 27 August 1991 Kano State Kaduna State 27 May 1967 Northern Region ; known as North-Central State from 1967 to Kano State 27 May 1967 Northern Region Katsina State 23 September 1987 Kaduna State Kebbi State 27 August 1991 Sokoto State 43

44 Kogi State 27 August 1991 Kwara State; Benue State Kwara State 27 May 1967 Northern Region ; known as West Central State from 1967 to Lagos State 27 May 1967 Federal Territory of Lagos and Colony Province Nasarawa State 1 October 1996 Plateau State Niger State 3 February 1976 North-Western State Ogun State 3 February 1976 Western State Ondo State 3 February 1976 Western State Osun State 27 August 1991 Oyo State Oyo State 3 February 1976 Western State Plateau State 3 February 1976 Benue-Plateau State Rivers State 27 May 1967 Eastern Region Sokoto State 3 February 1976 North-Western State Taraba State 27 August 1991 Gongola State Yobe State 27 August 1991 Borno State Zamfara State 1 October 1996 Sokoto State Abuja Federal Capital Territory 3 February 1976 Benue-Plateau, North- Central, and North-Western States Postal Code for Nigeria States Abuja Abia Adamawa Akwa-Ibom Anambra Bauchi Borno

45 Delta Edo Enugu Imo Jigawa Kano Kaduna Katsina Kebbi Kogi Kwara Lagos (Island) Lagos (Mainland) Niger Ogun Ondo Osun Oyo Plateau Rivers Sokoto Taraba Yobe Ebonyi

46 Mineral Reasources/Producing States 46

47 47

48 LIST OF MINISTERS AND THEIR PORTFOLIOS 1. Chris Ngige (Anambra) Minister of Labour & Employment 2. Kayode Fayemi- (Ekiti) Minister of Solid Minerals 3. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) Minister of Transportation 4. Babatunde Fashola -(Lagos) Minister of Power, Works and Housing 5. Abdulrahman Dambazau- (Kano) Minister of Interior 6. Aisha Alhassan (Taraba) Minister of Women Affairs 7. Ogbonaya Onu- (Ebonyi) Minister of Science and Technology 8. Kemi Adeosun (Ogun) Minister of Finance 9. Abubakar Malami (Kebbi) 10. Sen Hadi Sirika (Katsina) Minister of State Aviation 11. Barr. Adebayo Shittu (Oyo) 12. Suleiman Adam (Jigawa) 13. Solomon Dalong (Plateau) Minister for Youth and Sports 48

49 14. Ibe Kachikwu (Delta) Minister of State Petroleum 15. Osagie Ehanire (Edo) 16. Audu Ogbeh (Benue) Minister of Agriculture 17. Udo Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom) Minister of Budget & National Planning 18. Lai Mohammed (Kwara) Minister of Information 19. Amina Mohammed (Gombe) 20. Ibrahim Usman Jibril (Nasarawa) 21. Hajia Khadija Bukar Ibrahim- (Yobe) 22. Cladius Omoleye Daramola (Ondo) 23. Prof Anthony Onwuka (Imo) Minister of State (Education) 24. Geoffrey Onyema (Enugu) 25. Dan Ali (Zamfara) Minister of Defence 26. Barr James Ocholi (Kogi) Minister of Justice and Attorney General 27. Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna) Minister of State Budget and National Planning 28. Okechukwu Enelamah (Abia) Trade, Investment & Industry 29. Muhammadu Bello (Adamawa) Minister of Federal Capital Territory 30. Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Bornu) 31. Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto) Minister of State, Trade & Investment 32. Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa) 33. Adamu Adamu (Bauchi) Minister of Education 34. Isaac Adewole (Osun) Minister of Health 35. Abubakar Bawa Bwari (Niger) 36. Pastor Usani Uguru (Cross River) Minister of Niger Delta 49

50 Facts/History You Should Know About Nigeria 1851 (December 26-27): Royal Navy warship bombards Lagos. Oba of Lagos (Oba Kosoko) is wounded and flees to Epe. On board the ship was Lt. Labulo Davies, probably the first Nigerian to be commisioned in a naval force (January 1): Lagos Island is annexed as a colony of Britain 1862 (January 22): Mr H.S Freeman is appointed as the first Governor of Lagos Colony. 1877: George Taubman Goldie arrived in the Niger Delta in : Oil Rivers Protectorate proclaimed by the British after they had defeated of King Jaja of Opobo, the Oba of Benin and subdued all prominent oil merchants of the Niger Delta (19 May): At the Battle of the (sacred) Yemoja River the British wreaks havoc amongst the Ijebu infantry with a British Maxim (capable of firing 2000 rounds in three minutes). 1893: Oil Rivers Protectorate renamed Niger Coast Protectorate with its capital at Calabar. 1890's: British Journalist Flora Shaw, later wife of Lord Frederick Lugard, suggests the name "Nigeria" after the great Niger River. 1897: The British overthrow Oba Ovonramwen of Benin. One of the last independent West African kings. 1900: Niger Coast Protectorate was merged with the colony and protectorate of Lagos and renamed Protectorate of Southern Nigeria 1914: Formation of Nigeria under Governor Frederick Lugard 1929 (October): (Aba Women's Riot). Women in Aba demonstrate against high taxes and low prices of Nigerian exports. 1954: The position of Governor was created in each region after the Federal System of Government is adopted. 1958: Nigerian Armed Forces came under Federal control. The Nigerian Navy is created. 1959: The new Nigerian currency is introduced 1959: Northern Peoples Congress(NPC)and Niger Delta Congress(NDC) go into alliance to contest parliamentary elections. The alliance earned the Brass Division a seat in the Federal Parliament for the first time. 1960(July): Sir Adesoji Aderemi becomes 1st Nigerian and 1st African to be appointed Governor in the Commonwealth. He became Governor before Nigeria got independence (October 1): Nigeria's Independence Day: Nnamdi Azikiwe ("Zik") becomes 1st indigenous Governor General. At independence, the Nigerian government consisted of three ethnic states united in a federation. Each state was controlled by a single dominant ethnic-based party (October 1): Independence. Nnamdi Azikiwe ("Zik") becomes 1st indigenous Governor General. 50

51 : First Republic of Nigeria under a British parliamentary system. 1960: Nigeria's joins with Liberia and Togo in the "Monrovia Group" which advocated an extremely loose organization of African states (February 11 and 12): People of Northern and Southern Cameroon went to the polls to decide on joining independent Nigeria or the French territory of Cameroon. The south voted to leave Nigeria and the North decided to join Nigeria (June 1): Northern Cameroon becomes Sarduana Province of Nigeria, the thirteenth province of Northern Nigeria (October 1): Southern Cameroon ceases to be a part of Nigeria 1962: By this time, the northern Northern People's Congress (NPC) controlled the federal government, while violence in the western region forced the dominant party there, the Yoruba "Action Group" (AG), to split in two. 1963: Nigeria proclaimed Republic. Nnamdi Azikiwe becomes its first President. 1964: The Northern Peoples Congress(NPC) aligns with a breakaway faction of the Action Group (AG) led by Chief Ladoke Akintola, the Nigerian National Democratic Party(NNDP),to form the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA) to contest elections. At the same time, the main Action Group led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo forms alliance with the United Middle-Belt Congress(UMBC)and Alhaji Aminu Kano's Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) and Borno Youth Movement to form the UPGA (United Progressive Grand Alliance) (November): Elections triggered violence in the western region, where Igbo civil servants of the Hausadominated federal government represented authority to the Yoruba population (January 15): The Nigerian army staged its first coup (May 29): Massive rioting starts in the major towns of Northern Nigeria against the Igbo minority in the north and nearly 30,000 died (July 29): A group of Northern officers and men storm the Government house Ibadan where General Aguiyi Ironsi was staying with his host, Lt. Col Adekunle Fajuyi. The men are arested and killed (August 1): Lt. Col Yakubu Gowon announces a take-over of the government to the nation 1967 (January 4): Nigeria's military leaders travel to Aburi near Acrra, Ghana to find a solution problems facing the country (May 30): Eastern leadership announces Republic of Biafra 1967 (July 6): First shots are fired that formally start of about thirty months of the Biafran war : Military rulers like Gowon ( ), Murtala Muhamed and Olusegun Obasanjo ran Nigeria and altered the constitution again, creating 19 federal states (January 15): The Biafran War came to an end, leaving nearly two million people dead (April 2): Nigeria changed from driving on the right hand side of the road to the left. 51

52 1973 (May): Government establishes the National Youth Service Corps Scheme and introduces compulsory one year service for all graduates of Nigerian universities. 1974: General Gowon reneged on a promise to restore civilian rule in : Gowon announces indefinite delay in trasition plan (October): Gowon was overthrown in a coup, on the anniversary of his ninth year in office, by General Murtala Mohammed. Murtala rolls out transition plan to civil rule due to terminate in (February 13): Murtala Mohammed was gunned down, in an abortive coup attempt, on his way to work from his residence (February 14): General Murtala Mohammed was succeeded by General Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo pledges to keep to Murtala's transition agenda (September 2): The Universal Primary Education Scheme (UPE) is introduced. This was to make education free and compulsory in the country. 1978: Ban on political parties was lifted 1979 (October 1): General Obasanjo handed over to Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari (Excutive President of Nigeria). Five parties competed for the presidency, and Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) won (October 1) (December 31): Second Republic of Nigeria under Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). 1980: The National Party of Nigeria(NPN) forms an accord with the Nigeria People's Party(NPP)to get a majority in parliament. 1981: The end of the oil price boom led to a general strike and the expulsion of more than one million foreign (non- Nigerian) African workers. 1981: The end of the oil price boom led to a general strike and the expulsion of more than one million foreign (non- Nigerian) African workers. 1982: Governors of the opposition parties, NPP, UPN, GNPP and PRP form the Progressive Alliance to checkmate the ruling party, NPN, especially after the crash of NPN/NPP accord at the national level. 1983: Elections are marred by widespread cheating. 1983(September): In Nigeria's second national elections, Shehu Shagari was re-elected president of Nigeria in August-September (December 31): Major-General Muhammed Buhari led another military coup and overthrew the government of Shehu Shagari. Buhari suspended the 1979 constitution and arrested Shagari and other civilian politicians : Buhari's "War Against Indiscipline (WAI)" uncovered corruption in the ranks of government and society (August 27): General Ibrahim Babangida takes over power in a bloodless coup. 52

53 1986: General Babangida promises to restore civilian rule in : Babangida postpones the date of return to civilian rule from October 1990 to October : The government reduced fuel price subsidies as part of its austerity program. In response, transporters raised their prices % and the rest of the population, especially students, went on strike. Fuel prices were lowered again, making Nigeria a source of smuggled fuel to neighboring countries. 1988: The government increased the number of states in Nigeria to 21 (from 19). Later on, a further increase brought the number to (October): Babangida's government refused to legalize 13 independent political parties. Instead, the government founded the SDP (Center-left) and the NRC (Center- right) as the only legal political parties. 1991(September): Administrative reform produced 9 new states and 140 additional local government areas. The date for transition to civilian rule was pushed back again, to January 2, : The government reversed itself and allowed "old breed" politicians to take part in presidential politics. 1991(December): Elections for state governors were dominated by new breed politicians, but the presidential campaigns featured new and old breed politicians. 1992: Babangida shifs handover date again to : Census figures show that Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, with 88.5 million people (Egypt is second with 52 million). Nigeria's GDP is second in Africa ($35 million to South Africa's $90 million), but per capita income is only $ (August/September): Presidential primaries marked by corruption, boycotts, violence, and illegality. 1992(October/November): Babangida cancelled the presidential primaries, banned leaders of both parties, and pushed the date of the presidential election back to mid (March): New primaries yield Abiola and Tofa as presidential candidates. Primaries were marked by corruption (June 12): Presidential elections are held and businessman Moshood Abiola of the SDP takes unexpected lead in early returns (June 23): Babangida came on air to give reasons for annulling the results of the Presidential election. At least 100 people killed in riots in the southwest, Abiola's home area. 1993(August): Scheduled second round of presidential elections were not held (August 26): Babangida keeps his promise to step down by naming an interim government of his own choice, headed by Ernest A. Shonekan (October): The youthful group Movement for the Advancement of Democracy hijacked a Nigerian airliner to Niger in order to protest official corruption. 53

54 1993 (November 17): General Sani Abacha, defence minister in the interim government and most senior officer, seizes power abolishes the constitution and promises a short tenure (November): The senate impeached their president, SDP member Iyorchia Ayu, a strong opponent of the interim government (December): Abacha decided to keep the state governorships in military hands, in order to use them as patronage. 1994: Abiola proclaims himself president, is arrested and charged with treason. Army suppressed riots and strikes (May): Abacha organizes the election of a Constitutional Conference (October): The Nigerian government established the "Petroleum Trust fund" to disburse profits from the oil industry for public works and social intervention (27 June): To celebrate the completion of a Draft Constitution by the Constitutional Conference, General Abacha re-allows political parties and political activity whithout "ruthless or provocative expressions". He does not, however, announce relief for political prisoners nor a deadline for elections 1995 (July): Former President Obasanjo is sentenced to 25 years in prison by a secret military tribunal for alleged participation in an attempt to overthrow the government (September): Abacha gives way to international pressure by reprieving alleged coup plotters who have been sentenced to death (1 October): Independence day; set date for the Provisional Ruling Council's proofreading of the Draft Constitution. 1995: Writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight members of his Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People are hanged for murder. Commonwealth suspends Nigeria. Arms and visa restrictions are imposed by the United States, European Union and South Africa impose. Abacha announces plan to restore civilian rule on October 1, (May): Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria's first president, died (June): Kudirat Abiola, wife of Moshood Abiola, was shot by unknown gunmen (January): Price of petrol is raised by 338 percent by the the Nigerian government, to reduce inflation and combat corruption. The governemt also introduces a five percent value-added tax (VAT), and devalued the currency by 386 percent (December): Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, a former vice-president and political opponent of Abacha, died in prison, leading to charges that he was poisoned (April): All five legal political parties adopt General Sani Abacha as their candidate for August 1 presidential elections (June 8): General Sani Abacha died unexpectedly of a heart attack as he is poised to stand as the sole candidate in the August presidential elections (June 9): Abubakar sworn in as Nigeria's eighth military ruler,by the "Provisional Ruling Council" (29 military officers). He promises to restore civilian rule. 54

55 1998 (July 7): Moshood Abiola died in detention of a heart disease before he could be released in a general amnesty for political prisoners. Rioting in Lagos led to over 60 deaths (July 20): Abubakar promises to relinquish power on May 29, (Aug 31): People's Democratic Party becomes first major party to launch itself (Sept 7): Release of draft constitution (Nov 3): Obasanjo declares his intention to run for the presidency (January 9): Elections to elect governors and legislators for Nigeria's 36 states (January 28): Former finance minister Olu Falae selected by Alliance for Democracy (AD) as presidential candidate (February 14): The executive of All Peoples Party announces choice of little known Ogbonnaya Onu its presidential candidate (February 15): Former military ruler Obasanjo wins the presidential nomination of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (February 16): Falae named joint candidate of the alliance of All Peoples Party and Alliance for Democracy. Ogbonnaya Onu refuses to stand down for Falae (February 17): Electoral commission clears Obasanjo and Falae for presidential elections (May): A new Constitution adopted. It is based on the 1979 Constitution (May 29): Former Military Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, is sworn in as Nigeria's democratically elected civilian President (July 19): Scandal breaks out in the Federal House of Representatives over the qualifications of the speaker, Ibrahim Salisu Buhari (July 21): Ibrahim Salisu Buhari resigns as the Speakerof the Fedral House of Representatives (October 27): Zamfara State adopts Sharia Law. The Emir of Kano Powerful Kings In Nigeria His Royal Highness Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II is currently the Emir of Kano. He heads the entire Kano Emirate and is loved passionately by his people. He became the successor of Alhaji Dr. Ado Bayero who ruled for 51 years. 55

56 Before becoming the Emir, Mallam Sanusi was a renowned banker and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Alaafin of Oyo Among the most powerful and influential monarchial titles attainable in Nigeria is the position of the Alaafin of Oyo. The ruling Alaafin of Oyo is Lamidi Olayiwola III, who is the successor of AlaafinGbadegesi Ladigbolu II. This position is very powerful and the title owner until recently was also the Chairman of the Council of Obas and the Chiefs in Oyo State. This was however changed by the former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and a rotational arrangement was adopted. Sultan of Sokoto As far back as the era of the British, the position of the Sultan has been held in high esteem. The Sultan is also known to be the spiritual leader to the Muslims in Nigeria. The current Sultan is Muhammadu Sa ad Abubakar IV; he was the successor of his late brother Muhammadu Maccido who lost his life in the ADC Airline flight 53 flight. Ooni of Ile-Ife The current Ooni of Ile-Ife is Ooni Okunade Adele Sijuwade (now late) and is the ruler of the dynasty of Ife, which has been in existent for many years. This powerful ruler is known to play a strong role in determining who becomes the governor of Osun state. He was succeed by Adeyeye Ogunwusi as the new Ooni of Ile-Ife. Dein of Agbor The ruling King is called Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi and he ascented the throne when he was just four months after the death of his father thus he became the youngest monarch to ascend a royal throne. He is known as the Officer in the order of the crown. Oba of Benin The Oba of Benin is also referred to as the Omo N Oba. The current Oba of Benin is Omo N Oba N Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa (now late) and he is the ruler of the Edo people. His power stretches to politicians too and he is often called upon by politicians to intervene in important political issues. Oba of Lagos This is the traditional ruler and ceremonial head of one of the largest cities in Africa. The current Oba of Lagos is his Royal Highness Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu and is also referred to as the Eleko of Eko. 56

57 Olubadan of Ibadan This title is prominent and highly influential and is currently held by Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade. He has a strong hold in Ibadan land and calls political leaders to order. Olu of Warri The Kingdom of Warri is currently under the rule of Godwin Toju Emiko. He is a lawyer by profession and has held several important positions in Warri. He is the head of the Itsekiri people. Obi of Onitsha Currently sitting on the throne is Igwe Nnayelugo Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe and he is the traditional ruler and Obi of Onitsha people. He is often widely consulted and has made tremendous contributions to the development of his people. 57

58 COMPILED BY: LAWAL BABATUNDE IBRAHIM SPONSORED AND SUPPORTED BY: CENTURY NEWS WEBSITE: