Military Era & Coups in Nigeria
Military regimes, coups, economic policies, and the transition to democratic governance in Nigeria from 1966 to 1999.
How Governor Olabisi Onabanjo Moved Against the Awujale, and How the 1983 Coup Changed the Course of the Crisis
The clash between Governor Olabisi Onabanjo of Ogun State and Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, remains one of the most dramatic...
The Family of M.K.O. Abiola Before June 12
Before June 12 became a date of grief, protest, detention, and unfinished national memory, the Abiola name could still be seen in another light,...
The Night Fear Reached Lagos, Dr Majekodunmi and the Uncertain Hours of the 1966 Coup
In the early hours of 15 January 1966, Nigeria awoke to gunfire, confusion, and a political rupture that would reshape its future. What began...
Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey and Nigeria’s Early Naval Command
Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey stands among the most important officers in the early history of the Nigerian Navy. His career connected the old colonial...
Adekunle Fajuyi and the July 1966 Crisis
In the early hours of 29 July 1966, Nigeria stood on the edge of collapse. Just months after the first military coup had ended...
The July 1966 Counter-Coup
Nigeria entered independence in 1960 as a federation held together by a fragile political arrangement. The Northern, Western, and Eastern Regions were not just...
January 1966 and the Fall of Nigeria’s First Republic
Nigeria entered 1966 as an independent country with a constitutional system already under severe strain. The promise of parliamentary rule had been weakened by...
Nigeria’s Federal System and Central Power
Nigeria’s political future is often debated in extreme positions. Some insist that unity can be preserved through national sentiment alone, while others dismiss grievances...
Military Rule in Nigeria and How the Barracks Rebuilt the Federation From the Centre
Nigeria’s military era changed far more than the occupants of power. It transformed the structure of the Nigerian state. Between January 1966 and May...
The Dangerous Memory of Military Rule in Nigeria
Nigeria’s military past still lives strongly in public memory. In times of economic hardship, political frustration, and insecurity, some citizens look back at military...