Following the January 1966 coup and the July 1966 counter‑coup, Nigeria entered a period of military rule, with Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon emerging as Head of State after the assassination of General Johnson Aguiyi‑Ironsi. To govern the country, Gowon established the Supreme Military Council (SMC), which exercised both executive and legislative powers, formalised under a March 1967 decree. The SMC included senior military officers, regional governors, service chiefs, and the Inspector‑General of Police, centralising authority at a time of rising ethnic tension.
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Members of the SMC in Early 1967
The confirmed members or key participants of the SMC in early 1967 included Yakubu Gowon, Head of State and Chairman of the SMC, Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Hassan Usman Katsina, Military Governor of the Northern Region, David Ejoor, Military Governor of the Mid‑Western Region, Mobolaji Olufunso Johnson, Military Administrator of the Federal Territory of Lagos, Kam Salem, Inspector‑General of Police, and Emmanuel Ekpo, Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters. Earlier narratives incorrectly listed Murtala Muhammed as a member at this time; verified records indicate he was not part of the SMC in early 1967, nor present at the Aburi Conference.
Events and Decisions Around 1967
In January 1967, SMC members and regional governors met in Accra, Ghana, at the Aburi Conference, to address rising ethnic tensions and prevent conflict. Participants included Gowon, Wey, Katsina, Johnson, Ejoor, Kam Salem, and other governors. The accord emphasised renunciation of force and transparency in the management of arms among regions.
Despite the Aburi Accord, the federal government enacted Decree No. 14 on 27 May 1967, reorganising Nigeria from four regions into twelve states, to reduce regional dominance and enhance federal authority. The Eastern Region interpreted this as a provocation, leading to the declaration of the Republic of Biafra under Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu on 30 May 1967, and the commencement of the Nigerian Civil War on 6 July 1967.
Social, Economic, and Institutional Impact
The creation of twelve states redefined Nigeria’s political geography. Military governors, including Johnson in Lagos and Ejoor in the Mid‑West, assumed administrative control, establishing foundations for state governance and revenue collection. The SMC replaced civilian institutions with centralised military authority, dissolving regional assemblies and removing elected representatives.
While oil revenues later expanded federal capacity, claims linking immediate socio-economic improvements directly to 1967 SMC policies are unverified. Changes in infrastructure, industrialisation, and living standards were gradual, occurring over several years rather than immediately.
Colonial Legacies
Ethnic and regional tensions had roots in colonial administration, which created artificial divisions and regional governance structures. The SMC’s state-creation policy responded to these structural weaknesses but institutionalised centralised power and altered federal-regional relations.
Significance
The March 1967 SMC photograph captures Nigeria’s leadership at a turning point. The council’s decisions, including state creation and military centralisation, reshaped the nation, contributed to the secession of Biafra, and set the stage for the Nigerian Civil War. These events continue to influence debates on federalism, governance, and civil-military relations.
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Author’s Note
By March 1967, the SMC, led by Gowon, comprised senior military officers, regional governors, and the Inspector-General of Police. The council’s actions directly influenced the outbreak of the Civil War and the reorganisation of the Nigerian state. Recognising the historical record allows for an accurate understanding of Nigeria’s governance and the legacies of military rule in shaping political, administrative, and social structures.
References:
- “Supreme Military Council of Nigeria (1966–1979)”.
- “May 30, 1967”, Dawodu.com, on state creation and Biafra secession
