MILITARY INTERVENTIONS IN NIGERIAN POLITICS 1966 - 1979 AN ANALYSIS OP INSTITUTIONAL POLITICIZATION
MILITARY INTERVENTIONS IN NIGERIAN POLITICS 1966 - 1979 AN ANALYSIS OP INSTITUTIONAL POLITICIZATION
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1987-12
Authors
GARBA., MARY Y.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This t h e s i s is about m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n in
p o l i t i c s . Considered an a b e r r a t i o n before 1945,
i n s t a n c e s in which the m i l i t a r y ployed an i n c r e a s i n g ly
a c t i v e r o l e in p o l i t i c s of Third World c o u n t r i es
became widespread a f t e r t h e Second War War. Analysts
have posited many reasons to account for m i l i t a ry
involvement in p o l i t i c s . I have analysed the Nigerian
case w i t h i n t h e framework of p o l i t i c i s a t i o n.
The Nigerian M i l i t a r y is a c r e a t i o n of the c o l o n i a l
i s t s who used the i n s t i t u t i o n not only to conquer the
l o c a l people but a l s o to impose i m p e r i a l r u l e upon them.
The militarymon were t r a i n e d and molded in thr B r i t i sh
m i l i t a r y t r a d i t i o n s . They were taught to be p o l i t i c a l l y
n e u t r a l . Till independence, the Nigerian militarymen
were h i g h l y p r o f e s s i o n a l and the ethos of p o l i t i c al
n e u t r a l i t y was maintained.
Within f i v e y e a r s of independence, the i n s t i t u t i on
had become h i g h l y p o l i t i c i s e d . This we i n d i c a t e is the
r e s u l t of many i n t e r r e l a t e d f a c t o r s , the most notable
being the nature of Nigerian s o c i e t y i t s e l f . P o l i t i ci
s a t i o n , it is noted negates some important m i l i t a ry
v a l u e s achieved during the process of p r o f e s s i o n a l i n a t i o n.
With p o l i t i c a l c r i s e s within the p o l i t y and the i n a b i l i ty
of p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s to resolve them, the m i l i t a r y is
o f f e r e d the opportunity to i n t e r v e n e . It struck on. the
15th January 1966. This development only set pace for
f u r t h e r p o l i t i c i s a t i o n of the i n s t i t u t i o n r e s u l t i n g in
coups and counter-coupa .
Although I do not deny the e x i s t e n c e of other
e x p l a n a t i o n s for the Nigerian s i t u a t i o n , I am h i g h ly
convinced by the a v a i l a b l e evidence t h a t p o l i t i c i s a t i on
i s c e n t r a l to understanding of m i l i t a r y i n t e r v e n t i o n in
p o l i t i c s of N i g e r i a.
Description
Political Science, Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria in partial fulfilment for the award
of Master of Science degree.
Department of Political Science,
Faculty of Arts and Social Science,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
December, 1987.
Keywords
MILITARY, INTERVENTIONS, NIGERIAN POLITICS, 1966 - 1979, ANALYSIS, INSTITUTIONAL POLITICIZATION