HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY NIGERIA

HISTORY...

Nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers living in the area as early as 11,000 BC. Numerous ancient African civilizations settled in the region that is today Nigeria. An example of one of the civilizations that settles in Nigeria is the Nri Kingdom. Islam reached Nigeria through the Hausa States during the 11th century. The Songhai Empire also occupied part of the region. Lagos was captured by British forces in 1851 and formally annexed in 1861. Nigeria became a British protectorate in 1901. Colonization lasted until 1960, when an independence movement succeeded in gaining Nigeria its independence.

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Nigeria first became a republic in 1963, but succumbed to military rule in 1966 after a bloody coup d'état. A separatist movement later formed the Republic of Biafra in 1967, leading to the three-year Nigerian Civil War. Nigeria became a republic once again after a new constitution was written in 1979. However, the republic was short-lived, when the military led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari seize again four years later. Buhari was overthrown and a new republic was founded in August 1993, but was dissolved once again by General Sani Abacha in November that same year. Abacha died in 1998 and a fourth republic was later established the following year, ending three decades of intermittent military rule.

Read more https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Nigeria

People & Culture

Within its vast area, Nigeria has over 250 different ethnic groups, all with their own languages and heritage.

The largest groups are the Hausa in the north, the Yoruba in the southwest and the Igbo (or Ibo) in the southeast, who account for around a fifth of the population each. The languages of these three groups can therefore be used in government. Other large groups include the Ijaw in the east and the Fulani in the north.

Nigeria is divided into 36 states. In the 13 northern states, the vast majority of people are Muslim. The Hausa have been Muslims for almost a thousand years, having been converted to Islam by Arab traders and merchants from the 10th century.

In the southern states, the majority of Nigerians are Christian, while some groups continue to practice indigenous beliefs. Generally, religion is taken very seriously. Most people will attend church on a Sunday and make frequent references to God or Jesus in everyday conversation.

PAST AND PRESENT NIGERIAN LEADERS

First Republic (1963-1966)

Nnamdi AZIKIWE (president, ceremonial; prime minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa): Oct 1, 1963 to Jan 16, 1966 (overthrown).

Military rule (1966-1979)

General Johnson Thomas AGUIYI-IRONSI: Jan 16, 1966 to Jul 29, 1966 (overthrown)

General Yakubu GOWON: Jul 29, 1966 to Jul 29, 1975 (overthrown).

General Murtala MOHAMMED: Jul 29, 1975 to Feb 13, 1976 (assassinated).

General Olusegun OBASANJO: Feb 13, 1976 to Oct 1, 1979 (resigned).

Second republic (1979-1983)

Shehu SHAGARI: Oct 1, 1979 to Dec 31, 1983 (overthrown).

Military rule (1983-1993)

General Muhammadu BUHARI: Dec 31, 1983 to Aug 27, 1985 (overthrown).

General Ibrahim BABANGIDA: Aug 27, 1985 to Aug 26, 1993 (resigned).

Third republic (1993)

Ernest SHONEKAN: Aug 26, 1993 to Nov 17, 1993 (overthrown).

Military rule (1993-1999)

General Sani ABACHA: Nov 17, 1993 to Jun 8, 1998 (died in office).

General Abdulsalami ABUBAKAR: Jun 8, 1998 to May 29, 1999 (resigned).

Fourth republic (1999-present)

Olusegun OBASANJO: May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007.

Umaru Musa YAR'ADUA: May 29, 2007 to May 5, 2010 (died in office).

Goodluck JONATHAN: May 5, 2010 to May 29, 2015.

General Muhammadu BUHARI