AL - 'ILAAJ EDITORIAL BOARD, MSSN UCH, IBADAN

  INTRODUCTION   Military rule in Nigeria started when members of the Nigerian Armed Forces seized power through coup d’état in the sixth year of the country’s independence. The military then ruled Nigeria for twenty nine years between 1966 to 1999 with a break from 1979 to 1983 and another three months break in 1993. There were eleven coups, both successful and otherwise, within this period in Nigeria’s history. There were eight military heads of state in total, each surrounded with different circumstances, and their governments have different impacts on the development of Nigeria which would be discussed.  MAJOR GENERAL JOHNSON THOMAS UMUNAKWE AGUIYI-IRONSI'S MILITARY GOVERNMENT (17TH JANUARY, 1966 –29TH JULY, 1966)  The government emerged as a result a bloody coup led by Major Chukuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15th January, 1966. The coup led to the death of prominent political leaders in the country including Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa ( Prime Minister), Sir Ahmadu Be...