The Nigerian Civil War

Civil War: A war between groups of people in the same country e.g. Nigerian Civil War.

The Nigerian Civil War started on the 30^th of May 1967 and ended on the 15th of January 1970. The main cause of the civil war was the power tussle within the Nigerian Military between Ojukwu and Gowon.

Causes of Nigerian Civil War:

Remote Causes of Nigerian Civil War: 

• One of the remote causes of the Nigerian Civil War was unhealthy ethnic rivalry among the ethnic groups.

• Political Parties were based on ethnic groupings and these political parties were antagonistic to one another. e.g. NPC – Northern Party, AG – Western Party, NCNC – Eastern-based political party.

• The introduction of Decree No. 34 of 1966 (Unification decree) by the military head of state, General J. T. U. Aguiyi Ironsi, did not go down well with some regions.

• Another remote cause was the census crisis of 1962/63. Some regions did not accept the census result in the court of law.

• Again is the inability of the government to maintain law and order in all parts of the Federation especially the wanton destruction of properties, arsons and widespread killings – the aftermath of the western region election in October 1966.

• Politicisation of the Army: The army had been Politicised and divided along ethnic lines.

• The killing of Civilian Political Leaders by the 1966 Coup plotters and the refusal by the head of state to try them was another remote cause of the civil war.

• Tribal Domination: The fear of one tribe dominating the army was another remote cause.

Immediate Causes of the Civil War:

• The mass killing of the Igbos in the North to retaliate against the killing of the Northern Political Leaders was an immediate cause of the civil war.

• Leadership tussle or crisis between Colonel Yakubu Gowon and Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu with the army was an immediate cause of the civil war. Col. Ojukwu refused to accept Col. Gowon as the head of state because he was not the most senior Military Officer.

• The killing of the Head of State – Gen. J. T. U. Aguiyi Ironsi in the counter-coup by Military officers from the North was another reason.

• The Head of State of Ghana – General Joseph Arthur Akrah – made an attempt to resolve the leadership tussle within the Nigerian army. A number of decisions were taken at the Aburi meeting. But Col. Gowon and Col. Ojukwu interpreted those decisions differently.

• The creation of twelve (12) states on 27^th May 1967, by Col. Gowon to weaken the Governor of the Eastern region’s power was another cause or reason.

• The last straw that broke the Camel’s back was the declaration of the Republic of Biafra by Ojukwu on 30^th May 1967.

Efforts Made to Prevent Nigeria’s Civil War:

Several attempts were made to prevent the war.

• There were several meetings by “Leaders of thoughts” of various parts of the country to decide on how to resolve the crisis but their efforts failed.

• In January 1967, the Military Administrators or Governors of the four (4) regions met with the Head of State, Col. Yakubu Gowon and also a few African Heads of State. The meeting was summoned at the instance of the Head of State of Ghana – General Joseph Arthur Ankrah. They agreed on a number of things popularly known as the “Aburi Accord”. When they returned to Nigeria from Ghana, Gowon failed to implement his own side of the agreement.

• On 5^th May 1967, a group known as the National Reconciliation Committee led by Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, Chief Justice of the Federation, Chief Jereton Mariere and Chief Obafemi Awolowo travelled to the Eastern region to persuade the Governor of the region not to go to war. The group was encouraged by the Federal government. The effort did not achieve the desired results and in July 1967, the war broke out.

Decisions of the Aburi Meeting in Ghana:

• The Eastern regional government interpreted the accord as a confederal system while the Federal government saw it as returning the country to the constitutional frame it was before the Military intervened in January 1967.

• They agreed that the Supreme Military Council should be given the power to deal with all matters of national importance affecting the whole country.

• It also agreed that all decreesA decree is an official order given by a government or by a person with power. For example, the president can issue a decree making a particular day a national holiday.... More that had centralisation of power should be repelled without dismantling the Federal system of government already in place.

• It also vested the power of the central government – executiveThe executive, also referred to as the executive branch or executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces the law and has overall responsibility... More and legislatureThe legislative branch of government is responsible for making laws within a country. Legislatures are made up of people called legislators who, in democracies, are elected by the country’s population More powers – in the Supreme Military Government and established in place of the Supreme Commander and Head of the Federal Military government, the title of Commander-in-Chief. The Current incumbent was made “Chairman” not the president of the Supreme Military Council.

• The Supreme Military Council is to be composed of Military administrators of the region whose concurrent powers must be sought and obtained before making decisions that would be binding on the whole country. 

Effects of Nigeria’s Civil War:

Positive Effects:

• One of the most important effects was that the territorial integrity and unity of Nigeria were maintained. It retained one indivisible Nigeria.

• The Civil War reduced the possibility of any ethnic groups/states breaking away.

• Furthermore, more states were created from the four regions. Twelve states were created, six from the Northern region, three from the Eastern region and three from the Western region.

• The Civil War made the central government stronger than the other levels of government.

• The War increased Nigeria’s confidence in the Organization of African Unity as only four African countries recognized the Republic of Biafra (Ivory Coast, Gabon, Tanzania).

• The Civil War enabled Nigerians to look inwards technologically. It helped Eastern Nigeria to develop technologically. Those in Biafra produced their own rifles, explosives, guns, armoured cars, etc.

Negative Effects:

• The War cost the country a lot of money. Millions of property were lost in the war. A lot of funds were spent on ammunition bombs and warplanes.

• Several Million Nigerians lost their lives on the battlefield. Some lost theirs due to hunger and diseases like Kwashiokor, especially in the War-ravaged areas of South-East Nigeria.

• Several families, especially those from the South East, were displaced from their homes. Innocent children and Women suffered untold hardships.

• The Federal government’s financial policy at the end of the War (Civil War) made a section of the country poorer. For e.g. the Finance Minister, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, made a policy that only twenty (20) Pounds was to be given to any Igbo man who deposited money in the bank irrespective of the amount the person had deposited before the war.

• The war disrupted the educational system in some parts of the country. Many educational institutions were destroyed or closed down.

• It also disrupted economic activities. Many economic activities were paralysed. Internal and external trade was seriously hindered. Even foreign investors moved away. Many factories and Industries closed down.

• Nigeria’s image abroad suffered. Some foreigners believed the War was between Christians and Muslims.

There was an increase in crime rates and unemployment. Many Nigerians resorted to prostitution, armed robbery, drug addiction, etc. as a means of livelihood or survival.

How to Prevent any Civil War:

• Ethnic differences and Sectionalism should be de-emphasized. We should only emphasize things that would promote national unity and not sectional interests.

• Elections must be conducted regularly and periodically so that seat-fight leaders would be prevented.

• Elections should be devoid of any malpractices so that rancour that may degenerate into war will not emanate from there.

• Leaders must respect the rule of law and constitutionalism.

• Inter-ethnic marriages should be promoted and encouraged.

• Religious differences and negative criticisms should be tolerated. Such views should even checkmate the leaders so as to curtail their excesses.

• Leaders should not be corrupt, greedy and misappropriate public funds.

• All people in a state must be treated equally. Some people must not see themselves as first-class citizens and some as second class and others even as third-class. Nigeria belongs to all of us. 

• Leaders must respect people(s) opinions. If a leader is no longer popular and the people are clamouring for a change of leadership, the leader must respect the views of the people, in order to avert an uprising and eventual civil war. e.g. Libya under Muammar Gaddafi and Syria under Bashar al-Assad.