Troubled journey : Nigeria since the civil war / edited by Levi A. Nwachuku, G.N. Uzoigwe.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Nwachuku, Levi Akalazu.

Uzoigwe, G. N.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nigeria--History--1960-.

Nigeria.

History.

Nigeria--Politics and government--1960-.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xxviii, 340 pages : maps, portraits ; 22 cm

Other Title:

Nigeria since the civil war

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : University Press of America, [2004]

Summary:

Troubled Journey: Nigeria Since the Civil War is the latest of a number of case-study probes into Nigeria's unique experience as modern African state. It pulls together a talented group of Nigerian historians who have been close students of Nigeria's troubled journey since Independence Day on October 1, 1960 and more precisely since the conclusion of its devastating Civil War- 1967-1970. This book is a major contribution to the on-going debate about how best the country can be politically restructured and socio-economically reformed.

Contents:

Milestones in Nigerian History

Part I Historical Overview

Chapter 1. Nigeria to 1960: An Overview / G. N. Uzoigwe 1

Geography and Environment 2

Ancestry of Nigerians 4

State Formation 10

External Influence 12

Chapter 2. Survey of Nigerian History Since Independence / Levi A. Nwachuku 21

The Test of the Nigerian State 23

Census Crisis, 1962-1963 24

Creation of the Midwest State 26

Lagos University Vice Chancellorship Crisis, 1965 27

Prelude to the First Military Coup 28

Western Region Election, November, 1965 29

The Coup d'etat, 1966 and the Subsequent Break-up of the Nigerian Federation 32

Aftermath of the Civil War: A Federal Omnipotence 38

Social Ethics 39

The Igbo Experience 40

Nigeria 1970-1980: The Boom Decade, An Overview 42

Nigeria 1980-1990s: The Troubled Years, An Overview 44

Part II From Gowon to Abubakar

Chapter 3. Era of Misguided Good Feeling: Yakubu Gowon and the Birth of a New Nigeria, 1970-1975 / O. N. Njoku 51

Silver Lining 52

Reconstruction and Rehabilitation 54

Economic Mismanagement 60

Corruption, Extravagance and Inequality 64

Foreign Policy 68

Broken Covenant 71

Chapter 4. The Quest for National Purification: Murtala Muhammed's New Vision, 1975-1976 / Gloria Ifeoma Chuku 79

Civil and Public Service Purge 80

Transition to Civil Rule 86

Relocation of the Federal Capital 87

Creation of More States 88

Abandoned Property Issue 89

Leadership Style and Political Structure 90

Socio-Economic Problems 93

Foreign Policy 98

Exit of a Hero and Soldier-Statesman 100

Chapter 5. Vision Betrayed?: Olusegun Obasanjo, 1976-1979 / Levi A. Nwachuku 111

The Economy 113

Social Cultural Forces 116

Foreign Policy 121

Political Development 123

Obasanjo: An Assessment 126

Chapter 6. Vision Lost: Restoration of Civilian Rule and Shehu Shagari's Missed Opportunity, 1979-1983 / G. N. Uzoigwe, Stella A. Effah-Attoe 133

Shehu Shagari: A Profile 136

Politics of Survival 139

Reassertion of State Power and Central Government Response 147

Economic Crisis 151

The Public Sector 157

Social Forces 162

Foreign Policy 169

The 1983 Elections and the Fall of the Second Republic 172

Chapter 7. Crisis of Purpose: Muhammadu Buhari's Renaissance of National Sanitation, 1984-1985 / Levi A. Nwachuku 187

General Muhammadu Buhari: A Profile 189

Economic, Social and Political Inheritance 191

Redemptive Economic Measures 192

Education 194

Ethical Purification 196

Foreign Policy 197

Chapter 8. Collapse of Purpose: Ibrahim Babangida, 1985-1993 / J. L. Dibua 207

The Political Bureau 209

Mass Mobilization 212

Administrative Reforms 214

Rural Development 217

Economic Policy 220

Transition to Civil Rule Program 224

Foreign Policy 228

Chapter 9. Legacy of National Paralysis: Ernest Shonekan and Sani Abacha, 1993-1998 / Okechukwu Okeke 237

Rise and Fall of Shonekan 237

Political Developments Under the Abacha Regime 242

Economic and Social Developments 246

Foreign Affairs 257

The Abacha Regime, 1997-1998: A PostScript 260

Chapter 10. Abdulsalaam Abubakar's Interregnum, 1998-1999 / Gloria Ifeoma Chuku 269

Transition to Civil Rule 270

Social Policy 272

The Economy 275

Foreign Policy 279

Chapter 11. The Future of Nigeria: Problems and Prospects in the Twenty-First Century / G. N. Uzoigwe 283

The Paradox of Nigeria 283

Importance of Nigeria 284

Primacy of Politics: "Seek Ye First the Political Kingdom" 286

Secularity versus Theocracy: Religion as the Opiate of the People 298

The Military Factor: The Soldier as Citizen 302

Foreign Policy: Charity Begins at Home 305

Economic and Social Imperatives: Leadership and Reform 306

Vision 2010 Report: A Retrospective Look 311

Economic Reform 313

Social Reform 316.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0761827129

OCLC:

55535515