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When Nigeria Stood Still: 10 Political events that shaped the Nation

Samuel David by Samuel David
June 19, 2025
in National, Politics
Reading Time: 6 mins read
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When Nigeria Stood Still: 10 Political events that shaped the Nation

When Nigeria Stood Still: 10 Political events that shaped the Nation

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From its tumultuous birth through colonial independence to the volatile currents of military coups, democracy, and mass protests, Nigeria’s political history has been defined by moments that shook the country to its core.

These events didn’t just trend in the newspapers or social media; they brought the nation to a standstill—shutting markets, suspending governance, or altering the very soul of the republic.

Each of these episodes marked a crossroads in Nigeria’s political destiny. Below, we unpack 10 pivotal political events that not only held the country in suspense but redefined its national course—sometimes for better, often for worse.

1. 1966 COUPS: THE BEGINNING OF MILITARY POLITICS

Date: January 15 and July 29, 1966
Why Nigeria Stood Still: First military coups in Nigerian history

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The coup plotters of the 1966 Nigeria coup

In January 1966, Nigeria was thrust into a military era through a bloody coup led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. It led to the assassination of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, Premier Ahmadu Bello (Northern Region), Premier Ladoke Akintola (Western Region), and top military officials.

The coup was largely perceived in the North as ethnically biased, given the Igbo officers’ dominance and the fact that the Eastern Premier, Michael Okpara, was untouched.

A counter-coup followed in July 1966, led by Northern officers, including Murtala Mohammed and Theophilus Danjuma. It resulted in the killing of Head of State General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and ushered in Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon.

Why It Mattered:

This pair of coups inaugurated three decades of military dominance, ethnic suspicion, and paved the way for the Biafra War.

2. THE BIAFRAN WAR (1967–1970)

Date: July 6, 1967 – January 15, 1970
Why Nigeria Stood Still: Civil war that killed over a million of people

Biafra war

Following a secessionist declaration by Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, Eastern Nigeria attempted to break away as the Republic of Biafra. The resulting civil war claimed between 1–3 million lives, mainly due to starvation, and remains Nigeria’s most devastating humanitarian crisis.

Images of starving Biafran children circled the globe, prompting global outrage. Markets were closed, families torn, and Nigeria was locked in survival mode.

Why It Mattered:
The war institutionalized federalism and military centralization but left scars of mistrust between Nigeria’s ethnic regions—particularly the Igbo and the rest of the country.

3.) 1983 COUP: BUHARI TAKES OVER

Date: December 31, 1983
Why Nigeria Stood Still: Collapse of the Second Republic

Major General Muhammadu Buhari

Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s government, elected in 1979, was overthrown by Major General Muhammadu Buhari, citing corruption and economic mismanagement. The military’s return after four years of civilian rule stunned the populace.

The coup was broadcast at midnight. People awoke to curfews, frozen bank accounts, mass arrests of politicians, and War Against Indiscipline (WAI) programs.

Why It Mattered:

This cemented the military’s role as an arbiter of governance and undermined confidence in democratic transitions. It also introduced a pattern of military self-legitimization via anti-corruption rhetoric.

4) 1993 ANNULLED ELECTION: JUNE 12 CRISIS

Date: June 12, 1993
Why Nigeria Stood Still: The freest election annulled

Gen Babaginda, MKO Abiola, Abacha

Chief M.K.O. Abiola, a wealthy businessman and philanthropist, won what is still regarded as Nigeria’s fairest presidential election. The electoral body (NEC) had released partial results confirming Abiola’s lead when military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida shockingly annulled the results.

Protests broke out nationwide. Lagos and major cities were paralyzed. Abiola was arrested in 1994 after declaring himself president.

Why It Mattered:
June 12 became a symbol of electoral justice and was later declared Democracy Day in Nigeria. It also signaled the end of Babangida’s regime and deepened calls for democratic reforms.

5) 1998 DEATH OF ABACHA

Date: June 8, 1998
Why Nigeria Stood Still: Sudden death of the feared dictator

Late General Abacha

General Sani Abacha died suddenly in office—allegedly of a heart attack (though widely speculated to be poisoned)—just as he was preparing to transition to civilian rule with himself as sole candidate.

His death came as both shock and relief. Streets were filled with dancing crowds in Lagos and Kano. Political prisoners, including Olusegun Obasanjo, were freed.

Why It Mattered:
His death paved the way for Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. It also prevented an Abacha dynasty and marked the end of one of Nigeria’s darkest military eras.

6) 1999 RETURN TO DEMOCRACY: OBASANJO ELECTED

Date: May 29, 1999
Why Nigeria Stood Still: Civilian rule returns after 16 years

Olusegun Obasanjo

After 16 years of successive military rule, retired General Olusegun Obasanjo became Nigeria’s democratically elected president under the PDP platform. His inauguration at the Eagle Square marked a hopeful turning point.

Streets were deserted in celebration. The swearing-in was broadcast live, watched across villages and cities.

Why It Mattered:
It launched Nigeria’s Fourth Republic—its longest democratic period—and began key privatization and anti-corruption reforms that still influence the country.

7) 2010 DEATH OF PRESIDENT YAR’ADUA

Date: May 5, 2010
Why Nigeria Stood Still: First death of a sitting civilian president

Umaru Musa Yar’Adua

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s long medical absence in Saudi Arabia created a constitutional vacuum. His death led to then-Vice President Goodluck Jonathan’s elevation under the doctrine of necessity, spearheaded by the National Assembly.

For weeks, there was no official communication. Nigeria was leaderless and drifting.

Why It Mattered:

It tested Nigeria’s succession framework and led to key constitutional amendments on presidential incapacitation. It also exposed the fragile health transparency among African leaders.

8) 2012 FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL PROTESTS (OCCUPY NIGERIA)

Date: January 2012
Why Nigeria Stood Still: Nationwide strikes over petrol price hike

2012 FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL PROTESTS – Goodluck Jonathan’s administration

President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration removed fuel subsidies, doubling petrol prices overnight. Nigerians flooded streets nationwide in one of the largest civil protests since the 1990s. Labour unions shut down airports, banks, and schools for over a week.

Occupy Nigeria became a digital and physical uprising, especially across Lagos and Abuja.

Why It Mattered:

The protests awakened a new era of youth activism, digital organizing, and public scrutiny of government fiscal policy.

9) 2015 HISTORIC ELECTION: BUHARI DEFEATS INCUMBENT

Date: March 28, 2015
Why Nigeria Stood Still: First opposition victory over a sitting president

Muhammadu Buhari

Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. The peaceful concession by Jonathan averted potential violence, earning him global praise.

The streets of northern Nigeria erupted in celebration. International media hailed it as a milestone for African democracy.

Why It Mattered:
It marked a maturing of Nigeria’s electoral process and reinforced confidence in peaceful democratic transitions.

10) #ENDSARS PROTESTS

Date: October 2020
Why Nigeria Stood Still: Youth-led protests against police brutality

End SARS protest

The anti-SARS protests began over widespread abuses by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Youths mobilized across Lagos, Abuja, and other cities, organizing sit-ins, concerts, and blockades.

On October 20, 2020, military personnel reportedly opened fire at peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, resulting in national mourning and international outrage.

Why It Mattered:

#EndSARS became a symbol of youth political awakening. Though it led to brutal crackdowns, it forced policy conversations on police reform and government accountability.

REFLECTION: PATTERNS OF STANDSTILL

Across these ten political flashpoints, some common patterns emerge:

  • Military dominance and withdrawal remain central to Nigeria’s post-independence history.
  • Ethnic and regional cleavages often underpinned crises, from coups to elections.
  • Public protests (from June 12 to #EndSARS) consistently highlight Nigerian citizens’ readiness to engage politically—often at great risk.
  • Leadership health, legitimacy, and transition continue to test Nigeria’s constitutional resilience.

Final Thoughts: NATION IN MOTION, YET PAUSED BY HISTORY

For every moment Nigeria stood still, the ground shifted. The country may not have always leaped forward after these episodes, but it never returned to what it once was.

These political turning points are not just pages in a history book, they are open wounds, national reflections, and unfinished chapters in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

The challenge now is not just to remember them but to learn, institutionalize reform, and prevent their recurrence.

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