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First Nigerian Republic
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First Nigerian Republic
The First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution. The country's government was based on a federal form of the Westminster system. The period between 1 October 1960, when the country gained its independence, and 15 January 1966, when the first military coup d’état took place, is also generally referred to as the First Republic. The first Republic of Nigeria was ruled by different leaders representing their regions as premiers in a federation during this period.
The journey to independence began with some constitutional developments in Nigeria. These constitutional developments saw the country attaining self-rule in some quarters in 1957 and full independence on 1 October 1960.
The Federation of Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960 as a Commonwealth realm, with the British monarch, Elizabeth II, being retained as head of state with the title Queen of Nigeria. A new constitution declaring the nation a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations was adopted in 1963. The Westminster system of government was retained, and thus the president's powers were generally ceremonial.
The political unrest during the mid-1960s culminated into Nigeria's first military coup d'état. On 15 January 1966, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and his fellow rebel soldiers (most of whom were of southern extraction) and were led by Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna of the Nigerian Army, executed a bloody takeover of all institutions of government. Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, was assassinated along with the premier of Northern Nigeria, strong-man Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto; Samuel Akintola, premier of the West; and Festus Okotie-Eboh, the finance minister. It is not clear whether President Azikiwe's life was spared because he was out of the country at the time, or whether he had been informed about the impending coup and was out of the country so that his life could be spared. Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi took control as the first Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria on January 16, 1966.
The republic would be torn by the secession of Biafra and the ensuing Nigerian Civil War from 1966 to 1970. After the end of the war, the nation re-unified and military rule continued for another nine years, implementing nationalisation of foreign businesses. Eventually, elections were held in 1979 leading the way to the Nigerian Second Republic.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe served as the first president from 1 October 1963 – 16 January 1966. Azikiwe had previously resigned from NCNC to become the first governor-general of Nigeria from 16 November 1960 to 30 September 1963. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of the Northern People's Congress was the only prime minister during the period of the First Republic.
The Federal Parliament was the legislative branch of the government, consisting of three elements: The President, the Senate and the directly elected House of Representatives. The Senate was modelled after the British House of Lords and the Canadian Senate. It had 20 members, twelve of which represented each region and were nominated by an electoral college of their respective regional assemblies. Four were appointed by the President on the advice of the prime minister and the remaining four individuals represented the Federal Territory: the Oba of Lagos (an ex officio Senator), a chief selected by parliament, and two other individuals. Regional parliaments had similar chambers: the House of Assembly and the House of Chiefs.
The original regional Premiers of the republic were the following:
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First Nigerian Republic
The First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution. The country's government was based on a federal form of the Westminster system. The period between 1 October 1960, when the country gained its independence, and 15 January 1966, when the first military coup d’état took place, is also generally referred to as the First Republic. The first Republic of Nigeria was ruled by different leaders representing their regions as premiers in a federation during this period.
The journey to independence began with some constitutional developments in Nigeria. These constitutional developments saw the country attaining self-rule in some quarters in 1957 and full independence on 1 October 1960.
The Federation of Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960 as a Commonwealth realm, with the British monarch, Elizabeth II, being retained as head of state with the title Queen of Nigeria. A new constitution declaring the nation a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations was adopted in 1963. The Westminster system of government was retained, and thus the president's powers were generally ceremonial.
The political unrest during the mid-1960s culminated into Nigeria's first military coup d'état. On 15 January 1966, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and his fellow rebel soldiers (most of whom were of southern extraction) and were led by Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna of the Nigerian Army, executed a bloody takeover of all institutions of government. Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, was assassinated along with the premier of Northern Nigeria, strong-man Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto; Samuel Akintola, premier of the West; and Festus Okotie-Eboh, the finance minister. It is not clear whether President Azikiwe's life was spared because he was out of the country at the time, or whether he had been informed about the impending coup and was out of the country so that his life could be spared. Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi took control as the first Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria on January 16, 1966.
The republic would be torn by the secession of Biafra and the ensuing Nigerian Civil War from 1966 to 1970. After the end of the war, the nation re-unified and military rule continued for another nine years, implementing nationalisation of foreign businesses. Eventually, elections were held in 1979 leading the way to the Nigerian Second Republic.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe served as the first president from 1 October 1963 – 16 January 1966. Azikiwe had previously resigned from NCNC to become the first governor-general of Nigeria from 16 November 1960 to 30 September 1963. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of the Northern People's Congress was the only prime minister during the period of the First Republic.
The Federal Parliament was the legislative branch of the government, consisting of three elements: The President, the Senate and the directly elected House of Representatives. The Senate was modelled after the British House of Lords and the Canadian Senate. It had 20 members, twelve of which represented each region and were nominated by an electoral college of their respective regional assemblies. Four were appointed by the President on the advice of the prime minister and the remaining four individuals represented the Federal Territory: the Oba of Lagos (an ex officio Senator), a chief selected by parliament, and two other individuals. Regional parliaments had similar chambers: the House of Assembly and the House of Chiefs.
The original regional Premiers of the republic were the following:
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