History Of Critical Times in Nigeria: How it shaped Our Nation, Africa And the World!

Hello steemitians, Today we shall analyse the critical times of the most populous black nation in the world. It is said that every 5th African in the world is a Nigerian. Hence i also invite @trevorjb to visit Nigeria(winks). What challenges has this nation faced over time? How has it shaped Africa and its inhabitants? How is it shaping the people in it.
Before we consider all this, let's look at the geography of Nigeria.

Source:google

SOME GEOGRAPHIC FACTS ABOUT NIGERIA
Nigeria is located on the Gulf of Guinea and stretches through an Area of 923,768square km and a coastline of 853km (Obaje e.tal).
Thus Nigeria can be found in the centre of the world map if evaluated critically, anything at the left is too far away to the left and anything at the right is too
Farther away to the right same goes for upward(North and south pole) and downward position of Nigeria. This is to say Nigeria can import or export anything from its location faster than so many country to anywhere in the world.

The Nigeria's rails is measured at about 3,530km with jos being the highest point above sea level. The rails runs from Lagos to Kano, Portharcourt to Maiduguri, and branches in Zaria to Gusau and kauara Namoda. (Ulo eta'l 1989). Only recently was the Abuja Kaduna route initiated by the present government.

The country is 1,045km long and 1,126km wide(Geographical regions of Nigeria 1989). Presently Nigeria's capital is Abuja since 1991. However, major cities in Nigeria includes, Lagos, Kano, Onithsa, Enugu, Ibadan, Portharcourt, Jos, Kaduna, Asaba, Calabar, to mention but a few. These cities are fastly becoming metropolitan.

Nigeria is characterized with various ethnic groups, although suming up to 3major groups, 250 ethnic groups exist in Nigeria. Climatic conditions are wet and dry seasons.
So let's discuss on the critical times in the history of such great nation.

ALMAGAMATION OF 1914

The almagamation of the northern and southern protectorates is one historic event that changed everything for Niger area. This was done for more economic reasons than political. The then Governor of both protectorate needed to use the excess budget in the southern protectorate to fill the deficit in the northern protectorate. Thus Nigeria was born. Lord Frederic Lugard who took over as Govenor in 1912 saw the signing of the amalgamation in to law as a treaty between the two protectorates in January 2014.
Many Nigerians and international communities have claimed that there were no understudy to find out the coexistence of both sides and has called for break up even in more recent times.

Source:google

ABA WOMEN RIOTS
Towards the end of 1929, when the then government taught it came up with an equitable taxation plan, the women sprung up in protest. There was a huge revolt in Bende district of Umuahia and other southeast region namely Oloko and Calabar, as the women all journeyed to Oloko to protest the warrant chief Okugo who as acting on instructions from the colonial masters.
Although the rovolt was seen as anticolonial, but the women had organised themselves to redress social political,and economic grievences which encompasses that taxes be paid for women, children and livestock (goats). The protest was carried out by women from Bonny, Igbo, Opbo, Ibibio, Andori, and ogoni respectively.
This protest opened the eyes of the colonial masters on the strong willed people they ruled over. It was also a turning point the African women.

Source:google

NIGERIA'S INDEPENDENCE
One of those critical times for Nigeria as a country was its independence on 1st October 1960. Jaja Nwachukwu was the first Nigerian speaker of house of representatives. He was handed the freedom chatmrter on the 1st of October 1960 from the then representative of the Queen Princess Alexandria of Kent.
The Federal Government was given exclusive powers to govern,defend, carry out foreign relations and commerce, and to implement fiscal policies.
This was the game changer for the country, the point where it became a sovereign state.
After indepence Nigerians where free to do business in their country and free to travel anywhere they wanted. This also drove the quest for liberation by other African counterparts from their masters. Nigeria's support and role in the independence of South Africa in 1996 can not be overemphasized.

Source:google

COUPS IN NIGERIA
The First Military junta in Nigeria occurred (6)six years after independence. The coup saw General Aguyi Ironyi as head of state after over throwing Alhaji sir Abubakar Tafawa Belewa. Aguyi Ironyi was later over thrown after one month by General Yakubu Gowon who established a supreme military council. General (late) Murtala Mohammed succeeded General Gowon. Murtala was murdered by Suka Dimka and a host of others in violent coup attempt but failed to kill General Olusegun Obasanjo who took over power.
Obansanjo handed over power to Shehu Shagari which saw the end to the second republic.

In 1983 General Muhammadu Buhari #PMB over threw Shagari and was appointed Chairman of the Supreme Council.
In 1985 he (Gen Buhari) was over thrown by General Ibrahim Babangida who appointed himself president of the armed forces ruling council of Nigeria.
In 1993 he handed power to Ernest Shonekan which was looked upon as an interim Democratic head of state. But General Sani Abacha truncated it during #IBB's visit to Egypt.
After Achacha's death in 1998 General Abdulsalam Abubakar handed over to Olusegun Obasanjo in a democratically elected government in may 29 1999.

The constant truncation of Nigeria's Democratic space by the military has necessitated the stagnation in political, socioeconomic development of the Nigerian state.
Urbanization of Nigeria's cities and development was in retrogression.

DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA
With small glimpse of democracy from independence till the new millennium, Nigerias know so little about democracy. Thus May 29th of every year has been set aside to celebrate the Democratic dispensation that the country nows enjoy.
Democracy too came with its own cost to the Nigerian Nation.
So far, its been 18years of Nigeria's democracy. As Nigerians grow in the political arena, it seems to have forgotten core values that were imbibed by the founding fathers.

THE NIGERIAN-BIAFRIAN CIVIL
Never in history has Nigeria being in brink of a divide like that of 1967. In July 6 1967 the then Governor general of the Eastern region(Ojukwu Dim) declared Biafra a Natio, which led to the civil unrest in the entire country. The government taught it was going to be a walk over on the rebel forces, little did they know it would last until April 1969.
The civil war is still in the mind of the older citizens just like yesterday.thus Nigeria for once were divided by ethnicity.
Even about 50 years after the war, these ethnic and religious divide is still strong in the minds of Nigerians.

Source : google

MILITANCY AND TERRORIST
Militancy in the Niger Deltas of Nigeria has been one continuous Chris is in the history of Nigeria. This has become reoccurring due to inability by the Federal government of the country to enjor the safety, health, and survival of those who stay in Nigeria oil rich region.

The youths of various communities in these areas has decried improper representation amidst bad leadership as the reason for continued attacts on oil pipes.
Thus the consistent bombing of pipelines has led to a drastic reduction in the daily barrels they can produce. This also affected countries who relied on oil supplies from Nigeria.

The Terror group popular as #Bokoharam has often caused havoc in the Northeast of the country. So many Nigerians has been rendered homeless. Several Nigerians have lost their lives to such hostile groups.
Nigeria has also being labelled as one of the terror Nation due to the group activities.

2015 ELECTION
The 2015 elections in Nigeria was recorded as a milestone in the political history of Nigeria. Despite its postponement from the 14th of February 2015, the election which later took place six weeks prior to the aforementioned date on the 28th of March 2015 was adjudged as one of the best elections of all times in Nigeria.

What also made it symbolic was for the first time in the history of Africa(Nigeria) a sitting president conceded to defeat. The ruling party turned opposition, and political climate of Nigeria was altered and set for what was to come Next.

ECONOMIC RECESSION
In the year 2014/2015 Nigeria,China, Dubai were tipped to become the faints in world economy(worldbank report 2015) little did we know what was to come would bend everyone to their knees. Nigeria's Recession became pronounced in 2016 after in merious denial by the Federal government. It was clear to the new born who can't afford to change diapers regularly to the family who can no longer afford 3square meals. To the companies whom where liquidating fastly. And employees who despite being underpaid lost their little source of lively hood.
The Economic recession brought wisdom to lots if Nigerians, very many went back subsistence farming, while others could manage anything that could put food on their tables.
Suicide became pronounced and child labour on the rise. Others where willing to leave the country through any means they find.
Infac, it seemed that the recession brought more troubles to the Nigerian society.

HOPE FOR NIGERIANS
As the most populated black Nation emerged, it became clear that changes needed to grow and get to its epoach is not with the same population which had ruined it.
The youth involvement in politics is still very minimum, Infact they are used as tugs in the political arena. Just as I wrote in one of my post where @Mickyscofied commented, "the future of the African society lies in its youth.
Nigeria's youth must stand up to face its demons and demand for its fare share of good governance.

The history of #critical times in Nigeria has impaired development, despite all these all must wake up to the facts ahead of us. It is a collective efforts. We are not left without a way out.
As 2019 election approaches(lecture for another day) we must reject all high handedness in form of bribes and being bought by the political class.
We have the power in our hands to make Nigeria great!

TO ALL NAIJA PEOPLE ( Exclusively Nigerian Pidgin)
I no go talk say e easy Sam Sam, we don see oba for this our country ooo. The thing wey e dey pain me be say we pursue oyibo come worse pass oyibo people. Na we con dey take our hand become wakajugbe go give them our kudi. If politician tied money we go clap for am. You think say oyinbo wey put us for confusion no get sense?
We don dey be say we din dey, how we go do am mY country people?

E tire me say every person wey I know one run go obodo oyibo who go repair naija?we go dey run.
Owo dey yayfu yafu, but only the if them they theif am. Me and you go school finish we no even get hope to start business talk less of to see work. If to say e get one person wey go say him na light him go do, and another one say na road. And we do am like that e go better we no want 7point agenda, even 2 self we no want na one point agenda ooo we want. If you come do only road wey dey this country for four years another one do light wanllahi before we reach 16years we go know wetin we want.
Which day we go begin gumbody with our them leaders make them stop this ojoro.
But like @ejemai make we do the small wey we fit do!
Me don yan my own o....
Help me resteem make e reach all naija people ooo.
Una thank you!!!