The military has had a very significant and complex role in Nigerian politics, one that has shaped this nation from independence to the present day. Through much of history, the military represented a central force within which most of the intervention of Nigerian governance was launched, having damaging effects on its politics. This involvement began shortly after the Nigerian independence in 1960, with the first military coup occurring as early as January 1966, resulting in the overthrow of the civilian government. That particular coup opened the floodgates to an inordinately long period of military hegemony over the polity in Nigeria and saw successive regimes of military rule for almost three consecutive decades.
Probably the most prominent role directly played by the military in Nigerian Politics is direct governance through military coups and regimes. Within the period 1966-1999, Nigeria experienced a spate of military coups, with new regimes arguing at almost every turn that their actions were right and very necessary to redress corruption, political instability, or mismanagement of the economy. Coupled with this were far-reaching changes that the military government implemented: centralization, restructuring of states, and imposition of policies that changed the political and economic nature of the country. The authoritarian military governance, Human Rights abuses, and limited political freedom—all these left an indelible mark on democratic institutions and Civil Society in Nigeria.
Its influence in economic matters also has impacts.
Their role in the events leading up to the crises was very important in shaping the federal structure and dealing with problems related to national unity. The military played a very crucial role in keeping the country unified and preventing secession by the Eastern Region as the Republic of Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 1970. Such a conflict was rather very destructive but, at the same time, strongly reassured the military’s belief that it was truly the saver of Nigeria’s territorial integrity. This period of the military government did much in the way of pursuing national integration and unity, including the creation of more states to dilute regional power bases and create a sense of national identity.
Beyond acting as a means of governance and national integration, the military also extended its role to the economic sphere. Military rule, under various regimes, adopted varied economic policies designed to address underdevelopment, but with mixed success. For instance, the regime of Babangida instituted the Structural Adjustment Program in the 1980s as a liberalization measure to open up the economy, which encountered broad social discontent since it had several painful economic prescriptions. Further involvement of the military in the Economy extended to control of key industries and distribution of resources.
Nowadays, it has been relegated to matters of national security.
Despite its long-standing influence, the military’s role in Nigerian politics has been contentious, with many Nigerians associating military rule with repression, corruption, and economic mismanagement. This has caused a hard transition to civilian rule because the military-based roots in politics had such a deep imprint on the political culture. The year 1999 marked a watershed, with the military retreating behind the veil of officialdom as General Sani Abacha’s military dictatorship came to an end and the country made the transition to democratic governance. In the past, the military has since made efforts to redefine its role and restrict its activities to professional duties for the defense of the nation, but this past curtain drawer for Nigerian politics still has a long way to go.
Though a very strong institution in contemporary Nigeria, the military has mostly shifted to issues concerning national security, other than direct political involvement. Military engagement is now involved in fighting internal Security challenges like terrorism, insurgency, and ethnic conflicts, particularly in the Northeast with the Boko Haram insurgency. Its historical role in politics, however, continues to play out in its relationship with the civilian government, at times causing periodic outbursts on issues related to security management and military accountability. While direct interventions in politics by the military have waned, the legacy still makes an impact on political development in Nigeria and a renewed effort at entrenching democratic governance.
Related Article: Military won’t interfere in Nigeria politics
Notwithstanding, a clear demarcation of the military from politics would go a long way to ensure that Nigeria would not only be stable but democratic. The government should, therefore, put more efforts into consolidation with a view to strengthening democratic institutions, promoting transparency, and redressing the sources of insecurity, which might prompt military intervention. Priority must be given to such reforms and professionalization of the military, geared toward reorienting its role in national defense as opposed to governance. The roles of civil society, the media, and other international partners should be equally at the forefront in defending democratic principles and ensuring the military remains accountable, as well as protecting democracy in Nigeria from any undue threat.