We are Nigerians, our forefathers suffered greatly under the authority of the colonial masters. They fought for our independence and got it by sacrificing their existence…alas, Nigeria got her independence on October 1, 1960. There is one unique thing about Nigeria, which is our diversity in ethnicity. As a result of the large number of ethnic groups in Nigeria, there tends to be an upheave of political crisis across the regions of this country. However, we have got to a stage where candidates are elected into power without anarchy. I am optimistic that the future doesn’t bring more chaos than previous years.
Below is the list of leaders who ruled Nigeria since independence.
| 1 | ALHAJI ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA | 1960 – 1963 | |||
| 2 | BENJAMIN NNAMDI AZIKIWE | OCTOBER 1, 1963 – JANUARY 16, 1966 | |||
| 3 | MAJOR GENERAL JOHNSON THOMAS UMUNNAKWE AGUIYI IRONSI | JANUARY 16, 1966 – JULY 29, 1966 | |||
| 4 | GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON | AUGUST 1, 1966 – JULY 29, 1975 | |||
| 5 | GENERAL MURTALA RAMAT MOHAMMED | JULY 29, 1975 – FEBRUARY 13, 1976 | |||
| 6 | GENERAL OLUSEGUN AREMU OKIKIOLA MATTHEW OBASANJO | FEBRUARY 13, 1976 – OCTOBER 1, 1979 | |||
| 7 | SHEHU USMAN ALIYU SHAGARI | OCTOBER 1, 1979 – DECEMBER 31, 1983 | |||
| 8 | MAJOR-GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI | DECEMBER 31, 1983 – AUGUST 27, 1985 | |||
| 9 | GENERAL IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA | AUGUST 27, 1985 – AUGUST 27, 1993 | |||
| 10 | CHIEF ERNEST ADEKUNLE OLADEINDE SHONEKAN | AUGUST 26, 1993 – NOVEMBER 17, 1993 | |||
| 11 | GENERAL SANI ABACHA | NOVEMBER 17, 1993 – JUNE 8, 1998 | |||
| 12 | GENERAL ABDULSALAMI ALHAJI ABUBAKAR | JUNE 9, 1998 – MAY 29, 1999 | |||
| 13 | GENERAL OLUSEGUN AREMU OKIKIOLA MATTHEW OBASANJO (RTD) | MAY 29, 1999 – 29 MAY, 2007 | |||
| 14 | UMARU MUSA YAR’ADUA | 29 MAY, 2007 – 5 MAY, 2010 | |||
| 15 | DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN | 6 MAY, 2010 – 29 MAY, 2015 | |||
| 16 | MUHAMMADU BUHARI | 29 MAY, 2015 – DATE |
As Nigeria clocks 60 years of independence, we still have lots of setbacks and a major one, “insecurity”. When exactly do we enjoy steady peace in northern Nigeria and other parts of this country? We need a reliable structure, a system which will enable Nigerians to thrive . We cannot always take our ideas abroad and suffer for succeeding…recall the xenophobia attack on Nigerians in South Africa sometime ago. Nigeria has to be a better place for all and sundry.
Nigeria is a nation with potentials , both in resources and mental manpower. We are talented, strong, hardworking and tirelessly persevering. Nigeria is a blessed nation and I remember what a white man once said, “I see gold on the streets of Nigeria, I see it everywhere”. Apparently, we need nothing to prove how blessed this nation is.
To keep a country of over 500 indigenous languages and tribes is quite a task. However, Nigeria is still standing with her flag of green and white colours depicting natural wealth and peace respectively.
Nigeria has its ups and downs from the political sector, the agricultural sector, the educational sector and others. Nigeria is 60years today , let us pray our nation’s vulnerabilities such as; devaluation of naira, corruption, insecurity to mention a few and overall, the unstable system takes a U-turn for the best. God bless Nigeria. Happy 60th anniversary Nigeria!
