Important dates of history
DATE
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EVENT CAPTION
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LINK TO INFORMATION
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October 1st, 1960
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Independence from Britain for Nigeria for the first time ever!- This event shows the formation of Nigeria as it finally steps away from Britain and starts a life of its own.
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1967-1970
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A bloody civil war as a result of tension and division between 250 ethnic tribes trying to become united. - This civil war is the reason for millions of peoples death and is a result of a divided nation becoming independent. A foreshadow to the future of Nigeria.
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May 1999
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The new constitution is adapted to Nigerian government holding promise to a brighter future!- This event gave a brighter outlook to Nigeria. For once they were trying to adopt a more democratic policy within government, which means a society that free. First sense of the government trying to tackle corruption.
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2000-
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Islamic law adapted to state governments leads to tension and civil war between the north and south.- This event is important because it marks a new dark chapter Nigeria must face. The tension between Islam and Christianity within this country is at an all time high still to this day. There are an abundance of people dying from bombings, guns, and brutality.
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2003
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The first ever civilian ran presidential election takes place, as the days of military control of government are finally over!- This event is important because now the people of Nigeria are finally taking control of their country. In the past, the military over threw the government of Nigeria and caused chaos because the voice of the people was being left unheard. Although, the system was faulty, Nigeria was on the right path.
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Overview of nigerian history
The most relevant history of Nigeria started October 1st, 1960 when it finally gained independence from Britain. Although this was felt as a victory for many people with nationalist views of the country, there was a huge problem at hand. How could this newly formed country gain unity and cooperation with a total of 260 different ethnic tribes that were already divided? This would become the hardest obstacle Nigeria would face. Civil war broke out in 1967 as there was perceived corruption of the electoral and political processes, as well as three eastern states succeeding from Nigeria to become the Republic of Biafra. These actions lead to a bloody outcome, with more than a million people dying from the civil war. Finally in 1970, the Biafran leaders surrendered and the region was reintegrated into the country, but that was just the start of tribal warfare. In 1999 however, Nigeria was on the right track. They sworn in a new president Olusegun Obasanjo, who was there to make sure military never gained control of the government ever again, like they did many times in past history. Also that year, in the month of May, they adopted a new constitution, which held promise to a more civil and democratic society. Though promising, this document hasn’t measured up to democratic standards and is not being enforced where it should be. In fact, in the year 2000 many state governments adopted Islamic, or Sharia law. This is in violation of the Nigerian constitution, because being modeled after the U.S. constitution, it did not allow government to interfere with religious practice. This created massive tension between the northern Hausa-Fulani tribes who worshiped Islam and the southern Yoruba tribe. There has been many violent clashes between the two, creating a civil war of its own. So what is society like today? Not much has changed. On April 19, 2003 was the first ever civilian ran presidential election where Olusegun Obasanjo received his second term as president. The new, now two term president, Goodluck Jonathon has announced working on making terms for presidents longer, and controlling violence. Violence is everywhere between the Christian and Muslim groups, and also swarming the Niger Delta, as corruption over oil takes place. In the past, Nigeria has capitalized on Oil just like in the 1970s when there was an oil boom and Nigeria’s economy began to thrive. Now, oil prices have began to fall, and Nigeria militant groups fight in the Niger Delta over who has control of the abundance of oil in that area.