Governance expert and lawyer, Joe Abah, has described the 1966 military coup as Nigeria’s greatest national tragedy.
Speaking on Wednesday at The Platform Nigeria, an Independence Day event organised by Covenant Nation Church in Iganmu, Lagos, Abah emphasised that the 1963 Republican Constitution provided a stronger framework for governance and economic growth.
“At the time, the Nigerian government and the regions shared many responsibilities, including arms and ammunition,” he explained. “Each region was responsible for internal security and policing. Unlike today’s unitary police force, every region had its own police. They could conduct truthful censuses because the results were not tied to revenue allocation.”
Abah lamented that the 1966 coup ended this structure and ushered in nearly three decades of military rule. “To my mind, it is the greatest tragedy that ever befell our nation,” he said.
‘Regions Once Thrived’
He recalled the successes recorded by Nigeria’s regions before military intervention.
“Between 1954 and 1964, the Eastern Region was the fastest-growing economy in the world, according to Harvard Business Review,” Abah noted. “The Western Region offered free education, while the Northern Region fed the entire country and exported groundnut pyramids and other agricultural products.”
He said that regional competition had encouraged innovation and development until the military “stripped the regions of their powers.”
“The military mindset is one of command and control,” he continued. “They divided the country into 12 states, each headed by military administrators who reported to a Supreme Military Council. That structure destroyed healthy competition and innovation. The mantra became ‘obey before complain.’”
‘Africa’s Democracy Has Not Delivered’
Abah criticised Nigeria’s overly centralised governance system, describing it as a damaging legacy of military rule.
“Nothing has harmed our progress more than military rule,” he argued. “Most of our constitutions since then have retained that over-centralisation.”
He warned that younger Nigerians — many of whom have never experienced a functioning regional system — might view military coups favourably.
“We now have a youth majority that has never seen a Nigeria that works. They see coups across West Africa and are seduced by the idea,” Abah observed. “You can’t blame them because democracy in Africa has simply not delivered the basics — rule of law, food security, quality education, healthcare, equal opportunities, and a level playing field for women.”
Abah dismissed suggestions that a “benevolent dictator” could fix Nigeria’s problems.
“Some young people even argue that what we need is a benevolent dictator. Africa doesn’t produce them — we simply don’t produce benevolent dictators,” he stated.
He concluded by urging leaders to restore public faith in democracy by ensuring that governance delivers essential public goods.