This weekend marks another celebration of the countries independence.
As we get close to the day, we’ll like to take a moment and walk you through the history of the country and all the leaders who have ruled from 1960.
Nigeria has witnessed both democratic/civil and military rule.
Below are all the presidents and head of states we’ve had in this country since the country gained her independence in 1960.
1. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was a Nigerian politician and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. He served between 1960 and 1966.
Image: Pinterest
2. Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe served as the second and last Governor-General of Nigeria from 1960 to 1963 and the first President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966, holding the presidency throughout the Nigerian First Republic.
Image: Thenation
3. Aguiyi Ironsi
Major General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi was a senior Nigerian military officer and second Nigerian Head of State. He seized power in the ensuing chaos following the 15 January 1966 military coup, serving as the Nigerian Head of State from 16 January 1966.
Image: BBC
4. Yakubu Gowon
General Yakubu Gowon took over power after the coup in 1966. He ruled till 1975 when he was overthrown in another coup.
Image: PremiumTimesNG
5. Murtala Mohammed
General Murtala Ramat Muhammed was the military ruler of Nigeria from 1975 until his assassination in 1976.
Image: The Herald NG
6. Olusegun Obasanjo
Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo was a career soldier who served as head of state from 13th of February 1976 to 1st of October 1979
Image: goldmyne.tv
7. Shehu Shagari
Alhaji Shehu Shagari served as the second President of Nigeria’s Second Republic (1979–1983), after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military government.
Image: vstarvibe
8. General Muhammadu Buhari
General Buhari served as the nation’s Head of State from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d’état
Images by Naij
9. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, also known as IBB, is a retired Nigerian Army General who was President ofNigeria under military rule. He ruled Nigeria from 27 August 1985, when he overthrew Major General Muhammadu Buhari in a coup
Image: Daily Post NG
10. Ernest Shonekan
Ernest Shonekan was appointed as interim president of Nigeria by General Ibrahim Babangida on 26 August 1993. Babangida resigned under pressure to cede control to a democratic government. Shonekan’s transitional administration only lasted three months.
Image: Bussnigeria
11. Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian Army general and politician who served as the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998. Abacha’s regime is controversial; although it saw dramatic economic growth, there was widespread human-rights abuse.
Image: Premium Times NG
12. Abdusalami Abubakar
Abdusalami Abubakar is a retired Nigerian Army General who was military President of Nigeria from 9 June 1998 until 29 May 1999. He succeeded Sani Abacha upon Abacha’s death.
Image: Daily Post NG
13. Olusegun Obasanjo
Olusegun Obasanjo came back in 1999 as a democratically elected president. He served from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. From July 2004 to January 2006, Obasanjo also served as Chairperson of the African Union.
buzznigeria.com
14. Umaru Musa Yar’adua
He was the 13th President of Nigeria. He served as governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 28 May 2007. In 2009, Yar’Adua left for Saudi Arabia to receive treatment for pericarditis. He returned to Nigeria on 2 May 2010, where he died on the 5th.
Image: Opinionnigeria
15. Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan GCFR BNER GCON (born 20 November 1957)[1] is the former President of Nigeria, having served from 2010 to 2015. He served as Vice-President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010 and as Governor of Bayelsa State from 2005 to 2007.
Image: Theunion
16. Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari is the President of Nigeria, in office since 2015. He unsuccessfully ran for the office of President in 2003, 2007 and 2011 general elections. In December 2014, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the March 2015 general elections. Buhari won the election, defeating the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Image: The Nation Online
You should totally check out these fragments from M.K.O Abiola’s speech that are still very valid till date and the countries that President Buhari has visited since he came in as a civilian president.
The post Nigeria Through The Years: All Presidents And Head Of States Since Independence appeared first on OMGVoice.Com.