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Difficulty: MediumThe Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970)

In May 1967, on the eve of the Nigerian Civil War, General Yakubu Gowon issued a military decree dividing the country into twelve states to replace the existing four regions. Which of the following political objectives was General Gowon primarily attempting to achieve through this structural reform?

  1. Weaken the political cohesion and secessionist leverage of the Eastern Region while satisfying minority demands for autonomyAnswer
  2. B
    Transfer supreme sovereign authority over national resources and security to the newly created autonomous state governments
  3. C
    Abolish all sub-national governance units in favor of a centralized unitary administration governed directly from Lagos
  4. D
    Fulfill the constitutional mandate for an immediate return to civilian democratic rule under a parliamentary system

Answer

The primary political objective of General Yakubu Gowon's 12-state creation in May 1967 was to weaken the political unity and secessionist momentum of the Eastern Region while granting self-determination to ethnic minority groups within the region.
General Yakubu Gowon's division of Nigeria into twelve states on May 27, 1967, was a strategic masterstroke designed to undermine the impending secession of the Eastern Region. By granting minority ethnic groups in the Niger Delta and southeastern coast their own states (Rivers State and South Eastern State), the federal government gained their loyalty, severed the core Eastern leadership from vital coastal ports and oilfields, and broke the political monolith of the former Eastern Region.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context of May 1967
The Eastern Region under Lt. Col. C. Odumegwu Ojukwu was on the verge of declaring secession due to post-1966 political crises.
Understanding the political tension between the Federal Military Government and the Eastern Regional Government clarifies why structural changes were enacted.
2
Evaluate the geopolitical impact of splitting the four regions into twelve states
The Eastern Region was divided into three states: East Central State, South Eastern State, and Rivers State.
Dividing the East separated non-Igbo coastal minorities (in Rivers and South Eastern states) from the main Igbo hinterland (East Central State).
3
Determine the strategic political outcome
Minority groups received political autonomy, securing their allegiance to the federal government and depriving the secessionist Eastern enclave of unified regional support and sole control over petroleum resources.
This structural division directly undermined the territorial and political integrity of the proposed Biafran republic.

Key Concept

State Creation as a Political and Military Strategy during the Nigerian Civil War
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Topics

The Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970)

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