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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Nigeria
Index
Gowon's influence depended upon his position as
chairman of
the Supreme Military Council, which had come into
existence in
March 1967. The council included top-ranking staff
officers,
service and police heads, state military governors, and
the
civilian administrator of the East Central State. Gowon
also
chaired the Federal Executive Council, the cabinet of
ministers
composed of military officers and civilian technocrats.
The
regime ruled by decree, although the concurrence of state
military governors was sought before decrees were issued.
In October 1970, Gowon announced his intention to stay
in
power until 1976, which was set as the target year for
completion
of the military's political program and the return to an
elected
civilian government. Gowon outlined a nine-point program
that
would enable the military to relinquish control. Included
in the
package were reorganization of the armed forces;
implementation
of a national economic development plan, including
reconstruction
of war damaged areas, eradication of corruption;
establishment of
more states; adoption of a new constitution; introduction
of a
formula for allocating revenue; completion of a national
census;
organization of national political parties; and elections
at
federal and state levels. Criticism of the six-year plan
was
widespread because the agenda was so broad. Many Nigerians
feared
that the military planned to retain power indefinitely.
The
reaction of civilian politicians was particularly
negative.
Muslim traditionalists also expressed concerns that
military
rule, with its modernizing tendencies, would erode the
authority
of the emirates.
Data as of June 1991
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