Rivers StateRivers is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria. Formed on 27 May 1967, Rivers State borders Imo and Anambra to the north, Abia and Akwa Ibom to the east, and Bayelsa and Delta to the west. The State capital, Port Harcourt, is a metropolis that is considered to be the commercial center of the Nigerian oil industry.
Eastern Region, NigeriaToday part ofNigeriaThe Eastern Region was an administrative region in Nigeria, dating back originally from the division of the colony Southern Nigeria in 1954. Its first capital was Enugu. The capital was later moved to Umuahia during the Nigerian Civil War but returned to Enugu after Biafra was defeated. The region was officially divided in 1967 into three new states, the East-Central State, Rivers State and South-Eastern State.
East Central StateEast Central State is a former administrative division of Nigeria. It was created on 27 May 1967 from parts of the Eastern Region and existed until 3 February 1976, when it was divided into two states - Anambra and Imo. The area now comprises five states; Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia. The city of Enugu was the capital of East Central State.
Independence Day (Nigeria)Independence Day is an annual public holiday in Nigeria observed on 1 October to commemorate the country's independence from the United Kingdom in 1960. It is celebrated nationwide with official ceremonies, military parades, cultural displays, and other public events. The holiday commemorates the formal transfer of sovereignty that took place in Lagos at midnight on 1 October 1960, when the Union Jack was lowered and replaced with Nigeria's green–white–green flag.
Bayelsa StateBayelsa is a state in the South South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. The capital, Yenagoa, is susceptible to high risk of annual flooding.
Colonial NigeriaBritish colony and protectorate (1914–1960)Today part ofNigeriaCameroon^aBakassi peninsula; governed by Nigeria until 2008 TopicsEconomicIgbo peopleYoruba peopleHausa people By stateAbiaAdamawaAkwa IbomAnambraBauchiBayelsaBenueBornoCross RiverDeltaEbonyiEdoEkitiEnuguGombeImoJigawaKadunaKanoKatsinaKebbiKogiKwaraLagosNasarawaNigerOgunOndoOsunOyoPlateauRiversSokotoTarabaYobeZamfara See alsoList of years in Nigeria Post-colonialColonial Nigeria formed part of the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century until 1 October 1960, when Nigeria achieved independence.
Yakubu GowonYakubu Dan'juma "Jack" GowonGCFR (Hausa pronunciation; born 19 October 1934) is a Nigerian general and statesman who served as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. Gowon was Nigeria's leader during the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafra War where he delivered the famous "no victor, no vanquished" speech at the war's end to promote healing and reconciliation.
Cross River StateCross River State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named for the Cross River, the state was formed from the eastern part of the Eastern Region on 27 May 1967. The state has its capital as Calabar and is bordered to the north by Benue State, to the west by Ebonyi State and Abia State, and to the southwest by Akwa Ibom State while its eastern border forms part of the national border withCameroon.
1966 Nigerian coup d'étatBelligerentsGovernment of Nigeria Rebel Army OfficersCommanders and leadersNnamdi AzikiweNwafor OrizuAbubakar BalewaXAhmadu BelloXSamuel AkintolaXFestus Okotie-EbohXMichael Okpara(POW)Johnson Aguiyi-IronsiAdewale AdemoyegaKaduna Nzeogwu (WIA)Emmanuel IfeajunaEmmanuel NwobosiStrength Unknown UnknownCasualties and losses 22 dead 1 soldier killedOn 15 January 1966, soldiers led by Kaduna Nzeogwu and four others carried out a military putsch, killing 22 people, including Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Northern Premier Ahmadu Bello, many senior politicians, senior Army officers and their wives, and sentinels on protective duty.Michael OkparaMichael Iheonukara Okpara(25 December 1920 – 17 December 1984) was a Nigerian politician and Premier of Eastern Nigeria during the First Republic, from 1959 to 1966. At 39, he was the nation's youngest premier. He was a strong advocate of what he called "pragmatic socialism" and believed that agricultural reform was crucial to the ultimate success of Nigeria. ReferencesFurther readingPortrait of a Leader by H. K. Offonry.
Niger DeltaThe Niger Delta is the delta of the Niger River sitting directly on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria. It is located within nine coastal southern Nigerian states, which include: all six states from the South South geopolitical zone, one state (Ondo) from South Westgeopolitical zone and two states (Abia and Imo) from South East geopolitical zone.
Akanu IbiamSir Akanu Ibiam (29 November 1906 - 1 July 1995), was a distinguished medical missionary who was appointed Governor of Eastern Region, Nigeria from December 1960 until January 1966 during the Nigerian First Republic. From 1919 to 1951, he was known as Francis Ibiam, and from 1951 to 1967, Sir Francis Ibiam.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.