THE UNETHICAL OPERATION OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY THAT MARRED THE UNITY OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria is not an exception to seizing of power by the military. This study focused on military intervention in Nigeria political life. It aimed at examining the causes and consequences of military intervention in Nigeria political system. Some of its objectives included examining the origin and historical foundation of the Nigeria military; tracing records of military coups in the country, interrogating reasons advanced for such interventions examining the constitutional priorities of the Nigerian military, and what the influence of religion and ethnicity posed on the stability and co-operate existence of Nigeria. To achieve the above, the study applied diachronic approach which entails taking events bit by bit. The findings revealed, among other things, that though there seems to be no single variable serving as a key to a definitive explanation of the phenomenon of incessant military appropriation of power in Nigeria, however, the study asserted that faulty foundation, religion, ethnicity and none commitment by the military personnel to the core values and norms establishing the military remain major causal factors. The study calls for a more patriotic military to avert the co-operate dismemberment of Nigeria.