Naomi UNUANE

Coup d’etat has been variously described as an aberration; the phenomenon remain a recurring decimal in Nigeria history until recently. While military regimes may have impacted positively on the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria, it also contributed in several respects to discontent, dissatisfaction and wrangling among different ethnic nations in Nigeria. For instance, between 1960-1999, Nigerian witnessed resurgence of ethnic nationalism mainly because various ethnic groups struggled to register their grievances as was the case of 1966 coup and counter coups, Gideon Orka’s coup, the emergence of Odua People’s Congress and the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, respectively, before and after the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election.