Nigeria is an oil-rich state located in the eastern part of Africa. Since its independence in 1960, the country has faced numerous regime changes. These fluctuations in stable governance have had both a positive and negative impact on the livelihoods of the Nigerian people. The struggle for power pits civilian governments against militaristic dictators, each fighting to gain control of lucrative oil reserves. As the military seeks to root out corruption from power, it has created additional struggles in daily life in Nigeria. Nigeria's military governments have proven detrimental to political efforts for democracy, the economic struggle to eliminate debt, and the livelihoods of local Africans. Nigeria gained colonial independence from Britain in 1960. Before their independence, Nigeria and Britain held many conventions. concerning the new government and the constitution. The Nigerian government used the Westminster style of government, based on the British model. As Nigeria moved toward self-government, the constitution was amended in later conventions to restrict it to the needs of society (Coleman 1958: 372). This allowed a gradual adaptation to the new system of self-government. Democracy in Nigeria lasted until 1966, when the first military government came to power (Joseph 1987, 67). The military got involved in politics for the good of Nigeria. Soldiers within the army believed that they were supporting peace, providing economic stability and respectable leadership in Africa (Agbeese 2004, 81). However, this was not always the case. The military dictatorships that ruled in the wake of coups were as corrupt as the civilians they overthrew. T...... middle of paper...... Keigh, Jr., Ed. The military and politics in Africa: from engagement to democratic and constitutional control. Vermont: Ashgate Publishing Company, 2004. Print. Bauer, Gretchen and Scott D. Taylor. Politics in Southern Africa: State and society in transition. London: Lyne Rienner Publishers, Inc. 2005. Print. Bratton Michael and Nicolas Van De Walle. Democratic experiences in Africa: regime transitions in comparative perspective. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997. Print. Coleman, James S. Nigeria: Context of Nationalism. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. Print.Joseph, Richard A. The military in African politics. Ed. John W. Harbeson. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1987. Print.Tar, Usman A. The Politics of Neoliberal Democracy in Africa: State and Civil Society in Nigeria. New York: Tauris Academia studies, 2009. Print.