Republic of Benin 61424 217823815 2008-06-07T21:16:37Z Lockesdonkey 337066 It might have been during the Cold War, but frankly it had almost nothing to do with it. {{distinguish2|the current [[Benin|Republic of Benin]], fomerly known as [[Dahomey]], or the [[Kingdom of Benin]] from the Benin City area}} {{Infobox Former Country |native_name = |conventional_long_name = Republic of Benin |common_name = Benin Republic |continent = Africa |region = Nigeria |country = Nigeria |status = Client state |empire = Biafra |era = [[Nigerian Civil War]] |year_start = 1967 |date_start = September 19 |year_end = 1967 |date_end = September 20 |p1 = Nigeria |flag_p1 = Flag of Biafra.svg |s1 = Nigeria |flag_s1 = Flag of Nigeria.svg |national_motto = Unity and Strength |image_flag = Republic_of_Benin.svg‎ |image_map = LocationRepofBenin.PNG |image_map_caption = Map of the Republic of Benin inside Nigeria |common_languages = [[English language|English]] (official), [[Edo language|Edo]], [[Igbo language|Igbo]], [[Ijaw]], [[Urhobo language|Urhobo]] |capital = Benin City |leader1 = [[Albert Nwazu Okonkwo]] |title_leader = Governor |government_type = Republic |currency = [[Biafran pound]], [[Nigerian pound]] |stat_pop1 = 3000000 |stat_year1 = 1967 }} The short-lived '''Republic of Benin''', in Nigeria's coastal [[Bight of Benin]], was named after its capital [[Benin City]]. It was known as Mid-Western state in Nigeria until August 1967 when it was occupied by [[Biafra]] as its forces advanced towards Lagos. [[Albert Nwazu Okonkwo]], an Mid-Western [[Igbo people|Igbo]] medical officer, was installed by [[Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu|Ojukwu]] as Biafran Military Administrator of the territory (17 August 1967 - 19 September 1967). As Nigerian forces were to retake the Mid-West, the Republic of Benin was unilaterally declared at 07:00 on 19 September 1967. Okonkwo also ruled it as "Governor". The republic lasted a little more than a day. On 20 September 1967, it was terminated as Nigerian forces recaptured the province. It was not recognised, not even by its "parent" country, Biafra, mainly because of the brevity of its existence. Most of the government officials, as well some Igbo civilians, followed Biafran troops across the [[Niger River]]. ==See Also== * [[Biafra]] * [[Puppet state]] ==Sources== *[http://www.dawodu.com/okonkwo2.htm Independence Declaration of the "Republic of Benin"] *[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Nigeria.htm#Republic%20of%20Benin WorldStatesmen- Nigeria] - shows its flag [[Category:Biafra]] [[Category:History of Nigeria]] [[Category:Nigerian Civil War]] [[Category:Former polities 1945-1991]] [[bs:Republika Benin]] [[ca:República de Benin]] [[de:Republic of Benin]] [[pl:Republika Beninu]]