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Politics in pre-independence nigeria was tight with political groups hoping to secure power & get to independence (at least in the south)
Two of the main players were, Nnamdi Azikiwe of NCNC & Obafemi Awolowo of AG
They shaped the political structure of Southern Nigeria #Thread
Two of the main players were, Nnamdi Azikiwe of NCNC & Obafemi Awolowo of AG
They shaped the political structure of Southern Nigeria #Thread
Nigerian history without Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo is impossible and incomplete.
Both were born in poor homes, studied in Lagos Secondary Schools, and got scholarships to further their education abroad.
They worked as clerks, teachers, journalists and politicians.
Both were born in poor homes, studied in Lagos Secondary Schools, and got scholarships to further their education abroad.
They worked as clerks, teachers, journalists and politicians.
They both dropped their christian names & had newspaper companies at the time
As politicians they were great rivals. Zik ended up as Nigeria’s 1st President, while Awo never got to be one. The closest he got to was being the number two man under Yakubu Gowon between 1967 & 1971.
As politicians they were great rivals. Zik ended up as Nigeria’s 1st President, while Awo never got to be one. The closest he got to was being the number two man under Yakubu Gowon between 1967 & 1971.
The problem occurred in 1951, when the Macpherson Constitution took effect, & called for indirect elections to the regional assemblies
But this started before 1951, where each accused the other of using his newspaper to promote anti-igbo & anti-yoruba sentiments in the country.
But this started before 1951, where each accused the other of using his newspaper to promote anti-igbo & anti-yoruba sentiments in the country.
Zik vehemently opposed it but chose to contest so he’d have the opportunity to change the constitution.
About a month to the elections, Zik was quoted to have said that, he will create a deadlock in government and rip the MacPherson constitution to usher in a democratic one.
About a month to the elections, Zik was quoted to have said that, he will create a deadlock in government and rip the MacPherson constitution to usher in a democratic one.
“This means that if we come to power, we shall not only refuse to become ministers, but we shall use our majority to prevent budgets from being passed”
Awo did not agree with Zik’s plan, but crucially, if Zik’s colleagues had understood his intent, things may have been different
Awo did not agree with Zik’s plan, but crucially, if Zik’s colleagues had understood his intent, things may have been different
Zik’s plan was simple.
If the NCNC had won in the West, it would have been in a position to produce the four central ministers for the Western Region as well as the representatives for the Western Region in the Central Legislature.
It would have used that majority to...
If the NCNC had won in the West, it would have been in a position to produce the four central ministers for the Western Region as well as the representatives for the Western Region in the Central Legislature.
It would have used that majority to...
...paralyse governance from the centre in the same way as it did in the Eastern Region in 1953.
There would have been no ministers or premiers in both southern regions as well as at the national level
That would have led to lockdown of the central government in Lagos and the..
There would have been no ministers or premiers in both southern regions as well as at the national level
That would have led to lockdown of the central government in Lagos and the..
..regional governments in the east and west in 1952 and what became the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954 would have come in 1952.
The problem with this plan at the time was that Zik failed to explain this to his allies leading to propaganda being spread in the papers.
The problem with this plan at the time was that Zik failed to explain this to his allies leading to propaganda being spread in the papers.
Another problem was the campaign being carried out against NCNC as an Igbo party, wanting to take control of the Yoruba & west, despite having a large number of it& #39;s members as Yorubas
After the elections, a lot of NCNC members changed their minds, and aligned with Awo because..
After the elections, a lot of NCNC members changed their minds, and aligned with Awo because..
..of the lopsided information going about Zik& #39;s plan & the tribalist campaign going on in the west.
Another miscalculation by Zik was his belief, that if AG won the elections, Awo would cooperate with him to achieve his own objective to speedily secure independence for Nigeria.
Another miscalculation by Zik was his belief, that if AG won the elections, Awo would cooperate with him to achieve his own objective to speedily secure independence for Nigeria.
Well, Awo didn& #39;t and that& #39;s where wahala started.
Why didn& #39;t Awo cooperate with Zik as expected??
Well, unlike the other NCNC members, Awo was intelligent enough to understand what Zik proposed, but perhaps he imagined that helping Zik paralyse government would entail...
Why didn& #39;t Awo cooperate with Zik as expected??
Well, unlike the other NCNC members, Awo was intelligent enough to understand what Zik proposed, but perhaps he imagined that helping Zik paralyse government would entail...
..pulling down governments in the regions as well, which was not in his interest.
If Zik’s proposal had flown, it would have mean all elections would be repeated under a new constitution, possibly through the universal adult suffrage that the NCNC had been rooting for.
If Zik’s proposal had flown, it would have mean all elections would be repeated under a new constitution, possibly through the universal adult suffrage that the NCNC had been rooting for.
Awo didn& #39;t want that because he wasn& #39;t sure that his party would, at that point, win a repeat election in the West.
The only real chance Awo had of winning the elections in 1951 was through indirect elections, in which manipulation, like using the Obas to populate the..
The only real chance Awo had of winning the elections in 1951 was through indirect elections, in which manipulation, like using the Obas to populate the..
...electoral colleges with pliable electors, were possible.
Awo was willing to make Zik a minister in his government and this infuriated zik , who instead of staying to become the opposition, went back to the East to get to power
This led to mutual distrust between, the igbos..
Awo was willing to make Zik a minister in his government and this infuriated zik , who instead of staying to become the opposition, went back to the East to get to power
This led to mutual distrust between, the igbos..
..and the yorubas because of the thinking that tribal politics was played in the west
This also led to issues between the igbos & the eastern minorities because Zik took over from Eyo-ita in the east
This distrust deepened during the civil war when Awo was said to betray Ojukwu
This also led to issues between the igbos & the eastern minorities because Zik took over from Eyo-ita in the east
This distrust deepened during the civil war when Awo was said to betray Ojukwu
The political relationship between the Igbo & the Yoruba has not recovered since, & both groups have hurt themselves politically because of that mutual mistrust
The difference between Awo & Zik was that, Awo understood that politics is first about self-interest while Zik didn& #39;t
The difference between Awo & Zik was that, Awo understood that politics is first about self-interest while Zik didn& #39;t
I think that post-independence Southern Nigeria adopted Zik’s dreamy approach of dreamy positions rather than Awo’s hard-nosed approach of self-interest.
It still affects us today in politics, as things are not about “right” or “wrong”, but about “interests”.
It still affects us today in politics, as things are not about “right” or “wrong”, but about “interests”.
We still hold grudges that hurt us till today.
There was a survey which showed that more than 80% of both Igbo & Yoruba respondents identified "the North" as the problem with Nigeria.
However, when asked if they’d be willing to work together to overcome "the North",..
There was a survey which showed that more than 80% of both Igbo & Yoruba respondents identified "the North" as the problem with Nigeria.
However, when asked if they’d be willing to work together to overcome "the North",..
..respondents couldn& #39;t answer.
Since 1951, the Igbo have chosen to ally with ‘the North’ against the Yoruba, and the Yoruba, since 1951 have chosen to ally with ‘the North’ against the Igbo
Given that this hasn& #39;t worked out, does it not make sense for the Igbo & the Yoruba to..
Since 1951, the Igbo have chosen to ally with ‘the North’ against the Yoruba, and the Yoruba, since 1951 have chosen to ally with ‘the North’ against the Igbo
Given that this hasn& #39;t worked out, does it not make sense for the Igbo & the Yoruba to..
..ally with each other politically against ‘the North’, for once to see the political outcome?
The numbers support this, but the refusal of these two groups to cooperate, because of a bit of miscommunication 67 years ago, has kept us back politically in the south.
The numbers support this, but the refusal of these two groups to cooperate, because of a bit of miscommunication 67 years ago, has kept us back politically in the south.
Think am.
If the Igbos and the Yoruba& #39;s work together politically we will definitely take power and bring a lot of improvement to the country.
If the Igbos and the Yoruba& #39;s work together politically we will definitely take power and bring a lot of improvement to the country.