Ok ok repeat after me..

“Nigeria is more than igbo,yoruba,hausa”

The biggest mistake the british made was partioning Nigeria by the 3 major ethnicities. The richards constituion of 1946 that led to the creation of 3 regions was flawed and it was one of the contributions of ethnic divisions we see today.

Gowon’s creation of the 12 states in 1967 was what should have existed have been done 20 years prior. The 3 region format was what led to the lopsided nature of the NPC (northern peoples congress) dominating federal policy.

It was why awolowo tried his best to break up the northern region by attempting to ginger the middle belt and TIV nationalists Js Tarka.

Unfortunately the creation of the 3 regions led to the erasure of other ethnicities. It is from the 1946 declaration that ppl got the idea that hausa,igbo and yoruba mattered only OR were the only groups to exist. Ironically prior to 1946 this was simply not the case.

As evidenced by much of the nationalist groups that existed such as the NYM. the 3 regional groups led to 3 regional tribal parties i.e efik politicians saying that the NCNC only looked out for igbos etc.

If the richards constituion had taken into account other ethnicities while following Governor Bourdillions recommendation of regionalism as the way forward. There would have been no less than 12-15 regions..and many of the tribal issues that followed might never have occured.

In conclusion the creation of the 3 regions led to Nigerians and others viewing Nigeria by 3 ethnic groups. The civil war sealed the mindset.