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The Role Of Russia In The Nigeria Civil War
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Also, there were the pressing issues to coordinate railway policy, which
at times was not in existence. The singular action by Lugard influenced
the whole future of Nigeria. 10These actions would have been averted if
Lord Lugard had listened to better judgment of a man who knew Nigeria
well. E. D Moral, at that time editor of the African Mail. A known
critic of the colonial policy, he proposed the division of the country
into four large provinces; namely Northern, Central, Western and Eastern
Provinces. While Temple, the then Lt. Governor of the Northern
Protectorate suggested the division of Nigeria into seven with three
each at North and South respectively, Lagos as the last of the seven.
However, the decision of Lord has inevitably led Nigeria to political
crisis and peace. At the era of Nigeria independence, it’s clear to note
that the seeming unity of Nigeria was at low ebb. The events that
preceded the October’s 1st 1960 have attracted serious question on the
amalgamation of the North and South in 1914.11
THE PATH TO INDEPENDENCE
The Richard’s Constitution of 1947 marked the actual turning point in
Nigeria’s road towards independence, though the constitution received
serious attacks from every side of Nigerian nationalists.12 The very
objectives of the constitution signified unity, providing unity for the
diverse elements that make up Nigeria and to ensure much participation
by Africans in the discussion of their affairs. The most striking
feature of the Constitution was the inclusion of the North in the
Central legislature, a move seen as an effort at ensuring unity. Though
they were mainly restricted to discussion, the creation of Regional
Assemblies in the Constitution has been seen as the foundation of
tribalism in Nigeria politics. Dike (1957) reaffirmed the nation that
Richard’s constitutional development, is against the effort of unifying
Nigerian towards a centralized state and the realization of a common
nationality.13
However, it has been argued that if Lord Sir
Arthur wanted to contain regional and ethnic differences he would have
followed the notion proposed by Moral and Temple, also later by Zik.
This whole action set a precarious situation of a very unwieldy
federation with one region twice the size in area and population of the
other two. The events that followed the introduction of the constitution
show a great deal of damage it had caused to the unity of Nigeria. The
decision made at the Ibadan conference 1948 must be seen in the context
of the great increase in ethnocentrism. The origin of this tribal
feeling was the source of much bitterness and recrimination by Nigeria
political parties; an issue that later climaxed on party polities
leading to a coup which led to Nigeria Civil War in years to come.14
In fact originally, the increase in tribalism, as Ezera showed, was
resisted by circumstance rather than design and only later was it seized
upon by politician. This trend continued to dictate the politics then,
as later it also led to crisis in the Nigeiran Youth Movement (NYM)
Tribal feeling had set in the quarrel between Zik and then older members
of the Nigerian Youth Movement on the candidature of Samuel Akinsanya
for a seat on the legislative council; Zik left the group. By 1949, the
Northern People’s Congress, a cultural Congress like Egbe Omo Oduduwa
set in an era of tribal party politics posing a greater danger to the
Nigeria polity in years to come. 15The events at the coal miners’ strike
in which the police opened fire on the strikers leading to the death of
about twenty one led to the need for a new Constitution that was
thought of arresting the regional politics. Again the Minority reports
which would have ensured national building and national character were
dropped aside leading to events that occurred in 1956.16
On
1st April 1956 an Action Group backbencher, Anthony Enahoro moved a
motion demanding self government in 1956. It was clear that the Northern
members would not support the motion as they were not yet prepared. The
question here is whether the colonial authority would have approved if
the Western region people wanted self government. This would have
arrested the violence that followed the motion. The Kano riot gave a
final blow to the seeming unity in the theory of 1914 amalgamation. It
clearly sent a signal that all was not well despite all efforts at
ensuring unity through the Macpherson Constitution of 1951. Though the
Macpherson’s Constitution was much more liberal in its look than it’s
predecessor, and much more in keeping with the needs of Nigeria which
inevitably led to the end of colonial rule in Nigeria.17
The issues that coloured the motion for self government continued to
shape Nigeria politics long after independence. Uncertainty and lack of
trust became the order of the day in Nigeria politics. At the immediate
post motion of self government, seeking alliance between the West and
East Nigerian unity collapsed leading to more complex regional politics.
At the height of the crisis among the North, West and East, the North
demanded the dissolution of the Federation.18 The immediate result of
the riots and the motion in the Northern House was the realization by
the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Oliver Lyttelton that his earlier complacent
statement that what Nigeria needs is a period of reflection to let the
dust die down was a departure from the truth.
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