Historical And Political Evolution Of Nigeria From 1900-Present Day

Britain ruled indirectly with the existing local institutions. Mister Frederick Lugard's Roundabout Rule worked well in the Northern and the Western side where Conventional rulers were currently in place. It however, been unsuccessful woefully within the East and then there was no tradition of main governing authority. What the Uk did therefore, was to create artificial leaders whom these people called "Warrant chiefs". Due to the alien authority so made in the Eastern and because some of them were really insignificant folks, the warrant chiefs told little or no authority. People either ignored all of them or protested their particular rule. One of many upshots of this anomaly was the 'Aba Riots' of 1929, led by women who have been protesting in the main, the imposition of taxes by a justify chief.

THE CLIFFORD CONSTITUTION OF 1922

The particular Governor of Nigeria at this time, Friend Hugh Clifford had before attacked the nation's Congress regarding British Western Africa, a political celebration which was formed and led from the Gold Coast through Casely Hayford, for having delivered a case to the assistant of state for the Colonies in London. One of the agitations of the knowledgeable minority within Lagos and Calabar locations was for correct constitutional representation, and also the petition had been rejected simply by Lord Milner, the secretary associated with state. Clifford themselves had assaulted the National Congress of English West Africa as a whole, but he totally appreciated the requirement for reform especially for elevated participation associated with Nigerians in the authorities of their own nation.

One of the governmental consequences from the Clifford Constitution could be that the introduction regarding elective principle in the Intention Council stimulated political activity, particularly in Lagos, that have three seats. Political events and magazines were founded, though several were short-lived due to personal rivalries as well as inadequate financing. That was the early stage of Nigerian nationalism. Herbert Macaulay founded the initial Nigerian political party - Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) -- and which won every one of the elections of 1923, 1928 and also 1933.

The supremacy inside Lagos of the NNDP had not been challenged until the foundation within 1934 of the Lagos Youngsters Movement, which usually changed it's name in order to Nigeria Youngsters Movement (NYM) inside 1936. The NYM come about from relative obscurity at the 1938 Basic Elections to problem the NNDP also it became the prevalent Nigerian party under Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe's authority, until this individual resigned from it on an inside issue regarding confidence in 1941, after which it faded absent.

The impact of the Second World War (1945-1949) on Nationalist movements within British West Africa was the same in most territories. The impact was threefold: army, psychological, and also economic.

Many West Photography equipment troops were recruited and also saw military service inside East Africa, in N . Africa, and many particularly, in South East Asia. They were trained that they were fighting for independence, and have been promised good resettlement facilities when they returned home and had been demobilized. However, Western side African devices in East Asia have been issued with pamphlets describing demobilization and resettlement methods applicable to be able to British soldiers being demobilized in the United Kingdom for when they got back to their own countries the West African troops were summarily dismissed from the defense force, and swelled the rates of the jobless.

During the conflict, the propaganda of the Allies had been based upon the concept of freedom (since indeed experienced Nazi propaganda directed at the particular colonies). America, as an ex-colony, required an aggressively anti-colonialist line when of the Ocean Charter of the United Nations.

Ultimately, following war-time and post-war shortages and rising cost of living, the price of imported goods went up, though the rates received simply by local suppliers for move did not rise like the same extent. This kind of led to dissentient and a belief that the particular Colonial masses were the victims of imperialist and capitalist exploitation.

The impact of Azikiwe's newspapers - West African Pilot - as well as other factors vitalized the quest for independence. Such additional circumstances were the outcome of arranged labour, student unionism and the invigorating balm provided by the self-reliance of India inside 1947.

THE RICHARDS CONSTITUTION Regarding 1946

Sir Arthur Richards (later on Lord Milverton) sent in his Constitutional plans to the assistant of express for the Colonies in 12 , 1944. The plans were associated with two primary characteristics: the actual pursuit of self-determination and also the development of regional separatism.

There was sweeping condemnation of the Richards Constitution by way of a plethora of protests, viz, the Summer 1945 general strike of structured labour spearheaded by the labour leader, Philadelphia Michael Imoudu, the formation and routines of the Zikist Motion and the growing impatience and radicalism of the youths. The brand new mood from the moment was captured through Ogedemgbe Macaulay (son regarding Herbert Macaulay) and Mallam Habib Abdallah. Younger Macaulay was documented to have argued that "if we all tell the actual governor to come straight down, he will not; we must pull him down and dominate."

In a 1948 lecture titled "The Age of Good Action", Mallam Abdallah said:

"I detest the Marriage Jack with all my heart since it divides the folks wherever it goes...it is a symbol of persecution, of control, a symbol of exploitation... of brutality...we now have passed the age of petition...age of resolution...age diplomacy. This is the ages of action : plain, blunt and positive action."

The Nationalist market leaders were strongly opposed to the actual Richards Constitution since they claimed that it had been arbitrarily imposed after them, because Richards himself we had not consulted both the politics leaders or perhaps public viewpoint in general.

THE MACPHERSON CONSTITUTION Associated with 1951

Sir John Macpherson took over from Sir Arthur Richards as Governor in 04 1948. Macpherson attempted the rapprochement with the Nigerian Nationalists, hence securing their own co-operation in a common effort towards self-government.

In the early part of his governorship, this individual carried out municipality reforms that have been intended to fix up and democratize municipality structure associated with Southern Africa. He also set up a special fee, which included Medical professional. Azikiwe, to make tips about the 'Nigerianization' of the senior city service. On 17th August 1948, Macpherson addressed the particular Legislative Local authority or council that "if it absolutely was the want of the country" he or she was ready to make constitutional modifications within 36 months.

Lengthy wrangling one of the Nationalists led to constitutional alter with the experience polarizing the three major parties in relation to the three Regions then existing - encounter Group based on Yoruba support, the actual NCNC based upon Ibo help, and the NPC based upon Hausa/Fulani support, and so establishing themselves as spokesmen from the three main tribal and regional interests.

The overview of the Macpherson Constitution - even though it represented the structure within which Nigerian governmental leaders may have worked out their particular political solution had they wished on the basis of 'Unity within Diversity'- its main weakness place in its failing to provide federal government at the center. As an example, there was any determination of the relationships on the other hand between the politics parties as well as on the other hands between Nigerian leaders and expatriate officers. A further constitutional difficulty developed in the Federal House regarding Representatives due to the motion calling for, 'as a primary political aim the attainment of self-government with regard to Nigeria within 1956' which was moved by chief Anthony Enahoro, an Motion Group member, on 03 31, 1953.

The particular LYTTELTON CONSTITUTION 1954

The actual political ambiance throughout Nigeria rapidly ruined into party and racial intolerance, as evinced, for example, by the Kano Riots regarding 1953. Accordingly, Mr. Oliver Lyttleton, the secretary of state, stated in home of Commons on 31st May 1953 which, since it came out impossible for Nigerians to work together effectively in a tightly knit federation, 'Her majesty's Government acquired regretfully decided how the Nigerian Constitution would need to be removed to provide for greater regional autonomy and for the elimination of powers regarding intervention through the center in matters which could, without detriment to other regions, be placed entirely within localised competence.I He accordingly invited Nigerian frontrunners to come to Greater london for a Constitutional Assessment. The Nigerian political leaders after some political bickering visited Greater london from 30th July to be able to 22nd July 1953 for the constitutional meeting, reaching agreement on several major problems. It was agreed that the convention should meet again within Lagos in January 1954 to deal with other issues like recommendations for earnings allocation towards the Regions.

The supremacy in Lagos of the NNDP was not challenged until the foundation in 1934 of the Lagos Youth Movement, which changed its name to Nigeria Youth Movement (NYM) in 1936. For more details please visit comisionadoppd.