The 1999 Constitution which ushered in the Fourth Republic of Nigeria came into force on 29th May, 1999. It is perhaps the most criticised constitution in the political history of Nigeria as it has been the butt of criticism from different factions of the ruling class.
Features of Lyttleton Constitution - The political crises that hit the country in 1953 created regional and ethnic animosities, which eventually led to the eventual breakdown of the Macpherson Constitution and the consequent promulgation of the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954.
Lyttleton Constitution - The political crises that hit the country in 1953 created regional and ethnic animosities, which eventually led to the eventual breakdown of the Macpherson Constitution and the consequent promulgation of the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954.
In any discourse of the background to the Macpherson Constitution of 1951, it is important to revisit the problems of the Richards Constitution.
The Richards Constitution was rejected by the nationalists for two main reasons. In the first place,
The Richards Constitution which took its name from Sir Arthur Richards (later Lord Milverton), the then Governor of Nigeria, came into effect on 1st January, 1947. But the constitution itself was the outcome of several events that took place within and outside Nigeria since the Clifford Constitution was promulgated in 1922.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Hugh Clifford Constitution
The system of government introduced as a result of the amalgamation of 1914 created sharp divisions between British officials and educated Nigerians on one hand, and between the chiefs and the educated elements on the other hand.
It was therefore quite easy for the...
Clifford Constitution of 1922 - The system of government introduced as a result of the amalgamation of 1914 created sharp divisions between British officials and educated Nigerians on one hand, and between the chiefs and the educated elements on the other hand.
As a result of the acceptance of the Lord Lugard Amalgamation Report by the British Government, the Northern and Southern Provinces were joined together to form Nigeria on 1st January, 1914.
Constitutional Conference In Nigeria - The political crises that hit the country in 1953 created regional and ethnic animosities, which eventually led to the eventual breakdown of the Macpherson Constitution and the consequent promulgation of the Lyttleton Constitution of 1954.
The Nigerian constitutional crisis at the centre was precipitated by a motion for "self-government in 1956” tabled in the House of Representatives on 31st March, 1953 by Mr. Anthony Enahoro, a member of the Action Group. The motion was for Nigeria to be independent in 1956.
Eastern Regional Crises of 1953 - As a result of the Eastern Regional elections of 1951, the NCNC formed the government of the region and Mr. Eyo Ita, the Deputy National President of the party was appointed Premier. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the National President of the NCNC remained only a member of the Western House of Assembly where the party formed the opposition.
Nationalism in the African context may be defined as the struggles by Africans to free themselves from foreign rule, and to determine, after independence has been won, their own future. In the period before the Second World War, nationalism was aimed at resolving certain grievances of the elites.
Sir Ahmadu Bello was one of the greatest Nigerian nationalists and, perhaps the most forceful Nigerian politician of the 1950s and early 1960. A great grandson of Uthman dan Fodio, the Fulani religious leader who founded the Sokoto Caliphate, Ahmadu Bello was born on 12th June, 1909 at Rabbah, near Sokoto.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe "Zik" Benjamin, a foremost nationalist and statesman was born at Zungeru in Northern part of Nigeria in 1904. At the time of his birth, Azikiwe’s father was serving as a clerk in the Nigeria Regiment at Zungeru. He attended schools at Onitsha, Lagos and Calabar before going back to Lagos in 1921 to further his education.
Herbert Macaulay Samuel Heelas was born in Lagos on 14th November, 1864. He was the seventh child of Reverend Thomas Babington Macaulay and Abigail Macaulay (daughter of Bishop Ajayi Crowther). He attended St. Paul’s Anglican School, Breadfruit Street and C.M.S. Day School, Faji both in Lagos.
Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was born at Ikenne, Ogun State on 6th March, 1909. He had his early education at Ikenne and Abeokuta before proceeding to Wesley College, Ibadan.
The Northcrn Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) was formed in 1949. It was a breakaway faction of the Jamiyar Mutanen Arewa (JMA). NEPU was dissatisfied with the JMA’s conservative and gradualist approach to politics.
The Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) was formed by Herbert Macaulay in 1923 thus becoming the first party in Nigeria and British West Africa. The party was formed to tight the Oluwa land case and to contest the three seats allocated to Lagos on the Legislative Council by the Clifford Constitution of 1922.
The Nigerian Youth Movement began as the Lagos Youth Movement in 1933. It was a protest movement to challenge the domination of Lagos politics by the Nigerian National Democratic Party. The party was renamed as Nigerian Youth Movement in 1936.
