Three States in One Country; Massive Electoral Rigging
Nigeria
became independent of British rule in October 1960 after
British-supervised general elections had been held. The country's
constitution made Nigeria a federal republic composed of three regions
the Northern Region (dominated by the Hausa-Fulani tribe), the Western
Region (dominated by the Yoruba tribe), and the Eastern Region
(dominated by the Ibo tribe). Each of these regions had its own
Parliament, and the federal Parliament was established in the city of
Lagos.
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (of Hausa-Fulani tribe) became
the first
federal Prime Minister of Nigeria. Chief Obafemi Awolowo (of Yoruba
tribe) became the leader of the federal opposition. The federal
Governor-General (later President) became Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (of Ibo
tribe). The Regional Premiers became: Dr. Michael Okpara (Eastern);
Chief Samuel Akintola (Western); and Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna
(ruler) of Sokoto (Northern). The federal Parliament was dominated by
northerners.
SIR ALHAJJI TAFAWA BALEWA, first Prime minister of Nigeria; was killed during the first ever Nigerian coup of January 1966.
Chief Awolowo, the leader of the opposition, attempted to woo minority non-Ibo in the east and non-Hausa-Fulani in the north. The federal government retaliated (in 1963) by jailing him and several of his followers for treasonable felony - a charge the government did not exhaustively prove. The chief remained in jail until 1966 when he was pardoned and released by the military government of Gen. Gowon.
The first post-independence elections were held in 1964/5. With a few exceptions, electoral rigging and violence went on unabated throughout the country. The results-which claimed the victory of Premier Balewa's ruling party- were vehemently disputed by the other parties. As a final resort, President Azikiwe prevailed upon Premier Balewa to form a national government of all parties.
Chief Awolowo, the leader of the opposition, attempted to woo minority non-Ibo in the east and non-Hausa-Fulani in the north. The federal government retaliated (in 1963) by jailing him and several of his followers for treasonable felony - a charge the government did not exhaustively prove. The chief remained in jail until 1966 when he was pardoned and released by the military government of Gen. Gowon.
The first post-independence elections were held in 1964/5. With a few exceptions, electoral rigging and violence went on unabated throughout the country. The results-which claimed the victory of Premier Balewa's ruling party- were vehemently disputed by the other parties. As a final resort, President Azikiwe prevailed upon Premier Balewa to form a national government of all parties.
Civil discontent attained its acme at the end of 1965 when, with overt
support of the Northern Region politicians, Chief Akintola, in a
desparate effort to retain his Western Region premiership, rigged his
regional elections. Serious political violence ensued, and the
administration of Akintola nearly collapsed.
To complicate the national government's problems further, regional
differences, fuelled by ethnic diversity, widened. A substantial
quantity of petroleum had been discovered in the Eastern Region.
Consequently, Ibo leaders started to demand more say in the running of
the federal government. All in all, the Yoruba and Ibo were averse to
the Hausa-FuIani-dominated federal government. A state of political
impasse gripped the entire country.
National Movements and New States in Africa