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QUESTIONS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer any... (top line cut off in the photo)
- Examine any four (4) features of Nigerian nationalist agitations of the Post-World War II period.
- Discuss any four (4) challenges of diversity in Nigeria.
- Explain any four (4) factors that led to the collapse of the Nigeria's First Republic.
- Elucidate on any four (4) reasons for INEC's inability to conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria.
- Explain any four (4) strengths of the Macpherson's Constitution.
- Enumerate and explain any four (4) constraints in achieving National development plan in Nigeria.
- Discuss the role of Nigeria in the formation of ECOWAS.
ANSWERS
1. Features of Nigerian nationalist agitations, Post-WWII period
- Formation and radicalisation of political parties (e.g. NCNC, Zikist Movement) demanding self-government rather than mere reform.
- Rise of the press as a mobilising tool — nationalist newspapers (e.g. Azikiwe's West African Pilot) spreading political consciousness.
- Trade union and labour agitation, notably the 1945 general strike, linking economic grievances to the demand for independence.
- Demand for constitutional reform, pressing for greater African representation and eventual self-rule, leading to successive constitutions (Richards, Macpherson, Lyttleton).
2. Challenges of diversity in Nigeria
- Ethnic rivalry and mutual suspicion among the major ethnic groups, fuelling competition for political power and resources.
- Religious tension between Christians and Muslims, occasionally erupting into conflict.
- Regionalism/sectionalism, where loyalty to one's region or ethnic group often outweighs national loyalty.
- Uneven distribution of development and resources, breeding a sense of marginalisation among some groups and fuelling agitation.
3. Factors that led to the collapse of the First Republic
- Election crises and widespread rigging, especially the disputed 1964 and 1965 elections.
- Ethnic and regional politics, with political parties organised largely along ethnic lines, deepening national disunity.
- Corruption and abuse of power by politicians, eroding public confidence in civilian government.
- The Western Region crisis (Action Group split and the 1966 upheavals), which created instability that culminated in the January 1966 military coup.
4. Reasons for INEC's inability to conduct free and fair elections
- Inadequate funding and logistical constraints, causing late arrival of materials and delayed voting.
- Political interference and lack of full institutional independence from government/ruling party influence.
- Electoral violence and voter intimidation in various constituencies, undermining a free process.
- Weaknesses in voter registration and results transmission systems, creating room for manipulation and disputes.
5. Strengths of the Macpherson Constitution
- Introduced greater African participation in government through an expanded, largely elected central legislature.
- Established a federal-type structure with regional legislatures, laying groundwork for later federalism.
- Allowed for the emergence and growth of political parties as legislative politics developed.
- Provided a framework for further constitutional development, serving as a stepping stone toward self-government.
6. Constraints in achieving National Development Plans in Nigeria
- Inadequate and inconsistent funding, often worsened by dependence on volatile oil revenue.
- Corruption and mismanagement of allocated development funds.
- Poor implementation and monitoring mechanisms, leading to abandoned projects.
- Political instability and frequent policy discontinuity, as incoming governments abandon predecessors' plans.
7. Nigeria's role in the formation of ECOWAS
- Nigeria was a principal initiator, using its diplomatic weight and oil wealth in the 1970s to push for West African economic integration.
- Nigeria co-drafted and championed the ECOWAS Treaty alongside Togo, culminating in the Treaty of Lagos (1975).
- Nigeria hosted the founding summit in Lagos and has remained the largest financial contributor and a dominant political force within the organisation.
- Nigeria has consistently used its leadership role to promote regional peacekeeping (e.g. through ECOMOG) and economic cooperation among member states.