NIGERIA PEOPLES & CULTURE

The 1963 republican constitution swept away all the vestiges of colonial rule in Nigeria. Nigeria became a federation of four regions each of which had its own constitution. The Queen of England ceased to be in control of the arms of government in Nigeria.

The 1963 republican constitution contains most of the provisions of the 1960 independence constitution and new provisions. The Head of State became the President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria Armed Forces. The President appointed the person who appeared to command majority support in the two Houses of Legislature as the Prime Minister.

On the prime minister advice he appointed other ministers. The national legislature was made up of the House of Senate and House of Representatives. The House of Senate was made up of 56 Senators including the Senate President. The House of Representatives was made up of 312 members elected from single member constituencies.

Citizens of Nigeria that had attained the age of twenty-one were elected into the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives elected a speaker from among themselves to co-ordinate the activities of the house. The national legislature has the main function of deliberating on important matters affecting the nation and making resolutions which are passed in the form of bills.

The executive authority of the nation lay with the president. The Prime Minister and the council of ministers carried out the executive function. It is the prime minister and the council of ministers that execute major policies of the government.

The constitution further created regional legislature in the four regions – the House of Assembly and the House of Chiefs. The post of a speaker and a president were created to preside over the House of Assembly and the House of Chiefs respectively.

The regional executive council was also created and a premier headed the executive council of the regions. The function of the executive council was similar to that of the council of ministers. The constitution observed the methods of sharing power between the federal government and the regions.

The 1963 republican constitution established a National Police Force for the entire federation and local government police. The Inspector General of Police became the head of the Nigeria Police Force. The Commissioners of Police headed the Nigeria Police Force at the regions.

Under the constitution, the president appointed the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the chief judge of Lagos and other federal justices on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission. The Chief Judge could be removed by the president on the approval or the recommendation of the parliament.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria became the highest court of appeal in Nigeria under the 1963 constitution. This was as a result of a dispute between the deputy leader of Action Group on one side Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Governor of Western Region, Sir Adesoji Aderemi on the other side.

The issue as whether the governor of western region had right to dismiss the premier without the resolution of the House of Assembly. The matter came up in the high court but it was later referred to the Supreme Court for the interpretation of the constitution.

The Supreme Court held that the governor has no right to remove the premier except in the consequence of proceedings on the floor of the house in which a vote of no confidence was passed on the premier, showing that he no longer commands majority support.

The decision was appealed to the Privy Council, which reversed the decision holding that the Governor had the right. The federal government was unhappy over the decision of the Privy Council and thus went further to establish the Supreme Court as the final court of appeal in 1963.

The constitution of the 1963 provided for a procedure for altering regional boundaries. It also provided for qualification for citizenship. The constitution elaborates the fundamental rights and liberties of Nigerians in line with the 1948 UN universal declaration on human rights.

The constitution also provided for a federal and regional civil and public service. The federal Public Service Commission and Regional Public Service Commission were empowered to appoint, promote, dismiss and discipline public officers.

The resolution of the 1957 and 1958 conference gave birth to the 1960 constitution. The 1960 constitution bestowed full independence on Nigeria. The full independence meant that Nigeria was no longer under the control and dictates of the British Government.

Though, it was more of a paper work than in reality, because despite being given independence in 1960, the head of state in Nigeria was a representative of Queen of England. This resulted in Nigeria seeking Full independence in 1963.

The 1960 independence constitution provided for a head of state who was a representative of the Queen of England. His status was like that of a constitutional representative of the Monarch. It was through the Governor General that the Queen of England conducted her activities in Nigeria.

The 1960 constitution established a two chamber legislature which consisted of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate was made up of forty four members, twelve members from each region and four members from Southern Cameroon and Lagos. The House of Representatives was made up of three hundred and twelve elected members.

The executive authority of the federal government was vested on the Queen’s representative who exercised it through the ministers. The Council of Ministers was made up ten members. A Prime Minister was appointed from among the members of the House of Representatives.

A member who commanded majority support of the members of House of Representatives was appointed Prime Minister. The Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister appointed other ministers. The functions of the council of ministers were the execution of government policies and the gathering of information.

Each regional legislature was made up of a House of Assembly and the House of Chiefs. The Northern House of Assembly was made up of a hundred and seventy elected members while the House of Chiefs of the region consisted of all first class chiefs, ninety five other chiefs and an adviser on Islamic law.

In the Western House of Assembly, there were a hundred and twenty four elected members. The house of chiefs of the region was made up of a hundred and fifteen members and four chiefs selected by the governor.

The Eastern region had a hundred and forty six elected members in the House of Assembly. The house of chiefs comprised of all the traditional rulers, first class chiefs representing the provinces, fifty-five other chiefs and five special representatives as members.

The executive of each region consisted of the premier and some other ministers appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier. The executive council was collectively responsible to the House of Assembly of the regions. The functions of the regional executive council remained the execution of government policy and observation of strict compliance with the constitution.

The 1960 independence constitution spelt out areas of legislative authority between the federal government and the regions. The exclusive legislative list contained forty four items in which the federal government had exclusive right to legislate. The concurrent list had twenty-eight items in which both the regions and the federal government have powers to legislate on.

However, the constitution provided that in any conflict between the federal and regional law, the federal law would prevail over the regional law. The Federal Supreme Court in accordance with the constitution was empowered to review all legislation.

The fundamental human rights of Nigerians were detailed in 1960 constitution. The constitution also specified the right of Nigerians under the constitution. The constitution protected Nigerians against intimidation, oppression, neglect and denial of human rights.

Methods foreigners can use to acquire citizenship were also spelt out in the 1960 constitution. Foreigner that wishes to become Nigerian has to follow the lay down methods. It is important to note that in the 1960 independence constitution, both the federal government and the regions had their own constitution.

Under the 1960 independence constitution judges of the Supreme Court and High Court were appointed on the advice of the judicial service commission. The judicial committee of the Privy Council received appeal from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The federal legislature was empowered by the 1960 independence constitution to make laws during emergency in respect of matters outside exclusive or concurrent list. Emergency powers according to the constitution could be exercised when the federation is at war, when the parliament declares a state of public emergency.

In 1962 the federal government under Abubakar Tafawa Belewa declared s state of emergency in Western region and appointed M.A Majekoduunnmi as the administrator on the 29 of May 1962. The procedures for constitutional amendments were provided in the constitution.

The 1962 independence constitution also provided the methods to be followed in creation of more regions and for boundary adjustment. Though the 1960 constitution gave Nigeria independence, the federation of Nigeria remained under the dictates of the Queen of England through her representative in Nigeria.

• Features of 1963 Republican Constitution
• Richards Constitution of 1946
• John Macpherson Constitution of 1951

One of the reasons for the July 29, 1966 counter coup in Nigeria was because majority of the coup plotters were Igbos, and because of that it was tagged an Igbo coup. The Northern military officers then vowed to take revenge, though the fact remains that the coup was plotted by military officers from different ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, not just Igbo military officers.

Another reason was that Alhaji Abubakar T. Balewa and Ahmadu Bello were killed in the military coup plus other top military officers, only Okote Eboh, a non Igbo and NCNC Finance Minister were killed. Neither Zik nor Michael Okpara, the Premier of Eastern Region was killed during the coup.

Another reason for the counter coup is because the coup leaders were not produced in court or court martial for involvement in attempted coup. Rather they were detained without any form of trial.

This non action by Major Genaral Aguiyi Ironsi was disappointing to Northern leaders and military officers, which made them to plan for counter coup, they started gathering in Mosque and Emirs Palace to plot for another coup.

Aguiyi Ironsi promulgated many decrees to arrest political violence in the country and restore order and unity. Amongst them was the constitution and modification Degree No.5 otherwise known as the ‘Unification Decree”.

This decree was intended to restore national unity, which had been shattered by extreme regionalism and tribalism. By this decree Nigeria was to become a unitary state instead of federation.

 The decree took effect from May 24^th 1966. The abolished regions were replaced with group of provinces. Each region had its group of provinces but these provinces were under the control of military governor.

The eastern region had her group of provinces and so was other regions named. The decree unified the civil service of the Republic. This move came under severe attack from the North who saw it as a plan to dominate the North perpetually by the South. The South were educationally advantaged over the North, the North followed Islamic Education.

The promulgation of this decree sparked off violent demonstration in the North against the National Military Government. The demonstration led to full scale strife and killing of the Igbos in the North. Not less than 35, 000 Igbo men and women lost their life in that Pogrom. It is one of the bitter killings of the Igbos in the Northern Nigeria.

The Mistrust of Aguiyi Ironsi by both North and South: Aguiyi Ironsi surrendered himself with Northern soldiers to allay the fears of the North that he was not anti-North and was not a partner to the January coup.

 In the south, Ironsi was not trusted as the South saw him as an agent of the North yet some of his advisers came from a section of the country. The situation was volatile and would explode any time.

Unfortunately, Aguiyi Ironsi did not possess some of the qualities required in crisis management. He did not take prompt action to punish political offence and other mutineers who took advantage of his weakness and staged coup that toppled his Regime on July 29, 1966.

Aguiyi Ironsi and Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi were kidnapped in Ibadan and taken to an unknown place and were killed by the Northern soldiers. This coup led to the mass killings in the North.

The soldiers and civilians joined hands in the killings in which more than 35,000 Easterners living in the North were killed. The massacre led to the mass exodus of the Igbos from the North back to their home land in the East.

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Culture plays important role in national integration. Culture in simply term can be defined as people ways of life. it also means the activities of man on earth which he employs in his struggle to better his standard of living. The term culture includes the language of the people, their mode of dressing, dancing, marriage pattern, religion, music, festivals tradition and farming.

In Nigeria there are about 250 ethnic groups and 359 languages with diverse culture. Culture is a strong instrument for national integration; it acts as a bond in national undertakings. The role of culture in national integration cannot over emphasize.

The three major languages in Nigeria, Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba should be made a national language. Once everybody speaks and understands the same language the greater part of the issue of national integration will be solved. It is perhaps the cultural similarities of most ethnic groups that bind the people together.

For instance Northerners in Nigeria share similar culture, tradition and religion, different from those in the south. The South East and their Southern neighbors shares similar cultural practices mostly the Niger Delta region.

While the Yoruba and the Benin people of Edo state shares similar cultural heritage and traditions. Dynastic ties are one of the integrating cultural forces that bound ethnic groups together.

Oral tradition is replete with dynastic ties that existed between Ife and Benin, Igala and Yoruba, Igala and Nupe, Nupe and Hausa states, Ife and Itsekiri, Itsekiri and Benin and Ijaw, Urhobo and Benin, Igala and Igbo etc.

The Igbos began to diverge from other related languages such as Edo and Yoruba perhaps four thousand years ago. We are all descendants from Eri, but Igala went one way and Agukwu another. It is clear that some founders of Onitsha and that of Igala may have come from Benin. There are also dynastic ties between some Hausa states and Borno.

The understanding of the unity which culture promotes, calls for emphasis in the history of most communities in Nigeria. Apart from dynastic ties, art works by the various ethnic groups tends to promote unity among the people.

It has been pointed out that the technique of making Benin artwork was introduced from Ife. There are also similarities between art works and those of Nok in Northern Nigeria. The Igbo art works are similar to those of Benin.

The arts works of these ethnic groups help to promote Nigerian culture and Nigeria unity. Festivals organized by ethnic groups could be a good integrating factor in Nigeria.

The Mmawu festivals organized annually in Enugu State helps to promote unity among the groups of people that were formerly in East Central states.

Such festival helps to bring people together and give room for interaction and understanding. Nigeria now has an annual cultural festival in Abuja. Religion, both traditional, Christianity or Islam acts as a binding force among believers. Those who see themselves either as Christians or as Muslims interact as brothers and sisters.

Sadly, there are marriage barriers between Muslims and Christians, encouraging the marriage of Christians and Muslims would help to promote national integration. The trading of locally made goods across ethnic groups is a good way of promoting national integration because the indigenous goods of one ethnic group could be introduced to another.

The culture of Nigerian ethnic groups should be respected and those who claim to have imbibed western cultures should allow the indigenous culture to survive so that our identity could be preserved.

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The high level panel set up by the United Nations Secretary General, submitted its reports in which it recommended for consideration, two models for the reform and expansion of the UN Security Council.

Two permanent and four none permanent seats were proposed for the African region in Model A, while in Model B, the proposal was for two four year renewable seat and four two year non renewable seat for Africa. There is a growing consensus that Model A is widely preferred by Africans.

Accordingly, Nigeria has declared interest in one of the two permanent seats meant for Africa. Nigeria is very qualified for this seat, in terms of population; one in every four Africans is a Nigerian. Nigeria is Africa’s most prominent and consistent defenders of African liberation.

Nigeria has shown willingness and capacity to assume responsibilities in finding solution to regional and global problems, and in the promotion of the political, social and economic well-being of other groups outside its borders.

Nigeria has played a great role in the peacekeeping and peacemaking effort of the United Nations, OAU now AU and ECOWAS over the past four decades. Nigeria has also contributed more than any other African countries, both in men and material, towards ensuring regional and global peace.

The role of Nigeria in the resolution of the Liberian and Sierra Leonean crisis have led to the redefinition of the UN traditional conflict resolution methodologies since the mid 1990s.

The United Nations Secretary General has argued that members of the Security Council should be those nations which “contribute more financially, militarily and diplomatically to the United Nations; participate in mandated peace operation and contribute to the voluntary activities of the United Nations in the area of security and development and diplomatic activities of United Nations objectives and mandates”.

Speakers at the sensitization colloquium on UN reform agreed that Nigeria has met the criteria defined by the high level panel for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. Africa deserves to have Nigeria as one of its two permanent members on a reformed security council.

UNITED NATION SECURITY COUNCIL

The Security Council is the most powerful body in the United Nations. It is responsible for maintaining international peace and for restoring peace when conflict arises. Its decisions are binding on all UN members and have the force of international law.

The Security Council has the power to define what threat to security is, and to determine how the UN should respond and to enforce its decision by ordering UN members to take certain actions.

For instance, the council may impose economic sanctions, such as halting trade with a country it considers an aggressor. The council convenes any time there is a threat to peace.

A representative from each member nations who sit on the Security Council must be available at all times so that the council can meet at a moment notice. The Security Council also frequently meets at the request of a UN member, often a nation with grievances about other nation actions.

The Security Council has 15 members, 5 of which hold permanent seats. The General Assembly elects the other 10 members for rotating two year terms. The 5 permanent members – the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China have the most power.

These nations were the winning powers at the end of World War 2, and they still represent the bulk of the world military might. The decision of the council requires nine votes. But any one of the permanent members can veto an important decision.

This authority is known as the veto right of the great powers. As a result, the council is effective only when its permanent members can reach a consensus.

The council has a variety of ways it can try to resolve conflict between countries. Usually the council first step is to encourage the countries to settle their disagreement without violence. The council can mediate a dispute or recommend guidelines for settlement. It can send peacekeeping troops into a distressed area.

If war breaks out, the council can call for ceasefire. It can enforce it decision by imposing economic sanctions on a country or by authorizing joint military actions. 

In recent years, there has been growing controversy over which country should have permanent seat on the council. Some nations believe that other countries beside the original five should be included. For example, Japan and Germany are powerful countries that pay large membership dues and make substantial contributions to the UN, yet they do not have permanent seats.

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