MONDAY QUARTER-BACKING: Our Initial Conditions: 1960-1966 Six Years of Political Hell in Nigeria [REVISED]

[Mobolaji E. Aluko]

___________________________________________________________________________

MONDAY QUARTER-BACKING: Our Initial Conditions: 1960-1966 Six Years of
Political Hell in Nigeria

by

Mobolaji E. Aluko, PhD
Burtonsville, MD, USA

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Introduction
-----------

The years 1960 to 1966 in Nigeria should be rightly remembered as the
"Years of Infancy and Infamy" in Nigeria, the years in which a young
nation and republic, first gripped by visions of independence, then thrust
to manage that independence, lurched from crisis to crisis. In some
respect, they were heady days, with political machinations and intrigues,
funny and tangled webs of alliances and dis-alliances, great theater and
higher drama, and larger-than-life personalities - until suddenly on
January 15, 1966, all the stupidity was terminated by an
extra-constitutional overturn of the government of the day by Nigeria's
military, a more insidious form of government. Surprisingly, the military
had played little or no visible role in the scheme of things up until that
time, and were barely seen in public, except in the occasional
Independence-Day parades, as curiosos.

But that was then and this is now. That pandora's box has been opened for
ever, and we are yet struggling to close it back.

In order to capture the rush of those Six Years of Political Hell in
Nigeria, and gain an inkling into the fact that some of what happened then
are again happening now, I have chosen to do so in the form of a Diary of
Events. Please read the chronology of events carefully, pieced together
from various sources, but primarily from two books [Ojiako: Nigeria"
Yesterday, Today and ?", Africana Publishers, Onitsha, 1981 and Schwarz,
"Nigeria: The Tribes, the Nation or the Race", MIT Press, 1965] I have
tried to be as accurate as possible, assigning dates or leaving them vague
when there is doubt. Any event that is not stated to have happened here
does not mean that it did not happen, I can assure you!

Enjoy the Diary, but if you don't, at least keep it for your historical
records.

I will send you all the bill, and it will be a huge one.

Best wishes all.

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Diary of Events in Nigeria: Jan 1, 1960 - January 16, 1966
----------------------------------------------------------

1960
-----

January 12, 1960 - New Federal House of Representatives holds its first
meeting

January 14, 1960 - Parliament passes a motion for NIgeria's Independence

March 1960 - The Tiv people defy Tiv Native Authority orders and tax
assesments

April 22, 1960 - Prime Minister Abubakar leaves for London to complete
talks for the final transfer of power to Nigeria in October 1960

May 8, 1960 - Sir Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife, appointed Governor of
the Western Region to succeed Sir John Rankine

May10-19 - Final Nigerian Constitutional talks in London

July 8, 1960 - Sir Aderemi installed as first African Governor of the
Western Region.

July 15, 1960 - Western House of Assembly and Chiefs dissolved by Aderemi.

August 8, 1960 - Elections to the Western House of Assembly. AG wins 78
seats, to NCNC 42. Akintola returns as Premier of the Region, with Dennis
Osadebay of NCNC as Opposition leader. AG wins 62 % in the region (up from
53% in 1959) and 50% in the Midwest area (up from only 20% in 1959).

1st week in September 1960 - Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe resigns from NCNC and
leaves for Olympic Games in Rome

2nd week in September 1960 - Dr. Michael Okpara (then premier of Eastern
Region) replaces Zik as national president of NCNC. Other National
officers include Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi (National Deputy VIce-President),
Mallam Aminu Kano, TOS Benson, R.A. Njoku, and Festus Okotie-Eboh
(Treasurer).

While Zik is away in Rome: the official announcement of his appointment as
first Nigerian Governor-General by Prime Minister Balewa: " It is
announced that the Prime Minister of the Federation of Nigeria intends to
recommend to Her Majesty, The Queen that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe should be
appointed as Governor-General of the Federation after the retirement of
Sir James Robertson on November 15, 1960. It has been ascertained that if
such a recommendation were made after Nigeria has achieved independence,
Her Majesty would be pleased to accept it." [Ojiako, p. 92]

September 21 - Dr. Azikiwe returns from Rome

October 1, 1960 - Nigeria becomes independent from Britain, and becomes a
member of the Commowealth.

First week in October - Tiv riots (20 dead, 4,800 persons arrested, 2,830
convicted.)

November 15, 1960 - Sir James Robertson retires as Governor General of
Nigeria.

November 16, 1960 - Azikiwe's 56th birthday. "It was announced from
Buckingham Palace that the Queen had graciously appointed the new
Governor-General to be a member of her Privy Council. His correct style
and title thus becomes: His Excellency the Right Honourable Dr. Nnamdi
Azikiwe, P.C." [Ojiako, p. 95]

1961
-----

February 1961 - Plebiscite in the Cameroons. North Cameroon (parts of
present-day Borno, Adamawa and Taraba states) chooses to be in Nigeria,
and is renamed "Sardauna", after the premier of the North, adding 7 NPC
representatives to the Federal House, with NPC attaining an absolute
majority thereby. Southern Cameroon votes to join the Cameroon Republic.

Summer 1961 - Prime Minister Abubakar visits President Kennedy in the US.

1962
----

End of January/first few days in February 1962 - Action Group annual
convention in Jos, where a bitter dispute erupts. "The dispute was caused
largely by differences on tactics between Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola,
the then Premier of the Western Region and the deputy leader of the party
who advocated that the Action Group should enter a Federal Coalition
Government, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Leader of the Opposition in the
Federal Parliament, who strongly opposed this view and alos supported a
more radical policy in internal affairs. The conflicts involved more than
party discipline and a power struggle between the two men. Since 1960,
Chief Awolowo, sensing the growing discontent and grumbling among Nigerian
Youth, had attempted to woo their votes by transforming the Action Group
from a Yoruba-based, Western Regional party into a National Party with a
radical socialist outlook. He demonstrated that Action Group had no
future without it. The conflict within the Action Group became a battle
between the young radicals led by Awolowo and the businessmen and
traditional rulers led by Chief Akintola. Late 1961, Chief Awolowo asked
a group of young party leaders to draft a series of working papers
defining democratic socialism. These papers were brought before the Action
Group Federal Executive in December when they were derided by Chief
AKintola as the work of revolutionary babes who haven't the political
astuteness to gain the party a single vote. [According to Chief Enahoro
(quoted in Schwarz, p. 132) "In incomparable Yoruba to elders and the
right wing of the party, [Akintola would tell them] that the [democratic
socialist] ideology means "if you have a buba, you not have a pair of
trousers, if you have more than one room it is a crime, and if you have a
bicycle you must not aspire to own a car."] ["Chief Akintola drew the
wrath of Chief Awolowo and his supporters by taking several important
steps - a reduction of head tax, an increase in the contribution local
schools were expected to make to their own support, a reduction in the
price of cocoa - without even informing, let alone consulting, the party
leadership." Schwarz, p. 132.] Also Chief Akintola refused to accept the
continued push by Chief Awolowo and the Youngmen to campaign both in the
North and the East. He argued that the Action Group should face realities
and stay in the West. This conflict was brought into the open at the
National Congress at Jos." [Ojiako, p. 96]

During January Jos Convention - Chief Akintola, Chief Rosiji, Adeyi and
Adegun leave Jos to go to Ibadan to meet with the Sir Ahmadu Bello, the
Sardauna of Sokoto.

February 9, 1962 - Rift between Chief Akintola and Awolowo patched -
temporarily.

Mid-February, 1962 - Chief Akintola reshuffles cabinet

May 13, 1962 - Nigerian census enumeration starts, and continues for two
weeks. "Its results were never officially announced. Each region accused
the others of overcounting and a British offficial involved with the
census suggested that there was substantial overcounting in Ibo provinces
of the East. It was rumored that the 1962 census showed the North with
less than half the country's population." [Schwarz, p.141]

May 19, 1962 - After a five-hour speech from Chief Awolowo, the West and
Midwest Executive Committees of the Action Group called upon Chief
Akintola to resign as Premier of the West after finding him guilty of
maladministration, antiparty activities, and indiscipline. Then in rapid
succesion came the events that brought shame on the West and gave the NPC
and NCNC a chance to move.

May 20, 1962 - Chief Akintola refused to resign and asked the Governor of
the Western Region to dissolve the House; the Governor refused. Chief
Akintola also asked the Speaker to convene the Western House of Assembly
for May 23, 1962 to consider and pass a Motion for a vote of confidence in
the Western State Government; the Speaker also refused. Chief Akintola
then asked the Federal Prime Minister to revoke the Governor's appointment
and sent his daughter flying to England to petition the Queen for the same
purpose.

May 21, 1962 - The Governor immediately wrote to Chief Akintola revoking
his appointment as Premier and appointed in his stead Alhaji D. S.
Adegbenro. A meeting of the House is called for May 25, 1962

May 25, 1962 - physical fighting in Western Region House of Assembly after
motion to confirm Adegbenro as premier is announced. "On May 25, the
Regional House was convened in order to approve Alhaji Adegbenro. Three
words were spoken, "Mr. Speaker, Sir..." Then suddenly an Akintola
supporter jumped on his bench and leapt through the room, shouting "fire,
smoke, fire," or "fire on the mountain". Fighting immediately broke out,
punches were traded, and chairs thrown; the speaker was nearly decapitated
with the symbolic mace, and order was not restored until the police
entered and cleared the room with tear gas. The evidence seems
overwhelming that the riot was planned by the Akintola forces - both the
timing and the histrionic slogan suggest planning - in order to prevent a
vote from being taken and perhaps to provoke the response on the part of
the Federal Government that in fact ensued." [Schwarz, p. 135]

May 29, 1962 - Federal parliament declares state of Emergency in the West;
announces that Senator the Hon. Dr. Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi (also
one-time Prime Minister Balewa's personal physician) as administrator;

May 30, 1962 - orders place 15 leading political figures in Western Region
under restrictive movement (within half-mile of their official residences)
and bans all political demonstrations. These figures include Awo,
Akintola, Adegbenro, Rosiji, Fani-Kayode, Chief Rotimi Williams, Anthony
Enahoro, Bola Ige, etc. [35 other restrictive movement orders were
subsequently placed, following which Sam Ikoku, Action Group's Federal
Secretary, flees to Ghana.]

May 31, 1962 - Dr. Majekodunmi takes up official residence in Ibadan as
Administrator

June 4, 1962 - Dr. Majekodunmi appoints 16 commissioners. Later appoints
8 more commissioners, six of who are traditional monarchs (Oba of Benin,
the Awujale of Ijebuland, the Osemawe of Ondo, the Olubadan of Ibadan, the
Olu of Warri and Olu of Iwo.)

June 7, 1962 - Interlocutory motion against restrictive order dismissed by
the Supreme Court

June 20, 1962 - Federal Government appoints Coker Commission to probe
financial and investment policies of six Western Region Government
Statutory Corporations under AG control, including the relations with
political parties. Members of the Commission are Justice G.B.A. Coker,
Mr. J.O. Kassim and Mr. Akintola Williams, a Lagos Chartered Accountant.

July 7, 1962 - The Supreme Court (under Chief Justice Sir Adetokunboh
Ademola) by majority vote declares as invalid Chief Akintola's dismissal
as premier by the Governor of Western State; declares Adegbenro's
restriction as constitutionally valid, but that of Rotimi Williams as
unreasonable, and hence should be set aside. [Rotimi WIlliams is promptly
served another restriction order on the same day.] Adegbenro signifies
that he will appeal to the Privy Council in London.

FAST FORWARD HERE [ABOUT A YEAR LATER]:
On May 27, 1963, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
rules that Chief Akintola's dismissal by the Governor was valid,
thereby maintaining Alhaji Adegbenro's claim to the Premiership
On the same day, May 27, 1963, the Western House of Assembly
approved a Government-sponsored amendment to the Regional
Constitution. It laid down that the Governor could remove a premier
only in consequence of a majority decision of the Regional
legislature. This bill was back-dated with retrospective effect to
October 2, 1960, and thus invalidates the appointment
of Alhaji Adegbenro as Premier.

July 16, 1962 - The Akintola faction of AG officially breaks away and
forms the United Peoples Party (UPP)

July 17, 1962 - Ibadan High Court makes an interim order restraining Chief
Awolowo and his supporters from operating the Action Group's accounts in
all banks, after two UPP members apply to the court to share the Action
Group's assets between the UPP and AG.

July 23, 1962 - Coker Commission enquiry opens

September 1962 - Chief Enahoro breaks detention in Nigeria and flees the
country two months before he is set to appear in court to answer charges
of treasonable felony

September 22, 1962 - Chief Awolowo upgraded from restricted movement to
full house arrest

September 25, 1962 - ban on public meeting and procession in Lagos for two
months. This order is repeatedly extended when it expired.

October 1, 1962 - Sir Tafawa Balewa, in a 2nd-year Independence
anniversary speech, talks about uncovering of plot to overthrow the
Federal Government. 12 persons had been detained under the Emergency
Regulations of May 1962, three had absconded, and three persons arrested
on charges of illegal possession of arms and ammunitions. [Ojiako, p.
129]

October 5, 1962 - police report arms cache in Action Group leaders'
houses: "nine sub-machine guns, 35 tear-gas pistol, 10 revolvers, and
7,000 rounds of ammunition." [Ojiako, p. 129]

October 26, 1962 - ban on public meetings and procession of Lagos is
extended to cover the whole of Western Nigeria

November 2, 1962 - Chief Obafemi Awolowo charged with 26 other persons
with conspiring to overthrow the Federal Government by force.

November 8, 1962 - Mr. Noel Graetien, Q.C., arrived Lagos to represent
Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He is refused entry by an immigration officer on
instructions.

November 10, 1962 - Nigerian Bar Association asks for barring of
expatriates from practising in Nigeria

November 12, 1962 - Treason trial of Chief Awolowo and others open. Riots
outside the court claim one live and 50 arrested.

November 27, 1962 - Chief Enahoro, after 'entering Britain last week in an
unorthodox way' (according to prosecutor) is arrested in London "under the
Provisional Fugitive Offenders warrant accusing him of treasonable felony
within the jurisdiction of the government of Nigeria." [Ojiako, page 138]

December 5, 1962 - In Federal Parliament, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim of the
NPC, and Federal Minister of Economic Developement, reads out portion of a
Census report by the Federal Census Officer, Mr. J.J. Warren, an
expatriate. "The Minister said that census officers in the Regions had
been instructed to forward summaries of figures for their areas to the
Federal census officer with a view to publishing preliminary totals in
August 1963 but while totals for the Eastern Region and most of the
Northern Region had been received by mid-July, the Western Region totals
were not submitted until November 2, 1962. Moreover, after the available
figures had been examined by the Federal Census officer, the "inescapable
conclusions" to be drawn from his report was that the figures recorded
throughout the greater part of the Eastern Region were false and inflated.
The minister concluded that there was no alternative bu to conduct a
complete re-enumeration in the majority of divisions in Eastern Nigeria,
for which the Regional Government's cooperation owould be essential,
particularly in order to explain "the figures for five divisons, Awka,
Brass, Degema, Eket, and Opobo which showed 120 per cent increase in
population can certainly be rejected out of hand", he said. In one area
it was recorded that the number of children under five formed 65 per cent
of the population......The Federal officer's report carried no adverse
report about Northern Nigeria but had concluded that in view of the delay
in returning the Western Region's figures, and the position concerning
those for the Eastern Region, it was useless to publish any returns for
the time being."

December 6, 1962 - Nigerian Government Bill "forbids non-Nigerians, except
employees of the Federal and Regional Government, from practicisng any
profession without the written consent of the Federal Minister of Internal
Affairs." [Ojiako, p. 131]

December 13, 1962 - Chief Enahoro is brought before Magistrate court in
London, and is represented by Mr. Dingle Foot, Q.C., M.P.

December 31, 1962 - Coker Commission Report published. "The Report said:
We did come across evidence of prudent and considered management and
investment of public funds. We also came across evidence of reckless and
indeed atrocious and criminal mismanagement and diversion of public funds.
We came across bold, courageous civil servants who stuck to their guns
with remarkable fortitude in the face of circumstances of the most trying
order. We also came across evidence regarding some dishonest and callous
politicians who mortgaged their consciences to dishonesty. " Of Obafemi
Awolowo, the report concluded that "Chief Awolowo has failed to adhere to
the standard of conduct" required of a Premier, 'there is not sufficient
evidence in our view to say the same of Chief Akintola and we absolve him
on all grounds.' The Commissioners were "satisfied that it was Chief
Awolowo who organised the formation of the National Investment and
Properties Company Limited, and a multitude of entries in his diary
clearly demonstrate how much he had the matter of the National Investment
and Properties Limited at heart." The report claimed that although Chief
Awolowo "did not himself take any steps which would clearly show that he
was involved in any matter, he always did everything through the hands of
somebody else. We are satisfied that he knew everything about the
diversion of large sums of money, both from the National Bank of Nigeria,
and the National Investment Company into the coffers of the Action Group."
Chief Awolowo's "scheme was to build around him with money an empire
financially formidable both in Nigeria and abroad, an empire in which the
dominance would be maintained by him by the power of money which he had
given out" [Ojiako, p. 125]

December 31, 1962 - State of Emergency in Western Region (declared in May)
ends

1963
-----

January 1, 1963 - Chief Akintola returns to resume premiership of Western
Region. Is sworn in by Chief Odeleye Fadahunsi (formerly of NCNC, now of
UPP), who had since replaced Sir Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife.
Actually, he heads a Coalition government comprising UPP and NCNC. AG is
in opposition.

February 6, 1963 - Appeals Committee of House of Lords refuses Chief
Enahoro's appeal against extradition

February 10, 1963 - Prime Minister Balewa along with the premiers of the
three regions Ahmadu Bello, Michael Okpara and Chief Akintola, announce
cancellation of May 1962 census.

February 19, 1963 - next census - each Regional Premier would be
responsible for the census in his own region

March 14, the British Home Secertary, Mr. Henry Brooke, announces decision
to extradite Chief Enahoro back to Nigeria

April 29, 1963 - Prime Minister Balewa announces that Nigeria will become
a republic within the Commonwealth by October 1963

May 13, 1963 - Prime Minister Abubakar calls a round-table conference of
political leaders about the proposed Mid-West Region of Nigeria

May 16, 1963 - Chief Anthony Enahoro flown back to Lagos from London

On May 27, 1963, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council rules that
Chief Akintola's dismissal by the Governor was valid, thereby maintaining
Alhaji Adegbenro's claim to the Premiership On the same day, the Western
House of Assembly approved a Government-sponsored amendment to the
Regional Constitution. It laid down that the Governor could remove a
premier only in consequence of a majority decision of the Regional
legislature. This bill was back-dated with retrospective effect to
October 2, 1960, and thus invalidate the appointment of Alhaji Adegbenro
as Premier. [Ojiako, p. 120]

June 24, 1963 - Trial of Chief Enahoro in Lagos High Court on charges of
treasonable felony, conspiracy and possession of firearms resumes before
Justice Sigismund Lambo

June 29, 1963 - Prime Minister and Regional premiers meet in Jos to
discuss future Republican Nigeria

June 30, 1963 - UPP/NCNC coalition in political difficulties

July 1, 1963 - UPP and AG, via Chief Akintola and Chief Adegbenro,
announce resolve to work together 'in order to usher in an era of unity,
peace, tranquility, progress and welfare of all peoples throughout the
Region." Mr. Fani-Kayode and Mr. T.O.S Benson, both of NCNC, denounce the
resolution.

July 2, 1963 - Akintola and Fani-Kayode meet, and announce that UPP/NCNC
coalition still intact

Mid-First week in July - AG source says that NCNC cannot be part of pact.
Another states that pact could be with NCNC or UPP but not both.

July 3, 1963 - Dr. Okpara, premier of Eastern Region and National
President of NCNC, denounces the Western pact of UPP and AG as "unilateral
and clandenstine." Adegbenro, asked about detained Awolowo's attitude to
the pact, says that "It is still an affair between Akintola and myself."
[Ojiako, p. 148]

July 4, 1963 - Akintola, after six-hour cabinet meeting, announces
publicly that NCNC will not be eliminated from any pact between itself and
any other party.

July 5, 1963 - Western Obas support a UPP/NCNC/AG coaltion governvernment

July 6, 1963 - Chief Awolowo statement is read, saying that he was keeping
an open mind on "recent political manoeuvres", and would not commit
himself unless he felt satisfied that concrete proposals had been worked
out in the best interests of the people." [Ojiako, p. 149]

July 6, 1963 - Akintola criticizes AG for trying to exclude NCNC from the
pact

July 7, 1963 - Statement by NCNC through T.O.S. Benson from Ilesha,
charging Akintola with "bad faith."

July 8, 1963 - UPP/NCNC coalition dropping the three-party coalition
altogether

July 13, 1963 - plebiscite for creation of separate Mid-West region.
"579,077 out of 650,130 registered voters (about 90 per cent) voted in
favor of the creation of the new region, and only 7,218 voted against."
- Schwarz, page 130.

July 18, 1963 - final result of plebiscite published. An average of 75.6%
voted in favour of the new region. [Ojiako, p. 164]

July 25-25 - All-party meeting in Lagos to discuss Republican constitution
issues

August 7, 1963 - White Paper on proposed Republic of Nigeria published

August 9, 1963 - Constitutional proposals approved by the House of
Representatives

August 28, 1963 - Chief Fani-Kayode travels to the East to meet with Dr.
Okpara to clarify the issues surrounding the NCNC-UPP coalition in the
West.

September 6, 1963 - announcement that new census will be held from
November 5-8, 1963.

September 7, 1963 - Chief Anthony Enahoro found guilty by Justice Lambo on
all counts, and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

September 11, 1963 - Awo and 17 other treasonable felony accused sentenced
(Awo given ten-year sentence; Chike Obi, Bisi Onabanjo and JS Tarka
acquitted, among others.)

October 1, 1963 - Nigeria becomes a Republic. Dr. Azikiwe sworn in as the
Republic's first President by Sir Adetokunboh Ademola, the Chief Justice

November 5-8 1963 - another census held.

1964
-----

January 8, 1964 - Federal House of Assembly consider the new Mid-West
Region Constitution.

January 28, 1964 - NCNC Constitution meeting in Kano.

February 3, 1964 - Midwest Regional Elections. "Indeed, the final results
showed that everywhere, support for other parties other than NCNC was
lukewarm. The Action Group fielded 21 candidates and did not win a single
seat......In Ishan, Chief A.O. Enahoro, father of the imprisoned Tony
Enahoro, won his seat on a MDF (MIDWEST DEMOCRATIC FRONT) ticket.'
[Ojiako, p. 171] NCNC wins 54 seats, MDF 11 seats.

February 8, 1964 - Chief Dennis Osadebay, as premier, forms new Midwest
Government. Governor (Sir Jereton Mariere) and 17 ministers-cabinet sworn
in. All 11 MDF members of the House boycott the ceremony.

February 24, 1964 - Census Board announces the interim report of November
Census.

Census Yr 1952 1962 1963 % over
Provisional Final 1952
Feb 24 Aug. 29
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----
Northern Region 18,000,000 30,200,000 29,777,986 29,758,875 67
Eastern Region 8,500,000 12,500,000 12,388,646 12,394,462 46
Western Region } 6,500,000 10,500,000 10,278,500 10,265,846 107
Lagos } 675,352 665,246 }
MidWest Region } 2,533,337 2,535,839 }
------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---
Totals 33,000,000 53,200,000 55,653,821 55,620,268 68

In the table above, the third and fourth column of numbers are the
announced results. The 1952 and 1962 figures are given only for
comparison. The 1962 figures, never released before February 24, were
disclosed to journalists by Chief Akintola on the same day as the Census
Board disclosure of the 1963 provisional figures. Note that the Lagos and
MidWest Regions are disaggregated from Western Region figures only for the
1963 results. The Western figures therefore show a 30% increase over the
1962 disputed figures, with the Western Crisis in May 1962 used to account
for the possible undercount. With a typical average population growth
rate of 2.5%, a 10-year period should show no more than 28% above the 1952
figure, indicating either an under-count in 1952 or an over-count in 1963.

February 28, 1964 - Dr. Okpara, Eastern premier gives a press conference
rejecting the November 1963 census, stating that the figures exhibit
"inflation....of such astronomical proportions that the figures obtained,
taken as a whole are worse than useless." [Ojiako, p. 173] (Note:
Osadebay, premier of Midwest, and Adegbenro, parliamentary leader of AG in
the Western Assembly, also reject the figures. The figures are accepted
by the Northern Nigerian Government, and the Western State Government of
AKintola, but without the support of his NCNC coalition partners, who
where in support of their party's rejection of the figures.)

March 2, 1964 - Sardauna of Sokoto warns from Kaduna that he and his party
were ready for a "complete showdown", that it was neither the desire nor
the policy of the Northern People's Congress (NPC) to dominate anyone, but
"my people, my government and my party are fully prepared at any hour of
the day for any eventuality and would meet any challenge.....I warn all
Nigerians that the present situation calls for calm and forethought."
Dealing with criticisms of the figures as they affected the North, Sir
Ahmadu said he was quite capable of making counter-charges. He warned
also that "if, therefore, unfair and baseless attacks persist against us
we shall be forced to break an electoral truce which I have maintained and
shall retaliate fearlessly and in a manner in which we are attacked."
[Ojiako, p. 174]

March 10, 1964 - Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) formed "in the
name of Yoruba and Western Region interests." (Scwarz, p. 142). This was
the same name used by Herbert Macaulay's Lagos-based party of the 1920s
and 1930s. It includes former members of Western Region's NCNC, all of the
United People's Party (UPP, Akintola's break-away group from AG) and the
Southern People's Congress (SPC). It symbol is the hand.

March 11, 1964 - Chief Fani-Kayode, Vice-Premier and member of NCNC, joins
NNDP. There are now 52 NNDP members, 27 AG and 15 NCNC members in the
Western House

May 1, 1964 - President Azikiwe appoints E.E. Esua as Chief Electoral
Commissioner, replacing Sir Kofo Abayomi

May 11-12, 1964 - Prime MInister Abubakar meet with the four Regional
premiers during Sixteenth Session of the Nigerian National Economic
Council.

June 2, 1964 - Dr. Okpara begins tour of Western Region

June 3, 1964 - The United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) is formed at
Ibadan, comprising NCNC (as lead party), AG, and NPF (The Northern
Progressive Front, comprising of NEPU and UMBC). It refuses to admit Dr.
Tunji Otegbeye's Socialist Workers and Farmers Party, a party that seeks
"the realization of a socialist Nigeria through the process of National
Democratic Revolution."

July 12-18, 1964 - Serious clashes in Ibadan between rival political
parties, particularly after the "Egungun" festival celebrations. In
Ilesha, "one attack which had caused particular resentment was that of the
Rev. Josiah Akinyemi, headmaster of Ilesha Grammar School, a prominent AG
member." [Ojiako, p. 185] [NOTE: REV. AKINYEMI IS FATHER OF PROF. BOLAJI
AKINYEMI, MOST RECENTLY OF NADECO.]

August 20, 1964 - The Nigerian National Alliance (NNA) was formed,
comprising NPC (as lead party) and Akintola's NNDP, "Chike Obi's Dynamic
Party, the Republican Party, and most elements of the Niger Delta Congress
from the East, the Mid-West Democratic Front, and the Lagos State United
Front." [Ojiako, p. 142]

August 29, 1964 - Final figures of 1963 census published. Population of
Federation is put at 55,620,268.

August 31, 1964 - Dr. J.O.J. Okezie's Republican Party of Nigeria is
formally launched at Umuahia.

September 23, 1964 - Strongly-worded Press bill debated in Parliament

September 26, 1964 - Parliament ends its last session

October 1, 1964 - Fourth anniversary of Nigeria's Independence, and first
anniversary as a Republic. President Azikiwe tells the nation that it is
at a "fork of history, with one path leading to a tolerant and united
nation and the other to a 'squabbling and disunited group of tribes.'"

October 10, 1964 - UPGA publishes its manifesto, and it is launched in
Lagos by Dr. Michael Okpara, premier of the East and leader of NCNC. It
promises an executive Presidency, post of Vice-President, Judicial
Commission "deal with tribalism, discriminatory practices and violations
of fundamental human rights", enshrine "socialism" in the Constitution,
creation of new states along the lines of the old provinces, up to no more
than 25, social services shifting to Federal Government, a more neutral
foreign policy, centralization of local and Native Authority police into
the Nigerian police, and freeing of jailed leader of Action Group, Chief
Obafemi Awolowo.

Soon after October 10, 1964 - NNA publishes its manifesto. It said that
"it would cooperate fully "on the path of truth" with member-states of the
Organisation of African Unity for the development and progress of Africa
and for the growth of interstate trade in Africa if voted into power. It
said it would follow a policy of non-alignment "but will be friend of all
nations who accept Nigeria as equals and respect her." The manifesto said
the alliance would ensure fair and equitable distribution of wealth of the
nation and creat equal opportunity for all people. It promised to see to
the presentation and reformation of democratic institutions entrenched in
the Republican Constitution. The alliance said it would accelerate the
development of educational institutions in order to provide sufficient men
and women with requisite qualifications to fulfil the goal of
Nigerianisation of Government services. It would also arrest the
deterioration of sports." [Ojiako, p. 192]

October 24, 1964 - All parties meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abubakar
to discuss assurance of free and fair elections.

November 16, 1964 - President Azikiwe turns 60

December 8, 1964 - Federal Parliament dissolved

December 10, 1964 - President Azikiwe's radio broadcast, complaining of
"tribal propaganda and incitement and accusing politicians of using their
power to perpetuate their stay in office. He went on to suggest that the
Federation might break up, saying: 'if this our embryo Republic must
disintegrate, then, in the name of God, let the operation be a short and
painless one." [Schwarz, p. 145]

December 19, 1964 - Nominations close following 24-hour extension demanded
by UPBA

December 20, 1964 - Election speeches by the two leaders of NNA (Prime
Minister Abubakar) and UPGA (Okpara). "Sir Abubakar said that UPGA was a
'collection of one-time bitter opponents' who had become friends overnight
for 'reasons of greed, ambition, and selfishness' and was 'bound to break
up as soon as the election results were known.' He called the NCNC 'a
party of confusion' without stability or discipline and the AG ' a group
of people who are without aims or principles.......Dr. Okpara accused the
Federal Government of pursuing unprogressive policies both at home and
abroad. He recounted a 'catalogue of atrocities' in the North and West
and claimed that the Federal Government had no defined foreign policy.
His alliance, he said, had drawn up a programme of rapid
industrialization, would revolutionize education, and put emphasis on
agriculture. He asked voters to compare the progress made in his Region
with that made elsewhere, especially in the Northern Region." [Ojiako, p
201]

December 20 - The drama of the "Unopposed" begins. 15 Unopposed UPGA
members in the East, 61 Unopposed NNA members announced in the North, an
unknown number in the West i.e. no candidates from opposing party to
oppose them in the coming election.

December 22 - Electoral Commissioner E.E. Esua makes an emergency
broadcast that the situation of the unopposed had become problematic since
"there had been cases where more than one candidate had been validly
nominated, 'and yet names of candidates have been announced as returned
unopposed.'

December 24, 1964 - Newspaper reprt of Dr. Okpara's threat of the East to
secede from the Republic because the "Ibo residents had been singled out
for vilification and destruction. The secession threat was at first used
by the Eastern leaders of the NCNC to bolster UPGA's contention that the
election should be postponed. The postponement plea was based upon the
allegation that the campaign had been neither free or fair. President
Azikiwe accepted the allegations and sought to postpone the election.
But Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa insisted that the election be held, and
it was." [Schwarz, p. 146]

December 25, 1964 - President Azikiwe's Christmas broadcast urges
Nigerians to go to the polls

December 26, 1964 - President Azikiwe calls an emergency meeting of all
regional Governors, following which they appeal to Nigerians to continue
to live peaceably with each other "whatever the outcome of the elections."

December 28, 1964 - "The President and Prime Minister conferred at State
House for 1 3/4 hours, and disagreed on holding the elections. UPGA
announced that it would boycott the elections "unless free and fair
polling" could be assured. UPGA demonstration in Lagos by 2000 people,
chanting "No Awo, No Government" was broken up by police with truncheons.
Earlier Sir Abubakar announced that troops would make a country-wide tour
in the pre-election period called "Exercise Harmony" to "give the people
an opportunity to see their army." In Lagos, a motorized column parades
in battle order with fixed bayonets. "To show the people of Lagos that
the army is ready in case of trouble," says Major-General Welby-Everard,
C-in-C of the Army." [Ojiako, p. 204]

December 29, 1964 - President's meeting with Regional Governors and
Premiers is held, with North and West officials declining to attend. "The
Prime MInister announced after the meeting that it had been agreed the
elections were to go ahead as planned. This was denied later but UPGA's
McEwen (NCNC's NATIONAL SECRETARY]. Election Commission announced that it
was deadlocked on the question of holding of the elections. Two of its
members, Mr. Aniegolu (East) and Mr. Akenzua (MidWest) resigned. UPGA
said its boycott continued.......Sir Ahmadu Bello said that the
President's meeting in the STate House was to discuss the secession of
Eastern Nigeria from the Federation. If it (the East) wanted to do so
"because of its oil interests" it should be allowed to do so in peace.
Since the discovery of oil in the East the NCNC has been growing steadily
colder about their relations with other parts of Nigeria and had tried to
"make themselves so intolerable that other Nigerians will take the
initiative of getting Eastern Nigeria outside the Federation and thereby
winning sympathy for the NCNC in the world at large." A conference to
divide assets should be called as the President had already suggested.
Socialist Workers and Farmers Party (SWAFP) announced that it too would
boycott the election." [Ojiako, p. 204]

December 30, 1964 - General Elections held for a House of 312 seats: 168
for the North, 69 for the East, 57 for the West, 14 for the MidWest and 4
for Lagos. The seats are apportioned based on the new 1963 census figures.
"A "partial" election took place in the North, "moderate" in the West,
where there had been some destruction of polling booths, very limited in
Lagos, where booths had also been destroyed and one man was injured in a
riot, and nonexistent in the East, where the UPGA boycott was complete.
In the Mid-West at noon the Premier announced the opening of stateions
while maintaining the boycott. In the evening UPGA issued a statement
saying it would not accept any government formed on the basis of the
elections which would be "compromising with evil." It called on the
President to summon a conference of all political leaders to "break up the
Federation peacefully." A statement from the President denied Sir
Ahmadu's allegation that the State House was to discuss secession. The
object was to preserve Federal Unity." [Ojiako, p. 205]

1965
-----

January 1, 1965 - President Azikiwe that he would rather resign that call
a government to be formed on the basis of the elections. "In my view, what
will save our present political situation is to arrange for a free and
fair election in the immediate future."

January 2, 1965 - NCNC announces that all its successful candidates had
resigned their seats in Parliament. NNA said that all elections were
valid, and that bye-elections should be held only in those places where no
elections were held on December 30. "Sir Abubakar said that any
complaints about improper condust of the elections should be made to the
law courts, and proposed that a conference of all Regional Governments
should be held "to avoid bloodshed."" [Ojiako, p. 206]

January 4, 1965 - President Azikiwe invites Abubakar Tafawa Balewa to form
a government, having been left with no other constitutional choice, and
subordinating his personal feelings.

January 6, 1965 - Dr. Okpara states that new elections would be held in
the Eastern Region as soon as possible and that if the UPGA received an
invitation to join the Federal Government, it would give it "careful
consideration."

January 7, 1965 - Abubakar announces his cabinet, including two UPGA
ministers Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe and Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh

January 13, 1965 - Abubakar's new government sworn in. Okotie-Eboh and
Mbadiwe not present

January 14, 1965 - Okotie-Eboh sworn in. Mbadiwe still boycotts cabinet

March 18, 1965 - Supplementary elections in the Eastern Region leads to
UPGA winning all the 52 seats out of the 54 contested, the remaining being
won by independents

"Final state of parties in the Federal Parliament, following the
supplementary elections held on March 18 was as follows: Nigerian National
Alliance 198 seats; United Progressive Grand Alliance, 108; Independents,
5; one seat vacant - (Federal Information Department, Lagos - Times -
Commonwealth Survey.)" - {Ojiako, p. 212)

April 9, 1965 - MDF leader, James Otobo, along with seven out of eight
other MDF members, all "cross-carpet" over to NCNC in the MidWest House of
Assembly, making the MidWest virtually a one-party (NCNC) state. "The
only Action Group member was absent from the House. One MDF member, Chief
Okotako Enahoro [FATHER OF CHIEF ANTHONY ENAHORO] remained in opposition
bench. A member of the Action Group in the Eastern House of Assembly, Mr.
O.A. Etim, MP for Uyo East, has been appointed a minister in the regional
Government. Welcoming the appointment, Dr. Sam Aluko, chairman of the
election planning committee in the East, said: "It had strenghthene the
UPGA, not only in the East but also throughout the country, and is a
direct reply to the plan of the NNA to split UPGA."

September 17, 1965 - October 11, 1965 is agreed in Parliament as next day
for Western elections.

September 18, 1965 - Western House of Assembly dissolved

September 26, 1965 - Sardauna of Sokoto (Northern premier) arrives in
Ibadan to launch the NNA campaign for Western region elections. UPGA
appeals for a three-day extension to nomination period, because of
difficulties in filing nominations particularly in Ogbomosho (NNA premier
Akintola's hometown) and Ile-Ife (NNA deputy premier Fani-Kayode's
hometown.)

September 30, 1965 - UPGA meets with Electoral commissioner Esua for
heated 3-hour discussion. Mr. Richard Akinjide, NNA's party secretary,
issues a statement saying that UPGA is "running from pillar to post in
utter panic", and that the allegations of intimidation by UPGA were
"subtle attempts to prepare the public mind ready for excuses for their
defeat." [Ojiako, p. 216]

September 27, 1965 - Last day of Nomination for Western elections

October 1, 1965 - Fifth anniversary of Independence. President Azikiwe
appeals for unity in the country, as asks Nigerians to be "just to one
another."

October 11, 1965 - Western House election day

October 12, 1965 - By noon, NNDP had already "won" 51 out of 94 seats.
UPGA is releasing its own results, different from NNDPs, via the
broadcasting service in Eastern Nigeria [PERSONAL HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE: I
WAS AT THE ENBC THROUGHOUT THIS DAY, HAVING ACCOMPANIED MY FATHER, SAM
ALUKO, THERE. MY AGE: 10] Akintola begins to form his government

October 13, 1965 - Final figures by NNDP and UPGA:

NNDP figures: NNDP 65; UPGA 10. NNDP Wins
UPGA figures: NNDP 25; UPGA 68. UPGA Wins (announced October 12)

'Confusion has made its masterpiece..!"

October 15, 1965 - Taped broadcast by Chief Akintola to the Western Region
disrupted after forced entry by unknown person. Wole Soyinka suspected
and declared wanted. [He later gives himself up and is charged in court.]

November 1965 - Electoral Commissioner E.E. Esua announces that "grave
irregularities had occurred in the October elections", and, "in an open
letter to the Governor of the Western Region, Mr Esua stated, as the
regional commissioners' loyalty had been to the Government in power, his
Commission had been "utterly helpless" in the face of 'abuses which came
to light.' He declared that "It was a notorious fact that some electoral
officers refused to accept nomination papers of certain candidates." On
that "prospective candidates were said to have been unopposed though
opposition was patent." Mr Esua mentioned about irregularities such as
"ballot papers discovered in the hands of unauthorised persons" and
"returning officers refusing to announce the results of the elections at
the counting stations", and said that in his view there was "good cause
for misgivings about the authority of the results." He made proposals for
elections which he thought would avoid irregularities in the future."
[Ojiako, p. 220]

November 19, 1965 - at least 10 people killed in a murder reprisal of a
local UPGA leader in Ijebu Province

December 13 - report states that a member of the Western Nigeria House of
Chiefs, Oba Keleko Adesanya, was burnt to death at a meeting

December 20, 1965 - Wole Soyinka acquitted on charges of robbery and
violence in connection with a broadcast of October 15, 1965

1966
-----

Sunday, January 2, 1966 - At least nine people killedd in the area between
Ibadan and Lagos

Thursday, January 6, 1966 - Mr. Shitta-Bey, M.P. for Lagos Central, files
a motion in Parliament calling for the declaration of a state of
emergency, in the West.

Friday to Sunday, January 7-9, 1966 - At least twelve people killed in the
northern parts of Lagos

Wednesday, January 12, 1966 - At least 20 persons killed at Ilesha,
according to police reports

Thursday, January 13, 1966 - Federal Government announces that "post
election violence in the Western Region had cost the lives of over 160
persons, including 64 civilians billed by the police, 91 killed by other
civilians, and seven policemen." "Unofficial estimates given in the
British press put the total number of persons killed as high as over 700."
[Ojiako, p. 221]

Friday January 14, 1966 - In an interview, said "that he had tried to
bring about a settlement in the Western Region, that the Action Group
(which formed part of the UPGA) had accepted his mediation, but that the
Nigerian National Democratic Party (of Chief Akintola) had asked for more
time. He (Sir Abubakar) did not want to use "real force" because it can't
bring peace to people's hearts", and in any case he had no power to impose
a solution on the Western Region."

Friday, January 14, 1966 - "A top level meeting took place in Kaduna,
capital of Northern Nigeria, between Sir Ahmadu Bello, Premier of Northern
Nigeria, and Chief S.L. Akintola, Premier of Western Nigeria. Believed
present also were leading army officers, including Brigadier Sam
Ademulegun, Officer Commanding the Nigeria No. 1 Brigade. This meeting
was reported to have discussed the question of the recent discontents in
the Western Region, in the light of intelligence reports indicating that
junior and middle-grade officers might be plotting a revolt and to have
decided to go ahead with a ruthless bliz on opposition activities in the
West using the army. Brigadier Ademulegun, himself a Westerner, was
reported to have been detailed to lead this campaign. This information
leaked out to the plotters, who decided to strike immediately, and a
pro-Government Northerner, believed to be Lt. Colonel Segana, was sent to
Lagos to brief Major-General Ironsi, GOC of the Army. In Lagos itself
virtually the last action of the old government was to announce a minor
cabinet reshuffle, which could be interpreted as a slight move towards the
NCNC, giving a cabinet position to one NCNC radical, Mr. Mbazulike Amechi,
and promoting another, Mr. R.B.K. Okafor, to be a Minister of State. The
reshuffle was occasioned by the resignation of Dr. Jaja Wachukwu as
Minister of Aviation, and his replacement by Mr. Mathew Mbu. This was
also a concession to the NCNC, as Dr. Wachukwu was expelled from the party
in November, and the party had been pressing the Federal Minister for some
weeks to remove him. Mr. T.O.S. Benson (NNDP) was also made a Minister of
State. This, however, was entirely unrelated to what was to follow. In
evening, Maj.-General Ironsi gave a regimental reception." [Ojiako, p.
223]

Saturday, January 15, 1966 - The Coup D'Etat. "In the early hours of
January 15 a number of officers of the Nigerian Army carried out a coup
d'etat by striking simultaneously at widely different centres, killing two
Regional Premiers - Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello (North) and Chief Samuel
Akintola (Western Region) - and abducting the Federal Prime Minister, Sir
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and the Federal Minister of Finance, Chief Festus
Okotie-Eboh. These developments followed continued unrest in the Western
Region, where the authorities virtually admitted that the October
elections for the Regional Legislative Assembly had been irregular, and
where riots and clashes, in which hundreds of persons were killed, led to
a gradual breakdown of law and order." [Ojiako, p. 222]

Sunday, January 16, 1966. "In Lagos, there was another cabinet meeting,
presided over by Alhaji Zanna Bukar Dipcharima, after which it was
reported that the rump of the cabinet had handed over administration of
the country as a temporary measure to the army and the police under the
control of Major-General Ironsi. During the day, too, there was a meeting
of the heads of the armed forces and the police, attended by General
Ironsi, Commodore Wey, head of the Navy, and the most senior police
officer. The day was mainly filled with speculation, especially as to the
whereabouts of the Prime Minister and Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh. Both were
reported in the Western Region. (Chief Festus' body was later found near
Abeokuta, riddled with bullets, in a shallow grave, along with bodies of
four army officers.) At 11:50 pm, the acting president, Dr. Nwafor Orizu,
told the nation in a broadcast that he had been advised by the Council of
Ministers that hey had unanimously decided to hand the Federation to the
Armed Forces in view of the present situation in the country. Immediately
after the President's message, the Supreme Commander of the Military
Government announced decrees for suspensions of the office of the
President, the Prime Minister and the Parliament. He also decreed that
there should be a military government in each region of the Federation
...By this decree, the provisions for the officers of Regional Governors,
Premiers and Executive Council were suspended. But the Chief Justice and
all other judges would continue to hold office and the judiciary would
continue to function normally under the present statute." [Ojiako, p.
226]

----------

CLOSING COMMENT
----------------

And so, we began our journey with a first coup, to be followed to be
followed by one after the other, but "Plus Ca Change, Plus la meme chose."
One would have wished that all of these our earlier leaders were more
principled, making and breaking alliances because of GAPS between promises
and achievements FOR THE PEOPLE, rather than calculations for power and
perceived slights, and rampant ethnicism. One would have wished them to
be more consistent, to be more attentive to their gut feelings. Our
country would have been better it. Furthermore, reading this Diary of
Events, one cannot but come away with the impression that Chief Awolowo,
because of his other legal problems beginning in May 1962, was really a
bit player in the political scheme of things, and that Sir Ahmadu Bello,
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief S.L. Akintola and
Dr. Michael Okpara were the main determinants of how Nigeria finally got
to January 15, 1966.

One final conclusion: The Diary points also to another conclusion: beware
political turmoil in the West of Nigeria - it could easily engulf the
whole nation.

Best wishes all. Our country needs serious prayers at this time.

_____________________________________________________________________