National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons
Encyclopedia
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), was a Nigeria
n political party
from 1944 to 1966. The name included 'Cameroons' because Cameroon
had become an administrative part of Nigeria in 1945. Cameroon had been a colonial territory of Germany. Following the defeat of Germany and its allies in World War II, the United Nations confiscated the territories under the administration of Germany before World War II. These territories were then given to various victor countries to administer them in trust for the UN until they were mature for political independence. They were then called Trust Territories. That was how Cameroon was taken from Germany and handed over to Britain. When Nigeria was preparing for the 1960 political independence, the people of southern Cameroon were consulted in a plebiscite on whether to go with Nigeria to independence or join up with the French Cameroon. The people opted for unification with the French Cameroon. Thus, NCNC became National Council of Nigerian Citizens in 1959. The party was formed in 1944 by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
and Herbert Macaulay
. Herbert Macaulay was its first president, while Azikiwe was its first secretary. However, in general, it was made up of a long list of nationalistic parties, cultural associations, and labor movements that joined to form NCNC. The party at the time was the first to take a concerted effort to create a true nationalist party. It embraced different sets of groups from the religious, to tribal and to trade groups with the exception of a few notable ones such as the Egbe Omo Oduduwa and early on the Nigerian Union of Teachers. The party is considered to be the second prominent political party formed in Nigeria after a Lagos based party, the Nigerian National Democratic Party
.
The first test of the party came in the 1951 election, the party won majority votes in the Eastern Region of Nigeria's House of Assembly
but became the opposition in the western region with Azikiwe as the opposition leader representing Lagos. Azikiwe was well on his way to winning the election in the Western Region when Awolowo persuaded the Western House to denounce Azikwe because he is an Easterner and will not represent the wishes of the largely Yoruba West. This lead to the famed carpet-crossing in the house and Azikwe and the NCNC lost the election in the West. This event is still viewed by many as the beginning of ethnic politics in Nigeria. Western Nigeria has continued till today to found a unique regional political party along those lines and Awolowo's doctrines of a "Yoruba" party or "O'dua" has continued to be a major inspiration to many political leaders from the Western Region. Azikiwe later on, became the Premier
of Eastern Region, Nigeria
in 1954. After Nigeria's independence, Azikiwe was Governor-General (1960-1963) and President (1963-1966). In 1966, a military coup ended Azikiwe's term as president, and the NCNC dissolved in the following turmoil.
The NCNC was accused by its adversaries of focusing overly on the interests of the Igbo
population. By the late 1940s, the Nigeria Youth Movement, a western Nigeria political organization had decided to support a Yoruba focused party accusing the NCNC of ethnic imperialism. However, the western opposition needed to tactically rev up local sentiments as its base was made up of local elites who depended little on nationalistic sentiment but on the local economic and political activity in their various towns and cities. During the Biafra
n war of secession, Azikiwe became a spokesman for the republic and an adviser to its leader.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
from 1944 to 1966. The name included 'Cameroons' because Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
had become an administrative part of Nigeria in 1945. Cameroon had been a colonial territory of Germany. Following the defeat of Germany and its allies in World War II, the United Nations confiscated the territories under the administration of Germany before World War II. These territories were then given to various victor countries to administer them in trust for the UN until they were mature for political independence. They were then called Trust Territories. That was how Cameroon was taken from Germany and handed over to Britain. When Nigeria was preparing for the 1960 political independence, the people of southern Cameroon were consulted in a plebiscite on whether to go with Nigeria to independence or join up with the French Cameroon. The people opted for unification with the French Cameroon. Thus, NCNC became National Council of Nigerian Citizens in 1959. The party was formed in 1944 by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
and Herbert Macaulay
Herbert Macaulay
Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, engineer, journalist, and musician and considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigerian nationalism.- Early life :...
. Herbert Macaulay was its first president, while Azikiwe was its first secretary. However, in general, it was made up of a long list of nationalistic parties, cultural associations, and labor movements that joined to form NCNC. The party at the time was the first to take a concerted effort to create a true nationalist party. It embraced different sets of groups from the religious, to tribal and to trade groups with the exception of a few notable ones such as the Egbe Omo Oduduwa and early on the Nigerian Union of Teachers. The party is considered to be the second prominent political party formed in Nigeria after a Lagos based party, the Nigerian National Democratic Party
Nigerian National Democratic Party
The Nigerian National Democratic Party , was Nigeria's first political party.Formed in 1923 by Herbert Macaulay to take advantage of the new Clifford Constitution, the NNDP successfully organized various Yoruba interest groups into a single group that was able to compete politically...
.
Party politics
During a national conference in 1954, the party had opposed a call to include the right of secession. It argued that the nation was not a league of forced nations and it will be ruinous to include such right. The policies of the party, from its inception favored a countenance of determined expression for self-government and nationalism. The major aims of the party taken on subsequent campaigns at home and abroad were as follows.- The extension of democratic principles and advancement of the interest of the people of Nigeria and Cameroons under BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
mandate. - The impartings of political education to the people of Nigeria in order to prepare them for self government.
- The provision of medium of expression for members of NCNC through which they would endeavor to secure for Nigeria and the Cameroons, political freedom, social equality, religious toleration and economic activity.
The first test of the party came in the 1951 election, the party won majority votes in the Eastern Region of Nigeria's House of Assembly
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
but became the opposition in the western region with Azikiwe as the opposition leader representing Lagos. Azikiwe was well on his way to winning the election in the Western Region when Awolowo persuaded the Western House to denounce Azikwe because he is an Easterner and will not represent the wishes of the largely Yoruba West. This lead to the famed carpet-crossing in the house and Azikwe and the NCNC lost the election in the West. This event is still viewed by many as the beginning of ethnic politics in Nigeria. Western Nigeria has continued till today to found a unique regional political party along those lines and Awolowo's doctrines of a "Yoruba" party or "O'dua" has continued to be a major inspiration to many political leaders from the Western Region. Azikiwe later on, became the Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
of Eastern Region, Nigeria
Eastern Region, Nigeria
The Eastern Region was one of Nigeria's federal divisions, dating back originally from the division of the colony Southern Nigeria in 1954. Its capital was Enugu. The region was official divided in 1967 into three new states, East-Central State, Rivers State and South-Eastern State...
in 1954. After Nigeria's independence, Azikiwe was Governor-General (1960-1963) and President (1963-1966). In 1966, a military coup ended Azikiwe's term as president, and the NCNC dissolved in the following turmoil.
The NCNC was accused by its adversaries of focusing overly on the interests of the Igbo
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
population. By the late 1940s, the Nigeria Youth Movement, a western Nigeria political organization had decided to support a Yoruba focused party accusing the NCNC of ethnic imperialism. However, the western opposition needed to tactically rev up local sentiments as its base was made up of local elites who depended little on nationalistic sentiment but on the local economic and political activity in their various towns and cities. During the Biafra
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a secessionist state in south-eastern Nigeria that existed from 30 May 1967 to 15 January 1970, taking its name from the Bight of Biafra . The inhabitants were mostly the Igbo people who led the secession due to economic, ethnic, cultural and religious...
n war of secession, Azikiwe became a spokesman for the republic and an adviser to its leader.