Account for the Variables Which Precipetated the Collapse of the First Republic (1960 - 1966) Evaluate the Presence of Those Variables in the Present Democratic Dispensation and State the Consequences

TERM PAPER

TOPIC:

ACCOUNT FOR THE VARIABLES WHICH PRECIPETATED THE COLLAPSE OF THE FIRST REPUBLIC (1960 - 1966)
EVALUATE THE PRESENCE OF THOSE VARIABLES
IN THE PRESENT DEMOCRATIC DISPENSATION
AND STATE THE CONSEQUENCES

WRITTEN BY

MKPA, PRINCE IYANAM
PRGM: M.Sc PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
REG NO. 10/PG/SS/PA/001
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
UNIVERSITY OF UYO

SUBMITTED TO

DR. FRAK, O. E.
COURSE LECTURER
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
UNIVERSITY OF UYO, UYO.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE COURSE REQUIREMENT:
NIGERIA GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS (POL 618)

JULY, 2011

BACKGROUND Before the arrival of the British colonial masters, what is today known as Nigeria was made up of various kingdoms, empires and communities that lived separately from one another with their diverse forms of traditional authority and ways of lives (Frank, 2009). The coming of the Britains in their conquering mood witnessed the forceful pulling down of the empires and kingdoms, and through the inimical act of amalgamation, the diverse kingdoms and empires were merged without laying the proper foundation for the various groups to co-exist in harmony. By January 1, 1914, the British government through the help of the then governor general in person of Lord Lugard had only succeeded in creating one antagonistic and atomistic entity called “Nigeria”. The North, South and Western regions as the country was later divided into by the Richards constitution of (1946) saw the curious and troubled people discharging their loyalties and attentions to their various regions while they cared less about the fictitious entity called Nigeria. Not even the struggle towards independence could bind and create unity among the people. While the British kept on setting policies and programmes that will help them realize their

References: Adebayo, A. (1986): Power in Politics. Ibadan; Spectrum Books Ltd. Agi, S. P. I. (1999): Nation-Building in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects. In Ozumba, G. O, Eteng, O. F. and Okon, M. (eds) Citizenship Education: Araria Aba; A. A. U. Industries. Akinboye, O. S and Anifowose, R. (1999): Nigeria Government and Politics. In Anifowose, R and ENemuo, F. (eds) Elements of Politics. Lagos; Sam Iroanusi Publiscations. Chowdhury, M. M, (1997): Political Conflicts in Nigeria. In Ozumba, G. O. (ed) Nigeria Government and politics. Araria Aba; A. A. U Industries. Elaigwu, J. I. (2004): The Challenges of Nation-Building in the Twenty-First Century: The Nigerian Experience. Calabar; University of Calabar Press. Frank, O. E. (2009): The Political Sociology of Nigeria: An Analysis of Political Culture and Behaviour . Calabar; Wusen Publishers. Frank, O. E. (2010): Constitutional development in Nigeria: A Socio-Political Analysis. Test of Lecture on the Occasion of the Students’ Week of the Faculty of Social & Management Sciences. Benson Idahosa University Benin City Edo State. Joseph, R. A. (1987): Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria: The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic. Cambridge University Press. Nnoli, O. (1996): Ethnic and Regional Balancing in Nigerian Federation. In Elaigwu, J. I. and Akindele, R. A. Foundations of Nigerian Federalism: 1960 – 1995. Jos; Institute of Government and Social Research (IGSR). Nwankwo, A. A. (1979): My People my Vision. Enugu; Fourth Dimension Publishing Co. Ltd. Okibe, H. B. (2000):Political Evolution and Constitutional Development in Nigeria: 1861 – 1999 Enugu; Marydan Publishers and Auto-Century Publishing Co. Ltd. Osoba, S. O. (2000): Corruption in Nigeria: Historical Perspectives. In Mukandala. R, (ed) African Public Administration; A Reader. Harare; AAPS Books.