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Difficulty: HardFirst Republic Politics and Major Crises (1960–1966)

Match each prominent political leader of Nigeria's First Republic (1960–1966) in Column A with their specific constitutional role or action during the period's major political crises in Column B. Which pairings correctly connect each political leader to their historical role?

  • Chief Obafemi AwolowoWas tried and convicted of treasonable felony in 1963 following an intense intra-party ideological split.
  • Sir Abubakar Tafawa BalewaExercised executive parliamentary authority to recommend the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Western Region in May 1962.
  • Chief Samuel Ladoke AkintolaFormed the United People's Party (UPP) / Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) and aligned with the Northern People's Congress (NPC) during the regional breakdown.
  • Dr. Nnamdi AzikiweExercised constitutional authority as Head of State by initially refusing to invite the Prime Minister to form a cabinet following the disputed 1964 federal election.

Answer

Chief Obafemi Awolowo pairs with being convicted of treasonable felony in 1963; Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa pairs with recommending the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Western Region in May 1962; Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola pairs with forming the UPP/NNDP and allying with the NPC; Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe pairs with initially refusing to invite the Prime Minister to form a cabinet following the disputed 1964 federal election.
Each leader played a defined historical role: Chief Obafemi Awolowo was convicted of treasonable felony in 1963 following the Action Group internal split; Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa declared a State of Emergency in the Western Region in May 1962; Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola founded the NNDP and allied with the NPC; and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe challenged the legitimacy of the boycotted 1964 elections by withholding executive invitation to form a government.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the role of Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the First Republic.
Awolowo was the leader of the opposition Action Group and was implicated, tried, and sentenced for treasonable felony in 1963.
Intra-party crisis between Awolowo and Akintola led to federal intervention and treason charges against Awolowo.
2
Analyze the role of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in the 1962 Western Region Crisis.
Balewa, as Prime Minister, presided over the federal government's decision to declare a state of emergency in the West and appoint Dr. Moses Majekodunmi as administrator.
The parliamentary floor fight in the Western House of Assembly triggered executive intervention under federal constitutional powers.
3
Analyze Chief S.L. Akintola's realignment during the crisis.
Akintola broke away from the Action Group, formed the United People's Party (UPP), which later became the NNDP, and partnered with the NPC to form the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA).
This realignment restructured the political party system into two major coalitions (NNA vs. UPGA) ahead of the 1964 election.
4
Analyze Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe's actions during the 1964 Federal Election Crisis.
As constitutional President, Azikiwe engaged in a severe deadlock with Prime Minister Balewa over election irregularities, delaying the formation of government until a compromise was brokered.
The split executive system under the 1963 Constitution created friction between the ceremonial President and executive Prime Minister.

Key Concept

Political Leadership Roles and Constitutional Conflicts in Nigeria's First Republic (1960–1966)
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Topics

First Republic Politics and Major Crises (1960–1966)