Match each structural provision of the Richards Constitution of 1946 on the left with its corresponding administrative outcome or political limitation on the right.
- Establishment of Regional Houses of Assembly in the North, West, and EastInstitutionalized regionalism while restricting the assemblies to purely advisory functions
- Provision of an unofficial majority in the Central Legislative CouncilCreated the appearance of indigenous representation without transferring executive authority
- Retention of full executive powers and veto authority by the GovernorEnsured final decision-making power remained concentrated in colonial hands
- Limitation of the elective principle to Lagos and CalabarExcluded the vast majority of Nigerians in the regions from direct democratic participation
Answer
The correct pairing links: (1) the establishment of Regional Assemblies to institutionalizing regionalism with advisory roles, (2) the unofficial majority in the central council to providing representation without executive authority, (3) the Governor's executive powers to maintaining centralized colonial control, and (4) limiting the elective principle to excluding most regional Nigerians from direct voting.
Each feature of the Richards Constitution of 1946 directly corresponds to its political outcome: Regional Assemblies formalised regionalism with advisory duties; the unofficial majority gave a sense of representation while executive power remained with the Governor; and the elective principle remained restricted to Lagos and Calabar.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Provisions and constitutional limitations of the Richards Constitution of 1946