Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday, 4 November 2018 / No comments
The reasons why Nigeria opted for a republican state in 1963
THE REASONS WHY NIGERIA OPTED FOR A REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION IN 1963
Introduction
When Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960, the constitution still had some elements of dependency since the Queen of England was still the ceremonial Head of State, represented by the Governor-General. In order to change this structure and make the country a republic, there was a need for an entirely new constitution. Some of the other reasons why there was a need to change to a republic are discussed below.
REASONS WHY NIGERIA CHOSE TO BECOME A REPUBLIC
Need for a Nigerian constitution
The 1960 independent constitution of Nigeria was largely
drawn by their colonial master, the British and handed over to them. Nigeria
wanted a constitution that was made in Nigeria by Nigerians. Apart from that,
Nigeria wanted to allocate more powers to the Prime Minister of the nation,
Nigeria wanted to create new regions and needed constitutional clarification
to do so. Under the 1960 constitution, this could not be easily done, hence
the need for a new constitution.
Remove the last vestige of colonialism
Another reason why Nigeria opted for a republican
constitution was to remove the Queen as their Head of State. The 1960
independent constitution, crafted by the British, provided for a bicephalous
executive where the Queen of England remained the Head of State. Since the
Queen could not be physically present in Nigeria, a Governor-General was
appointed to replace her in Lagos. The Nigerians felt that since they had
attained independence, it was not good enough for the Queen to remain the Head
of State.
Highest Court of Appeal to be in Nigeria
Another reason why Nigeria decided to become a republic was
that they wanted to remove the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council based in
London from remaining the highest Court of Appeal for Nigeria in judicial
matters. Under the 1960 independent constitution of Nigeria, a Supreme Court
was provided for but anybody who was not satisfied with a ruling of the Supreme court in Nigeria could still appeal the decision at the Judicial Committee of the
Privy Council sitting in London for a final redress. Nigeria felt there was the
need to remove this and make the Supreme Court in Nigeria the highest Court of
Appeal in judicial matters.
Response to the wind of political change
Also, Nigeria could have been reacting to the wind of political
change blowing in the sub-region and elsewhere in former British
colonies. Ghana had already attained a republican status about three years
earlier. Long before Ghana opted for a republican status and had gotten it, Burma
(Myanmar), India and Pakistan had already become republics. Nigeria may just
have been responding to the political changes that were going on in the former
colonies of Britain.
Membership of the Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations was one of the major sources of
funding for the newly independent colonies in West Africa. The Nigerians soon
realized that the attainment of a republican status was not going to affect
their membership of the Commonwealth or the flow of financial assistance thereof. They must have looked at Ghana and seen that their attainment of
republican status did not affect them in any negative way as far as their
membership of the Commonwealth was concerned. This must have gingered them to
call for republican status.
SAMPLE QUESTION(S)
1.Highlight the reasons why Nigeria opted for a republican constitution
