The British colonization of Nigeria in 1914 established a foundation where power was entrenched in the hands of Northern rulers, a legacy that continues to shape the country’s political dynamics. The manipulation of the 1931 census figures illustrates the deliberate effort to ensure Northern dominance, a trend that persisted through subsequent censuses in 1952, 1959, and 1963. These actions, favoring the North in governance and legislative matters, perpetuated systemic imbalances that persist to this day.
The census figures of 1931 awarded by the British clearly favored the North, aiming to solidify their permanent majority in the future Central Legislature:
– Northern Region: 11,434,000
– Western Region: 3,855,000
– Eastern Region: 4,641,000
– Total: 19,930,000
– Plurality favoring the North: 2,938,000
The resulting demand for 50% of seats in the 1951 Central Legislature by the North, based on these figures, was swiftly granted by colonial authorities, perpetuating their influence.
Subsequent censuses in 1952 and onwards were orchestrated to maintain the Northern population advantage. The colonial authorities intervened in elections to ensure Northern governance, even bypassing Southern objections.
Today, this historical bias manifests in the inequity of senatorial seats among regions, hindering Southern initiatives such as a Biafran referendum due to inadequate Southern representation in the National Assembly.
Furthermore, the Arewa North’s control of the military reinforced their continued dominance. Events like the 1966 coup were not only reactions to political decrees but primarily aimed at reclaiming power lost to the Igbo.
The disparity in resources, representation, and power allocation illustrates the enduring subjugation of the South, representing an internal colonialism perpetuated by the British transfer of authority to the Arewa North.
Efforts to restructure Nigeria for equity, fairness, and justice require comprehensive reforms across political, economic, and social sectors:
– Redistributing power to regions could enhance autonomy and effective governance, possibly revisiting the Constitution’s Exclusive and Concurrent Lists.
– Addressing resource control issues, including equitable sharing of oil revenue among regions, is crucial.
– Fiscal reforms should aim at granting states more financial independence.
– Reassessing the electoral system for fair representation and exploring alternative voting methods is essential.
– Overhauling the security apparatus to enable localized measures could promote regional control.
However, implementing these reforms necessitates inclusive dialogues, consensus-building, and political will from all stakeholders. Nigeria stands at a crucial crossroads, demanding a departure from the unsustainable status quo towards a more equitable and inclusive future, failing which risks severe conflicts and instability.
Chimazuru Nnadi-Oforgu
Duruebube Uzii na Abosi
OBLONG MEDIA UNLIMITED 
Leave a comment