From last week continues the narrative on the Saturday, December 12, 1959 Federal elections with the results thus: In the Northern Region—3,258,520 (votes cast) and 89.4% (percentage poll); Eastern Region-1,929,754(votes cast) and 75.3% (percentage poll); Western Region-1,887, 209 and 71.2% (percentage poll); Lagos-110,072 (votes cast) and 76.2% (percentage poll).

All prominent Nigerian political leaders were returned. These were Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and all the members of the outgoing Federal Cabinet. The general election went so well that in the new year broadcast the Governor General admitted that the quiet and orderly way in which the election took place on the 12th of December was a major triumph for all those who had planned it. 

The Northern People’s Congress was returned as the largest party. The final results announced on December 21 stated that Northern People’s Congress-142; National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons and its ally NEPU- 89; Action Group- 72 and other Parties- 9.

There were some difficulties in forming the Federal Government when once the election was over; not one single party had won enough seats to form the government alone, nor was there desire to form another national government. As leader of the largest party, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa was invited by Sir James Robertson, Governor General, to form a new Federal Cabinet.

Sir Abubakar, the former Prime Minister accepted the invitation. On his arrival in Lagos, Alhaji Abubakar who was accompanied by the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Premier of the Northern Region, said that he had not ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition government but added that “we certainly cannot compromise” on the suggestion that a leader of another party might become Prime Minister. 

After discussion between the NPC and the NCNC, officially described as friendly and cordial, a new Federal Government was formed on December 20, 1959. NPC had ten ministers and NCNC seven.  

The Coalition Government members were Alhaji Tafawa Balewa (Prime Minister), Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu (Lands and Lagos Affairs), Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh (Finance), Mr. Raymond Njoku (Transport and Aviation), Alhaji Inuwa Wada (Works and Survey), Mr. Z.B. Dipcharima (Commerce and Industries), Mr. Jospeh Johnson (Labour and Welfare and Mr. Aja Nwachukwu (Education).

Others were Mallam Maitama Sule (Mines and Power), Mallam Shehu Shagari (Economic Development and Natural Resources, Mr. Olu Akinfosile (Communications), Mallam Usman Sarki (Internal Affairs), Mr. Theophilus Benson (Information), Mallam Waziri Ibrahim (Health), Mallam Yisa Yar’adua (Pensions, Establishment and Nigerianisation), while Mr. Matthew Mbu and Mr. Olanrewaju were both Ministers of State. 

By regional representation, ten of the Ministers came from the North, three from the East, three from the West and one from Lagos. Except for those belonging to the Action Group, which now formed the opposition to the NPC/NCNC coalition, all former Ministers in the Federal Government were reappointed, in most cases to their former portfolios; the only new Ministers were Mallam Maitama Sule, NPC Chief Whip in the former Federal Legislature and Mr. Olu Akinfosile, lately President of the Nigerian Students’ Union in the United Kingdom. 

Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, deputy leader of the Action Group, was appointed Premier of the Western Region on December 15 in succession to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who had become Leader of the opposition in the new Federal Legislature.

On January 12, 1960, the new Federal House of Representatives held its first meeting. On January 14, 1960, 1960, the Parliament passed a motion for Nigeria’s Independence. April 22, Prime Minister Abubakar left Nigeria for London to complete talks for final transfer of power to Nigeria on October 1, 1960.

In his remark after the election, Chief Obafemi Awolowo wrote “In 1959, during the election that was to usher in independence in 1960, I embarked on an elaborate campaign in the North. I was using helicopter to campaign in every nook and corner of the North. The most important aspect of the campaign of the Action Group was free education, life more abundant for the generality of the people etc, etc. Our manifesto was centred on the development of man. We worked so hard that the Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, was forced to campaign, a thing he was never used to. My hope at that time was to liberate the North from illiteracy, ignorance and the ‘ranka dede’ mentality. If I had won the election, I would have put a lot of money educating the North in order to bridge the educational gap between that region and the Western and Eastern Regions. This was because I saw the lack of education as a stumbling block against political enlightenment of the whole region.

“But I think that the sooner than later the leaders of the North will see the repercussion of their selfishness and carelessness in their attitude towards Western education. But the time will not be too late, and if they don’t regret it or blame themselves for lack of foresight, the Northern youth may ask their leaders some questions when they see the rate of development that goes with education in many parts of Southern Nigeria. They may then wonder whether it was in their stars or in the selfishness, carelessness and lack of foresight of their leaders. If I had been given the chance in 1959 or 1979, I would have changed the fortunes of the North as a place that can be compared favourably with the South in terms of educational, social and economic developments.”

Yes, there was election in 1959, the first, before independence, but not much violence as we are witnessing now. If one observes, bombings, kidnappings and other violent incidents have heightened up in many parts of the country in the last few months, in fact some states are no go areas. We are going to witness more and more and more. These incidents are not isolated. They are related to the forthcoming elections. No doubt it appears that they are coordinated and organized by the opposition to discredit the ruling party as inoperative and a failure. It is the same method those in government now, used, when they were in opposition some years back. No doubt both the opposition and the government have crossed the red line and there seems to be no ceasefire and no going back. The sad aspect is that the innocent people are the victims of the senseless war, all in a bid for power and to loot the treasury.

A system that gives power to the ruling party a winner takes all approach will definitely bring chaos. When we adopted the Presidential System of government, we thought it would be participatory but as it looks now, it is winner takes all kind of government. If you are in opposition in Nigeria today, you are presumed dead or classified dead. The opposition are left out of the scheme of things. The executives have become monsters and greedy who do not want to share power with anyone. So, the opposition feel shut out of the system. 

There must be a ceasefire between both sides. Or else things will continue to get worse and worse. Politicians must not be allowed to destroy this beautiful country.  

•Teniola, a former Director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.