How To Wean Nigeria Off The ‘Feeding-Bottle’ Federalism

It was fine weather on 23 May 1957, when several Nigerian independence leaders held the first of two constitutional conferences at the Lancaster House, London. A meeting presided over by the British colonial secretary, Alan Lennox-Boyd, the session was attended by the premiers of the northern, eastern and western regions: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of the Northern People’s Congress, Nnamdi Azikiwe of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons and Obafemi Awolowo of the Action Group. Other delegates to the event were Sir James Robertson, the colonial governor-general and Eyo Ita of the National Independence Party. In addition, were the chiefs of the Northern Region: Sir Muhammadu Sanusi, the Emir of Kano and Alhaji Usman Nagogo, the Emir of Katsina. Also in attendance were chiefs of the Eastern Region: HRH Eze Johnson Osuji Njemanze, the paramount ruler of Owerri, Chief Nyong Essien, the paramount ruler of Uyo and Chief S. E. Onukogu, the Eze of Imo. The delegate also included chiefs of the Western Region, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife and Oba Daniel Aladesanmi II, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti.