When You're In Doubt, Try It Out—Kansan Classifieds
199
Student Speaks Out Nigerian Democracy Will Return
By Maury Breecher
After smashing an attempted coup in Nigeria, Maj. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi took control of Nigeria's government Sunday, swept aside its former leaders, and suspended the nation's constitution.
Is this the beginning of a military dictatorship or a Communist oriented regime? Is this the end of the democratic dream in the most progressive state of the Black African nations?
"NO," SAYS BODE LABODE, a KU student from Nigeria who was the African Club's President in 1964 and was active in the club's demonstration before the British Embassy last year in protesting the British government's stand on the Rhodesian problem.
"I believe Nigeria will return to its normal form of democratic government soon," said Labode. The causes of Nigeria's present trouble can be traced to widespread disillusionment with Nigeria's regional elections and, indirectly, to 1957 when the British, then in control, divided Nigeria into three regions.
"The upheaval was not unexpected to someone familiar to Nigeria's history prior to independence," said Labode. In 1957 Nigeria was divided by the British into three separate regions. These became known as the North, with over 60 per cent of the population, the East, and the West.
Labode said that wide differences existed between the regions. The people in the North were mostly Moslems, while residents in the East and West were predominantly Christians. Different languages, customs, traditions,
and viewpoints existed, too.
Daily Kansan 7
Wednesday, January 19, 1966
THESE DIFFERENCES were the causes for many of Nigeria's problems, Labode said. The East and West have always supplied the talent and brains while the North has supplied the labor. Thus the East and West regions have considered themselves the leaders of Nigeria.
When Nigeria received her independence, the North, being the largest of the regions, was able to control the entire nation. Efforts to lessen the North's power have been futile, according to Labode.
Political parties are active in each of the regions.
DURING REGIONAL elections last year, political parties, other than the Northern one, were terrorized and harnessed, Labode said. As a result these parties boycotted the regional elections. The Northern political party then took control on the regional level as well as the national.
"When you look at the big picture you can see almost two different nations in Nigeria," Labode said. Both differ in background and value, but one controls most of the political life of the entire nation. This then is the basic reason for conflicts in Nigeria, according to Labode.
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SUA Announces
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February 9,1966
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