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University Daily Kansan Friday, April 20, 196
Nigeria Is Testing Ground For Democracy in Africa
By Wilbur G. Landrey
LAGOS—(UPI)—Nigeria may be the key to the future of democracy in black Africa. Or so Western diplomats and observers believe.
If democracy and the freedoms nurtured in the West can grow and flourish here in the same soil with impatient nationalism, regionalism and under-development, then they have a chance elsewhere in black Africa as well.
"If Nigeria fails, it will be a setback to the evolution of constructive regimes in the whole area," one senior Western diplomat said recently.
He was referring not only to the fate of Western democratic ideals but to the evolution of regimes moderate and constructive in their approach to international affairs.
AFRICAN ISSUES naturally come first in Nigeria's foreign policy. In the East-West cold war, the country is "non-aligned." But in such important fields as education, economic policy and trade, the country is oriented towards the West.
An indication of the importance the United States places on Nigeria is the fact that Washington has promised to provide $225 million during the next five years to help with the country's economic development. It will be the largest American aid program south of the Sahara.
With an estimated 40 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and its problems are the problems of Africa—regionalism, tribalism, ignorance, disease, poverty and under-development.
ITS POLITICS are rough and tumble. But no one who has listened to the debates in the House of Assembly—its benches lined with legislators in red and white turbans and robes of yellow, purple, blue and green—can doubt that the opposition is real and that the cut and thrust of democratic debate is ever present.
Throughout the country there is an intense desire for education and an optimism that Nigeria will succeed.
Discovered by Portuguese mariners for the outside world in the 15th century, this was the part of Africa known for 300 years as the slave coast. The ancestors of the American Negroes came from West Africa.
The chipped and worn tombstones in Faji cemetery in the center of Lagos bear testimony that Africa's west coast was also the "white man's grave." The reason: The malaria- carrying mosquito.
PARLIAMENTARY democracy as evolved in Britain had its first chance in black Africa when Ghana, up the coast, gained its independence in 1957. Parliament still sits in Ghana but most of the leading opposition figures are in jail or exile. Despite a solid elected majority, President Kwame Nkrumah — known as Osayyefo (the messiah) to his followers — has steadily become more authoritarian and reduced the opposition on the grounds that it was plotting violent overthrow of his legally-elected government.
Parliamentary democracy has another chance in Nigeria, which gained its independence from Britain on Oct. 1, 1960.
Nigeria is not likely to go authoritarian in the same way that Ghana did, but other things may happen. The biggest danger is that it may come apart at the seams. It is often said that Nigeria "is not one country; it is three."
THEER ARE about 250 different tribes in Nigeria and as many languages and dialects. But in fact the country is divided into three distinct regions—the northern region, the western region and the eastern region. Lagos, the capital, is federal territory like Washington, D.C. Together the regions form the federation of Nigeria. And federation is probably the most difficult of all forms of government.
Nigeria survived her first year of independence in peace and stability. It was an achievement, and it was helped by the sense of unity fostered by the drive for independence. That
Farewell to Fraser' to Highlight June Commencement Program
A "Farewell to Fraser" ceremony will highlight the 50-year classmates' Golden Anniversary this year as they return to Mount Oreau, June 2, 3, and 4, for commencement activities.
The ceremony will be observed immediately after the Golden Anniversary luncheon. Other alumni interested in taking part are invited.
REUNIONS OF CLASSES, societies and organizations will also be a part of the activities.
The Mortar Board, senior women's honorary society which was founded 50 years ago as a local society known as Torch, will also celebrate its half century anniversary.
Another special reunion, that of the Class of 1927, will observe its 35th anniversary. This class will celebrate an all-time unique record of having every member of the class
a paid member of the K.U. Alumni Association.
OTHER CLASS REUNIONS include '52,' 37,' 22 and the Gold Medal Club which comprises all classes graduated 50 or more years ago.
unifying force may weaken as the country grows older.
THE ALL-UNIVERSITY Supper on Sunday, June 3, will again feature the Chancellor's report on the "State of the University." This year the supper will begin at 4:30 p.m. since the annual alumni meeting will not be held previous to it.
The customary Saturday evening Welcome Dinner will be held again this year.
The University will provide bus tours for sight-seeing trips over the campus during the days of commencement activities. Unlimited lodging will be available in a University dormitory for those parents and alumni needing housing.
It is likely that the struggle for power and the struggle to maintain unity is just beginning.
FEDERAL PRIME Minister Sir Abubakar has gained increasing stature with a quiet leadership which has made him one of Africa's most influential advocates of a gradual approach to African unity. With a unity problem of his own at home, he believes the best approach to continental unity is step by step cooperation in technical and other fields.
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That is the approach of what has become known as the "Monrovia" group of African powers. It is in sharp contrast to that of Nkrumah whose credo—carved on the base of his statue in front of Ghana's parliament—is "seek ye first the political kingdom and all else will be added unto it."
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Ghana belongs to the more radical "Casablanca" group of African powers.
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Sir Abubakar does not like comparisons between Nigeria and Ghana. But referring to the quiet approach he prefers, he told me recently when I interviewed him:
"In Hausa, they say that a wellfilled drum doesn't make much noise."
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KU Bacteriologist Uses Electron Microscope
By Murrel Bland
The only light in a small room with no windows in Snow Hall comes from the glow of instrument lights on the recently obtained electron microscope. A bacteriologist studies bacteria that is magnified 1,000 times.
Prof. Sword said that the electron microscope can be used for analyzing slides of RNA and DNA.
used primarily by the bacteriology department, the microscope is available to all departments.
The bacteriologist is Christopher Sword, assistant professor of bacteriology.
"Studies can be made to determine some of the causes of cancer using the electron microscope if we look at part of an organism that has cancer." Prof. Sword said. "We could never determine as much about the cancerous organism with an ordinary microscope."
HE SAID the ordinary microscope, such as the one used in the Biology I course, magnified slides only about 100 times.
"RNA, ribosenucleic acid, is a building block for protein," he said. "DNA, dioxynucleic acid, is the active material that makes up the chromosomes, the structures that are concerned with heredity."
The electron microscope cost $90,000. Although it is now being
He said findings made with the electron microscope can be recorded with two cameras.
HE SAID it is possible to determine several things about genetics by observing slides of DNA.
"One 35 mm camera is built in the microscope," he said.
"The other camera, which uses photographic plates, can be attached to the microscope."
Unfortunately, other considerations come ahead of education in the minds of some college administrators today. They have come to regard students almost as a nuisance, who get in the way of the perfectly functioning administrative machine. They are not so much concerned that students shall have an opportunity to whet their critical faculties as that students shall not rock the boat at all.- John M. Harrison
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