Give an account of the development of any one of the following political parties in Nigeria:
(a) The Action Group (A.G)
(b) The National Council of Nigeria and The Cameroun (N.C.N.C);
(c) The Northern People’s Congress (N.P.C).
Explanation
The Action Group (AG): A group of Yoruba students studying in Britain came together in 1945 and formed a cultural group called Egbe Omo Oduduwa. It later metamorphosed and became known as Action Group (AG) in March 1951. The founder and leader was the Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Other notable and influential members of the party were S.L. Akintola, Chief Shonibare, Chief Bode Thomas, the Late Oni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, etc.
The Northern People’s Congress (NPC): This congress was formed in October 1951 and it was formally called the Jamiyyar Mutanem Arewa (cultural organisation) founded in December 1949. The Northern People’s Congress was mainly dominated by Hausa/Fulani stock and based on Islamic religious belief. The leader was the Late Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sarduana of Sokoto. He was seen as both religious and traditional leader. The NPC, as a party, was firmly established and the support it had from the people was because Islam demands obedience to constituted authority and NPC was firmly established on Islamic principles.
Aims of NPC:
(a) To work towards enhancing or promoting the social, economic and political development of the people and Northern region as a whole.
(b) To work towards making the North autonomous, and create understanding among the people.
(c) To educate the people on their political and civil rights.
The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroun (NCNC): This party was formed in August 1944 and the first President was Herbert Macaulay while Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the Secretary General. The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroun (NCNC) had the name changed to National Congress or Convention of Nigerian Citizens. This was because in 1960 Cameroun left Nigeria. This party was more of a national party, based on the composition and the organisation. One of its major aims was for a total decolonization of Nigeria