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Politics of bitterness started in Nigeria right from the colonial administration era , Then the country was divided into protectorate, Southern protectorate and Northern protectorate.

In the Clifford constitution of 1922 which totally marginalized the northerners and their political leaders from taking the decision of country then, Then a lot of political mayhem was caused by the north leaders due to the marginalization caused by Clifford constitution. Nigeria was divided into three regions ,North, west ,east regions.

By the Richard constitution of the 1946, A lot of Parliament seats were located to the north than the west and east, the introduction of the regional politics also contributed to the political rivalry among our leaders then.
Party formed then was more of a regional party than unified party due to the political crisis that occurred among our leaders then, corruption nepotism despotism has been the order of the day.

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The 1960 constitution also contribute to the political bitterness and rivalries among the politicians. Due to the formula that will guide the nation in sharing of national cake (resources), leaders from the north region want the national resources to be share according to the population and size because the north hold 55.5% population pattern.

This was highly rejected by their counterpart from the western and Eastern region of the federation who believed that the national cake (resources) should be shared equally and systematic according to the quota the regions contributed to the national development, this caused an uproar among the northerners in the federal legislative council, high intense political bitterness played out it's self then which later caused the downfall of the then federalism.

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This later ushered in a military government called coup d,etat, sharing formula of resources which also contribute to the nemesis of the constitution then.

MacPherson constitution of 1951 introduce more of a civilized and well organised regional political system which divide the Nigeria political system into more systematic process. It led to the introduction of regional premier, which is the head of government also contribute to the political bitterness, in the case of AG and the NCNC, (Action Group and National council and Nigerian Cameroon.

During 1954 General election, it was believe that NCNC won majority of the regional legislature seat in the western region, Then the leader of NCNC Nnamdi Azikwe constitutionally should become the western region premier but was denied because of the politics of bitterness, because he came from the eastern region of Nigeria then, This political saga created a lot of political lackadaisical then.

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Politics of bitterness has a long history in Nigeria. And till this present moment, politics of bitterness is still among the major factors hindering the growth of the country.


Written by Fabiyi Tosin Babatunde

Article Source: https://www.dreddsworld.com/2018/09/politics-of-bitterness-in-nigeria_18.html?m=1