₦airaland Forum

Excerpt: Zik Interview with New Nigeria in 1975
...........
Again, however, when the 1954 constitution
conference started, my good friend, Chief Obafemi
Awolowo tabled a motion to the effect that in the
new constitution, provision should be made that any
state which feels like seceding should do so. I was
opposed to it and said ‘no’ and said that once we
have a federation, we are indivisible and perpetual.
That was when we began to use that expression -
‘The Indivisibility and perpetuity of the federation’ -
and that to secede would amount to treason. And
so, a debate ensued.
The Secretary of State then was Oliver Littleton, later
Lord Chandos and he was very much interested and
that was his first time in saying that the people of
African descent were people actually debating at a
high level. So a full day was given to Chief
Awolowo to make his points. He spoke brilliantly
as a lawyer. He made his points why secession
should be incorporated in the constitution. He cited
the case of the Soviet Union which is a federation,
and that secession is written there so that any state
in the Soviet Union can secede at will.
He also cited the case of Western Australia and
eventually he finished his case and was applauded.
We adjourned. The next day, I had to reply. I availed
myself of the opportunity to, well, demolish the
arguments of my friend and I cited the case of
United States which based its constitution on that
of the Swiss Confederation. That is Switzerland. I
pointed out a case, I think, that of Texas versus
White, where Mr. Salmon Chase, the Chief Justice
laid down the principle - he was really an arbiter -
that the union was intended to be perpetual and
indivisible and that any attempt to divide the union
by secession was treasonable.
The North (NPC) supported Action Group. The
question was then: Should we have secession? The
Colonial Office came to our rescue. You know, the
usual principle of Britain - ‘divide and rule’ (laughs)
but this time, it was in our favour. So, the colonial
office backed us. Lord Chandos said that on the
face of the arguments before him it would be
suicidal to incorporate secession in our constitution
and that is why we have section 86 in our
constitution that if any region or state should
secede, then it will be an act of treason and that
was what led to this war, because Col. Ojukwu
seceded and so violated the constitution.
Credit: Babafemi Ojudu


My Lords, Spiritual and Temporal. Seun and The Moderators.

They are the architects of their problems....I have heard this submission before.

Nnamdi Azikwe and Aguiyi Ironsi!

Those were the agents that united us and caused these our present problems!

EYIBLESSN:
My Lord and Temporal. Seun and The Moderators.

No be as dem dey take talk am be that na. Haba! It is,"My Lords, Temporal and Spiritual." You no see as e blend for mouth? What is, 'My Lord and Temporal' ? Hyiah!

igbodefender:
No be as dem dey take talk am be that na. Haba! It is,"My Lords, Temporal and Spiritual." You no see as e blend for mouth? What is, 'My Lord and Temporal' ? Hyiah!

Prof Itsejuwa Sagay Welcome.

Nice contribution; children and babies in the house should learn from Babafemi contribution