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The Role of Ex-Servicemen in Nigerian Politics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2008

G. O. Olusanya
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Extract

The general assumption often made by writers that the ex-soldiers played a significant role in the politics of Nigeria breaks down when subjected to critical analysis.1 It is true that these men were potentially excellent material, who could have been effectively utilised in the struggle against colonial rule because of their training, their newly-acquired confidence, and their experience of the outside world. However, certain factors rendered their role as a group insignificant in the history of the nationalist movement in the country.

Type
Articles
Information
The Journal of Modern African Studies , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , August 1968 , pp. 221 - 232
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1968

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References

Page 221 note 1 See, for instance, Coleman, James, Nigeria: background to nationalism (Berkeley, 1960), p. 254.Google Scholar Coleman's assertion of the militant role played by ex-servicemen was based on the capture of Umuahia (an Eastern town) by the Unemployed Ex-Servicemen's Union in 1951 for a few days. This was because they were required to pay taxes when they were still without jobs. But this incident had no significance in the nationalist movement.

Page 222 note 1 Information obtained from the late Brigadier Samuel A. Ademulegun and Brigadier Bassey. The important thing was that the soldiers believed the above to be true and this consequently influenced their attitude. It is remarkable that some of them discussed this question with great feeling despite the long period of time that had elapsed.

Page 222 note 2 See Regimental Standing Orders for the Nigeria Regiment, West Africa Frontier Force (Lagos, Government Printer, 1927). Daily rates of pay:

Page 223 note 1 West African Pilot (Lagos), 1 08 1941.Google Scholar

Page 223 note 2 Sabben-Clare, E. E., ‘African Troops in Asia’, in African Affairs (London), LXIV, 177, 10 1945.Google Scholar

Page 223 note 3 West African Pilot, 6 12 1940.Google Scholar

Page 223 note 4 Ibid. 22 August 1941.

Page 223 note 5 Ibid. 15 September 1941.

Page 223 note 6 Wrong, Margaret, ‘British Policy in Africa’, in Christian Newsletter (Oxford), 1942, col. VI.Google Scholar

Page 224 note 1 West African Pilot, 6 December 1940.

Page 224 note 2 Ibid.

Page 225 note 1 Quotation and comment from Crowder, Michael, The Story of Migeria (London, 1962), p. 224.Google Scholar

Page 225 note 2 Okoye, M., Storms on the Niger: a story of Nigeria's struggle (Enugu, n.d.), pp. 123–4.Google Scholar

Page 226 note 1 Sabben-Clare, loc. cit. p. 157.

Page 226 note 2 See notes by the secretary of N.E.W.A., Brigadier A. C. C. Johnson, on Assistance to Disabled Ex-Servicemen in N.E.W.A./14/1243.

Page 227 note 1 Letter dated I September 1948 to Sir John Macpherson in SC/4/18–19.

Page 227 note 2 West African Pilot, 10 July 1945.

Page 227 note 3 N.E.W.A. paid out $5,000 in allowances and grants to disabled, aged, and necessitous ex-soldiers, £210 for the education of war orphans, and £2,900 for clubs for ex-servicemen in 1948 alone. See Brigadier Johnson's letter dated August 1949 to O. E. Orok, Nigeria ExServicemen Union, in N.E.W.A./14/1243.

Page 227 note 4 In 1947, 43,533 ex-soldiers out of a total of 100,099 were still unemployed. See Nigeria Gazette (Lagos), XXXIV, 6 10 1947, p. 645.Google Scholar

Page 227 note 5 Ibadan Archives, Complaints of Ex-Servicemen, File no. 50976, vol. II.

Page 228 note 1 West African Pilot, 23 March 1949.

Page 228 note 2 Ibadan Archives, Discharged Soldiers—application for assistance to establish industries, 1945–51; File no. 43806.

Page 228 note 3 Okoye, op. cit. p. 134.

Page 229 note 1 See report of the secretary-general, J. N. Ajie, to the Supreme Council of Ex-Servicemen, 29 September 1957.

Page 229 note 2 Ikoli and Akinsanya were contesting within the Nigerian Youth Movement for nominadon to stand for a Legislative Council seat left vacant by Dr Abayomi, who was proceeding to Britain for further studies. The Movement was split into two—one faction supporting Ikoli and the other Akinsanya. Dr Azikiwe supported Akinsanya. But many believed that this was not due to Conviction but to the fact that he wanted to make capital out of the trouble and weaken the party, considering the fact that he had put his own name up for nomination and had been defeated. Azikiwe resigned from the N.Y.M. and was followed out by all the Ibo members. This roused the suspicion of the others.

Page 230 note 1 See report of the secretary-general to the Supreme Council of Ex-Servicemen, 29 September 1957.

Page 230 note 2 West African Pilot, 24 March 1949.

Page 230 note 3 See Report of the [Watson] Commission of Enquiry into Disturbances in the Gold Coast (London, 1948), p. 20.Google Scholar

Page 231 note 1 For a detailed description of the state of discontent see Austin, Dennis, Politics in Ghana, 1946–1960 (London, 1964), ch. II.Google Scholar

Page 231 note 2 The Commission appointed to investigate the disturbances in the Gold Coast after the 1948 riots stated: ‘Whatever the views of the rank and file of the [Ex-Servicemen's] Union it is clear that the leaders had close association with the United Gold Coast Convention.’ See Watson Report, p. 10.

Page 231 note 3 Austin, op. cit. p. 49.

Page 232 note 1 Okoye, op. cit. p. 135.

Page 232 note 2 Nevertheless, there were individuals amongst them—such as the late Magnus Williams, Dr O. N. Egesi, and Mokwugo Okoye—who, partly because of their experience in the army as well as other factors, have contributed their own quota to the political advancement of the country.

Page 232 note 3 West African Pilot, 23 March 1949.