The crisis in the....contributed to the breakdown of the Macpherson Constitution
Action Group
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons
Cameroons Northern Elements Progressive Union
Northern People's Congress
United Middle Belt Congress
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The breakdown of the Macpherson Constitution was mainly due to its structural weaknesses and the political tensions it created among Nigerian leaders, not because of the later crisis between Obafemi Awolowo and Samuel Ladoke Akintola, which happened in 1962—long after the constitution had already been abolished.
One major issue was the crisis within the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), which weakened cooperation at the centre. This internal division contributed to instability in governance and made the constitution difficult to operate effectively.
Another key factor was the self-government motion moved by Anthony Enahoro of the Action Group (AG) in 1953 during a parliamentary session in Lagos. The Northern delegates opposed the motion, leading to serious political tension. This disagreement angered the public, and Northern leaders were attacked and booed outside the chamber.
The immediate aftermath of this crisis led to the Kano Riot of 1953, which exposed the deep regional divisions in the country. Although the riot was not the sole cause, it further showed that the Macpherson Constitution could not manage the political differences among the regions.
In summary, the breakdown of the Macpherson Constitution was mainly due to internal political crises (especially within NCNC), regional tensions, and its inability to accommodate the growing demand for self-government—not the later AG crisis of 1962.
