Tag Archives: Berlin Conference

Nnamdi Azikiwe

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Throughout the history of Africa, as a whole, there have been many different leaders that control the vast countries. Some may have used their power to give themselves wealth and amenities but others did what was expected of them as leaders. In the early 1900s a conference took place in Berlin, Germany between many European countries. After the European countries practically segmented Africa after the Berlin conference many countries saw themselves under new rule. The majority countries had taken chunks out of Africa were France, England, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Italy. My country, which is Nigeria was now overseen by Great Britain. The Queen of England was head of state for a short period of time in Nigeria in the 1960s but in 1963 the country experienced its ‘First Republic’. There was a constitution put into place, ‘the first constitution of the Republic of Nigeria’, where the countries first president would replace the ‘monarch’ or Queen Elizabeth. The first president of Nigeria’s name was Nnamdi Azikiwe who was appointed president in 1963, and he was a ‘man of the people’. Before his time as president Nnamdi was the 3rd Governor General of Nigeria with aid from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as his prime minister. In 1960, Queen Elizabeth made him the ‘Privy Council of the United Kingdom’, which was a very prestigious achievement in the United Kingdom but not so much Nigeria. During 1960 he was also awarded the first president of the senate of Nigeria. His political party was called ‘National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons’ later changing to ‘Nigerian People’s Party’. Being the very first president of his country it is hard to keep things in balance, having almost no feel for what you now have to take head on. He was overthrown by military powers lead by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and his Nigerian military juntas in 1966. This became a bit of a trend because as time went one history repeated it. Nigeria went from Republic to military rule back to Republic for numerous years actually a few decades. Currently the country is in their fourth republic and it seems to be holding its grounds rather well. Nnamdi led his country through a difficult time and made it a republic of its own. Although he was overthrown, the country has maintained a trend that seemingly has been working for them.