Government 2, WASSCE (SC), 2016

Question 8

Highlight five contributions of Herbert Macaulay to the political development of Nigeria.

Observation

This was not a popular question and the candidates who attempted it performed poorly, that is the overall performance was below average.  However, the candidates were expected to give the following points as answers to the question:

(i)         He championed the cause of the chiefs and people of Lagos against the Lagos High Court over land ownership.
(ii)        Supported labour unions to organize strikes and rallies and fight for their rights.
(iii)       He was the first to establish political party in Nigeria - the Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) in 1922.
(iv)       He was the first National president of National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).
(v)        He was the father of all the Nigerian nationalist leaders. He was a rallying point for nationalists.
(vi)       He was instrumental to the establishment of Nigerian wing of National Council of British West Africa (NCBWA).
(vii)      He founded the Lagos Daily Newspaper.
(viii)     He led a protest against the 1946 Richards Constitution.
(ix)       He represented Nigeria in various constitutional conferences.
(x)        He led his party, NNDP to win elections in the Lagos Municipal Council between 1923-38.
(xi)       He joined other nationalist leaders to write petitions to the Colonial Office in London to complain about the evils of colonialism.
(xii)      His activities led to the introduction of the Elective Principle in Nigeria.