The Omaha guide., 1945-11-03
RAPID SHIFT TO CAPITALISM

RAPID SHIFT TO
The war led directly to this rapid growth Of the
working class. By the beginning Of 1912 the har-
bOrs OF West Africa became busy ports Of call for
conveys bound for the Middle and Far Eastern
theaters of war. simultaneously a great chain of
airpotrs grew up near the main towns for handling
the stream OF aircraft carrying men and supplies
to North Africa and the Far East. A huge con-
structlon program arnged from the building of mud
huts in military camps to the building of up-to-
date airdromes, new roads, railroads and habor fac
lltles. These activities were accompanied by the
intensified exploitation of vital raw materials, such
as ores, foodstuffs, lumber and rubber.
lie supply the necessary manpoWer thousands of
natives were literally hurled from their primitive
agrarian and tribunal mode Of living into the modern
world Of machinery and capitalism. These devel-
opments produced far-reaching dislocations in the
social structure Of Nigeria. Processes that in peace
time would have taken generations are, today being
completed In weeks or months.
simultaneously with the rapid rise of the trade
union movement there has developed a large and
powerful Nigerian nationalist movement in which
the trade unions play a leading part. This polite
al movement has cut across tribal traditions, relig-
ious ties, Mohammedan. Christian, Pagan, and the
barrier Of diverse native languages, Nigeria with
its numerous native states and tribes, has hitherto
been bound together only by geographical proxim-
1ty and the bureaucratic apparatus of the British
lmperlaliSt OverlOrdS. Now it's people are develop
ing a national consciousness.
The nationalist movement took on Definite shape
In August 1913 when a delegation of editors Of West
African newspapers in Great Britain issued a mem
orandum on "The Atlantic Charter and West Afri-
ca" Basing their claim on Clause 3 of the Allan
tic Charter which affirmS "the right of all people
to choose the form OF government under which they
may live, they asked for the immediate abrogation
OF the Grown Colony system Of government and the
substitution OF representative government. The
authors of the memorandum declared 'that factors
OF capitals mand Imperialism have stifled the nor
NAL growth of these territories m The. mpmOpaD-
dunn set forth a series Of proposals for reforms in
education, health, social welfare, agriculture, min
ing, finance, trade and commerce. -t
Upon the return Of the press delegations to Africa,
a campaign to popularize these demands was start
ed under the leadership of Nnamdi Azikiwe, editor
o fthe West African Pilot, largest Nigerian daily
newspaper, and secretary of the delegation. On
January 20 of this year a constitutional convention
was held in Lagos, capital Of Nigeria, which form
ulated and adopted a draft constitution and a pro-
gra moi economic and social reforms. The conven-
ton set up the National Council Of Nigeria and the
Cameroons for the purpose Of uniting in federation
all progressive organizations in the country.
The Jun IS Daily Comet reports that 126 organic
ations have affiliated with the Council Among
them are sixty tribal unions, the two leading polit-
ical parties-the Nigerian National Democratic
Party and the Union Of Young Democrats4eleven
social clubs, eight professional associations. The
most significant are the two leading trade union
organizations-the West African Union of Seamen
and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria with it's
Sc affiliated unions and membership Of over 500, 1000
An editorial in the May II West African. Pilot says
that the Council has a following of over 6 million
people. rs-7.
Alarmed by these developments the British Gov
eminent set about to counter the popular ~insistence
on a new constitution. Shortly after this, conven-
ton a White Paper containing proposals for the re-
form Of the Constitution Of Nigeria was issued with
the approval of the British Colonial Secretary, in
the name of Sir Richards, Governor of Nigeria. BY
this proposed constitutional revision the British