Abstract:
My experience in severd ex-British colonies has convinced
me that in far too many instances the British Government has
abdicated its responsibilities for minority races far too quickly,
and has all too often, in addition, tried to create large
unworkable Federations out of disparate and incompatible units.
In Nigeria, as in Central Africa, East Africa, and the West
Indies, a Federation was imposed upon indigenous peoples who
later rejected it. There is a fundamental difference in Nigeria
between the Hausas who are Moslem and conservative, and the
Ibos who are Christian and progressive. The possibility of
conflict was foreseen by many Colonial Service officials in
Nigeria. I myself, with some others, refused to be in any way
associated with the system of government bequeathed to Nigeria
with independence, and preferred to leave Nigeria under a
severe financial handicap rather than bear any responsibility
for the terrible warfare that was bound to erupt between Hausa
and Ibo.