Give an account of the development of any one of the following political parties in Nigeria: (a) The Action Group (A.G) (b) The National Council of Nigeria ...

Development of the Action Group (A.G.)

1. Origin: The Action Group grew out of the Yoruba cultural organisation, the Egbe Omo Oduduwa (Society of the Descendants of Oduduwa), founded in 1948. It was transformed into a political party in 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his associates in the run-up to the 1951 general elections.
2. Leadership: Its foremost leader was Chief Obafemi Awolowo, supported by men such as S. L. Akintola, Anthony Enahoro and Bode Thomas.
3. Base: Although it aimed at a national spread, its main stronghold was the Western Region, where it drew strong support from the Yoruba.
4. Objectives: It stood for the immediate self-government of Nigeria, the welfare of the people, and a federal structure that would protect the interests of the regions and minorities.
5. Achievements in government: The A.G. controlled the government of the Western Region from 1951. It introduced free primary education, free health services for children, and pioneering developments such as the first television station in Africa (WNTV) and the Cocoa House in Ibadan.
6. Role in the nationalist struggle: The party pressed vigorously for independence. In 1953 its member Anthony Enahoro moved the first motion for Nigeria's self-government.
7. Crisis and decline: A leadership struggle between Awolowo and Akintola in the early 1960s split the party, leading to the Western Region crisis, the treason trial and imprisonment of Awolowo, and the weakening of the party before the collapse of the First Republic in 1966.

(A candidate may alternatively trace the NCNC or the NPC; credit is given for any one party correctly developed.)