Across Regional Lines: How Azikiwe & Okpara Supported Awolowo In Nigeria’s First Republic
By NKEM OBU
Revisiting a Crucial Episode in Nigeria’s Political History
NIGERIA’S First Republic remains one of the most turbulent periods in the country’s political evolution, marked by intense regional rivalries, ideological divisions, and fierce competition for power. Yet within that era of conflict emerged moments of unusual cross-regional solidarity that continue to shape debates about Nigeria’s political history.
One such episode involved the support extended by Eastern Nigerian leaders—particularly Michael Iheonukara Okpara and Nnamdi Azikiwe—to the embattled Western Nigerian politician Obafemi Awolowo during the early 1960s political crisis.
Historical accounts suggest that these interventions represented a rare moment when political actors placed ideological alignment and democratic principles above regional divisions.
The Western Region Crisis
The crisis that engulfed Western Nigeria in the early 1960s stemmed from internal divisions within the Action Group, the political party led by Awolowo.
The party split between Awolowo and his deputy, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, who later aligned politically with the Northern establishment led by Ahmadu Bello, the powerful Premier of Northern Nigeria.
The conflict triggered political instability in the Western Region, including disputed elections, allegations of electoral manipulation and violent unrest.
Ultimately, Awolowo was arrested and later convicted of treasonable felony in 1963 under the government led by Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
The conviction removed him from the political stage at a critical moment and reshaped the balance of power in Nigeria’s First Republic.
Okpara’s Intervention
At the height of Awolowo’s political isolation, the Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Michael Iheonukara Okpara, reportedly provided both political and symbolic support to the embattled Western leader.
According to historical narratives, Okpara offered assistance to Awolowo’s political allies and opened Eastern Nigerian institutions to individuals who had faced professional repercussions during the Western Region crisis.
One notable example involved economists and academics associated with Awolowo’s camp who were reportedly dismissed from the University of Ife. Some of them were subsequently accommodated at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Political historians interpret such actions as part of Okpara’s broader attempt to preserve an alliance of progressive forces within Nigeria’s regional political system.
Symbolic Support for the Awolowo Family
Perhaps one of the most striking gestures occurred after Awolowo’s imprisonment.
Okpara’s government appointed Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo—the wife of the jailed leader—to an honorary position within the Eastern Nigerian administration.
The appointment reportedly came with the privileges typically extended to a cabinet-level official, including official transportation and security.
While largely symbolic, the move was widely interpreted as a public expression of solidarity with Awolowo’s political struggle.
Azikiwe’s Presidential Role
Another significant figure during the crisis was Nigeria’s ceremonial President, Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Historical accounts suggest that Azikiwe intervened when discussions reportedly emerged about transferring Awolowo to a prison facility in Northern Nigeria.
Instead, Awolowo served much of his imprisonment in Eastern Nigeria, a decision that some historians argue helped ensure his safety during a highly polarised period.
Though the constitutional powers of the presidency were limited at the time, Azikiwe’s actions were widely interpreted as an effort to ensure that the political crisis did not escalate into something more dangerous.
The UPGA Alliance
The broader political framework behind these interactions was the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), a coalition formed between the National Council of Nigerian Citizens and factions of the Action Group.
UPGA emerged as a counterweight to the Nigerian National Alliance, which was dominated by Northern political interests.
For many historians, the alliance represented an ideological partnership rather than a purely ethnic coalition.
The partnership allowed leaders such as Okpara and Azikiwe to collaborate with Awolowo’s supporters on a shared platform advocating federalism, regional development and democratic governance.
Lessons From the First Republic
Political scholars often cite these events as evidence that early Nigerian politics was more ideologically fluid than contemporary narratives sometimes suggest.
The collaboration between Eastern and Western political leaders demonstrated that alliances could transcend regional identity when leaders perceived shared political values.
While the First Republic eventually collapsed following the military coup of 1966, the alliances forged during its final years remain an important part of Nigeria’s democratic history.
As debates about national unity and political cooperation continue in modern Nigeria, historians argue that revisiting these moments may provide useful lessons for navigating the country’s enduring regional and political divisions.
