In the all-Nigerian constitutional conference of 1950________

Analyze the question: This is about the 1950 Ibadan General Conference, the "all-Nigerian constitutional conference" held in January 1950. It was convened to review the Richards Constitution of 1946 and prepare for the new constitution, which became the Macpherson Constitution of 1951.

Key facts about the conference:

• It was held in Ibadan in January 1950.
• Delegates came from all regions and included Nigerians chosen from the regional houses and other groups. It was not just the Legislative Council members.
• It followed regional consultations: village, divisional, provincial and regional levels.
• It recommended a quasi-federal arrangement, with regional legislatures having some powers while the central legislature kept overall authority.
• The Macpherson Constitution of 1951 then introduced this quasi-federal structure.

Checking the options:

• A. Wrong. The conference was not made up of the official members of the Legislative Council. Officials were colonial administrators, and the conference was driven by Nigerians.
• B. Wrong. Ethnic-based federation was not the resolution. Regions already existed, and the conference did not resolve to organize federation on ethnic lines.
• C. Correct. The conference concluded that a quasi-federal structure, with regional legislatures and a central legislature, should be developed.
• D. Wrong. The conference was not limited to unofficial members of the Legislative Council. It had wider representation, including delegates from the regional houses and other bodies.

Answer: C. The Ibadan Conference of 1950 produced the proposals that created a quasi-federal structure, which was reflected in the 1951 Macpherson Constitution.

Exam tip: Link each constitution to its key feature:

• Clifford 1922: elective principle
• Richards 1946: regionalism, regional houses
• Macpherson 1951: quasi-federalism, after the Ibadan Conference 1950
• Lyttleton 1954: full federalism