Nigeria and the Politics of African
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NIGERIA AND THE POLITICS OF AFRICAN DECOLONIZATION IN THE UNITED NATIONS 1960-1994: HISTORICAL ANALYSIS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NIGERIA’S CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL AMBITIONS ADEREMI OPEYEMI ADE-IBIJOLA STUDENT NUMBER: 213526193 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS) IN THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU NATAL, PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: DR B.R. MNGOMEZULU DECEMBER 2014 i ABSTRACT This study is an investigation of the role of the Nigerian state in African decolonization politics in the United Nations (UN) during the period 1960 to 1994 and its implications for Nigeria’s contemporary political ambitions. Against this background, the study was carried out in both the historical and contemporary contexts in order to be able to draw the link between Nigeria’s past and present political activities. The historical contexts entailed an analysis of the issues which engendered the politicization of African decolonization in the UN such as the Cold War, the Congo crisis - which was also fuelled by the Cold War animosities; the intra-African power rivalry among member states of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa in 1960 which attracted widespread indignation across the world. The latter ensured that African problems were given special attention in the UN in 1960 and in the years which followed. Specifically, the study argues based on the preponderance of archival sources and relevant scholarly resources that the deep–rooted worldwide rivalry for world dominance which ensued between the defunct Soviet Union, the United States and allies respectively shortly after the end of World War Two ushered in a period of politicization of the African decolonization process in the UN from 1960 onwards. The study focuses on Nigeria’s role in African decolonization politics as well as its advocacy on the colonial problem within the period aforementioned. It also examines the roles played by regional groupings such as the Latin American group, the Afro-Asian groups and other member states of the UN in calling for decolonisation. The contemporary contexts on the other hand, based on empirical data, analysed the implications of Nigeria’s roles as outlined above for the country’s present ambition for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) permanent membership seat. It critiques the arguments made over the years by the Nigerian governments, diplomats and scholars with regards to Nigeria’s historical credentials which many believe should be enough to qualify the country to represent Africa on the UNSC. This study argues that Nigeria’s greatest credentials for the UNSC seat lie not in its records of service to the African cause but in the combination of that record ii with an appreciable domestic condition which is epitomized by good governance, protection of human rights, sound and enduring democratic institutions, dedicated political leadership, zero tolerance for corruption and functional judiciary in the current context. Nigeria’s success also depends on ensuring security on the home front, tackling mass impoverishment and working towards a robust economy. Leveraging on the realist political theory, the study demonstrably established that Nigeria’s role on issues of African decolonization was primarily and strategically driven by its self-interest which was the preconceived desire to play a dominant role in African affairs. The findings of this study show that Nigeria’s position is not guaranteed; neither are those of the other contenders such as South Africa –a country with which Nigeria is juxtaposed in this study. iii DECLARATION I hereby declare that this dissertation titled “Nigeria and the Politics of African Decolonization in the United Nations 1960-1994: Historical Analysis and Implications for Nigeria’s Contemporary Political Ambitions,” except where otherwise indicated, is my own original work. I further declare that: 1. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or examination at any other university; 2. This thesis does not contain other people’s data, pictures, graphs or any other information unless these are attributed to the original authors; 3. Where the exact words of other authors or official and other documents have been used, these have been placed inside quotation marks or indented and referenced accordingly. 14/03/2015 ___________________________ _________________________ Candidate Date iv DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to God Almighty for His mercy and grace towards me. v AKNOWLEDGEMENT In putting this dissertation together I have leaned on the support, co-operation, and assistance of people whose courage, moral, and financial support I have benefited immensely from. First and foremost, I would like to express my supreme appreciation to God Almighty for His ceaseless and undying mercy towards me in particular, and my entire family in general. Against all olds, I can say again and again that great indeed is God’s faithfulness! I owe the success of this project to God Almighty for the great things He hath done for me. I would like to appreciate the contributory role and place on record the four categories of people whom I will proceed to acknowledge appreciatively. First, I would like to express my appreciation to my wonderful parents Professor Emmanuel Adeolu Ibijola and Dr (Mrs) Elizabeth Yinka Ibijola for their stupendous financial, moral, and spiritual support which sustained me in the course of this program. I am thankful to them for their parental love, care and guidance at all times. Second, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to my indefatigable and industrious supervisor, Dr Bheki Richard Mngomezulu, a seasoned scholar, astute academic and intellectual par excellence for his incredible support which has been of immense benefit to this study. I look forward to celebrate your ascension to the professorial chair soon! Third, I would like to appreciate my wonderful wife, Mrs Gift Oluwayemi Ade-Ibijola, for her support, encouragement and prayers during this program, and more importantly for taking good care of the home front in my absence. I also appreciate my son Emmanuel. My siblings have also been an integral part of me. In this light, I wish to express my profound appreciation to my brother Abejide and his wife, my sister Ololade and her Husband, my sisters Babakemi; Abidemi and my brother Adesina. Fourth, I wish to express my thanks to all the staff of the libraries of the following institutions: the Ekiti State University in Nigeria, the Nigerian National Archives in Ibadan, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Pretoria; and the Tribune Newspapers in Ibadan. My fieldwork would have been an exercise in futility were it not for the active and enthusiastic support I received from distinguished academics whom I interviewed in Nigeria. I am extremely grateful to each and every one of them. I would like to appreciate certain individuals for their contribution to this work through insightful comments and scholarly vi advice: Professor Ogaba Oche – Director of Research and Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, Nigeria; Professor Fred Aja Agwu, a senior research fellow also at the NIIA, Lagos, Nigeria; and Dr Godwin Ichimi, a research fellow at the NIIA. I also appreciate the contributions made by Professor Kunle Ajayi of the Department of Political science at Ekiti State University, Nigeria; and Dr Remi Ayeide of the Department of Political science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. I acknowledge with thanks the magnificent contribution made by Dr David Aworawo of the Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos, Nigeria in the development of this project. My appreciation also goes to Professor Ishola Olomola, an historian of global repute for his immense contribution to the development of my lecturing career during my brief stay as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies at Ekiti State University, Nigeria. I am also grateful to Prof Ufo Uzodike and Prof Victor Muzvidziwa for their different roles in my academic endeavours. My catalogue of appreciation is incomplete without thanking my spiritual fathers for their fervent support in prayers. I am particularly grateful to Evangelist Femi Oluwande for being there at all times for me and my household. An expression of thanks is also due to all my friends who helped me in so many ways but whose names I cannot list here due to lack of space. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to my beloved University of KwaZulu Natal – an academic citadel of learning that has truly lived up to its reputation as “The Premier University of African Scholarship.” I will forever be indebted to its staff – both academic and administrative for making my stay in South Africa a memorable one. Thank you all and God bless. vii ABREVIATIONS ACP African Caribbean and Pacific ANC African National Congress AU African Union CBN Central Bank of Nigeria ECOSOC Economic and Social Council ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States FBO Faith Based Organization GA General Assembly ICC International Central Organization of Churches ICJ International Court of Justice ILO International Labour Organization NACAP National Committee against Apartheid NAM Non-Aligned Movement NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations NIIA Nigerian Institute of International