HC Deb 22 April 1953 vol 514 cc1160-2
42. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement upon the constitutional crisis in Nigeria, following upon the resignation of the Action Group members of the National Council of Ministers.

49. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the constitutional crisis in Nigeria which has led to the resignation of four Ministers from the Central Government and the vote of no confidence in the Government of the Eastern Assembly.

55. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the nature of the dispute affecting certain Nigerian Ministers and their position in the Nigerian Legislature.

57. Mrs. White

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps will be taken to replace the Ministers who recently resigned from the Central Government in Nigeria.

Mr. Lyttelton

A Private Member's Motion was tabled in the House of Representatives urging that the House should accept self-government in 1956 as a primary political objective. The Council of Ministers by a majority decided that members of the Government should abstain from speaking or voting on the Motion. The four Western Ministers disagreed with this decision and resigned. Their membership of the House of Representatives is not affected. Action will be taken, as provided in the constitution, in an attempt to fill the vacancies.

The Governor reported to me in London last week on the whole situation. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Colonial Affairs, who is now in Nigeria, will have an opportunity to hear at first hand the views of representatives of all three Regions. The situation in Nigeria is complicated. It will call for long and patient study. I do not expect to be able to make any further statement for some time.

Mr. Johnson

May I ask the Minister two questions? First, will he give the House an assurance that when the Minister of State does return he will give us a full statement of the situation? Secondly, since the main misunderstanding seems to be due to disputed versions of what did happen inside the Cabinet, and since Sir John Macpherson, the Governor, has spoken over the air and given his version, does not the Minister think it would be a good thing if an African Minister were to give his version over the air, someone like Mr. Nwapa or Mr. Arikpo?

Mr. Lyttelton

I must answer the second part of the hon. Member's question in very distinct tones. It is against all the principles of collective responsibility and Cabinet Government that discussions of decisions reached in the Cabinet should be broadcast by the members whatever their views may be.

Mr. Fenner Brockway

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of Question No. 49, and also will he ask the Minister of State, whilst he is in Nigeria, to meet representatives of the Action Party and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, and representatives of the northern area with a view to reaching agreement about the steps which are to be taken towards self-government?

Mr. Lyttelton

The hon. Gentleman has set a very high target for my right hon. Friend. My right hon. Friend will consult with everybody with whom it is necessary to consult in order to form a considered opinion upon this matter, but to expect that in this particularly difficult situation he would now be able to reach agreement is really asking too much.

Mr. Fenner Brockway

On a point of order. The right hon. Gentleman has still not answered the second part of my Question.

Mr. Speaker

I am afraid that I cannot help that.

Mr. Sorensen

In view of the very serious position, which in fact may be grave, does the right hon. Gentleman intend now to take some further action to try to avoid what otherwise might be severe tension between the three provincial areas? What does he think of the possibility of some revision of the existing constitution?

Mr. Lyttelton

I would rather that the hon. Member did not press me on these matters. It may be that I am wrong, but my impression is that a little period of reflection to—if I may use a vulgarism —let the dust die down is probably necessary before we consider any other steps. Of course, I have my own ideas on how the matter should be handled.