Discuss the objectives and achievements of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) founded in 1923.
Explanation
(a) The Objectives of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) Founded in 1923 were:
(i) To work to-wards securing independence for Nigeria.
(ii) To achieve local self-government and municipal status for Lagos.
(iii) To elect its members into the Lagos legislative council.
(iv) To strive towards opening branches of the party in other parts of the country.
(v) To assist in providing necessary facilities for higher institutions of learning in the country.
(vi) To make the civil service an African affair.
(vii) To work towards securing an atmosphere for free and fair trade in Nigeria.
(viii) To work in co-operation with the National Congress for British West Africa (NCBWA).
Achievements of the NNDP were:
(i) The political awareness of the people of Lagos was boosted by the NNDP.
(ii) Lagos politics was dominated NNDP which secured all the seats in the legislative council. This was achieved in the three elections conducted in 1923, 1928 and 1933.
(iii) The elective seats in the Lagos Town Council were won by this party between 1923 and 1938.
(iv) In terms of organisation, this party was well organised between 1923 and 1938.
(v) NNDP, as a party played a crucial role in the final restoration of the Eleko, who was deposed and consequently deported by the British colonial authority.
(vi) The avenue for experimenting a representative government was provided by this party.
(vii) NNDP was a party that drew appreciable and massive support from the cross section of the society.
(viii) One of the notable objectives of the party was to establish branches in different parts of the country.
(ix) The successes achieved by this party in most of the elections were a turning point in the political history of Nigeria.