WI: Nigeria Retains the Southern Cameroons

Wolfpaw

Banned
In 1961, the British Cameroons hold a plebiscite to decide whether or not they would join Nigeria or Cameroon. The Northern Cameroons voted to join Nigeria with the Southern Cameroons voting to join Cameroon.

The Southern Cameroons' decision caused a political imbalance within Nigeria, with the predominantly Northern Hausa wielding far more influence within the country than either the Eastern Igbo or the Western Yoruba. The Hausa being Islamic where the Igbo and Yoruba being majority Christian did not help things.

Some have pointed to the stark regional clout imbalances that resulted from the South Cameroons' decision as one of the main causes of Nigeria's historical political instability.

So what if the Southern Cameroons had opted to join Nigeria? Would that have led to a more stable (and presumably more prosperous) Nigeria?
 
Last edited:
Well, I don't think Nigeria would be more stable, only a bit more balanced regarding the percentage between Christians and Muslims to a 50-50 rate, instead of OTLs 45-55. So maybe we would see a more stable Nigeria overall or Nigeria itselfs ends (earlier) with the Hausa creating an independent state around the 1990s. But then the South would have almost no problems whatsoever and might become very stable African country. But really, speculating in Africa can result in everything not absolutely ASB.
 
Well I also see a more stable Nigeria leading to a stable split akin to what is probably going to happen to Belgium soon, or perhaps an even more apt example is Sudan and Southern Sudan.

Sudan, being a state administered by the British, where the North is majority Muslim and the South is majority Christian (with plenty of traditional, indigenous traditions being mixed in there as well), saw the British approaching the two regions differently. Indeed, Nigeria wasn't governed as a single colony until early in the 20th century.

There would still be social clashes communally but one may not see it on a national scale as we have. Of course, the two Nigerias solution would lead to drastically different nations, especially when one considers the economic results of the oil reserves being limited to the Delta region. There are other mineral deposits in Northern Nigeria, but none as lucrative as oil has proven to be.
 
Well, I don't think Nigeria would be more stable, only a bit more balanced regarding the percentage between Christians and Muslims to a 50-50 rate, instead of OTLs 45-55.

It's not 45-55, it's 50/48/1.5.

Anyways overall I don't think it would have changed the demographics to much, at the time Southern Cameroon had less than 2 million people while Nigeria itself had 39 million, so even if they did join you'd end up with the same situation as today most likely with Christians making up 50%, Muslims 48% and the remaining being Other.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
Does Nigeria necessarily have to split? I mean, if the addition of the Southern Cameroons helps stabilize the Nigerian political scene early on and manages to prevent some of the more divisive effects of tensions caused regional imbalances, maybe it could allow Nigeria to peacefully evolve towards a more stable federalist structure.

I dunno; just spit balling here. Again, I'm be no means a major authority.
 
It's not 45-55, it's 50/48/1.5.

Anyways overall I don't think it would have changed the demographics to much, at the time Southern Cameroon had less than 2 million people while Nigeria itself had 39 million, so even if they did join you'd end up with the same situation as today most likely with Christians making up 50%, Muslims 48% and the remaining being Other.

Any reason for the pedantry? :rolleyes:
 
Top