THE DESIRE FOR UNIFICATION OF NORTHERN CAMEROONS WITH NIGERIA

Abstract

The desire to unify Northern Cameroon with Nigeria was conducted through a plebiscite that took place in Northern Cameroons in 1959 was a significant event in the history of the region. The plebiscite was a democratic process that allowed the people of Northern Cameroons to vote on whether to join Nigeria or Cameroon. This decision had far-reaching implications for the region's political, economic, and social development. The First Plebiscite was a milestone that marked the beginning of a new era for Northern Cameroons. It was a highly anticipated event that generated a lot of debates and discussions among the population. Ultimately, the majority decided to vote to join Cameroon, leading to significant changes in the region's governance and identity. We have availed ourselves of the works of our predecessors, and other scholars, concerning this study which are both primary and secondary resources, the primary sources include documents, files, annual reports, archival materials and interviews where appropriate. While the secondary sources are books, chapters in books Articles, conference papers and internet materials where needed. The methodology adopted in this paper is based on historical narratives to reconstruct this vital information of the people’s history, as a result, the paper employs historical methodology, which includes the collection and the interpretation of primary data from the archives as well as conduct oral interviews and the collection of secondary sources as earlier indicated.