REVIEW OF THE AMALGAMATED PARTIES INTO ONE POLITICAL ENTITY KNOWN AS “NIGERIA” BY ISU, SMART ELUU

REVIEW OF THE AMALGAMATED PARTIES INTO ONE POLITICAL ENTITY KNOWN AS “NIGERIA”

Permeable:        The reflection and recollection of facts according to available recordings in the book of histories in line with the Centenary Celebration of the Nation which thereafter, enthrones the National Conference as proposed by The Jonathan’s government indirectly and political aimed at   determining if or not to stay as a Nation and other projected issues as put down by different groups that constitute the body (Nigeria). HAPYY READING!!

 JANUARY 1, 2014 made it exactly 100 years the British colonial authorities amalgamated, what was then, two separate protectorates — Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria which was equally governed by two different bodies though, white men (Sir Fredrick Lord Luggard for North and Sir Raph Moor for South) — to form the single geopolitical entity that has since then been known as Nigeria and as made possible by the Northern then Governor (Luggard).

Although Nigeria gained her independence from the British colonial rule on October 1, 1960 about 53 years ago, it has been a national entity since January 1, 1914, that is, a century ago.

According to available research, there are 646 spoken languages in Nigeria. Also, other researchers have said there are over 370 tribes in the country.

How people from these tribes will co-exist peacefully under one roof called Nigeria has been a major national question seeking answers.

While some have called for the disintegration of the country, with the belief that the amalgamation would expire after 100 years, others have called for a review of the entire structure and arrangement for better management of the country.

For some, the ‘merger’ of the two protectorates, which had different socio-political and economic settings, has been a major concern. To this category of people, the amalgamation was arbitrary as the two parties involved were not consulted in the process and their consent was not sought before they were brought together. These people believe that the amalgamation is the root of the ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria today.

Some of those in this category are a Second Republic minister and constitutional lawyer, Chief Richard Akinjide, and a human rights activist and lawyer, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, who both believe the amalgamation is a bad history for the country.

For instance, Braithwaite, while speaking as the guest lecturer at a lecture organized by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Egba Diocese, to mark the 170th Year of Christianity in Egbaland in July 2013, warned President Goodluck Jonathan against going ahead with plans to celebrate a century of Nigeria’s amalgamation. To the activist, such a celebration would be a “disgrace” to the present generation of Nigerians.

He said, “Instead of clinking glasses of champagne celebrating and venerating a bad history of enslavement, this generation should use the occasion of its centenary to finally destroy its last inglorious relics and simultaneously birth a modern and progressive nation.”

Similarly, Akinjide said the celebration of the amalgamation would be a great historical event but was fraught with fraud. According to him, the colonial masters amalgamated the protectorates not for political reasons but for their economic interests. To him, it was a mere “business arrangement.”

“The critical element at that time was commercial interest not governance. In many history books, they place it as trying to civilize Africa; trying to advance interest of Africans. But I don’t agree; it was for commercial interest,” he stated.

Giving its impact on the then Benin Empire, Akinjide, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, said, “One, how do you destroy a sovereign state, which was the Benin Empire at that time? The Benin Empire had diplomatic relations with foreign countries – with Spain, Portugal, and Brazil. It was very powerful.”

However, he stated that it was too late for Nigeria to divide. “Nigeria is a sovereign state and it will remain forever. We are now one family in a sovereign state and strong with a lot of resources. We are one and we will forever remain one,” Akinjide added.

To others, the diversity makes Nigeria a unique nation and having remained a nation for a century is a cause for celebration.

For instance, President Goodluck Jonathan, who joined the Apostolic Faith Church, Jabi, Abuja,   for the last Sunday service of 2013, described the amalgamation as, not a mistake, but an act of God.

He said, “Nigeria was amalgamated by our colonial masters in 1914. By January 1 next year (2014), Nigeria    will be 100 years.  I totally agree with the minister that it was not by chance that we are one as a nation, it was ordained by God.

“If God didn’t will it that way and at that point, the North and South would not have come together. The details of the North and South coming together make Nigeria a very great country.”

Again, in his New Year message, the President said, “For us, therefore, today is not just the beginning of a new year but the end of a century of national existence and the beginning of another.

“It is a moment for sober reflection and for pride in all that is great about Nigeria.

“Whatever challenges we may have faced, whatever storms we may have confronted and survived, Nigeria remains a truly blessed country.”

However, for some in the South-East, secession of that part of the country is the best option. The Civil War (also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War) between July 6, 1967 and January 15, 1970 comes to mind. A militant group, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, is still pursuing that goal.

The Director of Information, MASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu, said from January 1, 2014, Nigeria, as an entity, had become illegal and “nothing can make it legal again.” And in addition, Isu Smart Eluu of Ebonyi State branch of the body; emphatically and diplomatically stressed that “According to International Law, parties under treaty can only decide to disintegrate when they attain 100 of years which automatically marks her expiration. Moreso, Nigeria as a forcefully and un-consulted joined entities by the white-man (Luggard) expired on 1^st January, 2014, thus; can decide either to or not to stay as a body”.

According to these young spirited beings, the amalgamated protectorates would have been better off as different entities. They said if there was no amalgamation and the nations that were amalgamated had been independent; they would have made very good neighbours and wouldn’t have encountered much of her present pickle.

Madu in his separate words, said “In the first place, the amalgamation was for the interest of the British; it was not in the interest of the people that made up Nigeria. Since they created Nigeria through amalgamation, it has never served any part of the country. Rather, it made us enemies.

“The amalgamation created more enmity and hatred among the peoples that make up Nigeria. If there is nothing like Nigeria, and we have Biafra, Arewa and Oduduwa republics, we would have been good neighbours to each other. The amalgamation did a very harmful thing to Nigeria.  

“Thank God it has expired; we are no longer talking about the amalgamation, we are talking about how to resolve the issues. The politicians may disagree because Nigeria, as an entity, is their own business. They don’t want it to disintegrate but we the masses and the pressure groups are aware of where we are going.”

He, however, affirmed that the proposed national conference/dialogue would address some of the issues with Nigeria’s creation. He said one of the conditions of the 1914 merger was that Nigerians would meet to decide whether to continue as a nation after the first 100 years.

It is out of this sharp division of views that many Nigerians across ethno-religious, geopolitical and economic divides have called for a national dialogue/conference. This conference/dialogue should answer two questions: Should Nigeria remain as one? (If yes), what will be the terms of reference of living together? i.e. how will all the nationalities govern and be governed peacefully and equally?

A body like the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has said the philosophical foundation of the Nigerian State, forms of government, structure of the Nigerian state, legislative list, executive list, law enforcement, economy and the judiciary are salient issues that must be discussed in such a gathering.

For the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndi’gbo, a national conference/dialogue is necessary to determine where the country is heading. The organization said all ethnic nationalities would agree to remain together and under certain terms and conditions. “It is then that all ethnic nations -both majority and minority -will have equal rights,” it said.

 The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Tony Oganah, said, “It is true that the ethnic communities in Nigeria were not consulted before Luggard did what he did; we were never consulted in the beginning. However, we have made some gains, which nobody can deny and one of them is democracy.

“When it comes to socio-economic problems, Nigeria has fared very badly. We all look up to the national conference, where every nation – because Nigeria has many ethnic nationalities – can come and ventilate their opinions. It is out of this that we can reach a national compromise position.”

However, the umbrella body of northern Nigeria, Arewa Consultative Forum, argues that since most countries of the world were created by the colonialists without consultations and consent of the people concerned, and they have not cried foul but improved on it, it would not make sense for Nigerians to cry foul.

“We should do what most countries do by making the most of our diversity, love it and honour it, through working hard to overcome what divide the people,” the ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, said.

He added, “In Africa, only Ethiopia was not created by the colonialists. And if Tanzania, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, India, etc, could bring their diverse people together and unleash their synergy by living up against their collective challenges, Nigeria can equally do so, precisely because Nigerians are not inferior physically, mentally and spiritually.”

The forum, which said Nigeria’s problems were not beyond redemption, said it would be defeatist to allow temporary security and socio-economic challenges caused by the minority to set the national agenda.

“The national conference should be on how to build a strong nation where no one is oppressed, and not on how to go our separate ways. ‘To your tent oh Israel’ is counterproductive,” Sani stated.

 Already, President Jonathan had on December 18, 2013, while receiving the 4,000-page report of the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Dialogue, said the national conference being planned by his administration would hold early 2014.

Jonathan said, “I will like to assure all Nigerians that we will partner with all stakeholders to convene this dialogue whose outcome will add value to the process of building a stronger, united, more democratic and stable Nigeria.”

Today, all eyes are on the forthcoming national conference/dialogue and it’s out-come.

Isu, Smart Eluu

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