Teddy Ezirike – Prior to 1st. January, 1900, there was no country known as Nigeria. It was after the Berlin Conference of 1885 which partitioned the continent of Africa amongst the most powerful European nations, that Britain started to take active interest in colonizing the areas now known as Nigeria, hence the Amalgamation of 1st. January 1914 by Sir. Federick Lord Lugard, with the name “Nigeria” coined by flora Shaw (who later became Lugard’s wife.) This is to say that between 1900 and 1914, the British Colonial Administrators came and declared “protectorates” over a large scattered communities that were occupying those areas. And they were all brought together for ease of administration under one name – Nigeria.

Today after a century, Nigeria is a federal republic that operates three layers of government, namely: the federal government with headquarters at Abuja; the state governments of 36 states and the local governments of about 774 units. As a nation, Nigeria came into being on 1st. January1914, following the so-called Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates and the Colony of Lagos. Subsequently and consequently, Nigeria was declared a formal British colony when the territory’s administration was taken over from the Royal Niger Company of George Tubman Goldie on 1st. January, 1900.

Therefore, that controversial gathering of world’s leading European powers during the 1885 Berlin Conference if we have not forgotten precipitated what we now call “Scramble for Africa” which created new boundaries that did violence to Africa’s ancient societies and resulted in tension prone states. By this, the West African countries were lured to the exploitative hands of Britain. It took place without African consents, consultation and representation. Much the same way, if the said Berlin conference sealed African’s fate, then the amalgamation of 1914 inextricably complicated Nigeria’s destiny. Animists, Muslims, Christians, violent, peaceful, un-conscientious and conscientious people alike were held together by a delicate, dangerous, artificial and flimsy lattice called amalgamation, which became a pointer, bane and prelude to Nigeria’s choas. For a hundred years now Nigeria has been suffering as a result of an unreasonable and unguarded experiment.

We would not expect a soothsayer to tell us that there has been a looming wave of an impending civil war hovering over Nigeria all these while. The restiveness in different segments of our national life has never been so volatile since the amalgamation saga, mostly since after the Nigeria Biafra civil war, even those in government are openly warning against the likelihood of a civil strife in the country if things continue the way they are. Prime on the list of the causes of this impeding doom is the internal insecurity and insurgency orchestrated by the nefarious and inhuman Islamic sect – the Boko Haram. The murderous activities of this sect have practically brought Nigeria to the brink and verge of war. Not only the Boko Haram quagmire, Nigeria has experienced a lot of political instabilities since independence. The Kano riots of 1953; Census riots of 1962/63; Action Group crises of 1960; Federal election crises of 1964; Western Nigerian election crises of 1965; General elections crises of 1979 and 1983; Kaduna State Executive/Legislative crises of 1981; Civil war of 1967; Abiola crises of 1993; Sharia crises of 2000; Jos riot of 2001; the endless Boko Haram bombings and killings, etc. All these civil disturbances in one way or the other have northern/Islamic affinity.

Some resource persons posed that it is as a result of the disadvantaged position in education, human and infrastructural development that the core North would not let go political power. The fliar northern Nigeria have anchored on power revolves round this deficiency. Perhaps, that is the major reason why the core north can do anything to capture power and go on to hold, retain and consolidate it. Records, revelations and research show that northern political office seekers do not fight head on with their opponents, rather use human-shield and subversive elements to do such. The north camouflage a love for democracy. If such means something for them, why was 1993 June General elections won by MKO Abiola of SDP annulled? Had the election been won by TOFA of NRC- a Northerner, would it have been annulled? The problem with the north is the “born to rule mentality” which is the brain-child of the amalgamation posited to them by the British. And that is why they cause havocs and confusion when they are not in power. But north easily forget that since the political independence of Nigeria (whether on civilian or military regime,) it was only an Igbo-man (Aguiyi Ironsi) that has became a head of state-that of Azikiwe was ceremonial – still the north are not satisfied.

Worried by the spate of insecurity in the country, especially the upsurge in bombings and killings of Ndi Igbo in the north, governors of the southeast geo-political zone in one of their meetings in Enugu on Sunday 22nd January, 2012 resolved to convene a meeting of Igbo leaders to take a position on the civil disaster in the north. From all indications, it is glaring that nobody is comfortable with the break of security situation of the country with the Islamic Mafia maiming and killing people at will, especially the Igbos. Facts show that all attacks are targeted at the Igbos and their property, but how many northerners have lost their lives or property here in the East. We even protect them. The eastern governors, let the action not end in your meetings. Together with the Ohaneze and Igbolites let us take concerted steps in a bid to ameliorate the situation. We know that if one wishes peace, he has to prepare for war. Let the action starts now, because when things have fallen apart, the centre cannot hold. We cannot be strangers in our land.

How can we continue to live with a kind of people who are totally different from us under the guise of “One Nigeria” which Zik selfishly lured us into. If the idea of Mbonu Ojike was heeded by the Nationalists in their uncontrollable quest for independence, I do not think we would have experienced what we are experiencing today in Nigeria. It was gathered that Nigeria was supposed to have had her independence in 1957 alongside Ghana, but for Mbonu’s view that “the geography and boundary of Nigeria should first of all be well ascertained,” our independence was deferred to 1970 still Mbonu’s view was ignored. And today we are suffering because of the inability of the nationalists to define Nigeria’s boundary well. Mostly, ZIK saw Mbonu’s point as unpatriotic because he (ZIK) was much interested in ruling a “united” and big Nigeria without knowing that he was dining with his enemies. As nature would have it, ZIK learnt his lesson during the second republic, otherwise how would Shagari from nowhere defeated ZIK of Africa in an election. It is because Shagari is from the north.

How can Lugard brought us together with people who are totally different from us just because the system of amalgamation worked for him in Congo and Uganda where he was Governor-General before coming to Nigeria. Are these countries as big and multi-lingual as Nigeria? How many ethnic groups and tribes are there in these countries? Do these countries behave the way northerners do? Let every Igbo man rise to the challenges of actualizing the Biafran Nation. No matter what you seem to be benefitting in Nigeria today, if you are from the East, the truth is that you cannot enjoy it when your people are being roasted, unless you are not human. If you are the type that prefers your comfort to the plight of your people, then you are an anti-Igbo emancipation, and the spirits of our forefathers and the innocent victims will always haunt you.

Comments

comments