Those who claim that the Nigerian convulsion began on 15 January 1966 are mischievously mistaken as poor students of history.
When history is ghettoised as a branch of study, poor students come out with their sexy versions of the past.
When history is ghettoised as a branch of study, poor students come out with their sexy versions of the past.
15 January 1966 is one of the many convulsions triggered by what Sir Ahmadu Bello famously described in 1953 as "the mistake of 1914".
The British knew that the north and south of "Nigeria" were historically different. Hear Sir George Goldie, one of the exponents of amalgamation
The British knew that the north and south of "Nigeria" were historically different. Hear Sir George Goldie, one of the exponents of amalgamation
who opined that the north and south had "widely separated government, customs, and general ideas about life, both world and the next, as England is from China".
They knew the time bomb they planted, the British.
They knew the time bomb they planted, the British.
Before the famous remark of "the mistake of 1914" was made in 1953, a more unfortunate statement was made Sir Balewa in the Northern House in 1952:
"the Southern people who are swarming into this region daily in large numbers are really intruders.
We don`t want them and they
"the Southern people who are swarming into this region daily in large numbers are really intruders.
We don`t want them and they
are not welcome here in the North. Since the amalgamation in 1914, the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people are different in every way including religion, custom, language and aspiration.
The fact that we`re all Africans might have misguided the British Government. We here in the North, take it that `Nigerian unity` is not for us".
This is our history, until the unfortunate incident at the old Federal House of Representatives at the Race Course Lagos in 1953
This is our history, until the unfortunate incident at the old Federal House of Representatives at the Race Course Lagos in 1953
Recall Enahoro's motion for independence in 1953, which led to a fracas and walkout of northern parliamentarians led by Sir Bello. Following the kerfuffle at the Iddo Train Station, he made the historical remark:
"The mistake of 1914 has come to light. I shall go no further"
"The mistake of 1914 has come to light. I shall go no further"
The troubles of 1966 were set two years earlier when the Federal Government tried to use its might to address what was largely rooted in the west.
In addressing the failings of politicians, the military boys compounded the problems with their coup and counter coup of 1966
In addressing the failings of politicians, the military boys compounded the problems with their coup and counter coup of 1966
It is the inability of the British to appreciate the differences between North and South that is the heart of the Nigerian condition. And we have seen these convulsions in:
1. The fracas at the Federal House in 1953
2. Federal intervention in the Western crisis of 1964
1. The fracas at the Federal House in 1953
2. Federal intervention in the Western crisis of 1964
3. 15 January 1966 coup
4. 28 July - 1 August 1966 counter coup
5. The Civil War
6. Murder of Ken Saro Wiwa and the troubles in the Nigerdelta
6. Annulment of June 12 and murder of Abiola
7. Sharia law in the north
8. Boko Haram/ISWAP
9. MASSOB/IPOB
10. OPC/Yoruba agitators
4. 28 July - 1 August 1966 counter coup
5. The Civil War
6. Murder of Ken Saro Wiwa and the troubles in the Nigerdelta
6. Annulment of June 12 and murder of Abiola
7. Sharia law in the north
8. Boko Haram/ISWAP
9. MASSOB/IPOB
10. OPC/Yoruba agitators
The westphalia Nigerian State the British created has to be renegotiated.
Democracy heightens the tension and dissension that exist within itself; and it can't correct our flawed "nation-state"; but it can provide us the framework for peacefully renegotiating our existence.
Democracy heightens the tension and dissension that exist within itself; and it can't correct our flawed "nation-state"; but it can provide us the framework for peacefully renegotiating our existence.
Good morning from outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine
Loading suggestions...