Lord Fredrick Lugard, the first colonial governor (1914-1918), amalgamated what was called the southern and northern protectorates to form the creation, the Flora Shaw’s named “Nigeria”, formerly the Royal Niger Company. The creation was valid for a hundred years (December 31 2014/January 1, 2015). Afterwards, the people who would be identified as Nigerians could decide to negotiate terms of their co-existence.
The major founding fathers of Nigeria, according to history, in the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and the rest were not adults at the time Nigeria was created. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was born in 1904. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was born in 1912 while Alhaji Tafawa Balewa was born 1910. Therefore, they had no business being the major founding fathers of Nigeria, contrary to the historical narrative. Of course, Nigeria was (and still is) a British creation. Interestingly, they did not express their belief in the efficacy of the geographically created entity. For instance, in 1948, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, asserted Nigeria as being not a country but a geographical location separated by artificial boundaries. In the same breath, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa stated that the people in Europe—Belgium, Holland, England—are similar in cultures than the Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, which are the three major tribes. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, in 1964, who was paraded as the “Zik of Africa” and proponent of “One Nigeria”, stressed the need for Nigerians, four years after independence, to separate or go in pieces!
The major tribes have been existing for thousands of years before Nigeria was birthed. The DNA-based anthropological tests attest to this. It is a thing of concern most Nigerians today do not really know what the identities of their parents and or grand parents were, before October 1, 1960—the day Nigeria became a sovereign entity. Living former leaders such as General Yakubu Gowon (Retired), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Alhaji Abdul Salam Abubakar were born before Nigeria’s day of Independence which clearly identifies them as not “Nigerians”before independence. Who were they, then? That’s a question for another day!
From the inception of leadership of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (with Alhaji Tafawa Balewa being Prime Minister) to the current admission of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the bones of contention depicted over the years have been reflected in terms of tribalism, religion and ethnicity, all pointing at one thing; Nigerians have not been ONE people. From the deficits of the first coup in 1966, the subsequent Nigeria-Biafra Civil War (1967-1970), the incessant tribal clashes among the major tribes in the following years, the erupted religious crises of the 80s and 90s, even in the 2000s and documented ethnic conflicts to the aggravating economic hardships, particularly from the 90s till present, the marriage known as Nigeria was, for the sake of sanity, amongst the couple’s (the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa tribes) long due for a divorce. Without a doubt, it has never worked out in the favour of the participating tribes—it is still not working! Yet, by some proxy-relates means, which apparently defeat the strength of comprehendible political, and socio-cultural rationale, Nigeria is still existing!
How can a people who are different in culture, economic and political dynamics be “forced” to co-exist forever? The friction had long been established since independence. The history-claimed founding fathers, representatives of their tribes, brings to attention their position on the British-created Nigeria. The realistic incompatibility among the tribes got worse in subsequent years. It is amazing how the major tribes—knowing they are better existing independently—still officially co-existing as Nigerians.
What the Nigerian entity has created were generations of men and women who would develop disdain for each other and depict bad demeanors in dealing with themselves, having being fed by questionable and tweaked historical narratives and orchestrated happenings. Hence, ushering leaders who would emerge and govern the people based on how they reflect themselves. After all, a good leader is a reflection of (gotten from) a good people and a bad leader is gotten from or shows how bad a people is.
The current president was quoted as saying “I don’t believe in One Nigeria” in 1997, in an interview granted to a newspaper daily. Like his predecessor, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nigerian sovereignty is a mirage. But for some political aggrandizement, he became sworn-in as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2023!
The devalued Naira, the Nigerian currency, deserves attention. On January 1, 1973, one Naira was equivalent to one British Pound. At the time, the standard of living was said to be, compared to the presently harsh economy, high. General Yakubu Gowon (Retired), the then head of state, bragged about Nigeria being so rich that its problem was how to spend money! The de-valuing of the Naira, resulting from frivolous spending by the previous administration, began. The Shagari-led regime in the late 70s was tasked with the onus of devaluing the currency, before the overthrow by Retired Major Muhammadu Buhari, who would become head of state, then Retired General Ibrahim Babagida in 1985. The Naira’s declining value was witnessed through the years. What was of a greater value than the US Dollar before 1985 is now no match to.the CFA (currency used by West African countries) and Ghanian Cedis. The Naira is presently so valueless and the cost of living is unimaginably high for an average Nigerian to afford. The current exchange rate of the US Dollar to the Naira is:
$1 is equivalent to 1610 Naira.
The high cost of living, partly resulting from the devalued Naira, projected to get worse in subsequent years, is sufficient to rationalize critically the Nigerian posterity, hundred years after its creation.
The cultural diversity, religious, socio-cultural and political differences have saliently ascertained the “oneness”, known as Nigeria, is a complete shadow of itself, when and if realistically evaluated. It becomes pertinent to recognize Nigeria’s existence, a century later, would better be history, or better yet, as the title, “There Was A Country” by the late novelist, Chinua Achebe, reads, than a living entity existing today. After a hundred years. Her existence points at this: “Divided we stand, United we fall!”