The Amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorate 1914
The historic amalgamation of northern and southern protectorate of Nigeria unrolled through historical processes. Prior to the 15thc was the era of state formations and emergence of kingdoms.
Culture, language, religion, government, and commerce differentiated many of these states, kingdoms, and ethnic groups. From the 15thc to the end of the 19thc witnessed the dominance of the transatlantic slave trade, horrible wars among the states and kingdoms, and the
first phase of European Christian missionary activities.
However, the beginning of the 19th century was marked with the Jihad of 1804 and the second phase of European Christian missionary activities.
The prominence of industrial revolution was also contemporaneous with the era. It gave a deathblow to the transatlantic slave trade, and kindled the European voracious and avaricious quest for raw materials in Africa.
The result was the unbridled concomitantcataclysmic consequences of the scramble and partitioning of African territories officially commissioned in the historic 1884/1885 Berlin Conference, one of the foremost 19th century linking bridges between European history and African history.
In the conference, the area known today as Nigeria fell into British share.
But as far back as 1849, the British prime minister,Palmerstone appointed a consul, the well ‘knowledgeable fellow on African affairs, John Beecroft.
The primary motive of this development was to abolish slavery in the interior and promote legitimate trade. Lagos was bombarded in 1851 annexed in 1861 while the assault on Aro and other ethnic groups in east and west, ended in 1902.
The British in May 1906 amalgamated the Lagos colony and protectorate of southern Nigeria to form the colony and protectorate of southern Nigeria.
By 1905, the whole states in the central Sudan, were swiftly and easily conquered and made a northern protectorate with Lord Lugard becoming its first governor.
The year, 1912 unfolded with Lord Lugard becoming the governor general of the two protectorates.
Thus came the unforgettable historic event; on 1 January, 1914, Lugard amalgamated the southern and northern protectorates into one geopolitical entity called Nigeria and set to administer it. Despite the history of co-existence, the various ethno-linguistic groups occupying different regions, and established on distinct cultural backgrounds, religious affiliations and political creeds was merged by the British authority without their consent or input to the nature of such existence.
Today, there has been a serious debate among scholars and non-scholars a like on the argument of whether that historic political move by Britain was indeed a blessing or acurse
The 1914 Amalgamation: A Blessing?
To understand the blessings of amalgamation without a glimpse on the nature of relation between the ethnic groups before the period, which was characterized by war, and conquest.
Through out the 19thc, hostility was the hallmark of relation between the different ethno-linguistic groups occupying the Nigeria area- hence, the European writers’ assertion that African states had no history; if they had any such history could be summed up as barbarism, chaos, and stagnation.
War was an integral part of the state’s relation with other states and can be rightly characterized as evidence of intergroup relations.
Most of the wars were anchored on the need for political expansion and dominance; farmlands, trade access, trade route monopoly, and looting for wealth.
In Hausa land, ‘the jihad’ which started in 1804 was a major inter-ethnic war. Outside Jihad, there was strife between Bornu and Wadai from 1846-1893.
In the West, the secession of Ilorin from old Oyo in 1817 became first in the list long ethnic strife through the1860-1864 Ibadan-Ijaye war.
In the Eastern province, there was apparent lack of law and order before 1891.
The establishment of British government marked the eternal end of this inter-ethnic rivalries by bringing these disparate groups under one banner and a common political head.
Wars of religion, conquest, and expansion, or war for commercial access and trade monopoly became extinct.
The relative peace, law and order that followed the establishment of British colonial administration ensured that security consideration was no longer a threat to long distance trading.
Arising from the suppression of inter-ethnic rivalry has been internal migratory freedom.Before, people from the north could not easily migrate to the south.
In the same vein, people from the south could not easily migrate to the north due to fear of becoming victim of the hovering inter-ethnic animosity. Thus, amalgamation removed this fear as each region is seen as not different from others.
The merging of the different territories around Niger River made easy movement of men and materials easier and therefore accelerated internal migration.
Chinua Achebe ones said“I took off again the next morning, driving alone, going all the way from Lagos to Asaba crossing the River Niger to visit my relatives in the east.
That is how it was done in those days. One was not consumed by fear of abduction or armed robbery”
Today cosmopolitan cities have emerged in Nigeria; Lagos, Kano,Awka, Port Harcourt, Kano etc.Freedom of migration shunned environmental monotony.
Individuals who had never experienced a life outside their ethnic boundary were presented with the vistas of touring the different parts of the Nigerian area.
Just like the foot-loose Marco Polo, an Italian adventurer who returned to Europe in 1295, after a sojourn of nearly twenty years in China and gave a classic account of his travelogue.
Nigerians until now still relieved boredom and widened their experience through migration. As many people trooped into different parts of the country, they did not leave their languages and cultures behind.
As they mixed with varieties of people, they also exchange languages and ways of life thus effecting a cross cultural pollination.
Writes Ifeobi, “There appears to be a bright side to 1914 amalgamation of Nigeria by the British after all ...the undeniable truth is that there had to be a meeting point of the major cultures eventually- the Mohameddans, the south-easterners, and the west”.
This was an outcome of amalgamation.Today many Hausas are speaking Igbo language, Yoruba language, and other languages. In the same vein, there are many Igbo people, speaking Hausa language, Yoruba language, Tiv language, and languages of other ethnic groups. The same is also accrued to Yorubas and other ethnic groups.
This has helped to deepen understanding, unity, and co-operation.
1914 Amalgamation: A Curse?
There are always two sides of a coin. Newton’s law of gravity is a law of cause and effect.
In other words, it means that whatever that has value also has an inherent limitation. Amalgamationof 1914 is a basket of good eggs and bad eggs.
Until 1st October 1960, the nemesis of amalgamationwas hidden under a grin of smile and pretence. After 1960, the cookies began to crumble, just asits advantages is a chain reaction, its demerits even before independence had started unfolding inter-connectedly and from one step to another, present predicament of the component units are embedded in an unholy alliance.
The fact that British government realized the folly of Lugard’s administrative inadequacies and replaced him with Sir Hugh Clifford as a way of exempting him from being censured coupled with the fact that Lord Lugard later regretted his action, is the first justification that the1914 amalgamation is a political mistake.
In a similar manner, at the time of Kano riot of 1953,the North became secessionist in sentiments and openly expressed that the amalgamation or union of the North and South in 1914, was a regrettable mistake in the political history of Nigeria.
The statements by the early nationalist further laid credence to the poisonous nature of amalgamation. For instance, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa publicized in 1947 that since the amalgamation of Southern and Northern protectorates in 1914, Nigeria had existed only in paper… it is still far from being united.
While Sir Ahmadu Bello stated briefly and once that“God did not create Nigeria, the British did”
Awolowo affirmed that “Nigeria is not a nation. It is mere geographical expression. There are no Nigerians in the sense there are English, Welsh orFrench.”
Indeed “...there is no Nigeria because he happened to be first an Egba man, then aYoruba man before being a Nigerian.”
Though, even if these postulations by the nationalist leaders were false, at least they did influence ethnic rivalry among the constituent units, as they clearly underlined ‘no bond’.Another factor which amalgamation is rendering independent ethnic nationalities dependent as observed by Afigbo in southeastern Nigeria noted that between 1908 and 1914 witnessed scores of military units fighting and subduing villages and settlements, which still regard themselves independent.
Claims of Independence by the various ethnic nationalities before the amalgamations was further justified by Fashagba notes that most of the communities in Nigeria area were autonomous with relatively well organized political and administrative systems.
CONCLUSION
In the first place, it appears Nigeria should be divided. Of course, how long shall we continue in pretence to cover the treacherous and deceitful situation of the country in false claim that all is well?
Why deceiving oneself that this country is united, peaceful, friendly, considerateand equal when there is religious upheaval, ethno-political domination and economic exploitation of other ethnic group within the polity. Why insisting on the unity of the country when it is bringing all kinds of poisonous fume?
Although it seems that, only the northern and western elites want one Nigeria. But would they still clamour for one Nigeria if oil is discovered in each of their region?
This is the great folly and since it is so, dividing this country now is an impeccable idea. Unfortunately, while division seems the best alternative, there are so many cons inherent in it.
If the country is divided, would there be peace, equality, and unity in each entity? Although ethno-religious violence may end but would, suspicion and cries of marginalization vanish in the respective polities?
Would our current politicians not come back to dominate in their respective polity if this country is divided?
Won’t there be secession within an already seceded entity.Certainly, the cons are uncountable and since it is obvious, one can forsake division and press for a better united Nigeria.
This can be done by genuinely applying the recommendations below. There should be a periodic nationwide conference of all the traditional rulers of each village (not communities or Local government) in Nigeria.
In the conference, the representatives most of whom cannot speak English must be educated to go back to their various villages and kindly tell their kit and kin that neither their village nor ethnic group is marginalized.
They must be made to understand that each ethnic group is inter-dependent on each other. They should tell this to their youths in their dialect
Nigerian constitution should be amended by removing ethno-religiosity element called Sharia law incorporated in it. This is to ensure truly the concreteness of ‘one Nigeria.’Standing as the last list is inter-tribal marriages and inter-ethnic and inter religious sports.This solution will be highly effective if adopted as guided.
Aside the inter-religious friendly sports, there should also be friendly inter-ethnic sports;Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Ijaw, Tiv, Ibibio etc This will help strengthen Nigeria’s unity.
Political, there should be policy continuity and reduction in the age for qualification to presidency, the Vice President or any other higher positions.
For presidency and the vice, the age limit at maximum should be sixty. Nigeria needs vibrant, active, and young leaders. The leaders should stop appealing to ethnic sentiment in politics, propaganda, and false sermon.
Their propaganda causes ethnic division. Their false sermon via manifestoes causes frustration, all the same aggravating the country’s instability. Embezzlement of public fund must also be minimized. After all no political salary and wages in Nigeria is small to necessitate soiling one’s hand.
If Nigeria must remain one free from grievance, then patriotism and selflessness call for practice. While we ponder on this, true Practice of Federal Character as provided by the 1999 constitution should be adhered.
What happened in Buhari’s first appointment should not repeatit self as it breeds ethnic sentiments and the likes.Beside this, proper zoning of political leadership should be put into practice. This paper craves the indulgence of northern elites to allow other ethnic groups most especially, the East to rule Nigeria since it belongs to all.
Further denial of Ndigbo presidency fuels secession sentiments and equally shows that they are still paying an unwritten indemnity for loosing the war.Economically, more effort should be geared towards economic diversification, stagnationis economic monotony with all this put in place Nigeria can be great again.
By Obinna Pascal Amajuoyi
International Political Researcher
Binnabook Media
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