By Abdullahi Yusuf
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For too long, Nigerians have, while celebrating our Independence Anniversary,been claiming that our year of Independence is the nation’s year of age,when in fact it is only the year we got Self-rule and Self-determination from our British colonial masters.
For instance, at this year’s Independence Anniversary, Nigerians including those in high places, greeted and congratulated each other in celebrating the occasion,so also during the previous occasions.
The truth of matter is,Nigeria is 112 years old today, as it came into existence in 1914 when the colonialists merged the then Northern Protectorate,the Southern Nigeria and the Colony of Lagos into a single geo-political entity known as the “Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.”
The historic occasion happened on January 1,1914.The Architect of the merger was Sir Frederick Lugard (later Lord Lugard) who served as the Governor-General of the unified territory.
Actually,the name “Nigeria” itself was earlier suggested in the late 19th century by journalist Flora Shaw, who later married Lord Lugard.The objective of the Amalgamation then, was primarily economic and administrative efficiency.
The Southern Protectorate generated revenue through Atlantic trade and customs duties, whereas the landlocked North faced budget deficits.Merging them, therefore,allowed the financially buoyant South to subsidize the administrative costs of the North.
Historically speaking, therefore, the Amalgamation of the two distinct Protectorates and Colony of Lagos to later become what is now known as “Nigeria,”actually set the tone and the path to our Independence.
Thus, on October 1,1960, Nigeria was granted independence with a new Constitution and a Federal System of Government with an elected Prime Minister,Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa,and,Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe as Governor-General, in place.That means there was indeed a country called Nigeria before the Independence Day, October 1,1960, but ruled by Britain, then.
The event took place at midnight in Lagos when the British Union Jack was lowered and replaced by the Green-White-Green Nigerian National Flag.
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Princess Alexandra of Kent attended the ceremonies as a representative of Queen Elizabeth II to hand over the constitutional instruments of freedom to new Nigerian Leaders.
Since then, October 1 has been celebrated as Nigeria’s Independence Day as it marked the exact moment the nation gained “complete sovereignty” and ended decades of British colonial rule.
The argument therefore,is that by formation, structure and population,there was an entity called Nigeria before October 1,1960.It was then called the “Pre- Independence Nigeria” which is now 112-years-old, and there has been the “Post Independence Nigeria,” which is now 66-years-old.
The essence of this discourse is not to argue for argument sake, but to give a historical background of the two distinct periods of our nation’s journey to Self-rule and to greatness.
The conversation will be particularly more beneficial to our younger citizens many of whom did not have the opportunity to know the history of Nigeria because of the earlier scrapping and/or suspension of the subject from our schools Curriculum.
Closely trailing this conversation is the debate on whether or not Nigeria has been able to attain greatness 66 years after Independence,with many informed and not-so-informed citizens giving their own perspectives.
Some argue that Nigeria has yet to even start toeing the path to greatness, adducing several reasons including endemic corruption,disunity, ethnicity, insecurity,underdevelopment and bad governance.
While others submit that the nation has indeed taken off the ground and made so many giant strides, especially in the provision of infrastructure such as roads, airports,seaports, bridges, hospitals,dams, schools and so many others that cannot be stated here.
But one thing that cannot be controverted by both sides of the debate is that Nigeria has struggled to remain one single entity during the post-independence period, overcoming a civil war, and managing all the vices earlier mentioned here, and many more.
Let’s hope that our leaders at all levels will buckle up, re-strategize and squarely address the myriads of challenges facing the nation as we approach another circle of elections.
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