Author :Yahaya Moshood Kolawole
THOSE WHO DO NOT LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT
First, permit me to quickly correct the erroneous notion that the Country Nigeria is sixty years old. It is only appropriate to say that it has been sixty years since Nigeria became an ‘independent country’. The specific date Nigeria was born or started to exist might not have been precisely provided by its own rich history. However, different historians set different events to depict the existence of the regions where we now call Nigeria. For example, some historians regard the year 1914, when the Northern and Southern Region were formally amalgamated to form the colony and protectorates of Nigeria, as the year of birth of Nigeria. Others believe Nigeria had existed earlier than that, they believe she had been birthed since 1900 when British officially took over governance, when her territories had metamorphosed into three political units. We have other historians who trace the existence of Nigeria back to the 1885 Berlin Conference where the European powers apportioned territories in Africa to themselves like a piece of cake.
UNFORTUNATELY, Great Britain was handed the area that would later be NAMED Nigeria. Some historians trace the existence of Nigeria to 1861 when King Dosumu of Lagos ceded ‘his’ land to the Queen of Britain. Others mystically believe that Nigeria had existed even before the discovery of Africa by Europeans in the 15th century.
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To avoid writing Nigeria’s history which has been written by a vast number of writers, I will travel swiftly by every event I want to make a point of. The first being, the birth of Nigeria. While most countries are born of Shared Ideals and common Identity, Nigeria was simply created to fulfil a business requirement of supplying goods to Britain. It underwent fifty years of Colonial rule before the likes of Jaja Wachukwu, Ransome Kuti, Adedoyin and Obafemi Awolowo went on a mission for Self-Government, civil rights and equal rights. They represented Nigeria in the 5th Pan-African congress that took place in Manchester in 1945 where the likes of Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Kenyatta of Kenya were also delegates of their countries.
The reason these African countries are not due for self-government is clearly depicted in the words of a white man, Cecil Rhodes (Founder of the Rhodes Scholarship)- “I contend that we are the first race in the world, and that the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race”. Luckily or unluckily, as the case may be, a motion for Self-Government was moved during the 1957 conference following the Queen’s visit to Nigeria in 1956. The Northern protectorate exercising her right of self determination opposed to the motion claiming that she is not ready for self-government. To cut short this thrilling famous story, Nigeria gained her independence in the year 1960 and today October 1st 2020), Nigeria becomes 60 years post-independence.
NIGERIA, 1960, HOW IT ALL STARTED.
Reading this piece, readers may be disappointed by some of the people we celebrate as founding fathers of Nigeria, the likes of Nnamdi Azikwe, Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo ad infinitum. At a very tender age, Nigeria started to experience its purported leaders fight for personal gain rather than accentuated development. During the 1959 elections, Nigeria had three parties, National Congress for Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC), Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and Action Group (AG). The first problem was that none of this parties had a national outlook for a baby country which is about to take its first step. NCNC led by Azikwe was dominated by the Easterners. NPC led by Ahmadu Bello was dominated by the northerners. AG led by Awolowo was dominated by the Westerners.
The 1959 election turned in favour of NPC for reasons that I will explain. The basic reason is that the British had designed it that way. First, they created a northern region which was the largest by geography and population. Secondly, the British enjoyed the indirect rule of the northern region and since the local structures and government had remained untouched, it was in the British man’s best interest to have political power in the north so as to continue the indirect rule. Thus, they helped NPC in irregular ways to win the election through rigging and other electoral malpractices.
AG became the official opposition party while NCNC formed a coalition with the ruling party. Events however, did not go as simply as stated with these two losing parties. As for AG, Samuel Akintola who was one of the principal members of the AG had a political clash with Awolowo which ensued into a war in the western region. Ahmadu Bello declared state of emergency in the western region and installed Majekodumi as Western Premier. Majekodumi carried out investigation and found out that Awolowo funded AG with Public money and that he conspired to overthrow the government. He was charged along with Anthony Enahoro, Lateef Jakande, among others and sentenced with ten years of imprisonment. Ladoke subsequently found the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) which dominated the western region after AG was put to death by the imprisonment of Awolowo.
Before I comment on the above, allow me to quickly narrate the situation with the other losing party, NCNC. NCNC led by Nnamdi Azikwe was also funded by him, well, at the beginning until he ran out of cash. Let me state at this point that Azikwe was the Governor-General during Ahmadu Bello’s rule. This position was merely ceremonial. Festus Okotieboh, who had had good relations with the British on multiple occasions including that he was the minister of finance pre-independence, subsequently funded the party. The British had planted him so he could take over from Azikwe. Okotieboh was the figure head when the British funded NCNC.
It is no coincidence each of the event narrated above. The first election Nigerians will have as an Independent country was fraught with problems. Problems of corruption and tribalism among others. I must not forget to bring to limelight at this point what transpired in Ibadan between Awolowo and Azikwe on the floor of the Western House of Assembly in 1951. It was this day that the dream of a ‘National Nigeria’ suffered a fatal blow when Awolowo won as the western premier against Azikwe because the former was a Westerner and the latter, an Easterner. Today, Prejudice against ‘outsiders’ is an attitude one finds everywhere even on the face of sheer mediocrity of the ‘insider’. This is a shock for a country whose National Anthem at the wake of Independence reads -Though tribe and tongue may differ/ In brotherhood we stand. No matter how much politicians forsake Nationalism in favour of the quick returns of tribalism to gain and dominate or maintain political power, there is an unusual sense of NATIONALISM when these politicians gather to loot the country’s fund.
Before 1964, politicians have begun to appreciate flamboyancy which points fingers to enjoyment in government, rather than service. These ‘founders’ of Nigeria’ started to accumulate wealth and fought to be or remain in power. They started to underdevelop Nigeria for personal gains, monetary and political. Hence, CORRUPTION. THIS IS WHERE IT STARTED.
MILITARY INCURSION AND CIVIL RULE, 1966-1999
On January 15 1966, Nigeria witnessed one of its most pivotal events; the first military coup. This coup was led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu and a number of junior officers majorly Igbo. This coup claimed the lives of politicians like Ahmadu Bello, Saudana of Sokoto and Ladoke Akintola. Major-General Aguiyi Ironsi emerged as the head of state. When Nigeria was seven months into the leadership of Aguiyi Ironsi, the Easterners had dominated the political scene. This prompted a coup which was largely carried out by Northerner Soldiers. Muritala Muhammed and Theophilus Danjuma (Head of Ironsi’s personal security) were figure-heads in this coup. Yakubu Gowon was made head of state, he promised to hand over power to the civilian government. This coup put the Northerners in the Nigeria military Government.
Against this backdrop, Colonel Ojukwu plotted the release of Awolowo from Prison so as to lead Yorubas along side Easterners out of Nigeria to escape the Northern Domination. Awolowo, however, on getting out of prison accepted the position as the highest-ranking civilian under Yakubu Gowon to the dismay of Ojukwu. Unfortunately, reneging on his promise, Gowon mentioned in 1974 that Nigeria was not ready to return to civil rule. He was overthrown in a bloodless coup. Muritala who was made head of state following this coup promised to return power to civilians in 1979. He was however cut short of his promise by his abrupt assassination in 1976 in an abortive coup led by Colonel Dimka. Obasanjo stepped in to replace Muritala as the new head of state and carried out Muritala’s wish to return Nigeria to civilian rule. Obasanjo handed power back to the Civilian. It is apposite at this juncture to point out that the Easterners have totally left the political scene, the reasons which seems to be apparent. First, they were a minority. Second, most of them were in a recession caused by the Civil war.
The story of Nigeria from 1979-1999 is more or less the same with the story of 1960-1979. There was the same form of Corruption, only few different personalities. There were also subsequent military interventions. However, what appeared to be a good sign was the partnership between Sheu Shagari (Northerner) and Alex Ekwueme (Southerner) which ‘reflected’ a true nationalism during the Second Republic. The Military Government of Buhari and Idiagbon of 1984 also had its own uniqueness with War Against Indiscipline (WAI) which caused purported corrupt politicians to be imprisoned without trial. Not minding this, they were overthrown and Babangida became head of state. It was this period that Nigeria became a synonym for corruption. Abacha’s government in comparison to Babangida’s was like frying pan to fire. Luckily, TODAY, Nigeria still recover his loots. He also ‘installed’ an interim government in person of Ernest Shonekan when he realized he no longer commanded the authority of his people and even the military. However, Abacha retook over in a brutal manner where he declared no tolerance against anyone who flaunted his orders. After the June 12 election, Abiola who happened to be the people’s mandate posed a threat to him and was arrested and imprisoned. Four years later, the papers read his death.
From 1999 till date, Nigeria has ENDURED or ENJOYED her Democracy without military intervention. A privilege carefully designed by Obasanjo due to his Military as well as Democratic intelligence. Obasanjo on assuming office as president had given compulsory retirement to the soldiers who took part in any coup or benefitted from it. In his book Making Africa work, Obasanjo revealed that “…I knew that an officer out of uniform and Barracks is like a fish out of water, and their power and influence would be greatly diminished”. From 1999 till date, Nigeria has witnessed fuel price inflation, Naira devaluation, unfair election and corruption among other crises but have not witnessed any military incursion.
NIGERIA AT 60, WHERE WE ARE TODAY
One is not in mouth-opening amazement to see a toddler act foolishly. To see a 60-year-old act foolishly will be unacceptable because much is expected of him and a lot will be imperiled by his incautious acts. This is the situation of Nigeria. For some reasons that are unknown, Nigeria has continued to be under the leadership of the same set of people. Personally, I have a conviction that Nigeria is practicing a kind of Oligarchy. The readers may find interest in knowing that some people or their families have consistently remained in Nigeria’s political scene right since pre-independence till date. These same set of people have had a common goal of having their piece of the National cake.
There is no need for a microscopic lens to see that Nigeria is not where it ought to be as a country at 60th independence. There is no gainsaying that the problem is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. Tribalism is merely a tool used to favour potential leaders over mediocrities. But, when the times come to loot public funds, Unity and Nationalism suddenly swerve in.
Fight against corruption among other promises has been the spit that comes out of every presidential candidate’s mouth. On the contrary, revival of corruption has been the order of the day, the very air they breathe. All sectors of the economy are in alarming decadence. Nigeria, an oil-rich country has a high level of poverty while its politicians flock together in private jets and exotic cars. It is apparent where the oil money dives into.
THE WAY OUT
Many writers have proposed different practicable solutions to this problem. These range from tribalism, failed Leadership, Corruption, Social Injustice, Indiscipline among others. I will add very few of mine. First, I want to reiterate that as long as the Public offices’ tickets remain unaffordable by an average man, the problem will persist. This I will explain. An average Nigerian with a healthy mindset to develop the country will never be able to afford the exorbitant prices of these political ticket. A political party may realise the potentials in this kind of person. This political party pays for his ticket and sponsors his campaign under the condition that he be loyal to their needs when he gets in power. He wins. He will no more be upfront to the interest of the Majority but of the very people that brought him into power. He therefore becomes their accomplice in recovering the money they had spent during the electioneering period and more monies as requested.
I also advocate for the reduction of salaries and allowances of all political office holders in the executive and the legislature. The amount deducted from their salaries should be used in the payment of public servants and for other relevant developments. In comparison to Political Office holders in other countries, the salaries of Nigerian politicians are extravagant. When this is done, people will realise that they are in those public offices to SERVE and not to accumulate wealth. In response, the people will be patriotic. An instance is drawn from the government of President Nyerere of Tanzania in the 1960s where he insisted that anyone in his cabinet who had any kind of business interests MUST relinquish them or LEAVE his position. Tanzanians needed no other sermon than this to be patriotic.
Lastly, the power given to the president is too far and wide. This goes without saying that the Nigeria President is one the most powerful presidents in the world. He can do and undo. By law, we have three arms of government, legislative, executive and the judiciary. It is interesting to know that a bill passed by the Legislature will not become a law until and unless signed by the President. On the other side of the fence, the members of the Judiciary are appointed by the President in the federal level. This will undoubtedly encourage corruption and abuse of power.
I will like to end this piece by noting that Nigeria does not need intervention of Angels in its governance. There is always a Mahatma Ghandi or Nelson Mandela among us. Let him intervene, let him fight for Nigeria and his name will be carved in gold in our hearts and in the book of our history.
GOD BLESS MY COUNTRY, GOD BLESS NIGERIA. GOD BLESS YOU AND I.
HAPPY 60TH INDEPENDENCE.
Yahaya Moshood Kolawole Kolawolemoshood7@gmail.com
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