In about 17 months, less than a year-and-half, on the 1st of January 2014, it will have been 100 years since the Amalgamation of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate and the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria (so named because it comprised the Lagos Colony and the Southern Nigeria Protectorate).
I am not one of those revisionists who claim things were better in the colonial days. They were not, but that is not what this post is about ... or why I brought up the fact that I am not an apologist for colonialism. If anything, I want to make a quick response to the people who blame the Amalgamation for every bad thing that ever happened after 1914.
Look. Every country on Earth, every single country you see on the map, exists as it does today, in the borders it occupies today, as a result of many, many wars. Even those countries that appear to be geographically or culturally natural were created by war.
The island of Britain was unified by war. The Japanese isles were unified by war. Those countries neatly packaged between a mountain range and a coastline (e.g. Chile) were created by war.
Those who succeeded in war and violence were generally able to impose their culture and their language on the people they conquered, creating countries that appear to be culturally homogeneous. Indeed, it is war and conquest that led to the present-day fact that all of us Nigerians speak or understand some measure or variation of English.
So, yes, our Federal Republic was created as a consequence of a series of wars that we individually and collectively lost, but that does not make us the lesser or the greater of anyone else on Earth. As of 2012, and as we approach 2014, our Federal Republic is and will be what we the people make of it.
I think the problem with the first century of "Nigeria" is we the people of "Nigeria" took a back seat in terms of the decision-making affecting our shared land. At first, we didn't have a choice; the British had their boots on our necks -- though it must be said those boots were worn by a colonial Army and Police Force made up mostly of "Nigerians" soldiers led by British officers. After the return of self-government in 1960, we have mostly left our fate in the hands of politicians and army generals that we have had (and consequently exerted) little or no influence over.
Nigeria is not perfect. No country is. With that said, there are many wonderful, positive, fantastic, inspirational, love-inducing things about our shared homeland. Deep down in all of our hearts, we love "Nigeria" and love the fact that "Nigeria" exists. If you listen to the politics and the media, you might be forgiven for thinking that we all hate each other for ethnic and religious reasons, but in reality most of us love our diversity and respect each other. The things that make us different are also the things that fascinate us about each other.
But the truth is, the Federal Republic as it exists today is quite different from what it would be if it more closely matched the aspirations of the people.
I have said or implied in several posts about Nigeria and other countries in Africa that the time for substantive reforms, restructuring and transformation is during the good or relatively better times, and not after disaster strikes. Once disaster strikes, there is little in your control and little you can do about anything.
As I have said, there are many good things about Nigeria, and I personally think Nigeria of 2012 is a much better place than colonial Nigeria.But, as we approach the century-mark of our federal-republican union, I hope we give more thought to the transformative reforms that have been necessary to make our union work. Some of these reforms have been vitally necessary since the 1950s, but which are still nowhere in sight. Other reforms are necessary because of the many changes that have occurred in our Federal Republic since the 1950s.
But all things considered, "Nigeria" has weathered many storms. Granted, we are amidst a storm right now (and have been buffeted rather frequently since 1999), but our federal-republican union has survived worse than this.
I believe "Nigeria" will be around to celebrate the 2014 centenary. I hope that I am around to participate in the festivities. God bless Nigeria and the people of Nigeria.
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