By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
For nearly two hours, erudite scholar and professor of History, Jide Osuntokun, held everyone spell bound at the lecture hall of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) on Monday, November 21.
The topic, Nationalism and Nation Building in Nigerian History, conjures up the memory of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. The lecturer recalled how in 1980, he was drafted to Philadelphia in the United States to be an Assistant to the Right Honourable Azikiwe when the University of Philadelphia was to honour the former Nigerian president with a D.Sc. Honoris Causa.
Osuntokun said during his stay with Dr Azikiwe, the closest person to him was Chief Bank Anthony. He said this was a demonstration of the true Nigerian spirit in Dr Azikiwe, whose memory, he lamented, is not well celebrated in Nigeria today, particularly among his own people. He then queried: “Could this be because of Igbo’s loss of faith in Nigeria?”
The former diplomat then traces the development of Nigerian nationalism around 1861 to the City of Lagos after the British removed the Oba of Lagos, kosoko, and replaced him with his cousin, Akintoye, because he was aiding and abetting illegal trade in human beings.
“From that time onwards, Queen Victoria became the Sovereign of Lagos. The Obas were allowed to remain on their throne as shadowy figures at the pleasure of the British. The humiliation of the traditional administration of Lagos came to a climax in 1925 when Oba Eshugbayi who ascended the throne in 1900 was deposed by the colonial government. This humiliation of the traditional administration of Lagos came to a climax in 1925 when Oba Eshugbayi ascended the throne in 1900 was deposed by the colonial government. This played into the hands of Herbert Macaulay, one of the rising stars in nationalist circles in Lagos who exploited the traditional grievance to the native ruler to further his grander agenda of political liberalism, if not liberation of Nigeria. “
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He said the nationalist spirit was further kindled by the humiliation of Bishop Ajayi Crowther by the Church of England and his replacement with a white Bishop. Osuntokun says radicals like RB Blaize, James Johnson, J. P. Jackson, Herbert Macaulay, and others, became critics of the British presence in Nigeria.
In proffering solution to the problem of Nigeria’s disunity, Osuntokun said “if this country is to succeed, what we need is to find collective and equitable solution to the way we choose our government and put in place the administration of the country based on the French revolutionary credo of careers open to talents instead of the current nebulous federal character and the odious and rampant corruption ruining the country while the majority of our people vegetate in poverty and in want.”
Convener of the lecture and President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor, said the topic was timely and well thought out because, according to him, Nigeria is a country that lives in paradox, a country that knows what the problem is, but has been indulging in permanent denial.
He said nationalism cannot be achieved by magic or command, but through the creation of a unified national ideology.
Chairman of the occasion, General Atom Kpera, says the topic provides the basis for Nigerians to reflect on building a country where tribe and religion do not matter.
For the publicity secretary of Northern Elders Forum, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the lecture has reminded us that we are strong as a nation to the degree we teach our children about where we are coming from.
He enjoined Ndigbo to line up behind one of their own, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, saying: “If you can’t line-up behind someone, don’t expect people from other places to line up for him.”
Leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, recalled how as a primary five pupil in 1942, he was a regular reader of Nnamdi Azikiwe’s newspaper, West African Pilot. He said Zik, as he is fondly called, fired up his nationalism. But regretted that the peace in Nigeria was distorted in 1966 with the military coup.
Adebanjo said the stance by Afenifere for the South East to produce the next president is not borne out of sentiment, but based on the ideological position of the group, which he said is hinged on justice and equity.
Among the dignitaries at the event are; widow of late Zik, Professor Uche Azikiwe, former vice president during the regime of President Ibrahim Babangida, Ebitu Ukiwe, former minister of Foreign Affairs, Umar Sanda Nwachukwu, elder statesman, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Chairman, Nigeria Economic summit Group, Professor Anya O. Anya, Chairman of Enugu state Council of traditional Rulers, former Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Representatives of PANDEF and Southern and middle Belt forum.