NIGERIA: GOING ROUND IN CIRCLES

Opinion:

By Senior Chief ‘Lekan Alabi

IBADAN – Nigeria, as a ‘country’ of different nationalities, came into being on January 1,1914, with the British-sponsored Amalgamation.

I paraphrase the opinions of some of Nigerian leaders on the Amalgamation.

(1) Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Premier of the now-defunct Northern Nigeria – “The 1914 Amalgamation was a big mistake”.

(2) Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a late Premier of the defunct Western Nigeria – “Nigeria is a mere geographical expression.”

(3) Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the late Prime Minister of Nigeria – “Nigerians themselves know we are not the same.”

(4) Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the late ceremonial President of Nigeria – “I pray Nigerian politicians don’t make the Congo crisis a child’s play, by the way we are going about our country’s political affairs.”

Today (Wednesday, October 12, 2022) and the Punch newspaper issue (page 24) of Tuesday, March 31, 1998, was printed 24 years ago.
The sub-titles were: “A FAMILIAR PATH”; “AVOID NIGERIA’S BREAK-UP and “GBAZUGA DEFENDS DISQUALIFICATION OF ASPIRANTS”.

Now, tell me, please, has anything changed in the polity?
O ya a, as usual, let us pray, even though God admonishes us to: “WORK AND PRAY”.

*Senior Chief ‘Lekan Alabi, the Maye of Ibadanland writes from Ibadan.