In this post we will be looking at the background to the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, the effects of Amalgamation, the advantages and disadvantages of amalgamation of Nigeria.
INTRODUCTION.
Nigeria’s history is significantly the history of people with different cultural and linguistic background, who had interaction among themselves via trade, commerce and other levels interactions that characterize human relations. One of the memorable periods of her history is footnoted by the events of 1 January 1914, where Lord Lugard on behalf of Britain, amalgamated the southern and northern protectorates into one geopolitical entity called Nigeria. From thence, emerged not only the largest territory in landmass but also the most populous in Africa. After her Independence in 1960, the country became savior of sort to other African countries as she rendered limitless technical, military, economic, and financial assistance. Yet by 1973, it had become so celestial that the country was looking for what to do with money. The adage ‘united we stand, divided we fall’ found a lot of credence in the literature of post-war Nigeria. Indeed. In July 1966, the northern region on account of the January 1966 coup where their leaders were killed demanded secession from Nigeria. As from 1960 to 1966, ethnic politics and corruption became endemic giving justification for the first military intervention and counter military coup of 1966. From 1967-1970, the country experienced a civil war that was ethnically waged. The future of Nigeria in its current form, with many years of democracy under its belt, is quite bleak. Fortunately, the people’s consciousness of the severity of the situation is gaining momentum. The pressing quest to maintain Nigeria’s glory and correct its bad posture has directed attention to amalgamation cause.
THE BACKGROUND TO THE AMALGAMATION OF NIGERIA IN 1914.
The historic amalgamation of northern and southern protectorate of Nigeria unrolled through historical processes. Prior to the 15th century which was the era of state formations and emergence of kingdoms. Culture, language, religion, government, and commerce differentiated many of these states, kingdoms, and ethnic groups. From the 15th century to the end of the 19th century witnessed the dominance of the transatlantic slave trade, horrible wars among the states and kingdoms, and the first phase of European Christian missionary activities. However, the beginning of the 19th century was marked with the Jihad of 1804 and the second phase of European Christian missionary activities. The prominence of industrial revolution was also contemporaneous with the era. It gave a deathblow to the transatlantic slave trade, and kindled the European voracious and avaricious quest for raw materials in Africa. The result was the unbridled concomitant cataclysmic consequences of the scramble and partitioning of African territories officially commissioned in the historic 1884/1885 Berlin Conference8, 9, one of the foremost 19th centuries linking bridges between European history and African history. In the conference, the area known today as Nigeria fell into British share. But as far back as 1849, the British prime minister, Palmerstone appointed a consul, the well ‘knowledgeable fellow on African affairs. The primary motive of this development was to abolish slavery in the interior and promote legitimate trade. Lagos was bombarded in 1851 annexed in 1861 while the assault on Aro another ethnic groups in east and west, ended in 1902. The British in May 1906 amalgamated the Lagos colony and protectorate of southern Nigeria to form the colony and protectorate of southern Nigeria. By 1905, the whole states in the central Sudan, were swiftly and easily conquered and made a northern protectorate with Lord Lugard becoming its first governor. The year, 1912 unfolded with Lord Lugard becoming the governor general of the two protectorates. Thus came the unforgettable historic event; on 1 January, 1914, Lugard amalgamated the southern and northern protectorates into one geopolitical entity called Nigeria and set toad minister it. Despite the history of co-existence, the various ethno-linguistic groups occupying different regions, and established on distinct cultural backgrounds, religious affiliations and political creeds was merged by the British authority without their consent or input to the nature of such existence. Today, there has been a serious debate among scholars and non-scholars alike on the argument of whether that historic political move by Britain was indeed a blessing or a curse. To understand the blessings of amalgamation without a glimpse on the nature of relation between the ethnic groups before the period, which was characterized by war, and conquest. Throughout the 19th century, hostility was the hallmark of relation between the different ethno-linguistic groups occupying the Nigeria area- hence, the European writers’ assertion that African states had no history; if they had any such history could be summed up as barbarism, chaos, and stagnation. War was an integral part of the state’s relation with other states and can be rightly characterized as evidence of inter-group relations. Most of the wars were anchored on the need for political expansion and dominance; farmlands, trade access, trade route monopoly and looting for wealth. In Hausa land, ‘the jihad’, which started in 1804 was a major inter-ethnic war. Outside Jihad, there was strife between Bornu and Wadai from 1846-1893. In the West, the secession of Ilorin from old Oyo in 1817 became first in the list long ethnic strife through the1860-1864 Ibadan-Ijaye war. In the Eastern province, there was apparent lack of law and order before 1891.22 The establishment of British government marked the eternal end of this inter-ethnic rivalries by bringing these disparate groups under one banner and a common political head. Wars of religion, conquest, and expansion, or war or commercial access and trade monopoly became extinct.
THE EFFECTS OF AMALGAMATION
The 1914 amalgamation and the fault lines between the north and south remain among the most contentious issues in modern Nigeria. More than 106 years after amalgamation, the wisdom of this step is still being debated in Nigeria, and the country continues to grapple with how to deal with the divisions between north and south and the mutual paranoia they often have about each other. The most spectacular eruptions of instability in Nigeria have emerged on a north-south basis: the military coups of 1966, the civil war of 1967-70, the annulment of the presidential election of 12 June 1993 and the ensuing political crisis it generated, and the crisis over Sharia law in the early 2000s. Each of these controversies has polarized the country on north-south lines. The civil war, which commenced after the south-east seceded, represented one of many attempts to repeal the 1914 amalgamation (the north also threatened secession in 1953 and 1966). It is perhaps unsurprising that conflict would arise in this manner. It was difficult to build patriotism and emotional loyalty to a country created by a foreign invader and inhabited by people whose prior loyalties had never extended beyond their family, village or kingdom. Nigeria’s territorial evolution has followed two opposing trends during its colonial and post-colonial eras. The colonial era was characterized by territorial amalgamation, and followed by the country’s fragmentation into smaller and smaller territorial units during the post-colonial era. Starting from 1967, post-independence Nigerian governments started unravelling Britain’s territorial consolidation by fracturing both the north and south into smaller states, which currently number 36. It is to Nigeria’s credit that it has developed its own home-grown innovations to reduce tension between the north and south, such as an affirmative action quota system and the alternation of the presidency between northern and southern holders.
THE ADVANTAGES OF AMALGAMATION
- The amalgamation led to the development of independence which was later granted in 1960.
- It made it possible for everyone across the country (Nigeria) to enjoy benefits across territories. For example, cheap livestock and other agricultural produce from the North.
- Crude oil not being more expensive in the North, Hide and Skin made available in Lagos.
- The amalgamation also made it possible for equal rights of employment anywhere in the country.
- Equal rights to residency.
- Common laws and electoral system.
DISADVANTAGES OF AMALGAMATION OF NIGERIA.
- After the amalgamation, Nigeria has witnessed the civil war or the Biafra war, Niger Delta Militant rebellion, Boko Haram insurgency, terrorism from within its own territory.
- Lord Lugard was able to amalgamate Northern and Southern territories but not the people. Feudal chieftaincies created by the system were not compatible with a modern progressive state.
- Nigerians remain one of the most tribalistic people, identifying only with their own tribe and discriminating against the other.