The ungovernable nature of the Nigerian state point to the abysmal failure of Lord Lugard’s amalgamation diplomacy, especially in the political sphere.
The amalgamation was not motivated by good faith, nor was it aimed at promoting the interest of Northern and Southern Nigeria.
When Britain pursued its colonial policy of predatory adventurism, the British Government approved the amalgamation project in order to expand its trading posts, raw materials acquisition and strengthen the focal points of monopoly capitalism.
Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, we have tried all sorts of constitutional arrangements, which have failed to permit Nigeria, to gain acceleration in the right direction.
A plethora of makeshift governments both military and civilian lacked the social foundations to promote good governance.
Although, we have done certain things mandatorily, could have achieved more if scholarship had been the criteria for involving compatriots in governance.
The national register of ministerial appointments and other positions, show a dismal inclusion of names of people, who did not have the education and exposure to serve with merit.
This has led to incessant cabinet reshuffles that did not improve capacity performance. Reliance on advisers has its merits and negative aspects.
In a country, where groveling and the bovine attitude is paramount, official prefer to keep their mouths shut, even when they detect moronic behavior and incompetence. Loyalty at all costs is the rule.
The societal structures erected during the colonial government’s oppressive sway, its colonial legal heritage and modus operandi have not been dismantled because these favour the ruling class, each time they ascend to power.
There has remained a total neglect of the social conditions under which the majority of our people live. It is the survival of the adroit manipulators and controllers of the nation that matters.
Our foreign policy has remained weak, incoherent and without thrust as traders man the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The trading post mentality dominated British economic interests in Colonial Nigeria.
The Lugard Nigerian economic project promoted British interests inexorably. The railway system connected the centers of raw minerals locations. From Port Harcourt, the oil mills of Eastern Nigeria, in Enugu the coal arsenal, then to the groundnuts pyramids in Kano, to the gold in Zungeru. The rail line connected the cocoa fields of Western Nigeria.
All these Nigerian mineral resources were sent by Crown Agents to Britain
Britain collected taxes from Nigerians from 1914 to 1960. Information gathered from the African Institute, University of Cambridge put British colonial financial gains from Nigeria, at about 700 trillion Pounds.
The gains we received were the English language, advanced systems of administration, economic management, jettisoning of wicked practices like the killing of twins, cannibalism and nefarious societal practices.
The forcible amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria, the Olusegun Obasanjo “messianic belief” that he is the person to impose “leaders” on Nigerians, will remain an evanescent mystique.
The AZATA NEPU Party urges the political formations to rigorously evolve social-political strategies for good governance.
A Review of Lugard’s Amalgamation Diplomacy
