Before the British invasion and the fateful amalgamation of 1914, we, the people of these lands, governed ourselves. Our lives were shaped by traditions passed down through generations, where each community with its own systems of leadership and governance thrived. Those were times when decisions were made by the elders of the communities for the good of all. Representative leaders were chosen through an open, unanimous process of nomination and voice votes. The process was devoid of politicking and lobbying. The criteria for an individual to merit consideration include; character, good standing in the community, selfless service, and loyalty to the people’s cause. The latter is a measure of one’s obedience to the authority of the elders – how well you can execute your orders, the peoples’ agenda.
The British, with their far-reaching empire, arrived on our shores and began their slow, calculated occupation and disruption of our system. The reasons they adduced for these changes included such facts that our people had no records of their actions and decision-making processes. This was ironic coming from a people that govern themselves with no written constitution. The colonialists conveniently forgot the fact that when they arrived in Africa they met a University in Mali (Timbuktu). They also met institutions of learning in Benin Kingdom and elsewhere.
One of their first tasks therefore was to control us, mold us in their own image. To do this, they had to perpetuate their lies in our heads, they proceeded to ransack our institutions, denigrate our religions and culture, and enslave our most able bodies in faraway lands. Then they proceeded to teach us their ways in their own wisdom as the conquerors. They did not immediately impose their rule; instead, they observed us, learned our ways, and began to weave themselves into the fabric of our governance. One of the first significant changes came with the appointment of a Governor-General, a representative of Her Royal Majesty, the Queen of England. This figure, foreign and distant from our customs, was to oversee the colonies, our land.
The district leaders, who once rose from our communities through processes of selection, were now appointed under the watchful eyes of the British. It was still called selection, but the power behind it had shifted. It was no longer our elders and leaders who chose, but the British crown that decided who would lead us. The institutions that were established in this time—courts, administrative offices, and councils—were all formed under the influence of the Governor- General. We had to adapt, to accept that the structures of our governance were now intertwined with the will of a distant queen.
Yet, even as the British tightened their grip on our lands, we did not lose our sense of self. We knew who we were before they arrived, and we knew that, no matter how the system changed, our identities remained rooted in the traditions that had guided us for generations. We lived in a world where our leaders were chosen by us, and our ways were still our own.
As the years went by, the influence of the British grew stronger, and the structures they introduced began to reshape our societies. The institutions they established, though intended to bring order and control, often clashed with our customs and ways of life. But we adapted, as we always had, finding ways to navigate this new reality while holding onto the essence of who we were.
It first started as a rumor out of nowhere, until it no longer was a rumor. The British had decided to merge the Southern and Northern Protectorates as one single country. Why? Everybody asked. This would make for a stronger nation with immense human and natural resources, the colonialists answered. The impending amalgamation loomed over us like a storm on the horizon, and while we did not fully grasp its implications at the time, we knew that a significant change was coming. This was a change that the people did not ask for and did not want.
Before the arrival of the British, the Dutch, and the missionaries, there was no nation called Nigeria. There was no North, no South. Their existed the Benin Empire, the Oyo Empire to the West, the Ndop Empire and the Kanem-Bornu Empire both to the north of the River Niger, and later in the 19th Century the Sokoto Caliphate replacing the two northern empires. Like all empires, these four empires were militarily powerful enclaves with diverse clans having centralized administrative systems where power devolved from the King or Oba to powerful, but appointed Chiefs overseeing the daily activities within their clans and areas of authority. In these clans, the elders of the communities wielded traditional powers and held courts. The Kingship/Oba-ship were dynasties, while at the clan levels the succession of elders is by age. Administration within the Sokoto Caliphate was different. It was established by Fulani jihadists who governed by Islamic tenets. At the district levels they had the Imams or religious scholars who interpreted the Islamic laws and jurisprudence. The Sultan had the Emirs who were appointed by a council of King Makers. The Emirs would then appoint the District heads. The positions of the Sultan and the Emirs were dynasties held by Fulanis only. All that remains true to this day.
In truth, why was the British determined to go through with this unwelcomed amalgamation after decades of separate colonial administration? The answer was simple; the cost of governance. The Southern Protectorate was rich in human and naturally abundant mineral resources with fertile agricultural land mass. The Northern Protectorate on the other hand was not so endowed, and has been borrowing monies from the South to pay its bills. These were loans that went unrepaid. Well, the smart Alecs from Westminster decided that if both protectorates could be unified as one country, such an entity would be viable under the abundant resources of the South, and no one would need to borrow from or repay anyone. By this ‘wisdom of robbing Peter to pay Paul’ the colonialist set out to establish the structures that would drive this agenda to fruition.
At that time, early in the 20th Century, we could not stop the British for we had very few articulate peoples in Government. Our lands, with their rich tapestry of cultures and histories, would soon be woven together into a single entity under British rule. It was a time of uncertainty and apprehension, but also of resilience. We had faced challenges before, and we would face this one too, with the strength and unity that had always defined us. So, we thought, foolishly.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the remaining parts of this five-part article.
TO BE CONTINUED…………….