Nigeria’s amalgamation, a mistake -Afenifere Chieftain

A  Chieftain of Afenifere,  a pan Yoruba socio-political group,  Sir Olaniwun Ajayi  said   the  amalgamation of Southern  and Northern protectorate in 1914  was a mistake contrary  to the submition by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The elder statesman  who is a member of  the national confab representing Ogun state, said  this  shortly  after the state governor,  Senator Ibikunle Amosun inaugurated the delegates from the state  to the national confab.

The governor who had announced  six eminent personalities that  are indigines of the state led by  Senator Biyi Durojaiye, explained that the state would push decentralisation of Police, devolution of power among  others.

Others who were inaugurated  were : Sir Olaniwun Ajayi (Ogun East), the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba  Kehinde  Olugbenle (Ogun West); pastor of latter rain Assembly,  Tunde Bakare(Ogun Central) ;  former Ceo of Guarantee Trust Bank  and former Vice-Presidential candidate of the defunct  Action Congress of Nigeria  Fola  Adeola (Ogun centra)  ; Bar. Bisi  Adegbuyi (Ogun East) and  Prof. Titi Filqni (Ogun West).

The octogenarian,  who spoke on behalf of other newly inaugurated confab delegates from the state urged all delegates to prepare to correct what he described as ‘serious error committed by the British’.

While reacting  to the statement by President Jonathan that,  the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates was not a mistake, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi disagreed with the President  saying,  it was the cause of the problems facing the country.

According to him,” It  is important for us to realise that those of who are going there are going to try, God be our helper, to correct the serious error committed by the British when they were here.

“Somebody was reported in the papers today that there was no mistake in 1914 amalgamation, may be, that person has not had time to read ‘my life’ by Sardauna of Sokoto when the motion for independence was moved in 1953 and Northern members in the House Representatives got annoyed and they all departed and went back to the North and he said ‘Ha! Today, I remember the mistake of 1914, that’s the course of our problems and that mistake has been with us quite a long time.

“The problem really and truly is that Nigeria was constructed contrary to political geometry, that is why we have not arrived as a country because if we have leave together for 100 years and yet there’s no stability, there’s no concord, there’s no harmony, there’s no progress, those other countries like Brazil, Indian, China and Russia which  were in the same bracket as we in 1960 are now far, far above us and we are far below them, why?.

“It is because of failure to observe political geometry but we pray and hope that when we get there, God being our helper, we will, as Nigerians unitedly and in the spirit of give and take arrive at solution that will bring peace and progress to this country”.