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| House where Lugard signed the final amalgation in 1914 |
The Ijaw National Congress (INC), said the 1914 amalgamation of ethnic nationalities by the British colonialists has since expired.
The congress said in a communiqué at the end of a two-day summit in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, that it has therefore decided that the Ijaw nation would initiate the process of re-negotiating its co-existence with other nationalities in the country. They are reechoing ongoing argument of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) since 2014 on the expiration of Nigeria.
According to the communiqué issued at the end of the summit, which had as theme: ‘The Ijaw Agenda Beyond 2015,’ made available Monday, “the cession treaties between the Ijaw and British colonial authorities have lapsed and that the instrument of amalgamation of 1914 that produced the country Nigeria expired in 2014.”
Rejecting laws and regulations that deny the Ijaw people control of their resources, the INC expressed regret over the refusal of successive administrations to unite the Ijaws in homogenous states.
The communiqué signed by the INC chairman, Boma Obuoforibo and 30 others, further stressed that “the Ijaw Question predates Nigeria and the current structure of the Nigerian State is lopsided in favour of the majority ethnic nationalities without adequate socio-political and economic space for the minority ethnic nationalities.”
The group agreed at the end of the summit attended by over 1,500 men, women and youths, participated at the summit, that ethnic nationalities in the country “should form the basis of a true Nigerian federation.”
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The apex Ijaw socio-cultural body, also condemned the present constitutional and legislative arrangements for resource control and allocation, adding that resource-bearing communities in true federations and the civilised world control their resources.
It noted that in spite of the adverse impact of crude oil and gas exploration and exploitation on Ijaw land, the Federal Government had yet to address the negative effects on health, economy, culture and environment.
INC further argued that the restiveness in the region was the people’s reaction to oppression and frustrations, stressing that the militarisation of the area had resulted in severe erosion of their cherished values as a people.
The meeting came barely hours after Asari Dokubo a leading freedom fighter in the region joined forces with Biafran freedom fighters to celebrate Biafran memorial. At the event, Dokubo acknowledged that Ijaws are Igbos and that his name was Uzodimma. To buttress his resolve to , he declared there was no longer a division between Niger Deltans and Igbos. According to Dokubo, there is no longer Niger Delta nor Igbo, but Biafra.
Speech by the Governor General of Nigeria, Sir Frederick Lugard Amalgamation Proclaimation of 1914 ( January 1, 1914)
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| Lugard where the contraption Nigeria was created |
This policy had been strongly advocated by Sir William Macgregor as Governor of Lagos, by Sir Ralph Moore as High Commissioner of Southern Nigeria, and by myself as High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria about 10 years ago. It has continued to be advocated by Sir Walter Egerton and my successors in Northern Nigeria.
The construction of rival railways in Northern and Southern Nigeria accentuated the necessity having a single railway policy, with a single administration, and over a year ago the Secretary of State decided that the time had come to give effect to the scheme of constituting a single Government for Nigeria.
Mr. Harcourt was pleased to select me and to carry out this difficult task, he appointed me in the first instance as Governor separately of the two distinct Governments of Northern and Southern Nigeria, with a view of informing myself of Local conditions and submitting to him my proposals for Amalgamation.
Mr. Harcourt was pleased to select me and to carry out this difficult task, he appointed me in the first instance as Governor separately of the two distinct Governments of Northern and Southern Nigeria, with a view of informing myself of Local conditions and submitting to him my proposals for Amalgamation.
I had the honour to submit those proposals for his consideration on May 9th last year (1913). They were accepted in all essentials, and today they are to take effect. I desire therefore as briefly as possible to describe to you, and through you to the official and unofficial community of Nigeria the basis on which this Amalgamation is to be carried out, and the principal changes which will result.
The Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria will be placed under the control of a single officer upon which the control of a single officer upon whom His Majesty has been pleased to confer the title of Governor-General, thus indicating the importance of this country among the Crown Colonies and Protectorates of the Empire. That portion which has hitherto been Northern Nigeria will be known in future as the Northern Provinces, while the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria will be known as the Southern Provinces of Nigeria; each will be under the immediate control of a Lieutenant-General responsible to the Governor-General. The colony in view of its of its separate status and traditions will preserve a separate identity, under an Administrator of its own, dealing directly with the Governor-General. For the present, the Central Headquarters will remain at Lagos, and the Governor-General will divide his time between the Headquarter Stations of the Northern and Southern Provinces.
His majesty, through the Secretary of State, has been pleased to confer on me the High honour of appointment as Governor-General, and I humbly hope that I may be enabled to discharge the functions of this office, the great responsibilities of which I deeply appreciate, in such a manner as to deserve His Majesty’s approval, and to the satisfaction and contentment of His Majesty’s loyal subjects and of all the people of Nigeria. To succeed in such a task would be impossible unless I have the goodwill and co-operation of all classes, Official and Unofficial, irrespective of race or creed, and I take this opportunity to earnestly ask for that co-operation and loyal assistance, assuring you at the same time that, so far as in me lies, I shall not spare myself nor find any work too hard or arduous, if i can thereby advance the true interests of this country and of each individual person in it, whatever his race or creed, or however humble his rank.
For the high and responsible posts of Lieutenant-Governors of the Southern and Northern Provinces His Majesty has selected Mr. A.G. Boyle, C.M.G. an Mr. C.L. Temple, C.M.G. officers in whose loyalty and ability he has the highest confidence, and in whose hand the welfare of the Protectorate is assure. As Administrator of the Colony the Secretary of State has selected Mr. F.S. James, whose long experience in the South marks him out as the most fitting officer for the post. I may be permitted to offer to these officers my congratulations, and to express my deep satisfaction that I am privileged to work with them as my colleagues.
It is amply clear from this speech that it was the British who called for the amalgamation and not the indigenous people.
- This speech was culled from Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria.
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