Mutual suspicion, tribalism, conflicts, working at cross purposes and other vices experienced in Nigeria were predicted by Time Magazine 63 years ago.

Below is the article:

Time Magazine, Nigeria’s Independence



Independence without difficulties is a dream of Utopia.

For one month, delighted Londoners watched the 80 ceremonially dressed Nigerians—some with necklaces of animal teeth, others with feathered straw hats, at least one with a jeweled crown—parade into Lancaster House for their historic conference.

Everything possible had been done to make them feel at home.

For the Colonial Office’s big reception at the Tate Gallery, all nude statues were carefully screened so as not to offend Moslems. The Lord Mayor served up a banquet of stewed peanuts, and one paramount Chief—His Highness James Okosi II of the Onitsha —fulfilled a lifelong ambition: to ride the escalator at the Charing Cross underground station.[?]

In the end, the Nigerians got what they had come for: on Oct. 1, 1960, the largest (373,250 sq. mi.) of Britain’s remaining colonial territories would get its independence (TIME. Nov. 3). But behind the scenes the conference had revealed ominous signs of trouble to come.

From the start there was a clash between the personalities of the Premiers of the three regions —each obviously more important than the scholarly Federal Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

In Western eyes, Obafemi Awolowo of the Western Region seemed the most statesmanlike: as the conference began, the London Times carried a full-page ad proclaiming his declaration for freedom under the title “This I Believe,” prepared with the help of an American public relations man.

In contrast, U.S.-educated Premier Nnamdi (“Zik”) Azikiwe of the Eastern Region seemed to have learned more in the U.S. about Tammany tactics than Thomas Jefferson, and was somewhat under a cloud as a result of a British tribunal’s 1956 investigation into corruption in his administration.

The North’s Premier, the Sardauna of Sokoto, a haughty Moslem of noble birth, could barely conceal his contempt for his less aristocratic colleagues.

Insults & Accusations. Under the great chandeliers of the Lancaster House music room, where Chopin once played for Queen Victoria, the Premiers bickered, shot insults back and forth like poisoned darts.

When the conference took up the ticklish problem of how to protect the rights of minorities among Nigeria’s 250 tribes, Awolowo suggested creating three new states.

The North’s Sardauna, not wishing to relinquish any of his own territory, vetoed the idea. Nor did he like the plan for a centralized police force under the federal government: he much preferred to use his own force, which, answerable only to him, can pop a man in jail with no questions asked.

At one point, the Sardauna accused Awolowo of sending his supporters to Israel to be trained as saboteurs in the North —a charge fabricated out of the fact that Western Nigeria has imported agricultural experts from Israel to advise its farmers.

Awolowo countercharged that the Sardauna flogs his prisoners.

At receptions the delegates sipped their orange juice, icily aloof from one another. In elevators conversation would suddenly stop if a delegate from another region got on.

But as the weeks passed, the Sardauna grudgingly consented to let the constitution carry a bill of rights, though he was so thoroughly opposed to giving the vote to women that the conference decided that this was, after all, not necessarily a “fundamental” right.

The delegates then agreed on a centralized police force, but one that would be administered by a council of representatives from each region.

Finally, with their own independence from Britain assured (as well as that of the adjacent British Cameroons, should they choose to become a part of Nigeria), the delegates started for home.

Until Nigeria’s federal election takes place next year, the three Premiers will continue jockeying for power, and the fate of Nigeria could well hinge on who comes out on top.

Last week, even as the National Planning Committee of Independence opened its contest for the design of a national flag (first prize: $300), many Nigerians had grave reservations about what lay ahead.

For all its jubilation, Nigeria’s West African Pilot felt obliged to warn: “Independence without difficulties is a dream of Utopia.”

-Publushed in Time Magazine of Monday, 10 November 1958 and shared by Kehinde Thompson on Nigeria Nostalgia, 1960-1980, project.

https://www.thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2021/05/09/throwback-what-time-magazine-wrote-predictably-about-nigerias-independence/

Nigeria is not even due for independence now
Reason: Tribalism, hate, injustice, insecurity, massacre, lack of trust, and unfairness.
That 1960 poltiical extravaganza was utterly needless.

I read the history of massacre in Nigeria and felt deep pity for us Christians. These Muslims have really dealt with us from time immemorial.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_Nigeria

It's amazing to know that Nigeria have never been united since the very beginning.....

Nice...

"Independence without difficulties is a dream of utopia"

Unfortunately all the pro secessionists won't tell this message to their followers and prefer to make stupid promises

Nigeria is destined to fail . perhaps the British wanted it to fail

SmartPolician:
Nigeria is not even due for independence now
Reason: Tribalism, hate, injustice, insecurity, massacre, lack of trust, and unfairness.
That 1960 poltiical extravaganza was utterly needless.

I read the history of massacre in Nigeria and felt deep pity for us Christians. These Muslims have really dealt with us from time immemorial.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_Nigeria

Are you suggesting that you are not intelligent enough to be independent because you are "Tribalism, hate, injustice, insecurity, massacre, lack of trust, and unfairness"?

After all, the list you posted does not only mention massacre of Christians, as you would like us to believe, and shows you are "Tribalism, hate, injustice, insecurity, massacre, lack of trust, and unfairness".

EKONGKING:
Ok

Oya.. add something that your "OK" before I go vex come meet you for your place now


Na only OK you fit talk for this matter wey dey ground?

The Hate, tribalism and corruption didn't start today o...we were never ment to be merged together and what has be done must be undone!

Such an amazing eye-opener!
The so-called founding fathers should have opted to have their own countries instead of joining this useless country called Nigeria. It would have saved a lot of lives and we would have made significant progress!

LordVoldermort:
Nice...

"Independence without difficulties is a dream of utopia"

Unfortunately all the pro secessionists won't tell this message to their followers and prefer to make stupid promises

Not even one single former Yugoslavia countries, despite their difficulties want to be remerged with Serbia.
Eritrea despite her struggles would never accept to go back to being part of Ethiopia.

South Sudan has had a rocky start to nationhood, but they would never accept to go back again to Sudan.
No former USSR country no matter how they struggle would want to go back again to being part of Russia.

Secessionists are not looking for their own countries because they are under the illusion that it would be an eldorado, they want their own countries because there is nothing that compares to the feeling of being completely in control of one's destiny, irrespective of what one made of such control. Just knowing it's your own making to mould it into anything you like, be it failure or success, is invigorating.
Think about that and stop forcing unity on those who want nothing to do with you.

LordVoldermort:
Nice...

"Independence without difficulties is a dream of utopia"

[b]Unfortunately all the pro secessionists won't tell this message to their followers and prefer to make stupid promise[/b]s

don't make your stupidity obvious

Igboid:


Not even one single former Yugoslavia countries, despite their difficulties want to be remerged with Serbia.
Eritrea despite her struggles would never accept to go back to being part of Ethiopia.

South Sudan has had a rocky start to nationhood, but they would never accept to go back again to Sudan.
No former USSR country no matter how they struggle would want to go back again to being part of Russia.

Secessionists are not looking for their own countries because they are under the illusion that it would be an eldorado, they want their own countries because there is nothing that compares to the feeling of being completely in control of one's destiny, irrespective of what one made of such control. Just knowing it's your own making to mould it into anything you like, be it failure or success, is invigorating.
Think about that and stop forcing unity on those who want nothing to do with you.

No one is forcing unity on anybody it is honesty I'm trying to force

"Secessionists are not looking for their own countries because they are under the illusion that it would be an eldorado"
This line is false it's hard to listen to secessionists without hearing words like "promise Land", "land of milk and honey" so yes they do believe it's an eldorado
"there is nothing that compares to the feeling of being completely in control of one's destiny"

Are the people in South Sudan in control of their own destinies? Just because you feel free doesn't mean you are, most times you simply removed the old chains and got a new one

LordVoldermort:
No one is forcing unity on anybody it is honesty I'm trying to force

"Secessionists are not looking for their own countries because they are under the illusion that it would be an eldorado"
This line is false it's hard to listen to secessionists without hearing words like "promise Land", "land of milk and honey" so yes they do believe it's an eldorado
"there is nothing that compares to the feeling of being completely in control of one's destiny"

Are the people in South Sudan in control of their own destinies? Just because you feel free doesn't mean you are, most times you simply removed the old chains and got a new one

As bad as things are in South Sudan.
They will kill you if you suggest remerging them with Khartoum Sudan.
What does that tell you?
Yes! They are in control of their own destinies. They are just not making use of it. We know for sure Khartoum has no influence over South Sudan anymore, that in itself is a victory for The people.

There is no milk and honey greater than freedom and liberty, that's what every secessionist crave for. Milk and honey means different things for different people. It means freedom and liberty, having a nation they could finally call theirs. That in itself is a fufillmemt.

And by the way, the secessionist didn't ask you to care about their welfare after they must have left your sorry ass, they would rather you concentrate on yourself and let them be. Ethiopia remain a Richer country than Eritrea, but Eritreans want nothing to do with Addis Ababa.

The three leaders who destroythis country even before it got independence!

I wonder how the British felt good continuing this force contraptions With all the warning signs from the very beginning.

Lalasticlala

mynd44


oam4j

Igboid:


As bad as things are in South Sudan.
They will kill you if you suggest remerging them with Khartoum Sudan.
What does that tell you?
Yes! They are in control of their own destinies. They are just not making use of it. We know for sure Khartoum has no influence over South Sudan anymore, that in itself is a victory for The people.

There is no milk and honey greater than freedom and liberty, that's what every secessionist crave for. Milk and honey means different things for different people. It means freedom and liberty, having a nation they could finally call theirs. That in itself is a fufillmemt.

And by the way, the secessionist didn't ask you to care about their welfare after they must have left your sorry ass, they would rather you concentrate on yourself and let them be. Ethiopia remain a Richer country than Eritrea, but Eritreans wants nothing to do with Addis Ababa.

Well I have said all I need to say, if people wish to give themselves foolish hopes they are free to do so

Wow, Times magazine was actually prophetic about the state of Nigeria. And it all came to pass! Independence without breaking sweat is "a dream of Utopia".

Britain made a big mistake knowing very well that Nigeria was not ripe and ready to be granted independence

Nigeria has never been one and can never be.

The contraption started failing before it even started.

SmartPolician:
Nigeria is not even due for independence now
Reason: Tribalism, hate, injustice, insecurity, massacre, lack of trust, and unfairness.
That 1960 poltiical extravaganza was utterly needless.

I read the history of massacre in Nigeria and felt deep pity for us Christians. These Muslims have really dealt with us from time immemorial.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_Nigeria

That is why I don't regard zik and awo as heroes. Religious killing has been happening in the north before independence and foolish zik and awo still agreed with one Nigeria.

I blame United Kingdom for giving us independence early after seeing the kind of corrupt,egocentric and ethnic champions we had as leaders.

The division in Nigeria have existed from the pre independence era.British obliged to joined the false contraption for reason best know to them.Now here we are this same tipping threshold after more than 60 year of forces nationhood.

The British crown had the first hand experience of what was to come from the very start but still went ahead with setting up this contraption.

60 years after, all these things have but quadrupled but the British crown still won’t allow the dissolution of this fraud.

They get the biggest blame in all these.

Penguin2:
The British crown had the first hand experience of what was to come from the very start but still went ahead with setting up this contraption.

60 years after, all these things have but quadrupled but the British crown still won’t allow the dissolution of this fraud.

They get the biggest blame in all these.

Stop it please, stop blaming the crown,

Rather blame the slow hesitant leaders.
As far back as 1947, British did everything possible to keep possible to keep India together and failed, but they, (India) did not backdown, instead they went ahead with the dissolution during independence!

RuudVanNisteroy:
I blame United Kingdom for giving us independence early after seeing the kind of corrupt,egocentric and ethnic champions we had as leaders.

Exactly!

joyandfaith:


That is why I don't regard zik and awo as heroes. Religious killing has been happening in the north before independence and foolish zik and awo still agreed with one Nigeria.

that is why India sharpally dissolve to create their 99% mono-religion country for them during independence! Coz they know the wahala they are capable of.