Glad to be back on the blog this year and my first post is about the building in the background and its relationship with the history of my country.
This year marks a century of the existence of the entity called Nigeria. In 1914, British colonial governor general Lord Frederick Lugard amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates to form one unified Nigeria.
It was this building in Badagry where Lugard's HQ existed and it was here that he signed the declaration of amalgamation. It stands as a monument to our past and could help shed light on our future.
As the Federal Government of Nigeria is set to celebrate the country's Centenary this year, this building will come back into great focus. It has already undergone renovation preparatory to the activities that will hold in and around it.
A hundred years after the amalgamation of Nigeria's many peoples, tribes and races, lots of suspicions, misgivings and animosities are still evident in my country.
Was Lugard right in bringing us all together without our consent?
Perhaps the National Conference being proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan this year will be able to help heal our wounds.
Happy New Year Nigeria!
