INEC chairman dismisses calls for division, affirms Nigeria’s unity
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has urged those questioning the legitimacy of Nigeria’s creation to discard the idea that the country is divisible, especially after a century since its amalgamation.
Speaking against calls for separation, Professor Yakubu highlighted the deep historical connections among Nigerian communities that existed long before the 1914 amalgamation.
He affirmed that Nigeria’s unity as an indivisible nation is a settled matter.
The INEC chairman made the remarks in Kaduna over the weekend at an International Conference organized by Arewa House, in collaboration with the Department of History, Political Science, and Economics, as well as the Faculty of Law at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and the Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 110th year since amalgamation.
The event themed; “Making and Building of Nigeria: People, Places, Times, and Legacies from 1914 to 2024”, brought together scholars from across the Country to x-ray the past, present and future of Nigeria’s history.
The INEC chairman while noting that Arewa House had consistently marked key historical milestones in the Nigeria’s history, commended the institution for bringing scholars together to reflect on Nigeria’s journey over the last century and a decade.
According to him, “the takeaway for me is the gathering of scholars from different parts of the Country to mark the 110 years of Nigeria’s amalgamation. Arewa House has been noted for marking these kinds of historical milestones, and they have done so again.”
Addressing the ongoing debates about Nigeria’s unity, Professor Yakubu affirmed that the notion of Nigeria as a united and indivisible entity is settled, dismissing calls for division, as he emphasized that, the deep-rooted historical ties that have existed among various Nigerian communities long before the amalgamation.
He said: “I have made peace with the fact that I am Nigerian. If some people think Nigeria is artificial, they should know that nations are always created in different ways and are consolidated over time. Tell me one nation that was put together by consensus? The fact that we are here over a century later is a plus for Nigeria.”
He further emphasized that Nigeria’s relationships and interactions go back hundreds of years, predating British colonization and the amalgamation of what is now called Nigeria.
According to him, these historical ties have only grown stronger and will continue to do so.
General Ishola Williams (Rtd), represented by Dr. Asma’u Maikudi from Kaduna Polytechnic also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of prioritizing history education in Nigeria.
He urged that “Ourstory” should be made a compulsory subject from Kindergarten to tertiary institutions, as understanding the past is essential for national development.
“Without a solid understanding of our history, we risk losing our direction as a nation. It is crucial to train more educators as Ourstorians to teach our history comprehensively,” he stated.
Williams further called for the establishment of a Centre for Ourstory of Pre-Colonial Africa (COPreCA) at ABU and for Arewa House to serve as the National Institute for the Ourstory of Nigeria.
He emphasized that these institutions could play a vital role in promoting historical education and awareness, helping to forge a more united and informed citizenry.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Kabir Bala, highlighted the significance of the conference, saying that, it was designed to reflect on the nation’s evolution over the past century.
Director of the Centre for Historical Research and Documentation, Arewa House, Dr. Shuaibu Aliyu in his remarks stated that the event was part of an ongoing series, adding that the center is committed to documenting and archiving all occurrences in the Nation’s history.
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