As the Federal Government prepares to inaugurate a national conference early this year in the midst of the country’s centenary celebration, Prince Adetowo Aderemi, a son of the former Governor of Western Region and late Ooni of Ife,Sir Adesoji Aderemi has called for a return to regionalism first adopted at the national conference held in Ibadan in 1950, in this interview with BISI OLADELE and TAYO JOHNSON
As a historian with deep interest in Nigerian history, what do you think of the activities lined up by the Federal Government for the centenary celebration of the country?
That is the same question I have been asking myself every morning. The first point is that those who are making so much noise about the centenary know little about the amalgamation itself. They do not ask questions about why the different protectorates were amalgamated, what made the amalgamation expedient. Why did we have to merge three different units which have very little to show for being a country?
When the amalgamation was done it was done in England in the Court of Windsor Castle. There was no black man there let alone a Nigerian. It was just a joint decision of Sir Harcourt who was then the Secretary of Economy and Lord Luggard who found out that the Northern protectorate was a hot potato to him and was trying to drop it on somebody that will absorb it. So, the main reason for the amalgamation was just to pass on a burden from the British to Southern Nigeria.
What was the burden in your own view?
It was the burden of running the Northern Protectorate at a loss. All the supporting documents are at the National Archives in Ibadan. The North was being run at a loss while the South was been run at a profit. The profit from the South was being taken to England while England was running the North with a subvention of £3,000 per annum. So, that was how Lord Luggard came up with the idea of amalgamation.
When you look at Luggard’s history he was a soldier who came to serve a company that was running in the North around 1894. When he got here, he went to all the Emirs and promised to protect their interest. When the time came, Luggard was appointed the first commissioner, which is the Chief Executive of the North.
As far back as 1902, Luggard had asked the British to join the three protectorates together – Northern, Southern and Eastern regions, but was not taken seriously until 1907 when he was taken to Hong Kong where he was being groomed for a special assignment between 1907 and 1912. In 1912, he was brought back to Nigeria, and on October 19, 1912, he was made the Governor of Southern Nigeria. The following day he was made the Governor of Northern Nigeria which means he became the Governor of Nigeria. By that arrangement, Nigeria became unified under one Governor.
So what he did was to send a paper to Lagos in May, 1913, seeking the joining of the regions, and that paper was put before the Queen. On November 22, 1913, the Queen put her seal and proclaimed the colony of Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria and that was how Nigeria was formed. But then, between that period and 1960, Nigeria was run as two countries. The governor was responsible for the running of the North while there was a quasi legislative group running Southern Nigeria. It was in 1922 under Arthur Richard that he asked for three regions when the Clifford constitution did not work. And that was when the NCNC went to London to protest that they did not want it and that it was not the wish of Nigerians. So Clifford was taken away in 1948 and Macpherson came and asked for the views of the different regions.
So, on January 9, 1950, they met in Ibadan and it was the first time the North, East and the West met as a body. It was called the Ibadan Conference and that was where they drafted a constitution which Macpherson put together. But the bad aspect of it was that on any issue which the North said no, they adopted the North’s position. I remember that my father was there and he said let the River Niger be the boundary between Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria with most parts of Kwara and Kogi states as part of Southern region. But on anything of such, the North would say no because they were always treating them as wanting to break. But the British knew that the North could not survive on its own.
Are you saying that at that Ibadan Conference the unofficial position of the North was that it is either Southern part of Nigeria took their opinion or they pull out of the country?
Yes! In fact, at a point in time, they were about to break away. So, my father now called a meeting with Yoruba Obas and Northern Emirs. The British had respect for the Northern Emirs to the extent that if they were calling for any meeting they would invite at least five Emirs because Luggard had assured them that he would continue to protect their interest.
Why would Luggard give such a promise when he knew that two different sets of people were coming together to discuss their future?
By this time, Luggard had left Nigeria but he handed the promise to his successor‘. But the truth of the matter was that Luggard never liked the Southern Protectorate. That was why he was at loggerheads with Herbert Macaulay throughout his stay here. It was because we had education but the North had no education. We would argue with them what they would not. As far back as 1880, a Yoruba man has become a medical doctor the first lawyer from the North qualified in 1948. Now, compare 1880 to 1948. In fact, Luggard even promised never to allow the Christians to pollute their children. Hence, churches were not allowed there. It was Clifford that said if we continued this way the gap would get wider. He then formed the Katsina Teachers College in 1932 as compared to 1859 when CMS Grammar School was formed. So the disparity was so much.
What was the outcome of that Ibadan Conference in 1950 on Nigeria as a country?
The outcome was that Nigeria would have three regions and each region would be headed by a governor with a House of Assembly. Each region would have its own executive which would run the regions. There would be a Federal Government in Lagos. There would be what we call the Federal Government territory, which will overlook the affairs of all these three regions. And after that, we would begin to discuss and allow Nigerians to participate in governance. In August and September 1951, elections were held in the three regions. In the North it was by some arrangements. In the West it was by adult suffrage. In the East it was by those who can pay tax.
When the 1950 conference finished, that was when political activities started. Chief Obafemi Awolowo called all his friends – Dosumu, Rewane, Shonibare etc and he launched the Action Group in March, 1950. The mistake most people make is thinking that the party started in Owo. It was the first party convention that was held in April in Owo for the people that did not attend the Ibadan meeting, having heard that the party had been formed. So, they met in Owo and started the party.
When Macpherson started the district contribution to constitution, Dikko, the first medical doctor from the North who qualified in 1948 was sent to the Katsina Teachers College to form Northern Peoples Congress (NPC). But in 1951, civil servants were not allowed to contest. Because Dr Dikko was a civil servant, he had to give up the leadership of the group to Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Aliu Bida, and Shettima. By the end of 1951, it was clear that the Action Group has won in the West, the NCNC in the East and NPC in the North. When the NPC was being formed, Aminu Kano did not like the idea of the colonial leadership. So, he broke off and formed Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU). So, the colonials did not allow the party to see the light of the day. They rigged just to ensure that the status quo in the north was maintained and that was how we got into 1952. Part of the agreement at the 1950 conference was that there would be a House of Representatives in Lagos where each region would send a representative. They also formed the House of Chiefs in the West in 1951 but the North has had it since 1947 and in the East there was none. So, the rule was that from the House of Chiefs in the West and North, members should be sent to Lagos. But the East also had one in 1958.
Judging by this rich history, what is your opinion on the centenary celebration and the activities that are going on the anniversary?
What government should have done other than ordering gold plated mobile phone which will cost N6 million per piece and others which they are now denying is that they should publish a magazine and let Nigerians know their history. That is what the Americans, Indians and the Chinese have done. If you do not know where you are coming from how will you know where you are going? I was ashamed when a service of commendation was held for Mrs Tejumade Alakija at St James Cathedral (Oke Bola, Ibadan) just about three weeks ago. The clergy man who officiated did not know the name of the Governor of Osun State. Many Nigerians do not know anything about Nigeria. When I was doing a project for one of the telecommunications companies I got to places where you will not believe are part of Nigeria. When you get to Abuja also you will not believe what you are seeing. The original plan for Abuja was to be a civil servant town but today no decision can be taken without getting to Abuja. The best contract is also there. What I would have suggested instead of all these elaborate dinners and lectures and all that is for Nigerians to know the truth. For once, let Nigerians know exactly why there was an amalgamation. Many people go into marriage without knowing the reason why they are getting married but they can keep their marriage if they are honest to themselves and adjust. Each time I hear them talk about the centenary celebration I marvel because most of them do not know anything about amalgamation and the independence in 1960, they are all just trying to make quick money and to deceive us by saying that it will be funded by corporate bodies. No corporate body knows the truth about amalgamation. When Chief Obasanjo was launching his private library in Ota, one oil firm said it would not participate because it was not their headache but it was being threatened by Kupolokun and others that they would withdraw its licence. Everybody was dropping money for a private project. You will see the people that will become very rich at the end of this centenary celebration which the government said will run for one year. It is sickening. Let people know that the amalgamation was done without the consent of the people, and we have done it for 100 years. For us to map out another 100 years, let us know why we should continue as one single entity.
Do you think the national conference is significant, coming at this time?
The whole thing is being manipulated. Why Okurounmu? It’s just for it to look like your son is there. The president set up a committee in Abuja and handpicked half of those that will be present there. The end of Okunronmu panel will be a waste. Let us go back to the 1950 Ibadan Conference discussions. Let us adopt a proper federation. Let us have a weak centre not to break. Let the regions contribute to their development.
What was the relationship between your father and Chief Awolowo?
It was a father and son relationship. In 1983, I went to see Chief Awolowo at Ikenne and he said my father was the person that saved the Yorubas because he single handedly financed the Egbe Omo Oduduwa from which the Action Group took the bulk of its members. At one time when he had a disagreement with Action Group in 1959 when Fani Kayode was running (on the party’s ticket) for the Federal House of Representatives, and Fani Kayode insulted my father’s chiefs, my father told Chief Awolowo to remove Fani Kayode and put another person but Chief Awolowo told my father that it is democracy and we have already chosen him to represent us. My father brought in Omisade, just about four months to the election. Omisade defeated Fani Kayode with 6000 votes.
But what we heard was that Fani Kayode opposed your father then on an issue of benefit to the people of Ile-Ife and that was the reason the Kabiyesi did not like him again?
That is not true. Fani Kayode’s father came to Ife as an Evangelist. He was from Ekiti. Let them point to the family they came from in Ile-Ife? I do not want to start a fresh crisis but Fani Kayode insulted my father’s chiefs over some local government issues. It was not a confrontation between my father and Fani Kayode but he was insulting his chiefs, and he said if he can insult his chiefs, that means he was insulting him too. When Fani Kayode was defeated then, he went through the back door to get to the western House of Assembly in 1951 with the pretence that he was back with the Ooni. My father did not have anything against Fani Kayode. He saw him as his son because Fani Kayode and my father’s eldest son were best of friends and they were both lawyers. So he saw him as his son. My father was one person you can never offend. If he wanted to cause problem after the May 27 judgment by the Privy Council, he could have done that. Chief Akintola came to meet him and said: “Kabiyesi. I want to make you a Minister.” But he declined. He said he had been Minister in 1952, Chairman of Chiefs and was governor. He saw it as an insult. That was how he left him in the sitting room. When he (Akintola) found out that Ooni was no longer coming down he left the palace.
If your father was alive today what advice do you think he will give Jonathan concerning this centenary?
He will just tell him to go and do things right first. They are not doing things right. With due respect to Mr President there is this culture of impunity, otherwise why is Stella Oduah still a minister? In a civilised society Oduah will be on suspension, whether she has said the fault is with the Managing Director of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority or Ngozi-Iweala who authorized the N10 million waiver or not. This case is sickening. Go and count the number of vehicles she is having. Once upon a time when Nigeria Airways had only one flying plane, they have over 120 cars for its officials. Today we don’t even have a national airline and somebody who is a minister there is buying a bullet-proof car instead of thinking about getting an airline for the country. What we are saying is that if things are to be done right let us go back to the basics.
How do you think Nigeria can achieve true federalism?
By those in authority being honest, let us be truthful with ourselves.
How can we correct the failure of the present system of government?
Let us go back to the regional government. What I am saying is that we should go back to the basics and see how we can strengthen our society. In 1930, when my father became the Ooni he told me a story that in the following year that he was crowned the Ooni he looked at the town and discovered that there was no change.
There was one Rev. Cole who was going to Ilesa to establish Ilesa Grammar School. My father’s friend, Rev Adejumo, now said let us go and greet the Ooni. That was how my father stopped him and asked him to establish Oduduwa College which was established January 22, 1932. The British made it to look like Agrey Memorial School, which was established on April 4, 1932. My father said so soon he found out that there was a relative peace in the town because all the children had to go to school by force even after they have completed their Standard six. It was this same Rev Cole that told my father that some people were planting something that is called Cocoa which was brought from Brazil and it is a money-making seed. That was how my father directed all the people in the land to find a farm and he provided the seeds. That was how Ife became the biggest producer of Cocoa after five years. So, in the morning the children went to school and before dawn the parents were in the farm and there was a relatively peace in the land.
If you were given an opportunity to attend this national conference, what would you advocate for?
Let us have true federalism, growth and development. There can’t be growth without development. If we are able to puncture corruption, you will find everybody saying this government will have zero tolerance for corruption, but corruption has not ceased. We cannot completely eradicate it but let it be at a minimal level.
