Aliyu Argues that the British did not Create Nigeria

The Centre for Research and Historical Documentation at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has said the British were not responsible for the creation of Nigeria; instead, they successfully separated it.

Dr. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, the director of Arewa House, stated in Kaduna on Friday that historical misconceptions and revisionism significantly impact Nigeria’s political development.

‘It is not true that the British created Nigeria but the British created regions basically to divide Nigeria, which they succeeded along regional lines,” he said.

Dr. Aliyu announced that Professor Alkasim Abba from the history department of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, would present the lecture at a press conference in advance of the third Arewa House lecture series, which is set to take place on September 10, 2022, with the theme “Contemporary Nigeria politics and the ghost of the politics of independence struggles.”

“The topic becomes imperative in view of the agitation for the breakup of the country and the political development that has taken place during the independence struggle.”

“There is a lot of confusion, contradiction and misconception of history, so as an authority and erudite scholar in history, the speaker is expected to come and clear the misconception in the political history of Nigeria, relating to the issue of regionalism which emanated and how the British manipulated it to achieve some certain goals.”

“The issue of regionalism is still manifesting in the analysis of the political discussion of the country Uptill now people are still talking about regionalism, and why the British, the Richard Constitution is the constitution that provided for the regional government, they plan to divide the country through religion and ethnic lines, so the essence of the lecture is to clear the misconception.” 

“Nigeria is an entity, and it is not the British that actually created Nigeria. The British created the regions to divide us, and they succeeded in dividing us along ethnic and religious lines. The lecture makes us understand that Nigeria is one single entity”.

“The lecture is coming up on the 10th of September 2022, it will be held in Arewa House, and we have invited people across religious and ethnic divides.

The discussants are also erudite political scientists such as Dr. Auwal Auwal, a famous historian and a university don. The lecture will be chaired by the Vice Chancellor of ABU, Professor Kabir Bala.”

“We have invited the Royal fathers, Emir of Zazzau Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli. Royal Father of the day, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, will serve as the Chief Host while the Deputy Governor of Kaduna state; Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe will be the Guest of Honour among other personalities invited to grace the lecture.”

“What we want to achieve is to clear the misconception of the Nigerian country. Nigeria is one single entity, but Richard Constitution divided the Nigerian state, the lecture will help in correcting the distortion of history,” he said.