The Fallen Glory of Nigeria

 

Nigeria bleed.

Before the amalgamation of 1914, the region that would become modern Nigeria was not a unified country but a diverse mosaic of indigenous kingdoms, empires, and ethnic groups, gradually brought under British colonial control through trade, military conquests, and administrative protectorates. The name "Nigeria" itself was coined in the late 19th century by British journalist Flora Shaw, referring to the Niger River area, but it only applied to the unified colony after January 1, 1914, when British Governor-General Frederick Lugard merged the Northern Nigeria Protectorate with the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria for economic and administrative efficiency.This merger aimed to use southern surpluses from trade to offset northern deficits, while centralizing governance under indirect rule.

The Northern part:

Dominated by Islamic influences from trans-Saharan trade and Arab-Berber contacts dating back to the 9th century. The Kanem-Borno Empire, centered around Lake Chad, was one of the oldest, thriving from the 11th to 19th centuries on trade in salt, ivory, and slaves, with a strong cavalry and Islamic scholarship.In the early 19th century, Fulani jihad leader Usman dan Fodio established the Sokoto Caliphate (1804–1903), a vast Islamic theocracy uniting Hausa city-states like Kano, Katsina, and Zaria under Sharia law. It emphasized education, agriculture (groundnuts, cotton), and centralized administration through emirs. Other groups included the Nupe Kingdom (known for brasswork and river trade), Jukun Kingdom, and decentralized societies like the Tiv and Idoma. Islam was widespread, coexisting with traditional animist beliefs.

The Western part:

Home to Yoruba-speaking peoples, with ancient urban centers like Ife (considered the Yoruba spiritual cradle, dating to the 9th century) and the Oyo Empire (peaking in the 17th–18th centuries), which controlled trade routes and had a sophisticated monarchy with checks like the Ogboni council. The Benin Kingdom (Edo people), flourishing from the 13th century, was renowned for its bronze art, walled city, and centralized oba (king) system, extending influence to the Niger Delta through trade in palm oil, ivory, and slaves. Coastal groups like the Itsekiri (Warri Kingdom) engaged in maritime trade. Traditional religions involved deities like Ogun and Shango, with elaborate festivals and art.

The Eastern part:

Largely Igbo-speaking, with decentralized village democracies where decisions were made by elders and age-grade systems rather than kings.Influential entities included the Aro Confederacy (a trading network using oracle-based authority) and kingdoms like Onitsha and Arochukwu.The Ibibio and Efik in the southeast had secret societies and trade hubs like Calabar. Economies focused on yams, palm products, and internal trade, with traditional religions centered on ancestors and spirits.

Now my story:

The above describes what Nigeria used to be: a land of many languages, cultures, and independent kingdoms brought together by colonial rule through forced amalgamation. Before 1914, it was not one country but a collection of flourishing, self-governing regions and empires that grew and prospered on their own, without depending on external aid. Long-distance trade in goods like salt, kola nuts, cloth, slaves, and later palm oil and groundnuts created strong economic bonds between the regions, even though they remained politically separate.

As you can see, each region relied heavily on its own trade specialties and was flourishing in its own way. Given time, the area we now call Nigeria might naturally have evolved into three (or more) separate nations – North, West, and East – each following its own path.

That possibility ended with the forced amalgamation of 1914. Truth be told, almost no one at the time welcomed the merger; traditional rulers, traders, and ordinary people alike were deeply unhappy. Yet many chose to swallow their objections and cooperate, hoping it would eventually serve the greater good of all.

Fast-forward to today: when we look at the bloodshed and unrest still occurring in parts of the North and elsewhere, it’s worth asking – how much of it traces back to that forced union a century ago, and to the tensions and imbalances it created?

THE START OF BOKO HARAM:

Boko Haram, formally known as Jama'atu Ahlis-Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (Group of the People of Sunnah for Preaching and Jihad), emerged in northeastern Nigeria as a radical Islamist sect seeking to overthrow the secular Nigerian government and establish a "pure" Islamic state governed by strict Sharia law. Founded around 2002 in Maiduguri, Borno State, by Mohammed Yusuf—a charismatic preacher influenced by Salafist and Wahhabi ideologies—the group's rise was not sudden but rooted in a confluence of ideological, socio-economic, political, and historical factors. Initially a non-violent movement focused on Islamic education and community welfare, it turned violently insurgent after 2009, following Yusuf's extrajudicial killing by Nigerian security forces.Below, I outline the primary causes, drawing from historical analyses and expert assessments.

As you can see, government failure and widespread poverty created the conditions for the emergence of Muhammad Yusuf. He exploited the state’s neglect to offer his people an alternative path. You cannot be a governor, refuse to provide basic needs for the citizens, fail to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, and still expect peace. Yet, many northern governors were more preoccupied with holding onto power and preparing for the next election than with governing effectively.

When Muhammad Yusuf was arrested by the police, they did not take him to court for a fair trial. Instead, they executed him extrajudicially and lied to the press, claiming he was killed while trying to escape.

Fast-forward to the period after President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan won the 2011 election. Many northern political elites reacted with fury. Some openly vowed that his government would know no peace—and they kept their word. They revived and rearmed Boko Haram, enabling the group to bomb, maim, and kill at will.

Like most insurgent movements, internal disagreements soon emerged. Some factions felt the leadership wasn’t radical or violent enough, leading to splits. From one group, several others emerged—many with no clear ideology or coherent objective, just indiscriminate killing, kidnapping, and terror.

Meanwhile, what has the president been doing?

What has the National Assembly been doing?

What have the state governments, especially in the affected regions, been doing?

Ask yourself honestly: do the actions (or inactions) of those in power show any serious, sustained commitment to ending this menace?

Wake up, Nigeria—before it is too late.