CONTINUATION

51. Kumbwada in Kano today is ruled by Queen Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed, who
presides over up to half a million subjects. A throne curse which makes men
sick and die, keeps males off the throne. {Sadly, the woman ruled Kumbwada
is the least funded chiefdom in Nigeria}.
1967 Biafra Home Built Armored Tank
52. The Igbo ethnic group are the ‘Jews’ of Nigeria. Eager for a home state
and highly entrepreneurial; during the Biafra secession attempt in the 60’s, this
industrious people were already constructing indigenous tanks and other
weaponry.
53. There are several Nigerian officials in the government of English speaking
The Gambia.
54. There is a Nigerian origin, Yoruba chief in Accra. Chief Brimah is the only
foreign Chief with a seat in the Ghanaian traditional council.
Chief Brimah VII, Ghana
55. Cross River State: The Ejagham (Ekoi) people in the Southeast are believed
to have originated the Nsibidi (Nsibiri) writing system which later spread to the
Efik, Igbo, Ibibio, Efut, Banyang and Annag peoples.
56. Discovered in 1928, Nigeria’s North and North Central region hosts West
Africa’s oldest civilization; the Nok, which flourished between 1000 BC and 300
BC. {Nok sculptures recently went on display disappointingly in Germany (not
Africa).}
57. Finished in 1460 the Benin Iya or moat is a historic world defense wonder.
Spanning 1,200 kilometers with walls as high as 18 metres, it is the world’s
largest archeological structure.
Nigerian Army
58. Sungbo’s Eredo in Ogun state (6°49′N, 3°56′E) is a 100 mile system of up
to 70 ft trenches and walls around Ijebu-Ode. It’s Queen, Bilkisu Sungbo has
been attributed to the Biblical Queen Sheeba (Queen Bilkis in Quran).
59. Lord Lugard estimated in 1904 that there were 170 walled towns still in
existence in the whole of just the Kano province of northern Nigeria. He
described Kano: ‘Commercial emporium of the western Sudan.’ Of its wall, he
said, ‘I have never seen, nor even imagined, anything like it in Africa.’
60. Osun: Queen Luwo, the twenty-first Ooni (ruler) of Ile-Ife paved the
streets with quartz pebbles—and broken pottery, in 1000AD. The architecture
had decorations that originated from Ancient America.
61. Borno: The capital city of Kanem-Borno, Ngazargamu, was one of the
largest cities in 1658 AD; the metropolis housed “about quarter of a million
people” and had 660 well planned, wide and unbending streets.
62. In 1246 AD the Kanemi of Borno created a sensation in Tunisia when he
sent a gift of a giraffe to Al-Mustapha, king of Tunis.
Tradition marriage in the Yoruba culture
63. Sokoto: Two-story buildings with constructions glazed with tsoluwa,
(laterite gravel), 10 mile circumference city walls, some as high as 20 feet, is
how 16th century Surame, a Sokoto metropolis created by empire ruler,
Muhammadu Kanta Sarkin Kebbi, was. UNESCO describes Surame as “one of
the wonders of human history, creativity and ingenuity.”
64. Kano: In 1851, this city, one of the largest in Africa, made 10 million sandal
pairs and 5 million hides for export every year.
Igbo Masquerades
65. Kebbi: Nigeria’s Sorko Sea lords of Kebbi state, made ships (Kanta) which
were used for far away expeditions, including the 1311 AD, 2000 ship, famous
voyage of Songhai Empire’s Mansa Abubakari II to the America’s, decades
before Columbus.
66. Yobe: The oldest discovered boat in Africa, and 3rd oldest on the world,
the 8500 yr old Dufuna canoe was discovered by a Fulani herdsman in 1987 in
Dufuna village, Fune LGA.
67. Ondo: Confusing evolution scientists, the 13,000 yr old Iwo-Eleru cave
skull, the oldest human fossil remains found in West Africa, has
‘ancient’ (140,000 yr old Laetoli) features, yet lived in more modern times.
68. Benin Kingdom: The high quality and highly sophisticated bronze work of
the Benin Kingdom dating as far back as the 13th century is a world wonder.
Great works in iron, wood, ivory, and terra cotta products also highlight the
empire’s history.
Igbo War Dance
69. Benin Kingdom: Lourenco Pinto, captain of a ship that carried missionaries
to Warri in 1619, described Benin kingdom, ‘Great Benin where the king
resides is larger than Lisbon, all the streets run straight and as far as the
eyes can see….’
70. Akwa Ibom: King Jaja of Opobo (1821–1891) founded Opobo city-state in
1867 and shipped palm oil to Britain independently of British middle men.
71. Ancient Greeks appear to have Nigerian roots as supported by the Benin
Haplogroup or Haplogroup 19. According to Jide Uwechia, ‘The Benin
Haplotype (which originates from Nigeria, West Africa) accounts for HbS
associated chromosomes in Sicily Northern Greece.’
72. Ilorin’s Oba Afonja utilized Fulani warriors to help rebel against the Oyo
Empire. The warriors after defeating Oyo took over Ilorin and Sheikh Alimi,
their leader’s son became the first Emir.
73. Much of north Nigeria was part of the Songhai Empire. Muhammad Kanta
annexed Kebbi and other states between 1512 and 1517.
74. The Obasanjo military regime converted Nigeria from a Parliamentary
system to a Presidential system of government.
75. Much of traditional pre-colonial Nigeria operated a parliamentary form of
government. The council of elders could make or impeach the King.
76. General Johnson Thomas Umurakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi on 24 May 1966, with
Decree No. 34, dissolved Nigeria’s regions, creating provinces. He unified
Regional Public Services under a single Commission. Riots were provoked in
Kano and mutiny in Abeokuta; eventually there was a coup.
77. In 1967 Gowon split the four regions into 12 states.
78. Gowon’s Decree No. 8 of 1967 after the Aburi conference restored Nigeria
as a confederacy.
79. Late President Murtala Muhammed’s dad, Pam Azatus Iyok was from
Dogon-Gaba, near Vom in Plateau state, Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Pam became a
Muslim and married Ramat from Kano. Murtala Muhammed’s wife, Hafsat
Ajoke was a Yoruba lady.
80. Ex- President Yakubu Gowon from Jos state (Middle Belt) is a Christian.
General Obasanjo was his Army chief who helped him defeat the Biafra
attempted secession from 1967-1970.
81. Nigeria has been ruled for 30 years by Christians (25 years if Azikiwe is
excluded).
82. Mujahid Asari Dokubo, the leader of the southern Movement for
Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the most vocal enemy of the
north, is a Muslim.
83. Nigeria is not roughly divided between a Muslim north and a Christian
South. The far north, east and far south do have concentrations, but the rest of
the nation defies such demarcations.
Bata Drums – African Bata Lebee Cultural Troupe – Osun Grove – YouTube
84. In the Southwest, Osun, Lagos, Ogun and Oyo have a higher population of
Muslims than Christians according to counts. Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau in
the north have Christian majorities.
85. According to the Senate joint committee, Nigeria’s chief terrorist leader,
Abubakar Shekau is not a Nigerian; he hails from Niger republic. {Shekau is
believed by security services to be deceased.}
86. According to current demographics, after Hausa-Fulani (29%), Yoruba
(21%), Igbo (18%) and Ijaw (10%) comes Kanuri (4%) and then Ibibio (3.5%)
and Tiv (2.5%).
87. Not really a northern caucus, but it was late M. K. O. Abiola that
orchestrated and sponsored the Buhari /Idiagbon coup and then again the
Babangida coup overthrow of Buhari. –Shagari memoir, “Beckoned to Serve;”
Babangida, “Karl Maier – Midnight in Nigeria.” (Max Siollun)
88. The leading caucus is basically a childhood friendship: President Obasanjo
was childhood friends with President Babangida, President Abacha and
Commander Danjuma.
89. President Babangida was childhood friends with President Abdulsalam.
Aso Rock viewed from Aso Villa, the seat of Power in Nigeria, Abuja
90. President Obasanjo graduated Abdulsalam who later became President and
went on to hand over power to democratically arranged President Obasanjo.
91. Under the Presidential system, Nigerians have had 7 years total Northern
rule and 11+ years Southern rule.
92. Total civilian rule, Parliamentary and Presidential, Nigeria has had 12
years Northern and 11+ years Southern rule.
Nigerian Police on Parade
93. 6 coups is the highest number of any nation in Africa. Nigeria along with
Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Uganda and Mauritania are the nations with 6 coups.
94. The Biafra war included a ‘Mid West invasion.’ The Midwest was either a
battle field or in Biafra’s sights—Dr. Nowamagbe A. Omoigui relays.
ASUANJ’s inaugural masquerade in Ikebukuro. Photo by Dreux Richard
95. The Biafra 12th battalion headed by Lt Col Victor Adebukunola Banjo
captured Benin and set out to capture Ibadan and Lagos.
96. The Biafra 13th battalion, led by Ivenso entered Kwara, now Kogi and
captured Okene, Atanai and Iloshi.
97. Cameroon was an administrative part of Nigeria in 1945, hence the NCNC
party (National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons). Towards independence
the UN mandated British held former German territory, south Cameroon opted
to join French Cameroon and not Nigeria.
98. J.C. Vaughn, Ernest Ikoli, H.O. Davies, Obafemi Awolowo and Sam Tsuiuel
Akinsanya founded the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in 1934 to promote
national unity particularly between Yoruba and Igbo.
Performance by dance and music group from Nigeria during the Africa Festival
in New Delhi on Wednesday
99. Azikiwe left Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) because he claimed the
organization had been seized by Yoruba’s and it discriminated against Igbo’s
including himself.
100. Oyo defeats Ashanti: In 1764 the Ashanti army marched on Dahomey,
Togo. At Atakpamé, the Ashanti army was ambushed and sacked by
Dahomean infantry and female elite soldiers allied with forces from the Oyo
Empire. Ashanti King Kusi Obodum was destooled after the defeat.
Nigeria’s century compilation was created as a historical snapshot of peculiar
events, for our benefit and that of Nigeria’s younger generations. It was
compiled to the best of our ability and influenced by our learning, recollection
and prejudices. We invite Nigerians to collect and share with us more
important and unique events that define 100 years of Nigeria. Resources
utilized here can be found on ENDS.ng.
About the Author
Dr. Peregrino Brimah