Enahoro: Our Mistakes In The Founding Of Nigeria

Enahoro: Our Mistakes in the Founding of Nigeria
By Yemi Adebowale, 09.27.2008

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The man who moved the motion for Nigeria's Independence in 1953, Chief Anthony Enahoro has admitted to the mistakes of his generation and the founding fathers by not ensuring that the country was constituted along ethnic nationalities.
This veteran politician, journalist and businessman has remained very much in the news ever since. Enahoro, one of Nigeria’s foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists has seen it all in politics – the good, the bad and the ugly.
In an exclusive interview with THISDAY to commemorate the 48th independence anniversary of the country, Enahoro remains as dogged as ever insisting that Nigeria as presently constituted is an anomaly and not a nation.
He said the Nigeria of today is not what he and other young political activists in the late 1950s had hoped for when they fought for independence, adding it should have comprised separate federating units to reflect and represent the aspirations of the various ethnic tribes that make up the whole.
“Nigeria as it is today, is not a nation. We did not think that just because the British created it this way, we were all bound by it. We thought that even if there was going to be a Nigeria, the component units should be the ethnic groups,” he said. 
Enahoro was of the opinion that “there should have been a Yoruba state, Igbo state, Hausa state, Ijaw state and the rest of the ethnic groups. That should have been the basis of our unity.”
He felt the dream of those who fought for the country’s independence had not been realised, stating Nigeria has become a nation of English people and that they conduct their business and daily lives in a foreign language which would not have been the case if federalism had been adopted.
He disclosed it was during the meetings of the youth wing of several political parties in the country of which he was the chairman, that it was agreed that each of the federating units be allowed to exist semi-autonomously.
But Enahoro disclosed that did not happen because older politicians who should have pushed for a confederacy failed to take it up from where he left off after he moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence.
“We thought the elders will take it on from there, but they thought otherwise. That is why we are where we are today.”
Enahoro whose sharp wit and intellect belied his 85 years on earth expressed sadness that the nation had not made significant progress since 1960.
He blamed the nation’s woes on the mistake made by its founding fathers who decided to leave the country as a contraption created by the British colonial regime.
“I still think Nigeria could have been effective if the units that make up Nigeria are the ethnic units. It could have been effective if the internal administration and the business of the people, and not the business of somebody sitting in Abuja.
“I do not think that a hand full of people should take the decision on a place that would be the federal capital of Nigeria. The decision ought to have been taken by all the

Source: http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=123647

A medication after death

no mind them

Enahoro should shut up until he joins his maker in agony, pain and shame which cannot be assuaged even by the comfort of heaven. At 85 , he is now belatedly espousing the ideas and vision (conferedation, regional control of economic resources, reduced and limited power to the center) Ojukwu  at 35 advocated for which he was labeled a secessionist and power maniac.

The war would never have been fought and indeed Gowon and his northern brothers would have never repudiated the Aburi Accord, much more challenged Biafran Independence through war, if Enahoro and his growing club of frustrated and disappointed southerners had seen the pre-Biafran issues as a battle against the bankrupt Northern elites quest to control the commanding heights of  Nigeria

Instead they saw it as an Igbo issue and happily fought on behalf of the powers-that-be against the larger interest of their own tribe and future generations. They hen of myopism and igbo phobia has since come home to roost.

What a shame! After 48 years of independence and over $500 billion in oil money alone, all Gowon can say about Nigeria's @ 48 is "all hope is not lost"