www.nairaland.com/attachments/3491585_semi_jpeg513ac1768d2d09638ae362211a30d373





Whao! Whao!! Whao!!! Ladies and gentlemen, the educational aficionados, the cerebral analysts and pundits, respected Nairaland intelligentsia and commentariat, observers and watchers all well respected Nigerian students both in Nigeria and Abroad, it's our pleasure to welcome you to the penultimate match for this Edition of Nairaland interschool debate , it all started with on the 29th Of December 2015 with 25 schools, we started with essay submission from which 16 schools proceeded to the next stage which we tagged THE INTELLECTUAL 16, from this we moved to The elimination stage, funny enough all the whole school that partake In the INTELLECTUAL 16 advanced to the elimination stage, 16 schools competed for a spot in the quarter final stage, it was a easy win for some schools due to the absent of their opponent but it was a tug of war for some, after that we moved to the mighty quarter where the strongest, luckiest, and smartest work their way down to the stage we are in now and that's the [size=15pt]SEMI FINAL STAGE[/size] ... We appreciate you all from the audience to the Judges for you time.

Check the fixtures for the thread links.
https://www.nairaland.com/2811855/nairaland-interschool-debate-third-edition

This Edition is gradually coming to end of yes it is, all plaudit and adoration to God for the phenomena of the stages we climbed before getting here, and also to our personage Judges and audience..... and here we go with the Semi final debate for this Edition i hope you find it more piquant and educative.... Relax and watch how the fate of this two great citadel is determine on here, which team gets to debate in the final is it Obafemi Awolowo University or Lagos State University, we will get to know on the 28th of this month. ... *grabs popcorn with fanta*

[size=15pt]COMMENTARY[/size]


[img]http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/1403632_oau-logo_jpegfd792ca2348535d7a50271d82c1b576d[/img]

[size=15pt]OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY
[/size]

OAU: Obafemi Awolowo University also known as Great ife with the motto "For learning and culture" at the inception of Nairaland Interschool Debate, this school had the highest number of Representatives, this displayed much commitment to this cause, OAU is one of the founding schools that have maintained consistency, though lost many chances of lifting the trophy of this debate, notwithstanding they refused to relent and kept on the intellectual stance in all the editions, this school was present for the maiden edition, and they clearly displayed truly that they are great,but ended up in the 3rd position which was the intellectual handiwork of LASU, also this team as well graced the sophomore edition of NISD and yet again ended up in the third position, funny? No school in this intellectual exercise had maintain such feet, if there will be an AWARD for the most consistent TEAM, then with no iota of doubt OAU deserves the Award, However we hope and believe that teamOAU will shift base from what used to be the case to another, having met with the TEAM that displaced them in the first edition. Watch out....











[size=15pt]LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY [/size]
LASU one of the founding team of nisd, and the winner of the first edition, this team though started on a rocky ground but ended strong by claiming the first edition of this intellectual exercise, however the sophomore edition seemed like a hard nut for team lasu to crack, as they fell out at the entry level, however the comeback representatives for teamLASU seems prepared for this edition...

[size=16pt]Obafemi Awolowo University(Support) Vs Lagos State University (Oppose)


Topic: 1914 Amalgamation - A Historical
Mistake?[/size]





[img]http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/1403632_oau-logo_jpegfd792ca2348535d7a50271d82c1b576d[/img]



Obafemi Awolowo University – Popularly known as "Great Ife" is a Federal Government owned and operated Nigerian university. The university is in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, led by late chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, and was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University on 12th May 1987 in honour of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909–1987), first premier of the Western Region of Nigeria, whose brainchild the university was.

Her Vice Chancellor is Professor Idowu Bamitale Omole.

OAU Motto - For Learning and Culture

Let me now present to you the Great Ife's representative.

► Emaculate99
► OAUTemitayo


LASU



Lagos State University generally regarded as Lasu was established in 1983 by the enabling Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, for the advancement of learning and establishment of academic excellence.
Chancellor: Molade Okoya-Thomas


Her philosophy is For truth and service

Her representatives:
►NeonDee
►IamDejman
►Timidelaw
►horlapelumi
►Eduntee

Source: Wikipedia.

Officiating:

Coordinator: Tosyne2much


Judges

Adeaks
Obinoscopy
Xynerise


I greet you Sirs


Date: 28th March, 2016


Time: 12pm.

DEBATE RULES

Kindly read.

1.) The recommended font size is the default size (size 8.) and the colour is the default colour (black).

2.) The essay should be in maximum of 1000 words.

3.) The use of SMS language and abbreviations are strictly forbidden.

4.) All materials used should be properly referenced at the end of the essay.

5.) All essays must be submitted on the stipulated date and time.

6.) Sole representatives are not allowed during the competition, both representatives must be present.

7.) All representatives are to engage in rebuttals and give answers to questions raised by the judges and the audience.

8.) Word counts should be strictly adhered to. http://www.wordcounttool.com/

9.) Mindless lifting is outrightly discouraged

10.) Defaulters will be penalized when caught

PROCEDURES

11:55am -- Debaters (Emaculate99, OAUTemitayo, Timidelaw, Dejman) and judges (Adeaks, Obinoscopy, Xynerise) registers presence.

12:00pm – The organizer, Fynestboi declares the debate open.

12:00pm - 12:30pm -- Debaters post their arguments within 30 minutes, maximum word limit is 1000.

12:30pm – 1:30pm – Rebuttals - A debater takes on his opponent’s view, puncturing his or her points - This the debater does by quoting the said comment and then countering it with his or her own views.

1:30pm – 1:40pm – Judges post questions to debaters either on what the debater has posited or revolving around the debate topic, albeit, this is not compulsory, it is acceptable for a judge not to have questions for the debaters... Judges with questions should please be specific as to which debater they are posting their questions to. E.g “Mr X, could you expatiate what you meant by subsidy? or ...., kindly give examples to your claim that the removal of fuel subsidy is justified.

1:40pm – 2:00pm – Debaters respond to questions raised by judges.

2:00pm – 2:20pm – Two questions will be entertained from the audience i.e. viewers and this will be based on ‘fastest fingers’. After the 2 questions, other questions will be attended to after the debate or perhaps, if the debater is free during the debate to respond to them, he or she can do so, however, points will not be awarded after the 2 questions.

2:20pm – 2:30pm – Debaters respond to audience questions and concludes their arguments. Debaters who were not asked any questions can still conclude his/her arguments during this time.

2:30pm – 2:40pm – Judges compile their scores and mail to coordinators with a copy to Nairalandinterschooldebate@gmail.com

2:40pm – 3:00pm - Coordinators announce results, after which the thread will be thrown open for regular Nairaland discussions.

DEBATE MODALITIES

5 points to be awarded to each criteria.

1. Presentation (opening, flow, paragraphs, grammar, punctuations, word count, closing,)

2. Logic of arguments

3. Strength of facts, examples, cases.

4. Persuasiveness

5. Demonstration of knowledge and understanding of the subject

6. Rebuttals and response to questions raised by the judges and the audience.

And now, let us take this time out to appreciate all that has made this event what it is, a grand success.

To all the debaters from the essay submission stage til date, we love and appreciate you all.

To the organizers, coordinators, judges and all Nairaland ers, your unrelenting support are also well appreciated.

And to our dear sponsors, thank you, thank you for investing in this.

Cc:

Ymodulus

Ifyalways

Jarus

Jaybee3

Amiloaded.com

All judges



GIVEAWAYS



► A hard copy of the book "The Road to Victoria Island" authored by Mr. Jarus to the debaters of the winning school.

► A soft copy (ebook version) to be given to each debater of the second placed team.

► Best debater to be invited to JarusHub Networking Event - an avenue to meet and dine with some Lagos professionals in a top restaurant in Lagos (This meet holds on every last Saturday of every month, and the debater is free to choose the month he prefers from June to December 2016).


Courtesy: JarusHub Career Consulting

---

If you are reading this and you are also interested in sponsoring this educational event, kindly reach us on - - nairalandinterschooldebate@gmail.com.

Thank you.

While the debate is going on, only the contestants, coordinators, Chairman and Supermods (if need be) can post.




Let us all kindly comply, as defaulters might attract a 3 hours ban (duration of the debate).




You can however comment simultaneously at the planning thread.


https://www.nairaland.com/2446965/nairaland-interschool-debate-chatroom-third/40




Thank you.

Warming up

We will be determining the Team that will debate in the FINAL of the THIRD EDITION of NAIRALAND INTERSCHOOL DEBATE



TODAY...

I believe it will be a fight to finish....

Present

11:55am -- Debaters (Emaculate99, OAUTemitayo, Timidelaw, Dejman) and judges (Adeaks, Obinoscopy, Xynerise) registers presence.




Happy Easter...

Fynestboi:
11:55am -- Debaters (Emaculate99, OAUTemitayo, Timidelaw, Dejman) and judges (Adeaks, Obinoscopy, Xynerise) registers presence.




Happy Easter...

Present sir

Fynestboi:
11:55am -- Debaters (Emaculate99, OAUTemitayo, Timidelaw, Dejman) and judges (Adeaks, Obinoscopy, Xynerise) registers presence.




Happy Easter...

Happy Easter too

present

Present

OUR AIM

In an era, when the internet is synonymous with scams and fraud, it gladden my heart to see the 'future leaders' coming together and forming a bond that exists beyond the e-world in order to improve and impact the society positively. This debates is coming at the appropriate time when we continue to have a decline in the reading and writing habit of our youth, this we believe his our little way of re-orientating society about the important and benefits of positive criticism through debating.

I have nothing much to say but to appreciate the Judges for their time and to implore the participants to put in their best more than before and at the end of today's exercise we all will learn new things.

Happy easter.


i hereby declare open the SEMI FINAL MATCH between OAU and LASU open.

12:00pm - 12:30pm -- Debaters post their arguments within 30 minutes, maximum word limit is 1000.


Oautemitayo
Emmaculate99
Timidelaw
horlarpelumi

Amalgamation of Nigeria:
An Historic mistake:
Position: Support
OauTemitayo Representing OAU.

The foundation of any civil society is justice, fairness and equity.
Amalgamation is the mixture of two or more things together according to Colin's dictionary.
The amalgamation of Southern and Northern protectorate in 1914 was the height of injustice and insensitivity by the British colonialists on the right to self determination of the various ethnic groups living across the area.
Any society or country built on falsehood, deception and unwilling compulsion of several homogenous people against their will into one will fail. The balkanisation of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Sudan, Pakistan and India is a pointer to this. Even advanced socities such as United Kingdom (Northern Ireland and Scotland), Spain (Catalonia and Basquets) Canada (French speaking part) are still battling with secessionist agitations as a result of lumping together people of diverse cultures and languages.
Nigeria was actually created as a company by the British as the United Africa Company to expand British business and hegemony.
According to Chief Richard Akinjide, the British amalgamated only the administration of the southern and northern protectorates of Nigeria and not the inhabiting people.
Justice demands that people should be involved in all decisions that can make or mar them now or in the future. It is a known and unarguable fact at no time did the Yorubas, Igbos, Hausas, Itsekiris and other ethnic groups sat down together to approve their forceful union.
By excluding the indigenous people from taking part in the decision that will decide their future, the British committed a deplorable crime against humanity. The amalgamation which was deliberate and calculative is today why Nigeria has refused to be a home desired by all. If the Igbos are not agitating today for Biafra, the Niger Delta would be canvassing for the control of their resources.
It is known worldwide that countries with people of the same language, culture and tradition are usually united and focused on development. The British deliberately lumped together people of diverse ethnicity, language and tradition just to serve their own administrative and financial interest.
Even British colonial officers such as the legendary Harold Smith has confessed that the amalgamation of Nigeria was wrong and unfair to some parts of Nigeria.
The amalgamation was done in such a way that a particular part of the country has some sort of political leverage over the other parts.
Such is the political leverage that issues such as expertise, qualifications and intellectual ability are being shoved aside on the basis of Federal character. A look at admission requirements for entering Nigerian universities will highlight the injustice being meted on brilliant students from certain parts of Nigeria through their disqualification not because they did not perform better than some admitted students, but because of an unfair and illogical policy called Educationally less developed states program which demands that less intelligent students be admitted before them. This injustice is not peculiar to the education sector, it is a general norm in all spheres of life in Nigeria. This has led to promotion of mediocrity over expertise in government settings and the nation as a whole. The result of the above is the failure of Nigeria to develop economically, and politically beyond the yardstick of a third world country due to the supremacy of federal character over intelligence and expertise.
Such is the flawed foundation of the country that even after over hundred years of the amalgamation, Nigeria is still battling with basic problems such as food security problems (we are still importing majority of what we are eating such as rice and others even though we have an arable land that is more than enough), inadequate power generation (despite spending over twenty trillion naira on the sector we are still generating 4000MW for a population of over 160 million when South Africa a country with half population of ours generates over 50,000MW), poor road network, poor health facilities, terrible education sector (or how do you explain students dying on the collapse of classrooms that should have been renovated) etc. This are problems synonymous with mediocrity, lack of direction, loss of sense of dignity and poor leadership born out of the apparent lopsidedness of the country structurally.
The mistrust among the over 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria has led to unending ethnic clashes and the loss of millions of lives. The Nigerian civil war, Itsekiri Vs Ijaw, Fulani vs Agatu in the middle belt, Hausas vs Jos indigenes, Yoruba vs Hausa at mile 12 and many more are examples. Even our celebrated leaders such as Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe and Ahmadu Bello did not believe in the oness of Nigerians considering the various divisive statements credited to them.
Salient issues such as accountability and corruption cases are usually given ethnic colouration by opposing ethnic groups trying to support their kinsmen who in most cases are only using them as a means to an end.
The fact that majority of European and Asian countries are made up majorly of one ethnic group and the progress, development and peace existing in such countries when compared with the homogenous countries of Africa which have been riddled with so many problems such as ethnic wars and poor leadership points to the fact the amalgamation of several ethnic groups into one as done in Nigeria was a great mistake.
Conclusively, if after hundred years we are still battling with issues such as ethnic clashes, mistrust and basic economic problems such as food scarcity, then we need to have a rethink and accept the fact that the amalgamation of Nigeria which is the foundation of the entity called Nigeria is faulty and therefore will lead us to nowhere.

References:

Amalgamation of Nigeria
www.unitedijaw.com/amalgamation.htm
The conflict between Itsekiri and Ijaw in Warri Delta
www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad6864.html
Yoruba and Hausa clash at Mile 12
www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/03/03/five-killed-several-cars-vandalized-as-hausa-yoruba-clash-in-lagos/
Many killed as Fulani and Agatu people clash
dailypost.ng/2016/02/23/breaking-many-killed-as-suspected-fulani-herdsmen-raid-agatu-community/
The causes of Nigerian civil war
www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-were-causes-biafran-nigerian-civil-war-what-466264
Legendary Harold Smith Speaks about Nigeria
https://haroldsmithmemorial./2011/01/05/legendary-harold-smith-speaks-about-nigeria/

Nice one, Emaculate99 your Turn

Fynestboi:
Nice one, Emaculate99 your Turn

Team lasu get ready to drop yours immediately after Emaculate99 must have.

“The southern Nigerians who are swarming into this region daily in large number are really intruders… they are not welcomed here in the North. Since the amalgamation in 1914, the British has been trying to make Nigeria one country, but the Nigerian people are different in every way including religion… We here in North, take it that Nigeria’s unity is not for us.” – Tafawa Balewa.

“The mistake of 1914 has come to light” – the Sardauna of Sokoto.

“Nigeria is not a nation, it is a mere geographical expression … to which life was given by the diabolic amalgamation of 1914, that amalgamation will ever remain the most painful injury inflicted on the Southern Nigeria.” – Obafemi Awolowo.

Standing on the already established protocol, I am Emaculate Ife representing OAU. I write to support the motion which states: “1914 Amalgamation – a historical mistake?” Before I continue, let me represent the issue of 1914 amalgamation with this:

In plastic industry, thermoset plastics are made in such a way that a very high temperature is needed to cure them. If there is any mistake, reheating it will make binding impossible because its chemical makeup necessary for binding will be decomposed. The manufacturer has no other option than to completely break the defective product up.

Historically, the 1914 amalgamation of Nigeria stemmed out from the 1884/85 scramble of Africa which took no recourse for the interest of the people in the communities that were being shared. The location which happened to be the present day Nigeria was the portion given to Britain and which was enclosed by the portion given to France. France unlike Britain, thought of the people to some extent and chose not to amalgamate the communities in the said portion. With lack of knowledge of the people in the communities, the British joined them together to aid administrative convenience and economic purposes. But should administrative convenience and economic purpose be greater than people’s interest?

As citizens of a colonised country, we were merely the slaves of the colonialists who had to do what our masters said. Should we still allow ourselves to be controlled by the slave masters’ unfavourable structure even after getting our independence from the slave masters? Amalgamation is something of the colonialists who without recourse for us joined us (who are incompatible) together and impliedly charged us to live together as one for their economic purpose. Should we still continue to live under a unification which was consummated, without consultation, purely for the colonialists’ economic purpose rather than our own interest? I doubt it.

Moreover, the mistake of the 1914 amalgamation has been expressed by eminent personalities like Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and a host of others and have been put into action by the Biafrans in 1967 and recently. These eminent personalities had more experience about Nigeria as a whole so they understood perfectly what they said. Also, the previous and current protest for Biafra state stem out from amalgamation. Without amalgamation, there will be no civil war that led to the death of millions of people, malnourishment and deprivation of human rights.

Furthermore, it has been noted by UNESCO that “… no single type of foreign university can in itself, meet the aspirations of the African people for social and economic development.” That means people who school in foreign university cannot meet the aspiration of the African for social and economic development. Lord Lugard schooled at a foreign university. Therefore, Lord Luggard cannot give a policy that will meet the aspirations of African for social and economic development without it failing in these aspects.

Although, every Nigerian regards himself as a Nigerian but tribalism has put the status ‘Nigerian’ into a state of oblivion. When it comes to issues affecting one’s tribe/ethnic, the status ‘Nigeria', will be thrown into dustbin and each will declare their allegiance for their tribe/ethnic. This sometime leads to bloodshed. An example is the recent tribal fight at Mile 12 between Hausa and Yoruba.

Come to think of it, if the 1914 amalgamation is not a mistake, then people should take themselves as Nigerians and not the other way round. Provided by Nigerian constitution, any person who is a Nigerian by birth can contest as the governor of Nigeria provided that S182 of the constitution does not apply to him, but can an Igbo contest as the governor of Lagos without being told the history of his life that Lagos state belongs to the Yoruba (West) and not any other part of Nigeria? Nigeria and not the people is amalgamated.

Consequently, the country was designed during amalgamation to give more powers to the Northern part of Nigeria who are not educated in the western way as a result of the British policy that ousted their western education in order to curtail them from being as intellectual as Indian Muslims. In a bid to strengthen their (British) control over the whole country, more powers were given to the North and were made to enjoy the dividends of amalgamation even till today at the expense of other communities, thereby leading to a violent revolt against the government. Till today, Northern Nigeria still enjoy the consolidation of powers given to them by the Europeans and this has led to unhealthy relationship among the regions making up the present day Nigeria. This was further confirmed by the words of Sir Ahmadu Bello who said that “the new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great grandfather, Othman Dan Fodio, we must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We must use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the south as conquered territories and never allowed them to rule over us … have control over their future.”

With this, the current Biafran protest and the outpour of the Hausa and Yoruba leaders, I believe, you will throw your support behind me that the 1914 amalgamation is nothing but a mistake.

REFERENCE

www.thewillnigeria.com/news/opinion-is-1914-amalgamtion-a-blessing-or-a-curse

www.myfinancialintelligence.com/content/amalgamation--1914-was-it-mistake

www.chikaforafrica.com

1999 constitution of Nigeria 2011 as amended.

Nice one....


Team LASU can we have you on...

One love, one heart . .
Let’s get together and feel all right
I once argued that Lord Lugard wrote that lyrics, not because I don’t know Bob Marley but because he took an action in 1914 and the result as well as the reason were sum up in those lyrics.
Greetings moderators, distinguish adjudicators, fellow rational thinkers and amiable Nairalanders. I am horlapelumi of Lagos State University. I hope we can have a long and happy relationship together as I tend to have difficulty with small talk, so let's get to the chase while we debate about the glorious call of 1914 among a group of people called the giant of Africa; ‘THE ALMAGATION OF NIGERIA’ through this beautiful platform NAIRALAND which no reasonable man would call a ‘mistake’. I stand to oppose the motion “Amalgamation of 1914, Historical Mistake”.
To amalgamate means to unite, combine or blend. It is an act or process in which two or more things fuse together to form a new potent thing. Amalgamation results in the formation of a new (separate) company which has a unique name, identity and existence. In this light, amalgamation is the creation of a new state by the coming together of two or more states. Popular example is the joining together of the Northern and Southern protectorate to form a NIGERIA.
It is assumed by progressive historians that the amalgamation was to provide good administration and encourage internal trade throughout the country of diverse nations and a large market. Indeed, the post amalgamation period witnessed movements of people throughout the country with heavier traffic towards the North. There was also expanded trade culminating in the movement of goods from south to north and north to south, for instance, activities at the popular Onitsha market.
It is important to note that, before the invasion by the British, many empires within the Nigerian territory had made spirited efforts to unify the various tribes within West Africa. The Oyo Empire was known to have extended its empire up north towards Niger republic and deep west into Dahomey. The Fulani Empire was also known to have made spirited efforts to conquer and unify various tribes in Nigeria during the pre-colonial days. All these goes to say that there was a pre-colonial effort to unify the various tribes in Nigeria, the British only helped in speeding up the process. Should we then call such a generous act a mistake?
It is interesting to know that many of the proponents of ‘Nigeria amalgamation a curse’ are of the opinion that Nigerian people are different in every way including religion, custom, language and aspiration, In fact that we`re all Africans might have misguided the British Government but they fail to realise that; We are all equal in the fact that we are all different. We are all the same in the fact that we will never be the same. We are united by the reality that all colours and all cultures are distinct & individual. We are harmonious in the reality that we are all held to this earth by the same gravity. We don't share blood, but we share the air that keeps us alive. I will not blind myself and say that my black brother or brown sister is not different from me. But my brother or sister is as much as I am me. If we can’t survive with others, how we survive with ourselves.
I will like to avert our mind to certain incidents that happened after the union of 1914. History has it that after the amalgamation of 1914 Politically and economically, things appeared normal until the introduction of the Legislative Council which brought together representatives from the north and the southern parts of the country and months after this the late Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was reported in 1952 in a speech in the Northern House of Assembly, Kaduna, that `the Southern people who are swarming into this region daily in large numbers are really intruder. This establish the fact that, amalgamation was never the problem; issues plaguing the country range from leadership to ethnic and religious jingoism which some leaders deliberately played up to further divide the country. Is it not amazing how the incompetence of the present leaders could be blamed on events which happened about one hundred years ago? Many still relates fault from those halcyon days of British political ingenuity of 1914 to the present turbulent period of insurgency in the North, kidnapping and robberies in the South and deepening poverty all over the country when events have changed dramatically leaving vestiges of political bitterness, ethnic terrorism and religious intolerance.
There are claims and even confessions that the amalgamation was for the economic interest of the British, oh no! It was not only for their interest as it turns out to be a blessing to the amalgamated, take for instance, the first motion for Independence was moved in 1953, years after the amalgamation and in togetherness despite northern objection at first, the course was pursued and achieved. At independence, we inherited a nation built on unity in diversity, peace, freedom and justice and a national anthem that emphasised that unity, irrespective of our complexities. The first stanza of that sacred song, “Nigeria we hail thee” was formulated to reflect good virtues and ideals, our shared values. It was a national hymn we all felt proud to sing as children and adults. It’s scintillating lyrics and captivating wording inspired in every Nigeria, the spirit of nationalism and patriotism. Then we became so unfaithful with ourselves, faulting the force that brought us together, seeking independence out of independence as in the case of the Biafrans.
After 100 years, we had oracles of the British from Nigeria saying amidst other things that Nigeria was built to last for 100 years only and we can’t survive beyond that. Distinguish judges, adjudicators and my ever attentive audience, such arguments shows no respect for common sense, conclusively, because OUR AMALGAMATION IS NOT A MISTAKE, OUR AMALGAMATION IS UNIQUE BECAUSE DESPERATE UNITS WERE MERGED TOGETHER AND WE ARE STILL TOGETHER even after 100 years!







REFERENCES
• https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/unity
• http://kalyan-city..com.ng/2012/04/what-is-amalgamation-definition-meaning.html
•http://www.myfinancialintelligence.com/content/amalgamation-1914-was-it-mistake#sthash.th8NYYIM.dpuf
• http://www.mynewswatchtimesng.com/aliyu-harps-benefits-1914-amalgamation/
AMALGAMATION OF 1914: Was it a mistake?
• http://saharareporters.com/2014/03/10/1914-amalgamation-mistake-or-blessing-onyiorah-chiduluemije-paschal
• https://www.nairaland.com/1081002/1914-amalgamation-historical-mistake-nairaland
• https://www.nairaland.com/1202792/document-nigerias-amalgamation-1914-picture
• http://www.famous-quotes.com/topic.php?tid=1256

"Two plus two is not sometimes equal to four…. It is equal to four plus one because one is a powerful amalgamation" these were the words of Enock Maregesi. With this I'll say, good day to the Moderator, Panel of judges, Co-debaters, and the audience. I am Ojo Timilehin Joshua (Timidelaw) and I'm here to shed more light in conviction that, 1914 Amalgamation was no historic mistake.

In 1914, the British imperialist, Lord Lugard effected the union of both the Northern and Southern parts of the country under the name of Nigeria, presumably coined by his fiancée. These am sure is not new to readers, a continuation of these known story of the Nigeria amalgamation will only cause boredom to readers, contrary to that, I will clinically and convincingly prove that the 1914 amalgamation is not in any way a mistake.
Slight as it might look, it is of importance to define the key words in this topic. Black's Law dictionary defines amalgamation to be, the "Union of different races, or diverse elements, societies, or corporations, so as to form a homogeneous whole or new body", while mistake is defined as, "Some unintentional act, omission, or error arising from ignorance, surprise, imposition, or misplaced confidence." The question then arises, are we now saying the union of the Northern and Southern protectorate was not intentional? We will all agree to the position that it was.

What constitute an historic mistake in the formation of Nigeria? Is it the better communication created by this union or our Military strength? Our rich diversity or envied culture? Our stand out amongst African countries as a whole or taking the lead in West Africa? Our vast fertile land for agriculture or the Oil wells in the Niger Delta region? Is it being the world most populous black Nation or the giant of Africa? Maybe our tremendous contribution to the growth of Africa or relevance on the world map? I seem not to understand the mistake.
We, as a people, have decided to be deceived by some others that the issues troubling Nigeria is as a result of the amalgamation of 1914. Let us reason together, not minding the happenings in Somalia, so to say a homogenous nation, taking our home for example would better drive home the point, the Boko-haram issue of the Northern Nigeria; this is a menace which began around the year 2007 over 90 years after the merger, need not state this is an act carried out by the Northerners within the same region, the Niger Delta Crisis; a cause of alarm some years back, an act done by the Southern youths in the southern region. I then begin to wonder how these would be blamed on a merger, when they are operational in same regions.

Many would raise the issue of corruption; I must state here that, whether a merger or not, what will be will be. A close look at the happenings in Rivers State Nigeria can answer this better, if brothers from same state can make the state be in a war like manner, why then should we be deceived to believe that if the Northern and Southern part of Nigeria were separate it would be any different?

The issues affecting the nation today are not a result of the merger, but rather that of our leaders, and they should accept responsibility for their actions, and not try to turn the blame to the 1914 amalgamation. Little wonder renounced writer Chinua Achebe stated, "the trouble with Nigeria is the failure of leadership". In Nigeria today, self-centeredness is the order of the day, everyman for himself, can we consider the recent developments of a former National Security Adviser who misappropriated funds meant to fight insurgency in Northern Nigeria, a region where he originates from and still blame the amalgamation for wickedness to his people? Do we consider the figures in dollars recovered as a result of corruption in recent times and call the amalgamation of 1914 a historic mistake for such in 2016? That is going to be meaningless. Botswana and Somalia are very good examples, homogenous nations, but the difference between both is simply due to leadership. While Botswana had a leadership that pursued the need of the people as a nation, Somalia were busy languishing with power tussle by ill motive individuals.

The questions are more practical than giving history which has been created and crafted to deceive the populace by our past leaders that the merger is the cause for all the wrongs in our nation and mirage we find ourselves.

Assuming but not conceding that the amalgamation was an error, do we then think we have an excuse for the failing state of the nation? Definitely no, a child born out of wedlock or one born out of rape may want to give same argument, but am sure you will agree with me that no excuse exist in that, reason being that, everyone has control of his life, yes he might have been born in error but what he becomes in life is solely to his credit. A nation of 100 years and counting, complaining of its birth only shows deceit, lack of focus, misplaced priority and failure to progress.

Why should we even call it an error, when all nations of the world at one time or the other were birth in this form. If we go back into history, we see that the world used to be divided into empires and kingdoms.  In the modern period, however, nations or nation states have replaced empires as the basic unit of human political organization. These means people of diverse cultures made up nations, and they have not called this union a mistake, why then we. We are no different from them. 
Nations are built by men and women who have the will and vision to accomplish greatness, not for themselves, their immediate families and friends, but for their country. With such people it will be evident that 1914 amalgamation was not in any way a mistake.


REFERENCES
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/amalgamation-of-1914-was-it-a-mistake/
http://www.myfinancialintelligence.com/content/amalgamation-1914-was-it-mistake
http://www.mafng.org/anniversary/challenges_nation_building_nigeria.htm

Make sense. Let the battle begin..


From now till 1: 50pm... Let go..

You said people of diverse backgrounds have benn merged together in history, you have forgotten that majority of this empires were created on the basis of one conquering the other and subjugating the conquered people.
Are you saying conquering people based on your own interest is justified?

Timidelaw:
"Two plus two is not sometimes equal to four…. It is equal to four plus one because one is a powerful amalgamation" these were the words of Enock Maregesi. With this I'll say, good day to the Moderator, Panel of judges, Co-debaters, and the audience. I am Ojo Timilehin Joshua (Timidelaw) and I'm here to shed more light in conviction that, 1914 Amalgamation was no historic mistake.

In 1914, the British imperialist, Lord Lugard effected the union of both the Northern and Southern parts of the country under the name of Nigeria, presumably coined by his fiancée. These am sure is not new to readers, a continuation of these known story of the Nigeria amalgamation will only cause boredom to readers, contrary to that, I will clinically and convincingly prove that the 1914 amalgamation is not in any way a mistake.
Slight as it might look, it is of importance to define the key words in this topic. Black's Law dictionary defines amalgamation to be, the "Union of different races, or diverse elements, societies, or corporations, so as to form a homogeneous whole or new body", while mistake is defined as, "Some unintentional act, omission, or error arising from ignorance, surprise, imposition, or misplaced confidence." The question then arises, are we now saying the union of the Northern and Southern protectorate was not intentional? We will all agree to the position that it was.

What constitute an historic mistake in the formation of Nigeria? Is it the better communication created by this union or our Military strength? Our rich diversity or envied culture? Our stand out amongst African countries as a whole or taking the lead in West Africa? Our vast fertile land for agriculture or the Oil wells in the Niger Delta region? Is it being the world most populous black Nation or the giant of Africa? Maybe our tremendous contribution to the growth of Africa or relevance on the world map? I seem not to understand the mistake.
We, as a people, have decided to be deceived by some others that the issues troubling Nigeria is as a result of the amalgamation of 1914. Let us reason together, not minding the happenings in Somalia, so to say a homogenous nation, taking our home for example would better drive home the point, the Boko-haram issue of the Northern Nigeria; this is a menace which began around the year 2007 over 90 years after the merger, need not state this is an act carried out by the Northerners within the same region, the Niger Delta Crisis; a cause of alarm some years back, an act done by the Southern youths in the southern region. I then begin to wonder how these would be blamed on a merger, when they are operational in same regions.

Many would raise the issue of corruption; I must state here that, whether a merger or not, what will be will be. A close look at the happenings in Rivers State Nigeria can answer this better, if brothers from same state can make the state be in a war like manner, why then should we be deceived to believe that if the Northern and Southern part of Nigeria were separate it would be any different?

The issues affecting the nation today are not a result of the merger, but rather that of our leaders, and they should accept responsibility for their actions, and not try to turn the blame to the 1914 amalgamation. Little wonder renounced writer Chinua Achebe stated, "the trouble with Nigeria is the failure of leadership". In Nigeria today, self-centeredness is the order of the day, everyman for himself, can we consider the recent developments of a former National Security Adviser who misappropriated funds meant to fight insurgency in Northern Nigeria, a region where he originates from and still blame the amalgamation for wickedness to his people? Do we consider the figures in dollars recovered as a result of corruption in recent times and call the amalgamation of 1914 a historic mistake for such in 2016? That is going to be meaningless. Botswana and Somalia are very good examples, homogenous nations, but the difference between both is simply due to leadership. While Botswana had a leadership that pursued the need of the people as a nation, Somalia were busy languishing with power tussle by ill motive individuals.

The questions are more practical than giving history which has been created and crafted to deceive the populace by our past leaders that the merger is the cause for all the wrongs in our nation and mirage we find ourselves.

Assuming but not conceding that the amalgamation was an error, do we then think we have an excuse for the failing state of the nation? Definitely no, a child born out of wedlock or one born out of rape may want to give same argument, but am sure you will agree with me that no excuse exist in that, reason being that, everyone has control of his life, yes he might have been born in error but what he becomes in life is solely to his credit. A nation of 100 years and counting, complaining of its birth only shows deceit, lack of focus, misplaced priority and failure to progress.

Why should we even call it an error, when all nations of the world at one time or the other were birth in this form. If we go back into history, we see that the world used to be divided into empires and kingdoms.  In the modern period, however, nations or nation states have replaced empires as the basic unit of human political organization. These means people of diverse cultures made up nations, and they have not called this union a mistake, why then we. We are no different from them. 
Nations are built by men and women who have the will and vision to accomplish greatness, not for themselves, their immediate families and friends, but for their country. With such people it will be evident that 1914 amalgamation was not in any way a mistake.


REFERENCES
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/amalgamation-of-1914-was-it-a-mistake/
http://www.myfinancialintelligence.com/content/amalgamation-1914-was-it-mistake
http://www.mafng.org/anniversary/challenges_nation_building_nigeria.htm

horlapelumi:
One love, one heart . .
To amalgamate means to unite, combine or blend. It is an act or process in which two or more things fuse together to form a new potent thing. Amalgamation results in the formation of a new (separate) company which has a unique name, identity and existence. In this light, amalgamation is the creation of a new state by the coming together of two or more states. Popular example is the joining together of the Northern and Southern protectorate to form a NIGERIA.

can you combine two companies together without their consent? Is it legal to fuse together two companies to form a new (separate) company which has a unique name, identity and existence without any implied or expressed consent? I doubt it. The British government amalgamated the southern and northern protectorates to form the present Nigeria without seeking their consent. If two companies cannot be legally combined together to form a new (separate) company then the joining together of the two protectorates without their consent is a mistake.

OAUTemitayo:
You said people of diverse backgrounds have benn merged together in history, you have forgotten that majority of this empires were created on the basis of one conquering the other and subjugating the conquered people.
Are you saying conquering people based on your own interest is justified?

Well, that answer is as well left for you to decide. Even South Africa you made reference to and compared our great nation to is made up of different people. The countries we all look up to came up in this form. So why call ours a mistake?