₦airaland Forum

The Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Mr. Olarenwaju Onadeko (SAN) on Friday, 5th May, 2017 addressed matters bothering on the grading system of the institution, the performance of students, Non-accreditation of some faculties, the Law school training fees amongst other issues.

The comments of the DG on these issues were reactions to the questions raised by the National Executive Council of the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), led by the association’s President, Comr. Osijo Adedayo during a courtesy visit to the office of the Director-General of the School at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja.

LAWSAN NEC pays courtesy visit to DG Law school https://jotinforms./2017/05/05/lawsan-executive-pays-director-general-law-school-a-courtesy-visit/

The Director-General who gave kudos to the initiatives of the association also furnished the visitors with a brief history of the Institution, he stated: ”the Nigerian Law School (NLS) was established in 1962 but did not open its doors to students until 1963. At first, the program was for a duration of 3 months, then 9 months, and eventually 12 months which the school now runs. The NLS has trained more than 95% of lawyers in Nigeria. The School provides personnel for the entire judiciary and a significant number to the legislative and executive arm. He mentioned, the NLS is the only institution that has never gone on strike.

The DG in response to the question posed by the association on the grading system adopted by the Council which is perceived by the general public as unfair, stated, “… Nigerian Law School is a professional training institution that must be distinguished from the regular educational Institution. To make a first class in the Nigerian Law School you must be first class all round. To be a second class, you must be second class all round.” He continued by adding, ” The Nigerian Law School makes use of an aggregate system that requires a student to have a uniform performance across board…. The standard is high but attainable and students who are committed will always attain it”. He gave an insight to the system adopted by the council for marking which he stated was a conference marking style with different levels of reviews and verification by distinguished members of the profession which sometimes include Professors, Judges and senior lawyers. He quipped, “we are not saying we are infallible, but there is high level of accuracy”.
He also made it clear that the location of a campus has no relationship with the results of the students from that campus. He said it is a matter of personal inputs. He explained that all campuses run same program at the same time, with equal contact hours, same strength of academic staff and same activities across the six campuses. The DG was quick to refute claims that certain campuses run a better program than others. He gave the Yola campus as an example saying the campus with a population of about four hundred students recently produced four first class students. He also mentioned that personal initiatives by campuses to better student’s performance are also employed. Performance rate of students are also a function of challenge picked up by students in campuses to better the record existing before their coming.

The National Executive Council of the association did not leave out the interest of their colleagues in the National Open University (NOUN) as they inquired from the DG the reason(s) for not admitting graduates from NOUN into the Nigerian Law School. The DG explained the modalities and procedure for a new faculty of law in Nigeria. He explained the Constitutional roles of the Body of Benchers and the Council of Legal Education, the two important regulatory bodies when it comes to legal education in Nigeria. He stated that in the year 1990 both bodies met and came to a conclusion that study of law in Nigeria cannot be undertaken as a part-time course, but necessarily must be on full time bases and that this resolution was published. He however pointed out that the NOUN began its operation of a law Faculty without the required accreditation from the Council of Legal Education and therefore cannot be recognized by same.

In relations to what LAWSAN Executives referred to as consistent hike in the Law School Fees, the DG stated without mincing words that the Law School Fees has consistently remained same since 2012/2013, and that the fees covers full accommodation for the duration of the program, all course materials, dinners & cocktails, IT, among other things. He stressed the point that after this payment is made students are not required to make any other payment to the institution. He stated that the only payment required after this is the Call to Bar fees which is paid to the Body of Benchers.

The Director-General did not shy away from the truth that the School are faced with some challenges and necessary improvements, which include, indiscipline of some Faculties of Law in Nigeria when it comes to compliance to directives, power supply and cost of maintaining generators, additional infrastructure for all campuses, water supply and increase in academic staff of the institution. The DG stated the upgrade in progress is to have the classroom solution in place where all campuses could be linked together through ICT for special lectures or activities. He also mentioned that students’ unrest is almost absent due to the maturity of students of the Institution.

Source: https://jotinforms./2017/05/06/director-general-nigeria-law-school-sheds-light-on-the-grading-system-of-the-institution-and-other-issues/

Pictures cab be found in the source.

Fynestboi:
As promised


Nairaland Interschool Debate third edition

Second runner up.

Lagos state University.

Kindly forward your contact to

Nairalandinterschooldebate@gmail

To get the token as an instigation for your wonderful handiwork. We are sorry this is coming late..


Cc:
IamDejman
Timidelaw
Eduntee
and other LASU rep.

Token received.

Do appreciate the organizers.

In submission to all points canvased, am certain that have not convinced you as to what is or what is not, but have been able to shed more light on the known fact that, 1914 Amalgamation was not a mistake. I simply then call on Nigerians, lead by the youths, future of tomorrow to stand up to the task ahead of us, brace up and overcome the natural challenges which any nation will face, in unity and as peace loving individuals. Respect to the views of my opponent, was great sharing ideas with you, great job Moderator and Judges, special thanks to the CEO, Nairaland, Mr. Seun, and most importantly, the audience, without you, we would only be blabbing. #WE ARE LASU,WE ARE PROUD

Thanks for giving me a supportive statement. that exactly is what we are saying. So why call Nigeria Internal problem a mistake of Amalgamation?

If just a unit of the Nation cannot live without these internal problems then why expect Nigeria.

MosquitoLaps:
Dude, all regions are bound to have their internal problems
We're talking national cohesion here, man. How far have the ethnic nationalities united for a common cause?

This is brilliant. You would agree with me that going by the population of Nigeria, it is of great importance. I must state here that, even a division of Nigeria into three will not rule out the need for the federal character. It is simply one of those needed rules for the forward movement of this nation.

On stating that federal character promotes medioctity, i'll disagree to every end. There hardly is any area of life in which any region or tribe in Nigeria will be said to be a fall out, Nigerians from every area are well represented, so getting the best from each side bring more perfection and not mediocrity.

It definitely can work and will work if we all just act with sincerity of mind. Not trying to politicize every sector. Among Yoruba's alone, we have a long chain of divisions, that is why you here a person from Ibadan caliming a particular language, the Ijubu's will do same, Ekiti will tell same and on, or even in Igbo, you get to here, Delta-Igbo and so on. If these tribes are to stand on there own, federal character must still be employed, so it chances nothing.

i'll simply end by emphasizing the fact that nations just don’t happen by historical accident; rather they are built by men and women with vision and resolve. Nation-building is therefore the product of conscious statecraft, not happenstance.

Mordecai:
Timidelaw,you say the amalgamation was not a mistake.

let us look at one of the most obvious fallouts of the act - Federal character.

Federal character, as you are well aware promotes mediocrity. What is the alternative? Can it work in an amalgamated Nigeria? If yes, how? If not, do we then keep wallowing in the same mud, out of which we have not been able to exit? Should we not accept it for what it may have been - a mistake?

sorry, i fail to see the question in that. Referring to the question from the audience. I would love to answer that, if it can be better couched.

[quote author=Fynestboi post=44186883][/quote]

Lets go ask from China. But either ways, what happens after such should is your fault and to your credit, whether good or bad. Others who came up in that way worked to make a better life, so no excuse exist for others.

OAUTemitayo:

Are you saying you can forced people into a union without their consent?

correct me if am wrong, but no. That is during state creation

OAUTemitayo:
What is our nation? I have nothing in common with Sharia enforcers.
Isn't amalgamation the reason why the Yorubas of Kogi were merged with the North against their own consent?
Is that the force of their leaders?

thanks for the info, am yet to oppose that, but my point remains, aver 50 ethnic groups. Also a deeper reading into history will let you understand that no group of people have no common bond including Africa(Nigeria).

OAUTemitayo:
The same China where Tibetans cannot vote in their own land!
And for your information, Chinese have a common bond called Mandarin

i'll simple overlook this until audience question

ElectGINeer:
No offence Please.
I don't think the LASU representative understand the topic.
What are the result of the amalgamation?
The British do it for their own profit without consulting the victims.

Why say too much of our diversity and give this as an excuse. "As a large united multi-national state, China is composed of 56 ethnic groups." Need not to state, China never came together with ease, but after wars

OAUTemitayo:
The poor state of the country is borne of mediocrity imposed by the use of tribal consideration above expertise.
JAMB is a very good example

So the fact that one governor refuses to develop his state is also due to tribalism(or in your words, tribal consideration)..... my respectful opponent, please now

That exactly is what we stand to say.... lets take charge of our nation and do that which is needed. The states even while existing alone have failed in all respect to provide the needed for its people, but we rather blame amalgamation for this

This as well as your last question makes me feel you are yet to get the topic. 1914 Amalgamation; an Historical mistake(I blatantly oppose this). What exactly are we saying? It's simply not the act, amalgamation(cause we are not responsible for that), but the result(which we should take full responsibility for) that we are discussing. So why even tell us all what the British guys have said?

This as well as your last question makes me feel you are yet to get the topic. 1914 Almagamation; an Historical mistake(I blatantly oppose this). What exactly are we saying? It's simply not the act(cause we are not responsible for that) but the result(which we should take full responsibility for) So why even tell us all what the British guys have said?

emaculate99:
“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 amalgamation of Nigeria stemmed out from the 1984/85 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 1963 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.

Which group of people who make up a nation are all one in all respect. Ok, for the Boko haram issue in the North, i believe your reply will be some are dark others fair, and some are tall others short. Come on.....

Are we therefore looking for a family to become a nation?

i really love this, but am short of words to reply to thus. Your argument proves your brilliancy, but that reply leaves me speechless....

OAUTemitayo:
Rivers state is made up of different languages so their conflict is understandable.
Ijaws and ogonis are not the same

Please take me on a journey to origin of Africans, but do so to the perfect end please. Do so before coming to yoruba, ibgo and s, lets see where it all ends

emaculate99:
How can Africans be one? Do Africans come from the same origin? Africans come from different origins. The yoruba have their story about their origin. The Igbo has the same and this goes for the Hausas, you cannot claim that they all have the same origin.

*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.*

Reading the above from my opponent argument, i begin to wonder how the amalgamation is to be blamed for this. I believe it was written in error...

On consent, How many countries come willing to state their readiness to be a country. A peep back into history will tell us better.

lol. i cant but laugh when you talk of origin, if we go by that then all African countries should be one.

emaculate99:
from history, you will understand that the 12 tribes that made up Israel has something in common. They came from a single origin, Jacob. Did Nigeria come from the same origin? Nigeria came out from no single origin yet it amalgamation was imposed on Nigeria without consulting the people concerned. Are you trying to tell me that it is right to impose something on people who with their actions and inactions are not willing to accept? Amalgamation is made for the selfish interest of the colonialists and not because the people want it. You know that.

You keep talking of diversity of the nation. Am yet to see a reply to the point made on the Rivers state situation, neither have you answered the insurgency being operational mainly in the North(same people) or the Niger Delta in the South........ The lies of the leaders for their failure is what is driving us, and not any mistake of amalgamation.

You dont find such. Why not do a clinical study on Botswana and Somalia, you will be better clarified. You get what you want.

Please mention countries today that was created because they wanted to

emaculate99:
Yeah, they had a chance to unite the people but how can they unite a country which contained different groups of people who had no interest of getting themselves united? It is not the case that they failed to unite the people. It is the case that the people cannot be united due to the fact that they are not ready to get themselves united. From the quotes, you will understand that they made these statements having experienced failed trial of joining the parts that made up Nigeria together due to the people's lack of interest.

You must take a look back at the argument and read in contest and not pick out point, after an answer is given, you say its out of consent.

good one, please can you relate that to the instance of rape also painted? Point out the consent

OAUTemitayo:
You cannot use the issue of a child born out of wedlock in this instance because at least two independent parties consented to have sexual intercourse which under the law is an agreement to both take responsibility for the result of their joint action

Great research i must say, one which didn't require any stress, as the internet is flooded by people of like minds that you quoted. All persons who at one point or the other, had the chance to place this unity(Nigeria) at the correct spot, but messed up with the opportunity due to self-centered life giving excuses for failure.

emaculate99:
“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 amalgamation of Nigeria stemmed out from the 1984/85 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 1963 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.

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?

"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

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




Happy Easter...

Present sir

[quote author=Fynestboi post=43314230][/quote]Good morning Fynestboi, sorry my team mate requested a review of topic, nothing done about that yet. Meanwhile, permit me to say, we have no topic to work on as at now, and the date is drawing closer. A topic should take a stand then a team support or oppose. The topic above have both sides, when you say support or oppose you only confuse us the more. Thanks for acting on it.

sammyscholar:
ore, you dey vex oo. The bolded part shows how serious you are in the business at hand.

lol. oh, not at all. Na just as the topic take funny me reach na him i reply.