THE FRAUDULENT FOUNDATION OF NIGERIA: A NATION FORCED TOGETHER WITHOUT CONSENT Social Media Storyline – Episode 117 By Comrade Enemona Abel Ellah 08063147574 A NATION BUILT ON DECEPTION The history of Nigeria’s formation is not a tale of unity or mutual agreement but one of deceit, colonial manipulation, and economic exploitation. The 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates was not a decision made by the indigenous people but a forceful merger orchestrated by British colonial rulers to serve their economic interests. Nigeria was never meant to be a single nation; it was an artificial creation held together by administrative force rather than collective will. Among the many ethnic groups affected, the Igala Kingdom stands out as a victim of this fraudulent unification. Historically serving as a melting point between the North and South, the Igala people were strategically divided, weakening their political and economic influence. They were never consulted in the amalgamation process, making them, like many other groups, unwilling participants in a British economic strategy disguised as a political union. THE DIVIDE-AND-RULE STRATEGY: A COLONIAL CONSPIRACY Before 1914, the British strategically divided the region into Northern and Southern Protectorates, each with different administrative systems and economic structures. This separation was not accidental but a calculated move to control indigenous resistance and facilitate economic exploitation. 1. Geopolitical Manipulation of the Igala Kingdom The Igala Kingdom was deliberately split between the Northern and Southern Protectorates despite being a unified entity and the Attah Igala HRM Ocheje Onukpa who rejected that splitting of his kingdom was assassinated in Asaba in 1903. Northern Igala was ruled indirectly through the imposter onu of Igala, claiming Attah Igala title a Yoruba man by colonial masters installation making them subjects of the Northern Protectorate’s administration. Southern Igala and Attah Igala was grouped with the Southern Protectorate, where British officials implemented direct colonial rule. This division made it impossible for the Igala people to resist as a united force, ensuring that they remained fragmented and politically powerless. The British colonialists understood that a divided Igala Kingdom could not effectively challenge their authority, setting a precedent for the larger fragmentation of Nigeria. 2. Economic Exploitation Behind Amalgamation The primary reason for amalgamation was economic survival for the British. The Southern Protectorate was rich in resources like palm oil, rubber, and access to the Atlantic trade routes, making it financially independent. The Northern Protectorate was economically weak, with limited resources and revenue, relying heavily on British grants to sustain its administration. To solve this imbalance, the British merged the South with the North, ensuring that Southern wealth would finance Northern administration. This economic exploitation, disguised as "nation-building," continues to haunt Nigeria today, with resource control and revenue allocation remaining a major source of political tension. THE 1914 AMALGAMATION: A COLONIAL FRAUD When Lord Frederick Lugard orchestrated the amalgamation of Nigeria, it was not a mutual agreement between indigenous leaders but a dictate from the British Crown. The process was designed to serve British colonial interests, with Nigerian leaders playing a symbolic role rather than having actual decision-making power. Who Were the Key Players? 1. Sir Frederick Lugard – The British Governor-General who forced the merger. 2. Dr. Clifford Joseph Cory – A British official who structured the administration. 3. The Sultan of Sokoto & Emir of Kano – Representing the Northern elite under colonial rule. 4. The Oba of Benin, the Alaafin of Oyo, and the Obong of Calabar – Southern chiefs who had no real influence over the final decision. The process was nothing but a colonial decree. No Nigerian leader had real authority over the agreement—they were included merely to give the process an illusion of legitimacy. CONSEQUENCES OF THE FRAUDULENT UNION 1. Political Instability and Leadership Crisis Nigeria was handed over to colonial-created elites who were chosen based on their loyalty to British interests rather than their ability to lead. This favoritism led to long-term political dominance by a privileged few, particularly in the North, where the colonial administration had built strong alliances. 2. Ethnic and Religious Divisions The amalgamation placed ethnically and religiously different groups in a forced union: The North was predominantly Muslim, ruled through emirs. The South had a mix of Christianity and traditional religions, with decentralized governance. This division, created by the British, has since been exploited by politicians who manipulate ethnic and religious sentiments to maintain power. 3. Economic Disparity and Resource Control Conflicts Southern wealth continues to sustain the federal government, with oil revenue from the Niger Delta funding national development while the local communities remain impoverished. This economic imbalance was designed by the British and remains unresolved over a century later. 4. The Colonial Legacy of Divide-and-Rule The British left behind a system that ensures Nigeria remains divided, making it difficult to achieve national unity. The ruling class has perfected this colonial strategy, using ethnicity and religion as weapons of division for their selfish gains. THE IGALA KINGDOM: Melting Point or Victim? The Igala Kingdom, historically a bridge between the North and South, became a victim of British geopolitical fraud. Its strategic location was used against it, forcing it into a divided reality that weakened its influence. Had the Igala been united, they could have played a more decisive role in shaping Nigeria’s direction. Instead, they became prisoners of colonial boundaries that do not reflect their historical identity. WHO SIGNED AWAY NIGERIA FUTURE? The 6 Nigerians in the 1914 Amalgamation Out of 28 individuals involved in the amalgamation process, only six were Nigerians. This further proves that Nigeria’s foundation was fraudulent. These six individuals had no real decision-making power: 1. HRH Maiturare Sarkin Mussulumi (Sultan of Sokoto) 2. Usuman Dan Maje (Later Emir of Kano) 3. Sir Kitoyi Ajasa (Western-educated lawyer aligned with British interests) 4. HRH Oladugbolu (Alaafin of Oyo) 5. HRH R. Henshaw (Obong of Calabar) 6. Abubakar Shehu of Borno The final decision rested solely with Lord Lugard, proving that Nigeria’s formation was an economic strategy, not a national agreement. THE PATH FORWARD: RECLAIMING NIGERIA DESTINY The fraudulent creation of Nigeria continues to shape its present and future. To break free from this imposed structure, we must: 1. Acknowledge the colonial deception and educate Nigerians about the true history of amalgamation. 2. Promote regional autonomy to correct the economic and political imbalance caused by British policies. 3. Elect leaders based on competence, not ethnicity or colonial-era power structures. 4. Demand a restructuring of Nigeria to allow each region to develop at its own pace rather than being forced into a failing unitary system. FINAL THOUGHT: THE IGALA KINGDOM Questions The Igala people, like many other indigenous groups, were not consulted in the amalgamation of Nigeria. Their forced division between the North and South weakened their influence and subjected them to colonial exploitation. The question remains: Was the Igala Kingdom a true melting point of unity, or simply another victim of the fraudulent amalgamation that created Nigeria? Until Nigeria acknowledges its foundation as a colonial fraud, it will continue to struggle with unity, governance, and economic stability. The time for restructuring and national reawakening is now. Comrade Enemona Abel Ellah 08063147574