INTRO: Nationalism has semantic nuances which range from patriotism to struggle for independence. As a matter of fact, all attitudes and actions for preservation of national identity and/or achievement of political independence are nationalism. Thus, xenophobia, ethnicity, terrorism, irredentism, separatism, and similar issues, all things being equal, are nationalist in nature. The term “nationalism” therefore is generally used to describe two phenomena:
(i) the attitude that the members of a nation have when they care about their national identity, and
(ii) the actions that the members of a nation take when seeking to achieve (or sustain) self-determination.
Nationalism in Nigeria was directed against the colonial masters, first by the notable Nigerian chiefs who resisted, although unsuccessful, the loss of the sovereignty of their kingdoms, chiefdoms, and societies. Worthy of mention was Oba Kosoko of Lagos who was dethroned in 1851 by the British Navy controled by the British Consul, John BeeCroft, and kicked out of Badagary in Lagos. His misfortune laid foundation to the annexation of Lagos in 1861 during which Lagos was declared a Crown Colony,. There was also the cases of Kings Pepple of Bonny in 1857, Jaja of Opobo (J.J. or Jaja means Jubo Jubogha, in full) in 1887, Nana of Itshekiri in 1894, and Ovonramwen of Benin in 1897. Second by the educated elites, and this time, successful, who armed with western education wrestled power from the colonial masters. A number of reasons necessitated their actions. There are several reasons or factors that led to nationalism in Nigeria.
As a matter of fact, the reasons for and factors of nationalism in Nigeria are:
- Western Education: Colonialism it should be noted came along with western education. This was embraced by a number of Nigerians who even had to go to the colonial countries for educational training. These crop of individuals (Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Herbert Macaulay, Obafemi Awolowo, etc.) got enlightened, including with the knowledge of the evils of colonialism, and also with the knowledge of the powers of pen. This enlightenment from western education underscored their agitations for independence.
- Establishment of Newspapers: Sequel to no. 1 above, newspapers were established by the educated Nigerians. For instance, Herbert Macaulay established the Lagos Daily News in 1925. The newspaper was the first daily newspaper in the British West Africa. Suffice to say here is that Iwe Irohin was the first newspaper in Nigeria (established 1859) but it was published fortnightly, and owned by an expatriate missionary, Henry Townsend. The Lagos Daily News differed from Iwe Irohin by its daily publication and indigenous ownership. A similar newspaper was launched in 1937 by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, which was called the West African Pilot. These newspapers fought colonial rule with their publications by spreading anti-colonial sentiments, thanks to the literacy made possible by western education. In the regard of the anti-colonial sentiments, the motto of the West African Pilot (Show the light and the people will find the way) speaks volume.
- Indirect Rule: This is an unassuming but a very strong reason for nationalism in Nigeria. Indirect rule relegated the educated elites to the background in favour of the traditional rulers and warrant chiefs. It is noteworthy that the British colonialism in Nigeria was based on indirect rule which was a colonial policy of governing with the native authorities. The educated elites engaged in nationalist struggles in other to change the unfavourable status quo. They were certain that leadership would fall on their shoulders once the expatriate rulers were removed from the scene.
- Nationalist struggles in Nigeria began as a result of the return of the World War II veterans. The Second World War between 1939 and 1945 happened in the heydays of colonialism in Nigeria. The British mobilized soldiers to fight on the side of the Allies against the Axis Powers, from their colonies including Nigeria. During the war, the African (Nigerian) soldiers noted that the British were not in the rank of gods as they were believed to be. In other words, the war demystified the godlike aura of the British people, and their country. The soldiers observed that African soldiers did more exploits than the “invincible” British. The African soldiers noted the British soldiers cry like babies, and what was more, they bled blood, and not mercury. The tales from the battlefields by the returned veterans assured Nigerians that victory from colonial domination was a possibility.
- Formation of the United Nations Organisation: The World War II took high toll on human lives. The humanitarian crises that attended the global war was unprecedented, and humanity was left bewildered. This led to the dissolution of the League of Nations, and the formation of the United Nations Organisation (UNO) in 1945, as a replacement. In the preamble of the establishing Charter of the United Nations, the peoples of the world vowed to save the succeeding generations from the scourge of war which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind. Pursuant to the vow, the United Nations Organisation adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, listing human rights, among which are the rights and fundamental freedoms such as to self-determination, and freedom from slavery, and freedom from torture, and inhuman or other degrading treatment or punishment. Colonialism was not compatible with those rights and freedoms, and those rights and freedoms provided bases for anti-colonial struggles.
- Racial Discrimination: The factor of racial discrimination caused nationalism in Nigeria. British colonialism discriminated against the people of Nigeria socially, economically, and politically. They viewed or treated Nigerians as less than human, and as barbaric. The native Nigerians were coerced subtly or expressly to cultivate “legitimate crops,” which were shipped away with little or no reward to the producers. The colonial officers lived in the choicest of places, and ate the choicest of foods. Nigerians were largely excluded from decision-making institutions, and when they included them, they were designated as unofficial members, until series of colonial constitutional changes started bowing to pressures for a more inclusive government. Nationalists could not stomach such discrimination in their very own land, hence, nationalism in Nigeria.
- Waves of Independence Sweeping through the Parallel Colonies: The independence of countries that were under British colonialism motivated Nigerian nationalists that if those countries could, Nigeria also could. India got her Independence in 1947, and then, the neighbouring Ghana got her independence in 1957, and also Malaysia in the same 1957.
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