Nigeria’s Amalgamation a celebration of slavery, bad history – Braithwaite

BY DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA-Former Presidential candidate of the defunct Nigeria Advance
Party (NAP) Dr. Tunji Braithwaite on Tuesday, faulted the planned
centenary anniversary of Nigeria's amalgamation by the presidency in
2014, describing it as a celebration of slavery and bad history.
The Human Rights Activist and lawyer who wondered why despite the
myriad of problems confronting the country, coupled with the level of
poverty, the Federal government still plans to celebrate the Centenary
anniversary of the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, lamented that the
deplorable state of infrastructure in the country and the precarious
security situation are enough reason to halt the celebration.
Dr. Tunji Braithwaite
Speaking as guest Lecturer at the 2013Jesus Carnival, 37th Diocesan
Anniversary and 170th Year of Christianity in Egbaland in Abeokuta,
the Ogun State Capital ,Dr. Braithwaite said the celebration was a
disgrace to the present generation of Nigerians.
He however, suggested that the president should celebrate the
''founding-fathers' birth of Nigerian that over the years had
blossomed into a strong, cohesive and socio/political vibrant force in
the comity of nations.
''Instead of clinking glasses of champagne celebrating and venerating
a bad history of enslavement, this generation, should use the occasion
of its centenary to finally destroy its last inglorious relics and
simultaneously birth a modern and progressive nation.
''The Die is cast!. Thee issue is not about 2015 elections or who
becomes president or governor in 2015, there are a whole lot of
fundamental and foundational matters to be urgently addressed before
2015''.
"The current generation would themselves surely, hopefully in an
orderly but firm manner, resolve this core issue of their own
destiny,'' he said.
He however, warned Jonathan to be wary of the serious implication of
insecurity saying, the on-going revolution in Egypt is a classical
lesson to Nigerian leaders that any charade and fraudulent elections
contrived "will-nilly" is no guarantee of security of tenure of office
for any unfit or insensitive government."The monster of king
corruption and impunity in this country at every level of civil
administration has exposed thetenuous and fragile foundation of
Nigeria's brand of democracy to the danger, it portends for the
people.
"The reality today of the amalgamation is that both in legal and
political context, the amalgamation bond expires in 2014 by effusion
of time, unless the people concerned, now voluntarily agree its terms
and or modify them.
"The single evil corruption has done to us manifests on cultism,
examination malpractices among many others and it now appears as
nothing is a taboo in Nigeria anymore. We prayed and worked for
democracy but what type of democracy do we have now, do the people's
votes count? Are we getting the benefits of the abundance natural
resources God gave us?.
"If you go to government offices, you will see huge generating sets
but what about the poor who can't afford it?, adding "If you know the
huge amount this country generates, the question you will ask yourself
is why should Nigerians suffer?", Braithwaite said.
END.