FREE BUT NOT FREE INDEED

(AN AGGRESSIVE PROLIFERATION OF COLONIAL IMPERIALISM IN NIGERIA).

Learning about history will keep us from repeating history — Lillian Anyebe

The two marked historical antecedents in Nigeria that have undoubtedly shaped the Nigeria we see today are the Transatlantic slave trade and Colonialism. The need to examine this subject matter is born out of Nigeria’s current reality. We cannot negate the fact that the political, economic, and social challenges faced today are offshoots of these two major events — Nigeria’s colonialism by the British from the 19th century until 1960 when Nigeria got her independence, and the transatlantic slave trade which began in Nigeria in the 15th century.

Historical artifacts — remains of the chains our forefathers, mothers, and their babies were yoked with while working on the farm of their masters.

My Experience

I and my family recently embarked on a tour to Badagry for a family outing. We decided to visit some historical sites and historical artifacts. It was a fascinating, exciting, and emotional outing for us with all our discoveries. It was an interesting learning experience that left us broken. We began our tour with a visit to the following historical sites:

· We visited the first primary school in Nigeria — the “St. Thomas Anglican School established in 1845.

· Next was our visit to Mobee Palace; the exposition here was incredible. We experienced having on the chain our forefathers and mothers and their babies were yoked with while on the farm of their colonial masters, we saw the big metal bowl with sharp edges from which they drank water, the cells that housed forty (40) slaves in preparation for export and were told the deplorable conditions they were subjected to before their export and how many of them died while in captivity, the artifacts slaves were exchanged for by the then traditional rulers.

It was noted that while they struggled to drink from this bowl, the edge would cut some of them, their blood would drip into the water, and they had no choice but to keep drinking from it.

· Other sites visited included the first-story building and the first church in Nigeria.

· We saw the Canon guns given to our forefathers used for capturing more slaves for export — the quest was for who captured more slaves.

It was an interesting visit, however, all we learned left us broken, with so much pain in our hearts. I only hung the chains around my neck for a few minutes but imagined how our forefathers hung it about their necks for 18 hours while working on the farms of the slave masters. Also, to see that slave babies had chains with which they were held down to avoid distracting their mothers while they worked on the farm was even more heartbreaking. Although the slave trade has been abolished, our current reality leaves us with one salient question and it is that “Are we truly free?”.

Colonialism

This preceded the era of the slave trade in Nigeria and marked another phase of oppression in Nigeria’s history, it left an indelible mark on Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Today the nation grapples with its effect in every facet of her existence.

Reflecting on the Impact of the Slave Trade and Colonialism on Nigeria Today.

Noteworthy is the fact that we are still living in the reality of the pains of our forefathers — the bondage of slavery is still very much with us. The slave trade was said to have been abolished, but as I hung that chain on my neck, I was reminded that we are truly not free yet — as a nation and as a continent.

I am also reminded that although we may not have physical chains hanging around our necks now nonetheless, foreign policies made for Africa by the Western societies and adopted for governance of Africa and Nigeria in particular, are not different from the chains our forefathers hung about their necks. We are undoubtedly still under the yoke of slavery — although in a more modernised form and I am propelled to ask these questions:

· Where is the humanity of our imperialists?

· What makes them think they are superior to us?

· Why do they think Africa was created to remain under their oppression/suppression/ subjugation/marginalisation and bondage?

· Have our imperialists ever considered our diversity as divinely orchestrated and beautiful rather than seeing their race as superior to ours?

· If one race was superior to the other, don’t you think the superior race would have been created to have maybe a different colour of blood and special genetic makeup or some special type of body organ?

Another painful discovery was that our traditional leaders were handed canon guns to wedge war against other traditional rulers from neighbouring communities for who got the most slaves for export — so brothers turned against themselves with guns for material gains using their fellow brothers as the medium of exchange — man’s inhumanity to man!

The Mechanisms for Colonialism

Foreign policies have kept Africa and Nigeria in particular in perpetual bondage of slavery to the West. One that quickly comes to mind is the use of foreign currency by some local agencies in our land and the devaluation of our currency.

Our colonialists ruled and left us with the system of “Divide and Rule”- a governing system that is barbaric, evil, and wicked for their selfish benefits, our colonialists have ensured we remain divided and our leaders have perpetuated this system of rule to make sure her people are never united — so today we are divided along political party line, religious line, ethnicity, etc. by the political class and we continue to fight ourselves.

The slave masters left wealth in the hands of the traditional leaders in the slave trade era while their subjects were only seen as slaves for exploitation and export. Today, colonialists have succeeded in sustaining this trend — ensuring that wealth remains in the hands of very few out of a population of over 200 million people. Capitalism is what you call it — the most exploitative system of economy — the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Little wonder we rank the highest as the nation with the poorest people in the world.

A continent so beautiful, blessed, and rich with abundant natural resources, human resources, and humane people, which once believed in communal living, bound in love is now a shadow of herself. You promote division to ensure the ruling class will continue to perpetuate your agenda — Man’s inhumanity to man. Very few are rich as long as they comply with the tenets of the colonialists.

The record has it that 40 slaves were exchanged for the umbrella below.

Exchanging 40 slaves for items such as umbrellas, a bottle of dry gin, ceramic bowls, etc. was bad enough assuming that our traditional rulers of that time were deceived and didn’t know what they were doing, but how about today? — we are still being sold — by foreign policies such as IMF loans, so-called World Bank policies, and interventions that have kept us in perpetual bondage of poverty. Worst still is the exploration of our natural resources for export to Western countries with little or no commensurate payment in exchange for these mineral resources.

Modern-day slavery is such that though we do not have chains about our necks, life has been made so difficult for us to live in our own country viz-a-viz the so-called foreign policies being imposed on us which have destroyed our economic life thereby making life almost impossible for us in our homeland that we now prefer to migrate to foreign lands in our quest for greener pasture — by implication, we willingly submit ourselves to the will of the colonialists who see us as nothing but slaves.

Embracing Diversity

One way the Western nations can truly demonstrate their value for human diversity, value respect for diversity, and prove to the world that they are true promoters of the so-called human rights they claim to advocate for, is for them to see our diversity as one for establishing and promoting symbiotic relationships rather than exploitative, oppressive, suppressive avenues for maginalisation.

Our forefathers were handed guns to kill their people and today we wonder why bandits, terrorists, herdsmen, and the like seem insurmountable carrying out mayhem in the land to exterminate their people while continuously exploring and exploiting our mineral resources in our rural communities. So, brothers have turned their guns against their brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and even children.

What it Means Not to Be Truly Free as A Nation

Not being truly independent as a nation means that a country lacks full sovereignty and capacity for self-governance, this seems to be our reality as a country at the moment. This is evident in the following ways:

1. Economic dependence: Relying heavily on foreign aid, loans, or investments.

2. Political influence: Foreign powers have significant influence and vested interest over domestic policies and politics.

3. Cultural domination: Foreign cultures overshadowing or suppressing national identity, an aggressive form of social change.

4. Limited decision-making: International organisations or foreign governments make key decisions.

5. Neocolonialism: Foreign powers exert control through economic or political means.

6. Lack of self-sufficiency: Inability to produce essential goods or services domestically, heavily depending on importation.

7. Foreign interference: Interference in domestic affairs, elections, or institutions.

8. Limited international recognition: Lack of recognition or legitimacy from other nations.

9. Treaty or agreement restrictions: International agreements limiting national sovereignty.

Contributing Factors to Limited Independence

1. Colonial legacy

2. Economic inequality

3. Political instability

4. Globalization

5. International debt

6. Security threats

7. Dependence on natural resources

8. Corruption

9. Weak institutions

10. Historical treaties or agreements.

Challenges Associated with Limited Freedom

1. Loss of national identity — due to external pressures and interference

2. Economic vulnerability — such as dependence on loans and debt servicing

3. Political instability

4. Social unrest — Internal conflicts and divisions

5. International marginalization

6. Inability to make sovereign decisions

7. Cultural erosion and globalisation

8. Environmental degradation and climate change

9. Economic exploitation — foreigners fixing the prices of our cash crops and selling the finished product to us at an exorbitant cost

10. Human rights violations.

11. Institutional weaknesses and corruption

12. Balancing national interests with global responsibilities.

What True Freedom Means for Nigeria

True freedom requires Nigeria to have autonomy over its economy, politics, culture, and decision-making processes. True freedom here implies:

Political Freedom:

1. Self-governance: Freedom to make decisions without external influence.

2. Sovereignty: Complete control over territory, resources, and institutions.

3. Autonomy: Ability to shape own destiny, policies, and laws — basically, right to self-determination.

Economic Freedom:

1. Self-sufficiency: Ability to produce essential goods and services. A nation that cannot feed its citizens and has no means of production will no doubt be a poor country.

2. Financial autonomy: Control over national finances, currency, and trade. Relying heavily on foreign currency and devaluing your currency can be considered a complex problem. Fix the prices of your cash crops and own manufacturing industries — these will in turn create job opportunities for the teaming youth population of Nigeria.

3. Economic diversification: Reduced reliance on single industries or exports. Nigeria’s natural resources are as diverse as her people. Every region of this nation has something unique to offer. We can harness these resources and drastically reduce our heavy reliance on oil and gas.

Cultural Freedom:

1. Preservation of heritage: Protection of national culture, language, and traditions. Painfully, our culture and languages particularly, are fast eroding, the introduction of the lingua franca and foreign culture in the socialization of our children has done us more harm than good. The Indians particularly, and other Asian countries are worthy of emulation when it comes to the preservation of their culture.

2. Intellectual sovereignty: Freedom to develop our education, media, and arts.

3. Cultural diversity: Celebration of unique identity and values.

Social Freedom:

1. Social justice: Equal opportunities, rights, and protections for all citizens irrespective of religious affiliation, ethnicity, socio-economic background, gender and educational background.

2. Human rights: Respect for individual freedoms, worth, dignity, and well-being.

3. Community empowerment: Empowering communities to take control of their lives, make informed decisions, and improve their overall well-being. Leverage strong, vibrant civil society and community organizations to achieve their goals.

Military Freedom:

1. National defense: Ability to protect your nation’s territory, citizens, and interests from external invaders.

2. Security self-reliance: Reduced dependence on foreign military aid.

3. Strategic autonomy: Freedom to pursue own security policies.

Environmental Freedom:

1. Resource management: Control over natural resources, land, air, and water.

2. Sustainable development: Balance between economic growth and environmental protection.

3. Climate resilience: Ability to adapt to climate change and mitigate its impacts.

Key Characteristics of True Freedom:

1. Decolonisation/Colonial Emancipation: Nigeria’s Freedom from colonial or imperial influence.

2. Non-interference: Respect for Nigeria’s national sovereignty by other nations.

3. International recognition/acknowledgment: Of Nigeria’s legitimacy and recognition by the global community and in her capacity to self-determine her affairs.

4. Institutional strength: Robust, effective, and accountable socio-economic institutions.

5. National unity: Cohesive society with shared identity, values, and purpose.

Benefits of True Freedom:

1. Self-determination

2. Economic growth and development

3. Cultural preservation and promotion

4. Enhanced global reputation

5. Improved human well-being

6. Increased security and stability

7. Better decision-making and policy control.

Conclusion

True Freedom requires a delicate balance between national interests, global cooperation, and the well-being of citizens. However, Nigerian leaders should place national interest above their selfish and foreign interests, put a premium on the welfare needs of its citizens, enhance their human capacity for national development, and use Nigeria’s resources for the development of Nigeria and the benefit of her citizens.