Nze Nwabueze Umeji-Akabogu
Since her attainment of independence in 1960, some sixty four ago, Nigeria regrettably has continued to retain the vestiges of colonialism and imperialism virtually in all spheres of her national life. Colonial mentality or hangover could clearly be observed in many areas such as the colonial name – “Nigeria” which was given to the country by the erstwhile British colonial masters or overlords. It was the then British Colonial Governor Lord Lugard’s mistress Flora Shaw that gave the country the name “Nigeria” which was coined from the famous River Niger or “Niger Area”. Our official language or lingua franca English, has remained the nation’s official language for conducting government businesses and spoken widely by the generality of the Nigerian people. Nigeria should therefore look inwards and adopt a common language as her lingua franca to suit her peculiar environment. The concept of “WAZOBIA” was to promote and enhance national unity and brotherhood among the major ethnic nationalities of Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo hence the coinage of the word “WAZOBIA” which could also be adopted as our indigenous name in place of the present colonial name “Nigeria”. In the same vein, the three major languages of Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo otherwise known as “Wazobia” could equally be adopted as our official language or lingua franca to replace the colonial English language. The three languages of Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo could be taught simultaneously in our Public schools. Nigeria should therefore borrow a leaf from the East African nations of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda that had long adopted “Swahili” language as their lingua franca for conducting government businesses as well as the official language in their respective Parliaments.
Furthermore, our mode of dress in public functions which is the colonial English suits usually worn in tropical weather under the scorching sun should be immediately jettisoned. Again our Hon. Justices and Lawyers in our courts have been enslaved by the mode of colonial dress of wig and gown which were worn by the English lawyers as a mourning dress to honour the demise of an English King in the 16th century, and by retaining of this colonial relic of the wig and gown, Nigerian judges and lawyers inadvertently or unconsciously are still mourning the death of the English King which occurred over five hundred years ago. One could go on and on to illustrate the continuous mental enslavement of the Nigerian people which is a constant reminder of our sordid colonial past. Again, our present laws were borrowed from the British colonial model and we seem to be comfortable and proud in retaining the archaic, and obsolete British colonial legal system in the country.
It is high time therefore, that the nation should break permanently with our colonial past and shake off the yoke or shackles of colonialism and imperialism that had held the nation down for too long. The nation should immediately begin to adopt our own indigenous and authentic names, culture and practices in our national life. First of all, Nigeria should immediately change her colonial name “Niger area” and adopt a truly indigenous name such as: The Republic of “Songhai” or “Wazobia” Republic or indeed any other suitable name that will reflect our hard earned independence and sovereignty.
It is pertinent to mention however that many countries with colonial history like Nigeria had long changed or jettisoned their colonial names and since adopted their own indigenous names soon after their independence. Examples abound of these nations that had broken the shackles of colonialism and imperialism and adopted indigenous names for their countries. In Africa, for example, countries that were under the colonial rule for centuries changed their names: Northern Rhodesia changed her colonial name to Zambia soon after her independence. In 1964 Nyasaland changed her name to Malawi after her independence in 1964, Southern Rhodesia changed her name to Zimbabwe after her independence in 1980 as well as her capital from Salsbury to Harare, South West Africa formerly under the rule of South Africa white minority apartheid regime changed her name to Namibia after her independence in 1990. And coming back home in West Africa, Upper Volta formerly under the French colonial rule changed her colonial name to the indigenous name of Buakina Faso. In Asia former Burma under the British colonial rule changed her name to Myammar after gaining her independence from Britain in 1948, Ceylon equally changed her colonial name to SriLanka after her independence from Britain in 1948, etc. The colonial name “Nigeria”, therefore seem to be a curse rather than a blessing to the people even after sixty four years of independence, she has remained a toddler with stunted growth.
It is no gainsaying the fact that the country had merely recorded minimal achievements in only a few areas since her independence in 1960 such as: our national currency which was changed from the British Pound Sterling to our present “Naira”. Nigeria had equally abrogated the colonial title of “Queens Counsel” (QC) to the more prestigious and nationalistic title of “Senior Advocate of Nigeria” (SAN). However, Nigeria should embrace more nationalistic changes to reflect her independence and sovereignty.
It is instructive to observe also that the first indigenous Governor of the defunct Eastern Region Late Dr. Akanu Ibiamof blessed memory at the beginning of the Nigerian political crisis in 1966 changed his foreign name “Sir Francis Ibiam” to Dr. Akanu Ibiam and equally renounced his colonial Knighthood title of “MBE” in protest against the British unwarranted involvement and partisanship during the unfortunate crisis in the country. It was then fashionable for many Nigerians to proudly parade themselves as “Knights” of the erstwhile British colonial Empire with titles of “OBE” or “MBE”, etc and our legal luminaries were proud to be addressed as “Queen’s Counsel” (Q.C). Now our lawyers are proud to be bestowed with our indigenous and prestigious title of “Senior Advocate of Nigeria” (SAN).