The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, has told people insinuating that the creation of Nigeria is artificial, to dismiss the thinking that Nigeria is divisible after a century of its amalgamation.
He spoke at an International Conference organized by Arewa House, Department of History, Political Science, and Economics, alongside the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in collaboration with the Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group in commemoration of Nigeria’s 110 years after amalgamation.
The event themed; “Making and Building of Nigeria: People, Places, Times, and Legacies from 1914 to 2024”, brought together scholars from across the Country to x-ray the past, present and future of Nigeria’s history.
The INEC Chairman while noting that Arewa House had consistently marked key historical milestones in Nigeria’s history, commended the institution for bringing scholars together to reflect on Nigeria’s journey over the last century and a decade.
According to him, “The takeaway for me is the gathering of scholars from different parts of the Country to mark the 110 years of Nigeria’s amalgamation. Arewa House has been noted for marking these kinds of historical milestones, and they have done so again”.
Addressing the ongoing debates about Nigeria’s unity, Professor Yakubu affirmed that the notion of Nigeria as a united and indivisible entity is settled, dismissing calls for division.
“I have made peace with the fact that I am Nigerian. If some people think Nigeria is artificial, they should know that nations are always created in different ways and are consolidated over time. Tell me one nation that was put together by consensus? The fact that we are here over a century later is a plus for Nigeria”, he said.
General Ishola Williams (Rtd), represented by Dr. Asma’u Maikudi from Kaduna Polytechnic stressed the importance of prioritizing history education in Nigeria.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of ABU, Professor Kabir Bala, highlighted the significance of the conference, saying it was designed to reflect on the nation’s evolution over the past century.
Director of the Centre for Historical Research and Documentation, Arewa House, Dr. Shuaibu Aliyu in his remarks. stated that the event was part of an ongoing series, adding that the center is committed to documenting and archiving all occurrences in the Nation’s history.
