Ó pé ọgọrun ọdún ni ọjọ́ kini, oṣù kini ọdún Ẹgba-̃le-mẹrinla ti Ìjọba Ìlú-Ọba ti fi aṣẹ̀ da Àríwá àti Gũsu orílẹ̀ èdè ti a mọ̀ si Nigeria pọ.  Ìjọba Ìlú-Ọba kò bere lọwọ ará ilú ki wọn tó ṣe ìdàpọ̀ yi, wọn ṣe fún irọ̀rùn ọrọ̀ ajé ilú ti wọn ni.

Yorùbá ni “À jọ jẹ kò dùn bi ẹni kan kò ri”.  Ni tõtọ, Ijọba Ilu-Ọba ti fún orilẹ̀ èdè Nigeria ni ominira, ṣùgbọ́n èrè idàpọ̀ ti ará ilú kò kópa ninu rẹ kò tán.  Gẹgẹbi Olóyè Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ ti sọ nigbati wọn ńṣe àdéhùn fún ominira pe: “ominira ki ṣe ni ti orúkọ ilú lásán, ṣùgbọ́n ominira fún ará ilú.  A ṣe akiyesi pe lẹhin ìdàpọ̀ ọgọrun ọdún, orilẹ̀ èdè ko ṣe ikan.

Yorùbá ni “A kì í tó́ó báni gbé, ká má tòó ọ̀rọ̀-ọ́ báni sọ” Gẹgẹbi òwe yi, ki ṣe ki kó ọ̀kẹ́ aimoye owó lati ṣe àjọyọ̀ ìdàpọ̀ ti ará ilú kò kópa ninu rẹ ló ṣe pàtàki, bi kò ṣé pé ki a tó ọ̀rọ̀ bára sọ.

Yorùbá ni “Ọ̀rọ̀ la fi dá ilé ayé”.  Bi ọkọ àti iyàwó bá wà lai bára sọ̀rọ̀, igbéyàwó á túká, nitori eyi, ó ṣe pàtàki ki gbogbo ara ilú Nigeria lápapọ̀ ṣe àpérò bi wọn ti lè bára gbé ki ilú má bã túká.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

“One does not qualify to live with a person without also qualifying to talk to the person” – Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Nigeria

It was hundred years on January 1, 2014 that the British Government amalgamated the Northern and Southern part of Nigeria.  The British did not consult the people before going ahead with the people before the amalgamation because it was done for their economic convenience.

According to Yoruba adage, “Eating together is not as sweet, if one has nothing”.  Though, the British has granted Nigeria nation Independent, but the consequence of the amalgamation is still very much around.  According to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the pre-Independent Conference that “Independent should not be limited to the corporate entity but must be freedom for the people”.  It is observed that hundred years after amalgamation, the nation is not one.

According to the “Yoruba Proverbs” written and translated by Oyekan Owomoyela: “One does not qualify to live with a person without also qualifying to talk to the person”.  It is not the billions of Naira set aside to commemorate the “1914 Amalgamation” in which the people had no contribution that is important, but creating the opportunity to discuss how to relate as one.

Yoruba adage also said “The world was created by word”.  If a husband and wife live together without communicating, the marriage will be scattered.  As a result of this, it is important for the Nigerian people to be given the opportunity to dialogue on how to co-exist so that the country will not disintegrate.

Originally posted 2014-01-07 23:11:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter