A Chieftain of the pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi said that the amalgamation of Southern and Northern protectorate in 1914 was a mistake contrary to the submission by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The elder statesman who is a member of the national confab representing Ogun state, said this shortly after the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun inaugurated the delegates from the state to the national confab in Abeokuta.
The governor who had announced six eminent personalities that are indigines of the state led by Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, explained that the state would push decentralisation of Police, devolution of power among others.
Others who were inaugurated were Sir Olaniwun Ajayi (Ogun East), the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle (Ogun West); pastor of latter rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare(Ogun Central) ; former Ceo of Guaranty Trust Bank and former Vice-Presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria Fola Adeola (Ogun centra) ; Bar. Bisi Adegbuyi (Ogun East) and Prof. Titi Filqni (Ogun West).
The octogenarian, who spoke on behalf of other newly inaugurated confab delegates from the state urged all delegates to prepare to correct what he described as ‘serious error committed by the British’.
While reacting to the statement by President Jonathan that, the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates was not a mistake, Ajayi disagreed with the President saying, it was the cause of the problems facing the country.
“It is important for us to realise that those of who are going there are going to try, God be our helper, to correct the serious error committed by the British when they were here.
“Somebody was reported in the papers today that there was no mistake in 1914 amalgamation, may be, that person has not had time to read ‘my life’ by Sardauna of Sokoto when the motion for independence was moved in 1953 and Northern members in the House Representatives got annoyed and they all departed and went back to the North and he said ‘Ha! Today, I remember the mistake of 1914, that’s the course of our problems and that mistake has been with us quite a long time.
“The problem really and truly is that Nigeria was constructed contrary to political geometry, that is why we have not arrived as a country because if we have leave together for 100 years and yet there’s no stability, there’s no concord, there’s no harmony, there’s no progress, those other countries like Brazil, Indian, China and Russia which were in the same bracket as we in 1960 are now far, far above us and we are far below them, why?.
“It is because of failure to observe political geometry but we pray and hope that when we get there, God being our helper, we will, as Nigerians unitedly and in the spirit of give and take arrive at solution that will bring peace and progress to this country”.