A NOTE TO NIGERIAN HISTORIANS

udeariryuche
Jul 30, 2017 · 5 min read

Nigerian historians need to know that they have a very crucial role to play in the development of this nation. Their role is to help raise visionary leaders in our land.

It is a fact that the best leaders in a nation are often those who have a strong sense of history. This is so because, through the study of history, one can trace out patterns of events, observe correlations, discover foundations, and attain the power of sound and mature vision.

It is on this power of vision that good lead leadership depends, and leaders without vision are mediocre at best, or total disasters at worst.

OUTSTANDING LEADERS IN THE PAST HAD A STRONG SENSE OF HISTORY.

The outstanding leader of the twentieth century was the English man Sir Winston Churchill. Through his leadership, he singlehandedly saved the whole of western civilization by strengthening Great Britain in the face of Nazi aggression.

Throughout his political career, he manifested the power of vision, as he was able to clearly see the real issues facing his nation at all times. At the apex of his career as wartime prime minister, he consistently made wise choices and decisions that eventually resulted in victory for his nation.

This ability to ‘see’ further and more clearly than others, was partly due to the fact that Sir Winston Churchill was an avid historian himself. He mastered the rich history of his nation so thoroughly and in such detail, that he was able to write an account of the history of his nation.

Similarly, the outstanding leader of the nineteenth century was the french man Napoleon Bonaparte. The events which he triggered directly or indirectly, shaped the political atmosphere of much of the nineteenth century. He raised France to a great height of glory, and was so effective as a leader, that he was believed by many to be invincible.

Napoleon was an avid historian, and thoroughly mastered the history of the ancient empires, as well as that of the great leaders who lived before him.

It was the visions and the ‘power to see’ which he obtained from these studies that helped make him such an outstanding and effective leader.

HOW LEADERS OBTAIN VISION THROUGH HISTORY

There are two primary ways through which truly visionary leaders can obtain the ‘power to see’ from the study of history.

  1. They may obtain vision through the direct personal study of history. This is the concept of the ‘philosopher king’. Here, the leader himself is a diligent scholar, and by his personal studies, attains the power of vision. This was the case in the leaders mentioned above.
  2. The power of vision may be obtained indirectly from other men who have it. Such men act as ‘prophets’ to the leaders, and forecast for them. Examples of such men include: Aristotle, who supplied the vision of global Hellenism which was vigorously propagated by Alexander the great, and Rudyard kipling, who helped articulate the belief in a civilizing mandate that propelled the colonialists of imperial Britain.

A good historian does not just accumulate facts and details, but tries to understand those facts, interpret those details, and from them derive a vision which can be imparted to the leaders of a nation. This will enable the leaders to ‘see’, and thereby offer visionary leadership.

NIGERIAN HISTORIANS MUST REINTERPRET THE ACCOUNT OF OUR HISTORY.

I would like to point out that the present accounts of our history are an accumulation of facts ,details and dates, with little power to inspire our people. Some actually view the account as generally demoralizing, hence a recent drive to downplay the study of Nigerian history.

This sad trend is due to the fact that we have missed the essence of the account, the big picture, and the golden thread which runs through our history.

The account of our history MUST therefore be retold in such a way that it will have the power to inspire, unite, impart a vision, and give the sense of a mission to our people. This is how to make our nation great once again.

KEY POINTS OF A VISIONARY ACCOUNT

In retelling our history, the following points are vital:

  1. Distinguish clearly, the history of the various native west african states constructed by Africans, from the history of Nigeria which is purely a British construct. West Africans created many states with important historical accounts. However, we must emphasize that Nigeria was created by the British.
  2. Strongly emphasize the transatlantic slave trade, which affected all the nigerian tribes*, and its dehumanizing effect on the black race. This is the background to the formation of Nigeria as a nation, and this fact must be made very clear in the account of our history.
  3. Make it clear that the foundation of Nigeria was laid by the British humanitarians as a way to deal with the effects of slavery on the black race. This was done during the Niger expedition of 1841, which should be stressed.
  4. Focus on the lives and efforts of the key British humanitarians , whose lives form the golden chain that resulted in Nigeria. They include: William Wilberforce, Thomas fowell buxton, and Samuel ajayi Crowther.
  5. Strongly emphasize the life of Samuel ajayi Crowther, and his pioneering efforts in the area of education, commerce, the abolition of the local slave trade and heathen practices, and the unity of the tribes. Set him forth as the father of the Nigerian nation, which he truly is.
  6. Explain how the British imperialists gradually took over the work, and consolidated the efforts begun by the British humanitarians, to create a well defined Nigerian Nation.
  7. Discuss the efforts of the Nigerian nationalists, which were initiated by Herbert Macaulay, the grand son of Samuel Ajayi crowther.
  8. Discuss Nigerian history since independence.
  9. Clearly identify the mandate of William Wilberforce for the black race, which has been committed to the Nigerian nation.
  10. Challenge each Nigerian student to play a personal role in fulfilling this mandate.

IMPART VISION AND CREATE NATIONAL PRIDE

When our history is taught in the manner outlined above, it will have the following effects:

  1. It will impart a vision for the black race to our people.
  2. It will foster unity among the tribes.
  3. It will give our leaders and people the sense of a mandate, and a mission to fulfill.
  4. It will create feelings of National pride.
  5. It will give our people Noble examples to emulate.
  6. It will result in visionary leadership in Nigeria.

It is therefore incumbent upon our historians to rise to this great task of giving a true and worthy account of our history, which will orient our people and nation unto greatness.

udeariryuche

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