1. Yes Northern Nigeria had upper hand (not of their making btw), but they were first in the pecking order of things, had better interactions with the West (Britain in this context). But did all of that “western influence” penetrate into Northern society?

2. I understand history is a very delicate subject in Nigeria. It arouses sentiments & biases. Understandably so, Nigeria history is not GOOD, no matter how you look at it, it doesn’t favor the people of Nigeria. So the government would rather not allow it in Nigeria schools.
3. Like it or not, the North have LITTLE to show, for a people whom Britain favored. Much of Eastern Nigeria societies, resisted the colonial conquests. Benin Kingdom put up a resistance. But today, western ideals & influence has penetrated much of the East, even its hinterlands
4. In terms of growth & advancement (western influence altogether) SW societies tops all of that. One would think Northern Oligarchy had a plan for their people, had their people in mind during those early interactions with Britain.
5. But all they did with ALL the powers Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth vested on them, was control their people, to this day even. They control the information flow, the religious beliefs, they are still the gatekeepers of their culture.
6. They made sure the north remained an 18th century China in many ways. Now this is no bigotry. If Regions of Nigeria will ever grow at the same pace, that will largely depend on the North & their ability to allow “western influence” penetrate into their “thought processes &
7. ways of doing things.”

I am not advocating “culture & values disruption,” hell NO!! I’m just saying the North has to embrace western ideals. Islamic education for instance, should never replace formal education. Western education was what saved China from its dark ages.
8. China’s growth was deliberate. They had to stomach defeats & humiliation in the hand of the English & France, they had to humble themselves before the United States. China sent her first batch of students to the United States to gain formal education.
9. Look how China turned out today? So what I’m saying is, “Northern Nigeria will have to decide what they really want. Do they want to remain a closed entity, closed to western ideals & influence? Do they want to continue with their primitive ways of doing things?”
10. They can’t keep dragging Nigeria behind. I mean this is the 21st century. Other countries & regions of Nigeria has left northern Nigeria behind.

NB: These are my takes, my personal opinion. I welcome yours in a constructive manner as well.

More from History

Folks who don't know history just tweet whatever they want.

On Feb 1935, Bose attacked the Nazis as he was angry as Indians were described as Sub-Humans in Mein Kampf. The British arrested Bose in April 1936, because he insulted the Nazis.

#Thread


The West at this point had a soft spot for the Nazis. France, Great Britain, Netherlands, Poland all gave the Nazi Salute during the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Even during the Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939), the Western powers observed neutrality as the Fascists rose in Spain.


In 1937, Hitler told British Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax that one of his fav movies was ‘The Lives of a Bengal Lancer’. Why?

‘The Lives of a Bengal Lancer’ depicted a handful of "superior race" Brits holding sway over an entire Indian subcontinent (Sub-Humans).

"Shoot Gandhi. If necessary, shoot more Congress Leaders (Nehru & Bose)."

- Hitler to Lord Halifax, Britain's Foreign Secretary

This statement by Hitler in 1937 angered many pro-Leftist leaders of the INC including Bose.

Bose reached London in Jan 1938, and he met many leaders of the British Labour Party including Attlee.

1938 & 1939 were two huge years for the Indian National Congress. As i always say, the 10-year phase from 1938 - 1948 shaped modern India and it began in 1938 Haripura session.

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