Britain blamed for planting the twin evils of tribalism and religious bigotry in Nigeria

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) leader in Lagos State Chief Bode George has accused Britain of being responsible for several of Nigeria's biggest woes by leaving behind a legacy of tribalism and religious bigotry when they left as colonial masters.

Britain created and governed Nigeria between 1861 when Lagos became a crown colony and 1960 when the country gained independence. However, the only way Britain could subjugate the over 350 ethnic groups that make up Nigeria was to pit them against each other and as a result, many of these divisions still linger until today.

Over recent weeks, President Donald Trump of the US has spoken out against the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, sparking a local debate about the fate of members of the Christian faith in the north of the country. Northern Nigeria is Muslim-dominated but about a third of the population there are Christians and they apparently face marginalisation, especially in states where Sharia law is practised.

Blaming Nigeria’s lingering divisions on what he described as two evils planted by the British colonial authorities, Chief George said he also felt disappointed that the federal government ignored the family of Herbert Macaulay after they rejected the posthumous state pardon granted to the late nationalist by President Bola Tinubu. Last week, President Tinubu granted presidential prerogative of mercy to one of Nigeria’s founding fathers, Herbert Macaulay and 174 others.

Mr Macaulay, often called the father of Nigerian nationalism, was twice convicted by the colonial authorities in Lagos. However, Mr Macaulay’s family rejected the gesture from Nigerian government.

Chief George said: “They are in power, let them use it as they think. When the time comes, it will become a general view of Nigerians as a family member, the man who dared the British.

"Two evils were planted by the British in this country, tribalism and religious bigotry. Every time there is one issue or the other, you can trace it back to either tribalism or religious bigotry.”

Citing  his own family as an example of religious tolerance, Chief George noted that his eldest sister was a Muslim whom he sponsored to hajj and supported in her religious activities. He added that across the southwest geo-political zone, virtually every family has Christians, Muslims and traditional worshippers.

Chief George added: “All these things we are talking about are existential imbecilities that have no bearing on the management of this country. Nobody chose to be born a Christian or a Muslim. Just love your neighbour as yourself, it’s even in the Quran."