In a matter of few days, Nigeria will be 60 years as an independent nation.
As Nigerians warm for the historic event, it must be noted that good things happened before in Nigeria depicting healthy political developments in the 50s as revealed
by Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim
In 1950, Olorunimbe was the first Mayor of Lagos, while Mazi Mbonu Ojike was his deputy, just as Chief Ekwuiyasi from Ogwashi Ukwu represented Benin West in the Western House of Assembly in 1952, and a Fulani man, Mallam Umaru Altine became the first mayor in Enugu in 1956, in an election he twice ran for.
Other than this, in 1957 Felix Okonkwo, was a special member of the Northern House of Chiefs in Kano, while Mallam Umaru Yushua, the Sarkin Hausawa or Chief of the Hausas in Onitsha, was elected a member of the Eastern House of Chiefs in 1957.
Additionally, Aba, an Igbo society, voted Margret Ekpo, a non-Igbo, in 1961, just as Abakaliki voted Chief Eyo Bassey to represent them in parliament.
There are more.
Alh. Ibrahim Abubakar Imam from Maiduguri represented Tiv land Gboko in the House of Representatives, and Chief John Umolu from Etsako represented Port Harcourt in the Eastern Region House of Assembly.
In the South West, as well, Obafemi Awolowo led the campaign for Ernest Ikoli, an Ijaw man to defeat Chief Akinsanya in a Lagos election.
Nnamdi Azikiwe also led the NCNC to a clean sweep of legislative seats in Lagos, and an attorney in Calabar, Atta Mumu, from Ghana represented Calabar in the parliament.
This fact has been well documented by well-meaning Nigerians, and it is my intention to return us to this glorious era of detribalization.
This is the Nigeria of my dream. And the dreams of our forebears in their respective graves. Therefore let us look less of such things that divide us as a nation but look more at those beautiful ideals that unite us as a nation.
Good morning house
