By: Abu Nmodu
As the controversy over whether the
amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates took place in Zungeru in
Niger State or Lokoja in Kogi State continues, a centenarian, Alhaji Gomna
Salihu, who claimed to have witnessed the event, has given an insight into how
it was conducted by the British colonialists in Zungeru in 1914.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP
Weekend in Zungeru, Salihu whose speech has been impaired by old age, recalled
that the ceremony was heralded by a parade by the colonial army.
Salihu, who was assisted by two of
his sons - Yusuf Salihu and Mohammed Salihu – during the interview, asserted
that Zungeru was occupied during the era by mostly railway workers and those
serving the colonial masters while he was a distributor of coal to the colonial
masters and some royalty who depended on coal for energy.
He stated that, after the
amalgamation, it dawned on them that Zungeru represented a bigger Nigeria than
they thought because of the different tribes which moved to the area.
Pa Salihu also recalled areas
used by the colonial masters and Lord Lugard as administrative office, quarters
and mess before moving to Kaduna, adding that, “We all came out with mostly
railway workers to watch the parade marking the amalgamation.”
According to him, the first
train that came to Zungeru stopped at a nearby village called Gwarijiko where
some of the materials used by the colonial masters were discharged.
The centenarian stated that,
apart from administrative activities, Zungeru was a hub of economic activities
because of the presence of the colonial administrators “whom we used to go to
their houses to admire their ways of life.”
While being categorical that
the amalgamation took place in Zungeru, the centenarian admitted that he could
not give more details of the ceremony due to his failing memory.
Yusuf and Mohammed, who now
take care of him, agreed with the narration of their father whom they said had
been telling them about the ceremony of the amalgamation.
Mohammed stated that he used
to tell them about the first bridge in Kango-Jebba built by the colonial
masters primarily to serve people coming from the southern part after the
amalgamation.
LEADERSHIP Weekend further
gathered from the family that Alhaji Salihu had four wives, but only one,
Hajiya Zainab popularly called Abbu, was still alive.
The chairman of Zungeru Community
Development Association, Mr Salmanu Yusuf, reiterated that Zungeru remained the
town that the amalgamation took place and wished that the historical relics in
the community were upgraded by building a city in the town to mark Nigeria’s
centenary.
Leadership
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