I was not a “history student” however my basic understanding tells me that history is a reflection on what had happened in the past, be it good or bad. I can relate this to the “law of precedence” used by the UK judiciary. In Igbo adage “ikpe enweghi agu, anaghi ekpe ya”, this meaning that there is no case without prior judgement on it. This notion contributes to Uk’s common law which is based on precedence (judgement passed by other judges in the past that is used as a point of reference for the present case).
History helps to direct the present and plan for the future. My country Nigeria has not paid attention to history in the schools however one cannot cover light with his hands as it must be glowing from all directions through the fingers. Therefore, it is not wise to try to ban history in Nigerian schools as that would create more interests in finding out the truth. This is what research is all about. Whatever one wants to know he would know by asking questions and seeking for the answers. The history of Nigeria prior to 1914 is in the open sources, it is a known secret. If this is the case, why then should Nigeria ban history in their schools? A colleague of mine of Yoruba descent came basking with excitement and begun telling about what he had found regarding the Nigerian civil war and what led to it. I then asked him, did you really meant that you did not know this before now? He said yes and continued to tell me that his wife is Igbo from Owerri. In fact he connected with the wife to speak on video. I went ahead to tell him that what he was basking in excitement, I knew about when I was a teenager. I then told him that I wonder why his people had covered the truth from their children. I directed him to read “Nigeria why we struck”. I told him that the writer, Major Ademoyega was the only survivor of Nigerian five majors that organised and carried out January 1966 coup, and that the coup was never an Igbo coup as out of the five majors, two of them (Ademoyega and Banjo) were Yoruba and both fought for Biafra. Being enthused he logged on to find who Ademoyega was and what he found shocked him that the book that I referred is now sold for £250 a copy. That is history for you. For a single book to cost £250 demonstrates that there is a lot of information one it.
The scenario I painted above is for our consumption to demonstrate that history plays important part in our lives and with it we will avoid unnecessary conflict, such as the ones being pronounced by the leaders of Miyetti Allah on how they would obliterate the Igbos. History will teach us how to live together. Knowing the truth and the mistake of the past would help us to correct our present actions to avoid future conflicts. The Igbos of Nigeria love people and they love to live in peace with out neighbours but what the Igbos cannot take is intimidation from any peoples of the world. Through this article, I request my friends to explore avenues for peace and to help as I am doing to educate their friends. My intention is not to seek for political offices in Nigeria but to emancipate my people from mental slavery. Nigerians are enslaved by lack of knowledge hence they connive with politicians to betray themselves. I will advise my friends and their friends to research about Guy Fawkes and why the 5th of November each year is a national celebration day in the United Kingdom. History will teach you the truth and truth they say will vindicate you. It would be reasonable to restructure Nigeria now to avoid throwing Nigerians into unnecessary conflict that would cost lives and produce no obvious positive results. A stitch in time save nine.