In a video posted on Symfoni TV from 7:27, a prominent historical perspective has emerged, shedding light on the critical yet overlooked contributions of the Niger Delta region during Nigeria’s independence struggle.
Professor Atuboyedia Obianime, former president of the Ijaw National Congress, has unveiled a nuanced narrative of regional dynamics during the nation’s pivotal independence period.
“The North was pulling down the Middle Belt, the Igbo areas were pulling down Rivers State to make sure that Rivers State was part of the Biafra contraction. So nobody was interested in making sure that the Niger Delta existed,” Obianime stated emphatically.
Despite the complex political landscape of the time, the professor highlighted a remarkable assertion of regional agency. “But through the efforts of the Rivers man, an Ijaw man, Nigeria was able to get independent by exchanging that shape across the Niger Delta.”
The commentary challenges conventional historical narratives, positioning the Niger Delta as a crucial, yet often marginalized player in Nigeria’s independence movement.
Obianime’s account reveals the intricate power dynamics and regional tensions that characterized the pre-independence era, offering a fresh perspective on the nation’s foundational moment.