But there is no gainsaying the fact that Jaja was one of the few Nigerian monarchs who sowed the seed of opposition to colonialism that eventually led to the actualisation of independence for Nigeria. Following his exile and death, the power of the Opobo State rapidly declined. In 1891, Jaja was granted permission to return to Opobo but died on the way, allegedly poisoned with a cup of tea. He was later taken to London and eventually exiled to Saint Vincent in the West Indies. Jaja’s opposition to colonial advances led to his incarceration and trial in the Gold Coast (now Ghana). He later took the name “Jaja” for his dealings with the British.Īt the 1884 Berlin Conference, the European powers designated Opobo a British territory and the British soon moved to claim it. Born in Umudioha, Amaigbo in Igbo land, he was sold at about the age of 12 as a slave in Bonny. Jaja of Opobo (full name Jubo Jubogha, 1821-1891), was a merchant prince and founder of Opobo city-state in an area now part of Nigeria. LEADERSHIP Friday today takes a look at the legacies bequeathed to us and generations to come by our heroes and heroines past. It is a fact that the heroic posture of these early nationalists in different parts of what is now Nigeria inspired the concerted efforts that eventually ended colonialism and brought freedom our way. The activities of some educated pan-African nationalists who overtly expressed their opposition to colonial oppression through their write-ups sparked the fire of national consciousness, such that the first half of the 20th century witnessed a full-blown nationalist struggle by the indigenous intellectual elite, who fought colonialism to a halt with their pens.īut prior to this era of popular nationalist movement, there were brave men and women, leaders, who fought to defend their kingdoms or nations or even states as the case may be, against external control in like manner. The struggle for political emancipation and self-determination became popular in the geo-political entity called Nigeria at the close of the 19th century. Thus, these men and women are Nigeria’s heroes and heroines. A heroine is, to be specific, the female counterpart. That occasion not only called for celebration, it also called for sober reflection on the sacrifices of our great men and women, who, at one time or the other, and in one way or the other had laboured to shake loose the grip of colonial powers on our collective destiny.Īccording to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, a hero is a person, especially a man, admired by many people for doing something brave or good. On the 1st of October, Nigeria marked her 53rd Independence Anniversary.
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