A Fatherless People: The Secret Story of How the Nigerians Missed the Road to the Promised Land

by Dele Ogun, Chiderah Bosah (Illustrator), Mike Winter (Designer)

A Fatherless People: The Secret Story of How the Nigerians Missed the Road to the Promised Land tells the story of Nigeria, from its early conceptualisation by British colonialists in the aftermath of the abolition of the slave trade, up to the present day.

328 pages, Hardcover

Published November 7, 2017

Reviews

[Chidi Agbakwuru · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so it happened that I got into a conversation about this book with a nice girl I liked. You know they say that sharing a nice opinion of a book or author is just like a book recommending someone to you. Well, we were both pink in the face and excited talking about this book and its author.

And to think neither of us has read it.

For his genuine and studious research into an undocumented Nigerian history and his balanced account and narration, this one gets a straight B-

Will be back for a proper review.

[Adeyemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow ! what a book by Dele Ogun.

I bought this audiobook on audible and I didn't regret it. The narration, the quality of content, the rich historical education has opened my eyes to the past, but also explained the current and hopefully gives us context for the future as well. There were a lot of things i don't know ( e.g. the narration around the Obas of Lagos pre-colonial times, what happened pre and post-independent Nigeria, the role of slavery, the role of the British, the role of governance and misrule etc)

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extensive review of the political history of Nigeria from the 1800s to the present.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ogun, a lawyer, writes this reasonable and enjoyable narrative on Nigerian history starting from the British 1861 Lagos colony until a free and democratic state in 2017 and the re-emergence of a separatist Biafra movement and the threat of a Boko Haram insurgency trying to separate Northern states much like Muslim governors in the past did. Fodio established the Fulani Sokoto caliphate in the 18th C and this Muslim division would heavily impact Nigeria's political history.

UK kept Nigeria closely under control because of its resources and strategic position. Governors Lugard, Baudillon, Robertson etc. all had different methods in dividing and conquering the educated, modern and ambitious Yoruba in the Southwest vs the isolated, traditional and conservative Muslims in Hausaland in the north.

In 1914, three regions emerged and the Brits kept the Northern emirs via indirect control in overall power so it would serve British interests. after WW2, the Nigerian intelligencia demanded independence as other countries were getting freedom like India in 1947 and Sudan in 1955. workers, women, and journalists saw the colonial role as passe. in Oct 1960, UK granted Nigeria independence under the Commonwealth with Muslim Balewa as PM. this lasted until the 1966 army coup under Ironsi and later Col Gowan. meanwhile Igbo people rich with oil experienced pogroms across the country. Generals Mohammed and Buhari had to suppress the Igbo secessionist movement killing perhaps 3 million from 1967-1970.

1976 saw a second and brief republic before it fell to another army coup as various calls to unite under a unitary system changed to a more federal system and a presidential model from the US. Christian Yoruba general Obasanjo entered power as a reformer before being overthrown by hardliners in 1985, and 1993 such as General Babaganida and Sani Abacha who would later become the most corrupt and violent army leader ever killing politicians and artists. his death in 1999 allowed a gradual 3rd republic to emerge under Obasanjo, and a new constitution adding new states, around 19, and state autonomy including Sharia law in the north.

The global conflict between the West and radical Islam entered into Nigeria with Boko Haram in Borno state in 2002. Christian president Goodluck Jonathan liberalized the country more while dealing with insurgency and kidnappings of Chibok girls.

Ogun concludes by comparing UK and Nigeria's similar nation/tribe divisions and separatist movements. Nigerians are unique but not that different from Europeans and Americans other than when they evolved; Nigeria is a colonial legacy and will be bound to UK indefinitely. Recommend.

[Emeka Onyeagwa · Rating 1 out of 5]

A good read.

[Damiism · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite comprehensive history of Nigeria. And perhaps the best one.