Nyong Essien and the Evolution of Nigeria

Abstract

This paper is a re-assessment of the politico-historical undercurrents of colonial Nigeria. Through the subject of our discourse, Chief Nyong Essien, it challenges the official history of the nationalist struggle in Nigeria as regards the key role played by certain actors. Indeed, the relegation of the monumental contributions of Chief Nyong Essien to the evolution of independent Nigeria by scholars and political commentators has gained a re-cycling currency. Evidently, Chief Nyong Essien was one of Nigeria's earliest politicians and a contemporary of Macaulays, Azikiwes, Dipcharimans, Olurin-Nimbes, Bellos, Kale's, Enderleys and so on. He worked in close concert and rubbed minds with such important colonial administrators like, Bernard Bourdillon, Arthur Richards, John Macpherson and James Robertson. Chief Nyong Essien was a member of the Nigerian Legislative Council between 1938 and 1943, "father" of the 1947 pan-Nigerian N.C.N.C. delegation to London, member of the 1957 London Constitutional Conference, Deputy Speaker of the Eastern Regional House of Assembly and the first President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs. Despite these intimidating credentials, he has not been given due mention in consonance with his role as one of the purveyors of Nigerian nationalism and facilitators of Nigerian independence. This scenario consigns Chief Nyong Essien to the footnote in the chronicle of Nigeria's political history. This study highlights his contributions and re-positions him as an eminent nation-builder and statesman worthy to occupy a prominent position in the annals of Nigerian political history.