Repairing Nigeria’s Amalgamation House for tourism

A tour of the house in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, where Lord Frederick Lugard signed the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates in 1914, is an experience worthy to be preserved, but, as it is with many historical things in the country, the house is not known and has been in a sorry state for ages.

 Located in the former Opobo province, now Ikot Abasi, about one hour drive from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, one would hardly believe it was in this abandoned wood house in Ikot Abasi, that the amalgamation was consummated 102 years ago. The nostalgia one feels on entering the house is unimaginable; it brings back the memory of the past and keeps the visitor wondering how things got so bad for the place. First, as the visitor enters the serene community, he is confronted by some of the administrative relics around the Ibekwe community, hitherto known as Igwenga Opobo.

 Some of the ancient structures with colonial brick walls are all overlooking the Atlantic slave route, popularly called ‘The Point of Return’, where slaves were, forcefully, shipped to American and European plantations through the waterways of Opobo. The town is synonymous with the famous King Jaja of Opobo, an Igbo slave that rose and founded the kingdom of Opobo.

 Moving deeper into the compound, the visitor enters the colonial masters’ houses, Lord Lugard’s official quarters, the administrative offices and other colonial sites, including the mock burial sites of women who were killed, while trying to resist the colonial imposition of taxes on the womenfolk by Lugard and eventually, the ‘Amalgamation House’, where Lugard crafted the amalgamation of Nigeria.

Apart from the House, other colonial structures that bring back memories of that era include the United Africa Company (UAC); United Trading Company (UTC); John Muller and the Royal Niger Dockyard, later renamed Opobo Dockyard and now Ibom Dockyard.

 The community and, especially, the large compound, present a historical view of a glorious past that volumes of books cannot,  adequately, explain even as some of the wooden structures are dilapidated and dingy, the paints peeling, but the Lugard quarters still attracts tourists the year round.

 The double tragedy that government, over the years, did not take good care of the treasure and the lack of interest by politicians is not in doubt. But a tour guide confirmed that the immediate past government showed interest in the place, especially, the Lugard House, during the centenary celebrations, but, since after the celebrations, not much had  been done.

 Ufot Bassey, an indigene, recalled that the totality of what is called Nigeria today was administered by the colonial masters from Calabar during the period, adding that the 1914 amalgamation was consummated by Lugard in Ikot Abasi. “This is why we have always told those politicians in Abuja, who are sharing money today, that Akwa Ibom is the center-point of the country’s history. We are telling President Muhammadu Buhari that he should not allow places like Ikot Abasi to be forgotten”, he said.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to do everything to preserve Ikot Abasi and the Lord Lugard House as a mark of history so that future generations would be properly guided. The natives believe that at the end of Lugard’s indirect rule in 1947, Ikot Ekpene province became the first administrative centre, where direct rule was implemented with indigenous officials.

However, despite the town’s neglect, crude and rusty dispositions, the dilapidated structures, Ikot Abasi is historical  in all ramifications. A tour of the place reminds one of many historical events in Nigeria. Replete with monuments and sculptures, there is hardly any part of the town that does not have one or two colonial monuments to tell of the history of Nigeria.

 It is a town that can attract thousands of tourists if properly handled by the government, this is why the people are calling on the government to act and preserve the place. Besides, the people believe the town and the structures could become a major revenue earner, if well-developed like some historical religious sites that keep attracting pilgrims and tourists every year.

The people will always tell any visitor that they are proud that the late Sir Udo Udoma, a Justice of the Supreme Court, who imbibed the colonial influence of the time is from the town.