Exceptionality in man is usually celebrated and immortalised. Every day adds up to weeks, months, and years. Records are painstakingly shattered and in some cases, made while names are written in ink of gold and some in ink of blood on the dusty pages of history. However, not all pages of history can be dusty. Amongst a few historical pages in Nigeria which are often cleaned up are the following which were peculiarly made in August in different years.
The River Niger was reached this month at Banbahoo by Mungo Park, Anderson, Martyn and seven other Europeans. About 35 others had died or murdered by robbers. Park built a small canoe which he called HMS Jolibar here, and moved.
On August 6, 1861, Britain annexed Lagos, declared it a British colony in 1862 and established it as a protectorate over most of its Yoruba neighbours between 1890 and 1897. With its population numbering more than 60,000 people, Lagos colony had become a sophisticated commercial hub by 1872.
In 1906, the British added Lagos colony to the Southern Nigeria Protectorate. Later, in 1914, Lagos became the capital of the Protectorate of Nigeria.
The landmark of colonialism is present around us to remind us of years of domination and foreign rule. Signed by (King) Oba Dosunmu; the then ruler of the coveted commercial hub; Lagos, the Lagos treaty of cession is one of the fundamental and institutional documents that signalled the beginning of foreign rule in Lagos and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa which will later in 1914, be amalgamated and christened; Nigeria.
A petrified Dosunmu signed the document on behalf of his chiefs at the persuasion of Norman B Bedingfield, which made him a regent for the Queen of England at the threat that the British will bombard Lagos upon his dissent.
The Lagos treaty of cession of 1861 theoretically affirmed Lagos as a colony before its actual conferment and declaration of the status of “crown colony” which will, later on, take place in 1862.
On 27 August 1985, a palace coup was carried out by former Head of State, Major General Ibrahim Babangida, who was the Chief of Army Staff overthrew the government of Major General Muhammadu Buhari after a successful coup. However, Buhari was arrested and detained for three years until 1988. It was this agony and sorrow that led to the death of the mother of Former Head of State Buhari while trying to save his son from prison.
Battling for a victory at the Lagos national stadium, Surulere in front of a massive crowd was the Nigerian 18 -player- team against Angola for the world Cup qualifier Match, setting the stage for one of the most tragic moments in Nigerian football history.
Number 6, dreadlocked 25 years old mmidfielfielder’SlSamuelraji suddenly slumped while playing and was pronounced dead caused to high blood pressure and enlarged heart leading to an ironic win for Nigeria who won the match against Angola with a 1-0 but lost Samuel Okwaraji; a lawyer turned footballer and promising scholar in her battle for the world cup qualifiers.
After decades of his tragic demise, Okwaraji’s bust lies at the National Stadium in Lagos; the venue of his death immortalised as an example of sacrifice and service.
Following worldwide criticism of the scandal-rocked Babangida military regime over the annulment of the 1993 June 12 presidential elections, thereby frustrating every effort towards a civilian led government, the president; Gen Ibrahim Babangida voluntarily handed over in a less ceremonious way to a pre-organised Interim government that will later have to battle for legitimacy, to be headed by Chief Earnest Shonekan.
Brought into power by the 1985 palace coup, the handing over happened at the height of the scandal ridden government with various protests and planned strikes calling for the resignation of the military ruler. The trial and execution of some members of the millitary and co plotters of two alleged unsuccessful coups planned by Manman Vasta and Gideon Okar coupled with the assassination of the popular journalist; Dele Giwa, prepared the regime for an ungraceful departure.
Hence the annulment of the June 12 1993 elections popularly won by one of the two government-created political parties; the SDP candidate and president elect; Chief Olawale Moshood Abiola, came as an icing on the cake leading to the end of a controversial 8-year rule.
Largely considered the golden age and height of the Nigerian Football club in the country’s history, Nigeria clinched her first and since then, only gold Olympic medal in football making her a trailblazer and pacesetter in the continent as the first African country to win a gold medal in football at the Olympics.
A significant moment in Nigeria’s sporting history, the 1996 “dream team” who had lost shortly before the Olympics to another team, least expectedly clinched gold to the astonishment of the world.
The semi-final where Nigeria with the help of Kanu Nwankwo’s winning goal, significantly called “the golden goal”, ousted Brazil which was equipped with players like the football legend: Christiano Ronaldo in a 4-3 win was largely considered the “final before the finals”.
Nigeria will go on to prove this in her final match against Argentina with Dosu Joseph the goalkeeper guarding the post and Garba Lawal and 17 other talented players winning with a 3-2 goal count.
One of Nigeria’s proudest moments was when footballer turned athlete cum police officer; Chioma Ajunwa, gave a gold-worthy, mind-blowing jump length of 7.12 meters; a record which stood for more than two decades unbroken until sprinter; Ese Brume broke it with a 7:17 metres jump recently.
After a 4 year ban upon failing a drug test, Chioma bounced back to achieve a feat that will write her name among the national heroes with the thought of gold in history. She became the first African woman to win a gold medal and also the first gold medalist out of the three gold medals Nigeria has.
Now the Lagos State assistant commissioner for police under the Sanwo Olu-led government, she was recently gifted a house promised by the then military government after 25 years.
On 19 August 2014, Nigerian doctor, Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, died in Lagos, in quarantine because she had been infected with the Ebola virus disease (EVD) while selflessly discharging her duties as a physician.
Back in July 2014, Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American, flew from Liberia to Nigeria. However, on getting to Lagos, he fell ill and was admitted to a private hospital and became a patient of Dr. Adadevoh who diagnosed Sawyer with EVD and took responsibility for both his health and the containment of the Ebola virus.
In the process of treating Sawyer, Dr. Adadevoh died less than a month after her patient. She was one of 19 confirmed EVD cases and eight deaths recorded in Nigeria.
The just concluded XXII Commonwealth games which was previously known as Durban 2022 to be hosted by South Africa but due to financial constraints, was proudly hosted by Birmingham was no doubt a success, especially for team Nigeria has she garners 12 gold medals; her highest in the history of common wealth all uniquely won in the women’s category, two of which drew international attention.
In the women’s 4x100m relay race, the Nigerian quartet team featuring Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Grace Nwokocha made history by becoming the African first women’s relay team to win a Commonwealth Games gold. However, in the men’s 4x100m relay team category, featuring Udodi Onwuzurike, Favour Ashe, Alaba Akintola and Raymond Ekevwo also made history with the bronze medal win,the first by the men since 1982.
The Osun Osogbo cultural festival is an annual ceremony that is usually celebrated in every August of a given year at the sacred grove, to worship the goddesses of Osun river , referred to as goddess of fertility. The festival is believed to be one of Nigeria’s well documented cultural festivals and recognizes Osun grove as a global cultural heritage by UNESCO. This religious tradition is as well celebrated in other part of the world, most especially countries in south America such as Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Cuba. Regardless of Western influence on African culture and religion, the Osun Osogbo festival has always maintained its originality, authenticity and acceptability among nations worldwide.
Over the years, the festival attracted different races of people, both foreigners and non-foreigners usually attend the tourist site from all over the world, as well as Osun worshippers.
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