A Professor of History at the University of Ibadan, Simon Ademola Ajayi, has expressed regret with the way history is not revered in Nigeria.
Prof. Ajayi spoke on the need to place history in its rightful place, not just by learning it as a school subject, but as a way of life, individually and corporately.
The Don stated this at an inaugural lecture he delivered on behalf of the Faculty of Arts of the institution.
Professor Ajayi spoke on the need to unlearn, learn and relearn from history.
According to him, Nigeria’s current problems are systemic, and the solution should be systematic, adding that this is the time for restructuring, reorientation and rebuilding.
He said there is a need for paradigm shift, in order to embrace true federalism which would be a strategic means of managing the country’s diversity, and further enable every federating unit to address its peculiar challenges.
Professor Ajayi stated that when people fear the verdict of history, they tread with caution, but regretted that it is not revered that in the Nigeria of today.
He wondered why the Nigerian political class is more concerned with the pursuit, acquisition, sharing, retention and mere exercise of power that is so ephemeral, kicking all notions of nationalism and nation building to the background and, often, resorting to the ruling pattern of the dark ages, and practically returning the polity to primitivity.
He advised all not to truncate history to suit an agenda, warning that such an action would boomerang like a vengeful torrent.
Professor Ajayi said the time has come for those in the saddle of power to discard the idea of ‘government is might, and might is right’ in their dealings with the governed. Rather, he said they should embrace the principle of ‘what is right’ for the sake of posterity.
The inaugural lecturer called on all Nigerians to pause, reflect on the past, evaluate the present, and think of future possibilities and expectations.
He cautioned Nigerians not to keep repeating the same errors while expecting different results. He said that they should never stop learning from and about the past, because history would never stop teaching or unfurling wisdom.
He stated that going down historical lane would help to understand the present and project the future appropriately to aid sustainable development.
Professor Ajayi warned that history is useful and would continue to be useful but that any society that denigrates or trivialises its history would certainly go the way of history and get lost in the jungle of confusion and interminably lament missed opportunities for sustainable development.
The inaugural lecture was entitled “Who Is Not Afraid Of History?”
