Rowland Adewumi

The Queen will mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Commonwealth when she attends a special service at Westminster Abbey today. High Commissioners from the 53 Commonwealth nations including Nigeria are also expected to take part in the celebration. One question that needs to be asked, however, is what is common about our wealth? Perhaps, the British has answered the question as confirmed by a recent poll in UK that finds that UK adults have found Commonwealth’s importance to Britons is in decline. Thank God! That means the British Empire is in decline. Although, it’s now history, how at a time, the British were ruling more than one quarter of the world. My father once told me how they were taught and made to sing “BRITISH EMPIRE SHALL NEVER FALL….” Commonwealth is synonymous with Empire, and an Empire is a group of territories under one colonial power of conqueror nation. This means Britain is still indirectly supervising the 53 Commonwealth nations. Why is United State of America great today, without been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations? The first Empire the Britain acquired, and had ruled up till 1776 when war broke out between Britain and America. This was the American war of Independence, and the Americans won. George Washington declared independence, and with this development, the first British Empire collapsed.

Defeated, Britain lost interest in the acquisition of overseas colonies believing the America’s scenario might replay itself. However, selfish motivation turns the unenthusiastic Britain to reconsider her stand and proceed to acquire more and more colonies. The events that made her to this are first, the effect of the industrial revolution and the need for raw-material and free “slaves” for her finished product and manpower respectively. Secondly, the political situation in Europe, especially with the emergence of Germany under Prince Otto Von Bismark encouraged Britain to struggle for territories in Africa culminating in slavery, even indirectly till today.

Nigeria as a country is not a member Commonwealth nations, it was the Northern and Southern protectorates amalgamated by Lugard that join the Commonwealth in 1914. Nigeria came into being in 1960 meaning Nigeria became part of the Commonwealth in 1914. How does Britain rule the world with the so call Commonwealth? In the 1860’s Canada, under the influence of America wants independence, and the British did not hesitate to grant her one. The independence war they lost to America should not repeat itself, they must have reasoned. However, Canada was granted what is know as DOMINION STATUS, meaning Canada will be responsible for her internal affairs and Britain will be responsible for external affairs. Wise manoeuvres. After Canada came Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Rhodesia with DOMINION STATUS. All these countries were not satisfied and mounted pressure on Britain, who in turn set up committees and conferences. It was the desire of the British to rule its empire for life and the committees coined the word Commonwealth. Interestingly, the real meaning and the legally binding definition as signed into law or given a legal binding by the statue of West-Minister is: “Autonomous communities within the British Empire…..united by a common allegiance to the British Crown….”

There is no future for Commonwealth, rather it should be disbanded and all veil of bondage removed by the British from the Commonwealth nations, especially from the African nations. First, Commonwealth does not meet any common interest in present day political realities; rather Commonwealth is fast becoming a moribund organisation. Secondly, Britain, the mother-kingdom is openly and quickly romancing her N.A.T.O and E.E.C allies at the detriment of the Commonwealth. This is evident in the Apartheid South Africa and Zimbabwe. Britain supports the white minorities against blacks’ majority. Thirdly, Commonwealth have out-lived its usefulness, some African countries do not believe in “Monarchy” as represented by the British Crown and most have assumed Republican Status. This is a great contradiction and makes one to wonders why Nigeria seems not to understand the meaning of “Republic”, and why still the romance with Commonwealth? Commonwealth, with present day realities, is a sinking ship in an ocean being deserted by its captain, and the captain is Great Britain.

Rowland Adewumi

http://www.rowland-adewumi.com

Robot  # 1 | 09.03.2009 22:27

Rowland Adewumi The Queen will mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Commonwealth when she attends a special service at Westminster Abbey today. High Commissioners from the 53 Commonwealth nations including Nigeria are also expected to take part in the celebration. One question that needs to be asked, however, is what is common about our wealth? Perhaps, the British has answered the question as confirmed by a recent poll in UK that finds that UK adults have found Commonwealth’s importance to Britons is in decline. Thank God! That means the British Empire is in decline. Although, it’s now history, how at a time, the British were ruling more than one quarter of the world. My father once told me how they were taught and made to sing “BRITISH EMPIRE SHALL NEVER FALL….” Commonwealth is synonymous with Empire, and an Empire is a group of territories under one colonial power of conqueror nation. This means Britain is still i...Read the full article.

allaccess  # 2 | 10.03.2009 06:20

chief, back to home base as in charity begins at home... Nigeria Has Out-lived Its Usefulness, it should be broken down into smaller countries that will function better.

Law Mefor  # 3 | 10.03.2009 14:27

One of the biggest lies of our modern existence is this amorphous contraption called common wealth. What makes its wealth common, even theoretically? Is this not a basic neocolonial apron Britain has used to tie all her former colonies to herself so that the blood-sucking may continue, just the writer states?