LOKOJA, the ‘confluence town’ where the rivers Niger and Benue converge on their downward descent into the Atlantic, deserves a prominent position in the celebration of Nigeria’s 100 years of existence.
This is according to Nigerian Cultural Development Consultants, a socio-cultural group who said the call was of notable importance because of the historical and political roles that the town played in the emergence of Nigeria.
In a statement released and signed by the group’s chair, Dr. Hunmikalu Paul and secretary, Dr. Jacob Olorunsola, the group said the year 2014 is worthy of celebration, and an important milestone for “self evaluation of our past and the quest for a better future”.
The statement urged the federal and state governments to design a program that would showcase the rich cultural heritage and historical relics and monument in Lokoja during the celebration.
It said in the course of the event, there were some historical places that should not be ignored, including Lokoja.
“Lokoja is blessed with Niger and Benue confluence as it played prominent roles during the pre-colonial, colonial and post colonial era in the administration of Nigeria.
“Politically, the old Kabba Province hosted Lord Lugard’s administration in the Northern Protectorate and economically it still plays host to giant industrial establishments in the country.
“The various historical relics, heritage sites, monuments and diverse environmental resources all combined to make Kogi State unique among others,” it added.
Indeed in 2011, sharpedgenews.com published a feature story to coincide with Nigeria’s Independence Day anniversary, focusing on the historical town of Lokoja as one of the vessels that bare Nigeria’s rich story of emergence as a country.
Lokoja emerged state capital of Kogi State following its August 27, 1991 creation by then-military President Ibrahim Babangida.
In the publication, sharpedgenews.com pointed out that the town posses noteworthy historical relics such as the Lugard House, the famous confluence of rivers Niger and Benue, the first primary school in Northern Nigeria, the First Cantonment Church, the first hospital in Northern Nigeria, Iron of Liberty, graveyards of the deposed Northern Emirs and the Europeans’ cemeteries are major tourism potentials which continue to attract people from all works of life to the town.
Visitors from outside the country, according to sharpedgenews.com investigations, visit the town, including many relations of the Europeans workers of the United African Trading Company (UTC), soldiers as well as missionaries buried in European Cemetery are trooping to Lokoja to see the tomb of their departed great-grand parents and pay tribute to them.
The town attainted international prominence when Mungo Park and the Lander Brothers claimed to have “discovered” the confluence of the River Niger and River Benue in the ancient town.
The history continued with Bishop Ajayi Crowther, who was the first Nigerian Christian Bishop, who carried out his missionary activities in Lokoja from 1845.The colonial government of Nigeria under the leadership of the British Lord, Sir Fredrick Lugard, took off from Lokoja as the first capital of Nigeria in 1900.