Allow me to start with a historical insight! Those who dabble in history without professional training may struggle to distinguish between fact and fiction. This isn’t always due to their inability to discern evidence from sentiment; rather, it’s often because history is an intricate and challenging field.
No matter how it is conserved, history holds the power to deceive those who consume it, frequently without much chance of healing their damaged minds. Whether past occurrences are accessed via spoken records or gathered from the texts of historical accounts, history can be immensely perilous when mishandled.
Even though professional historians possess the cognitive resources and abilities required for unbiased investigation into historical recovery, they lack the epistemological standing to control who can write about it. Traditionally, history has been strictly linked to past occurrences that can be verified and uncovered. Nevertheless, over time, this concept has broadened to incorporate various academic domains, leading some to view the work within these areas as part of history itself.
Scholars in literary studies frequently consider nonfiction as part of historical study. They view nonfiction works as credible sources capable of informing individuals about previous eras with an authenticity that rivals traditional historiography. This perspective grows even more intriguing when personal documents like memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies are categorized within the realm of history. Should experts assert their right to define what qualifies so closely alongside history, how would historians categorize contentious forms of nonfiction?
To set the stage for our discussion, let’s consider certain familiar historical occurrences. Motivated by territorial ambitions, imperial powers utilized various tactics and methodologies to assert dominance over different populations and societies. For instance, upon European incursion into Africa aimed at exploiting resources through colonization, these forces dismantled numerous native achievements and supplanted them with accounts that belittled, sidelined, and undervalued the cultural heritage and existence of Africans.
Related News June 12: Nigerians should acknowledge Babangida’s act of goodwill — Fani-Kayode Discusses North Nigerian and Yoruba History; Highlights Fulani, Hausa, and Yoruba FactsIn virtually every aspect of human life, colonizers asserted that Africans lacked the capability to tackle their own issues due to insufficient intellectual development for self-organization. These accounts, shaped by Eurocentric scholars, were portrayed as factual historical records and widely embraced as genuine history.
It wasn’t until serious attempts were made that these baseless stories started being rigorously questioned and ultimately replaced. With genuine scholarly investigation underway, it became clear that Africans had long been at the forefront of innovation, driving societal transformations over many years—contrary to assertions that Europe led the continent's advancement. Nonetheless, because these misleading accounts persisted for such a considerable time, contesting the ungrounded beliefs remains difficult. This mirrors what occurs in most contemporary African nations, wherein history tends to be narrated primarily by those responsible for significant and enduring damage to society.
Not long ago, General Ibrahim Babangida, who once led Nigeria, released his memoirs. Such literary efforts frequently initiate conversations but might simultaneously overshadow significant chapters of our shared past. Follow along as we delve deeper into this topic.
Certain people believe these works are superfluous for understanding Nigeria’s political character since they could provoke controversy. It should be noted, however, that those opposing this type of autobiography acknowledge that any ex-leader in a postcolonial country will inevitably commit substantial mistakes that prove hard to rectify genuinely. Considering Nigeria’s variety and conflicting agendas, readers are likely to interpret such literature differently regardless of what the writer intended. Nonetheless, the issue doesn’t reside solely with the official responsible for missteps during their tenure nor just with an upset populace; rather, it originates from Nigeria’s overarching national identity.
The nation's character, formed through the amalgamation of various groups, cultures, and communities, makes it prone to contentious alliances driven by selfish interests and a exclusive desire for authority. Fundamentally, anyone entering the public arena needs to be aware not just of their duties and behaviors during their tenure but also attentive to how their deeds and omissions can have far-reaching consequences.
As a military officer, General Babangida stepped into Nigeria’s national arena—an environment inherently fraught with controversy due to its non-democratic nature. No matter his position or deeds, his conduct, aims, leanings, and inspirations would inevitably elicit varied responses. People invariably interpret leaders through the lens of origin and ideology behind their specific moves. It must be remembered that our exploration centers around historical events intertwined with political dynamics, particularly focusing on how individuals shape stories for personal benefit. The intricacy of history lies in its impartial stance towards individual feelings and disinterest in future legacies. To put it differently, current human activities frequently occur devoid of substantial foresight regarding long-term repercussions. Thusly, history remains untainted since it neither concerns itself with the future trajectory of peoples nor judges the outcomes of those very acts.
Nonetheless, human nature pushes individuals to work towards a brighter future, frequently motivated by the wish to safeguard their reputation and maintain their sense of self. Regardless of what they have done before, people remain preoccupied with how they will be remembered when their life comes to an end. This explains why Babangida chose to pen a non-fiction book aimed at fundamentally reshaping his public persona. He deems this essential because he recognizes that his legacy impacts more than just himself; although his decisions during his tenure affected primarily him alone, their consequences reached much further.
Consequently, penning an autobiography became both a vital endeavor to secure his place among the literary figures recorded in history and an unavoidable task, recognizing that his heritage should reflect skillfulness and bravery—particularly when discussing individuals whose deeds significantly influenced the nation during pivotal moments.
A significant number of older Nigerians who lived through Babangida’s tenure as head of state felt deeply disappointed by this book. They believed that an individual with his contentious role in national affairs shouldn’t be entitled to share his viewpoints. To these people, someone who imposes harsh injustices on others lacks the ethical standing to discuss nation-building. Nevertheless, Babangida paid little heed to this group. Instead, he aimed at addressing a different audience altogether.
He focuses on the future, envisioning modest generations picking up a book about a man driven by the ambition to construct a grand nation. Similar to historians like him, he recognizes how profoundly historical texts shape societies. Despite acknowledging the discontent among some citizens upset with Babangida’s audacious initiatives, he refrains from labeling Babangida as a perpetual target of criticism for trying to reshape his legacy and provide a more complex depiction of the "tough" figure who once led Nigeria politically. History remains inherently amusing and intriguing. When individuals try altering past narratives, they often find their efforts thwarted. An ironic twist indeed: the current Nigerian president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu—who claims to have been persecuted under Babangida—was actually present during the launch event aimed at rehabilitating Babangida’s image through a new publication.
As a historian, my expertise lies in educating people that the purpose of crafting historical or non-fictional content, like Babangida’s memoirs, isn’t to portray individuals as flawless or saintly figures. Rather, these works serve as records encouraging readers to explore and grasp human frailty—how our deeds and omissions sculpt reality. Acknowledging this fragility allows everyone to realize that regardless of one's wealth or power, humans aren’t nearly as invincible as they believe. On the contrary, they are inherently susceptible and delicate.
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