COLOMENTALISM: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF COLONIZATION IN NIGERIA
Abstract
The British colonial masters took full control of the political, economic, religious and even the social life of Nigeria. Nigerians have irrationally chosen to remain slaves of their circumstances even when the colonial masters have long gone. The damage caused by the colonial indoctrination and outlandish orientation is quite enormous but not irredeemable. For this reason, this paper calls for urgent, persistent, rational and psychological conscientization that would consequently lead to or bring about a decolomentalization or decolonization of Nigeria and her teaming population. Because we believe that Nigeria can still be liberated from her oppressive colonial mentality by radically, rationally, creatively and culturally addressing the situations, circumstances and systems that have hitherto kept her mentally, socially, culturally, economically and politically slave in this 21st century. Therefore, this paper addresses the negative influences or impacts of colonialism in modern day Nigeria. The paper was necessitated by the sad realization that Nigerian independence is not completely won yet. This paper employs a critical and historical analysis in the delineation of our subject matter. The main objective of this paper is to highlight, draw attention to and recommend ways and methods through which Nigeria can actualize a total and complete independence from neo-colonialism and colomentalism.