The family of the late Herbert Macaulay has spoken out against the federal government’s decision to include the well-known nationalist in a recent list of posthumous pardons given by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The family, with the help of Chief Olabode George, an elder statesman and Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, said at a press conference in Lagos yesterday that they appreciated the president’s gesture of recognizing Macaulay’s role in Nigeria’s history, but it was wrong and demeaning to “lump” him with people of questionable character, according to Daily Trust.
George, speaking for the Macaulay family, remarked, “If Papa is to be honored, he must be honored on his own.”
He said, “Herbert Macaulay was not a criminal. He was a patriot, a visionary, and the grandson of the first African Anglican Bishop.” He should be kept apart from others for the sake of the country, not put on a list of criminals.
Erelu Adeola Macaulay, Mr. Lanre Oshodi, Ms. Mayokun Thomas, Miss Kofoworola Macaulay, Miss Adeyinka Macaulay, Mr. Ayo Ogunlana, and Miss Turi Akerele were also there, along with other family members.
George noted in his address, “Herbert Macaulay: The Father of Nigerian Nationalism,” that the contributions of the nationalist, engineer, and political pioneer will last forever.
He said that Macaulay was the first person to make Nigerians aware of politics in a modern way.
“Herbert Macaulay was born in 1864 into a family that valued education, faith, and service. George continued, “He could have chosen comfort within the colonial system, but instead he stood up against injustice and spoke truth to power.”
He talked about Macaulay’s advocacy through the Lagos Daily News, his defense of Oba Eshugbayi Eleko against colonial officials, and the creation of the Nigerian National Democratic organization (NNDP) in 1923, which was Nigeria’s first political organization.
“Macaulay’s politics wasn’t about privilege; it was about purpose.” George stated, “He changed politics from the parlors of colonial officials to the streets and markets of Lagos Island.”
The family and their friends asked the government to honor Macaulay in a unique way, with things like public memorials, educational scholarships, and civic leadership programs that reflect his principles.
They also said that his work with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe helped create the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in 1944, a group that worked for independence.
“Herbert Macaulay died in 1946 while he was running for national unity.” “He was a patriot to the end, not a criminal to be forgiven,” he remarked.
George urged today’s leaders to live up to Macaulay’s ideas. He said, “If we really want to honor Herbert Macaulay today, we can’t just do it with words or statues.” We need to follow his values in our politics, which include honesty, responsibility, and serving the people.
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