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By Agatha Emeadi
Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has called on President Bola Tinubu to grant the late nationalist, Herbert Macaulay, a distinct and dignified recognition, separate from those recently granted presidential pardons for various crimes.
Speaking at a press briefing at his Ikoyi office in Lagos, George, who led a delegation of Macaulay’s descendants, criticised the grouping of the revered nationalist with individuals convicted of drug offences, murder and other serious crimes.
“Herbert Macaulay should have been honoured separately based on his contributions as a patriotic nationalist. He should not have been lumped together with people who were convicted of drugs, murder and all sorts of crimes,” he stated.
He urged the Federal Government to properly honour Macaulay’s legacy as a founding figure in Nigeria’s journey to independence. He recalled how, following Macaulay’s death in 1946, the colonial administration demolished his residence on Marina, replacing it with a post office; an act George described as a deliberate attempt to erase his memory from history.
He recounted Macaulay’s transformation from a British-trained civil engineer to a fierce critic of colonial rule, stating that his moral awakening began during his service as a surveyor under the colonial government. “Macaulay could have enjoyed comfort and prestige under colonial administration. Yet, he chose the harder path to question authority, challenge exploitation and speak truth to power,” he said.
Macaulay, often hailed as the father of Nigerian nationalism, resigned from colonial service in 1898 and dedicated his life to political activism, journalism and the pursuit of justice.
He founded the Lagos Daily News in 1908, which he used as a platform to expose colonial exploitation and amplify indigenous voices.
In one of his most significant political battles, he defended the Eleko of Lagos, Oba Eshugbayi Eleko, against colonial humiliation, even taking the case to the Privy Council in London, a legal victory that inspired widespread nationalist sentiment.
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“He transformed politics from the parlour rooms of colonial officials into the streets and markets of Lagos Island. He made politics a people’s affair,” George noted.
In 1923, Macaulay a great grand uncle established Nigeria’s first political party, the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), which won several seats in the Lagos Legislative Council, marking the beginning of a formal political participation for Nigerians under the colonial rule.
Later, in 1944, he co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), alongside Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, a move that further galvanised nationalists’ efforts across the country. Despite his advanced age, he remained active in politics until his death in 1946, passing away while on a campaign tour to Kano.
“Macaulay believed that leadership must not be about privilege, but about purpose,” George said, urging today’s leaders to emulate his courage, integrity and selflessness.
Among the Macaulay descendants present were Erelu Adeola Macaulay, Mr. Lanre Oshodi, Ms Mayokun Thomas, Miss Kofoworola Macaulay. Others were Miss Adeyinka Macaulay, My Ayo Ogunlan and Miss Turi Akerele.
George, therefore, challenged Nigerian youths to embrace Macaulay’s spirit of activism and nation-building, saying, “Herbert Macaulay fought without wealth or weapons. He only fought with conviction. Today’s youth have far more tools, including education, technology and the power of connection. Use them for change.”
He called on the Tinubu administration to move beyond symbolic gestures and embody the principles Macaulay lived which include justice, equity and service.
“If we truly seek to honour Herbert Macaulay, we must do so not with statues or pardons, but with the kind of governance he would have fought for; governance rooted in truth, justice and the will of the people,” George emphasised.
