Mahatma Gandhi and Bola Ige:coincidences between India and Nigeria

 

 

 

There are strange developments between India and Nigeria especially as i concerns Mahatma Gandhi(1869-1948), Hindu Nationalist and Bola Ige(1930-2001), Yoruba Nationalist.

Gandhi and Ige both studied Law at the University College London.

Gandhi and ige were both imprisoned for their struggles on the Democratic front.
Gandhi and Ige have both been described as having caustic tongues.

Gandhi was a mystic and relatedly Bola Ige a Rosicrucian.

Gandhi and Ige were both assasianted in their 70s. Gandhi in New Delhi the political capital of India and Bola Ige in Ibadan the Political Capital of the Yoruba Nation.

Gandhi had as his right hand man, Pandit Nehru. Twenty years younger than Gandhi, Nehru studied Geology,physics,Chemistry and Botany and eventually Law.

Comparably Ige had as his special asssitant,Olu Agunloye,18 years younger than Ige he studied Geo Physics.

Bola Ige is particularly interesting for the passion he has shown for India, Gandhi and Nehru, In his Autobiography, Kaduna Boy, he revealed that the first country he visited outside Nigeria was India.He also disclosed that he had read virtually everything Gandhi and Nehru ever wrote.
Ige also informed that when Nehru became Prime minister in 1947, He "was as happy as if he was an Indian"and when Gandhi was assasinated in 1948 he had "Three days of excruciating mental agony and moodiness"

India is the Worlds largest Democracy and Nigeria the largest Democracy in Africa.India and Nigeria both have Histories of Slavery,Colonialism by the British, and ethno-religious conflicts.

In colonial Nigeria it is said the Students had a protest song that read in part " After India comes Nigeria"
Can Nigeria recreate the miracles of "Incredible India"?