Opobo since 1870: A documentary record with an Introduction.
Date
1991
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ibadan, Oyo state: Ibadan University Press publishing house,
Abstract
The Foundation Years: Documents relating to the early years of the Opobo Experiment; Development, Progress, Crisis and Conflict: Documents which relate to years of progress and development; Years of Conflict and Crisis: Documents relating to the years of crisis and conflict between Britain and Opobo; Opobo and Reparation: Documents dealing with the Opobo case for reparation.
Description
The Opobo Experiment began on 1 January 18701. It continued in one form or another till 1 October, 1960.The experiment which has remained a source of controversy in Nigerian history, may, for a long time to come, continue to be so. As more research is carried out on the area covered by the experiment, and more documents become available, it is likely that the experiment will continue to attract more comments and may become more interesting, even if more challenging. The experiment also raises several problems in African history. Some of the problems fall outside the scope of this short work to attract closer examination. However, four of those which touch and concern the subject of this work will be raised here and discussed in outline. These are the dating of the Opobo experiment, its nature, scope and significance. In connection with the problem of dating the experiment, at least three questions seem to arise. Why is 1870 rather than 1869 preferred as the commencement date of the experiment? One would suggest that the year 1870 should be preferred. As has been stated in several works, in 1869 Jaja and his followers left Bonny for an unknown destination in the course of their migration.