Nigeria’s first real national symbol, his father was born in Kissy, Sierra Leone on January 17, 1826 to Yoruba parents who were liberated by the British West Africa Squadron from the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.
His worldview was more Anglo-Nigerian, Christian conservative, he socialized more with other children of black clergy & educators, his father was a school Principal, CMS Grammar School, it’s founder.
Text: Thomas, Isaac B. Life History of Herbert Macaulay, C. E. Tika-Tore Press. pp. 87–89
”…I give devise & bequeath unto NIGERIA-Political & the Population thereof. All my love without rserve half of what remains should go to NIGERIA- Commercial; & the other half to NIGERIA-Physical; if there is anything yet remaining-it may go to MISS “NIGERIA” of the Daily Comet.
I give, devise & bequeath unto my detractors, inimical friends, antagonist & particularly those who had at any time so ever, libeled my good name or labeled it BAD, my free and frank forgiveness and pardon as it is humanly possible to have and to hold, till death do then snatch.”
”…I give, devise & bequeath unto the Beardless & Youthful Mallams of the North, my Treasured Moustache to emulate and copy, & withal to note that as the moustache and my Bow tie are both parallel & inseparable on my dress & person; so shall they be at par, & united with their Southern Brethren.”
”…To all HATERS OF AFRICA and AFRICANS, I pronounced an ANATHEMA, I give the Curse of Paul on Alexander the Coppersmith – I devise the injuction of Aged (2nd Tim. IV:14) David in re-ultimate fate of Joab & Shimer (1st King 11, 6 & 9) & I BEQUEATH unto them the plagues of Egypt, the Bubonic of Oko-Awo, & the Yellow Fever of Ogbomoso!…”
”To every full-blooded African, I give and bequeath an annuity of 365 cheery days, 52 merry weeks and 12 happy months, to commence on the eighty-second day after my demise.”
”I give and devise and bequeath unto the Nigerian National Democratic Party – Longevity and Magnanimity of Spirit, and also the Proprietorship of the “LAGOS DAILY NEWS” – all other things being equal…
To his protege, Nnamdi Azikiwe, he left ”…my last injunction” ”…Keep the flag flying On Sons of Africa From here to America Including Brittania Keep the flag flying…”
In 1944, Macaulay co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) together with Nnamdi Azikiwe and became its president. The NCNC was a patriotic organization designed to bring together Nigerians of all stripes to demand independence.
In 1946, Macaulay fell ill in Kano and later died in Lagos. Macaulay’s reported last words were:
“Tell the National Council delegates to halt wherever they are for four days for Macualay and then carry on. Tell Oged to keep the flag flying”