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44 years down the road, and
Nigeria trudges on
By
Enoghase Sylvester
Research
& Data Desk
Forty-four
years ago, Nigeria became a sovereign state after six decades of colonial
rule. Forty-four years is far more than a convenient milestone for
stocktaking as it was hoped that we would be able to prove to the colonial
masters and the world that we were capable to chart a civilised and
democratic course.
The
political reality of Nigeria as a sovereign entity is that there are many
cultural groups which were, in the colonial process, welded into a
nation-state by those who performed the feat. This mustard seed later
matured into the specie in the genus of political communities known as
federalism, the British means of decolonising the multi-ethnic, tribal
entities of Nigeria.
Great
Britain is, therefore, credited with the establishment of the modern type
democracy in Nigeria. The general elections into the Nigerian parliament
that took place on December 12, 1959 made it possible for Alhaji Abubakar
Tafawa Balewa to form the federal cabinet comprising Northern Peoples
Congress (NPC) and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC)
members. The parliament so elected went on to pass a resolution requesting
for a specific date for Nigeria�s independence.
The
British Government agreed to October 1, 1960, for Nigeria�s independence.
An Act to make provision for and in connection with the attainment by
Nigeria of a fully responsible status within the Commonwealth was passed
in the federal legislature in July 1960. So, on October 1, 1960, the
British Union Jack was lowered and the Nigerian flag was hoisted by
Balewa, thus ending British colonial rule marked by the hoisting of the
Union Jack on January 1, 1900.
As
the official and formal ceremonial transfer of power was being executed,
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first indigenous Governor-General, was stepping in
to take over from Sir James Robertson, the last of the colonial
Governor-Generals.
The
ceremony marked the completion of the struggle by the pioneer nationalists
for Nigeria�s self rule. The Independence Speech set out high goals for
the newly liberated country. The speech read in part:
Today
is Independence Day. The first of October 1960 is a date to which for two
years every Nigerian has been eagerly looking forward to. At last, our
great day has arrived, and Nigeria is now indeed an independent sovereign
nation.
Words
cannot adequately express my joy and pride at being the Nigerian citizen
privileged to accept from Her Royal Highness these Constitutional
Instruments which are the symbols of Nigeria�s independence.
This
is a wonderful day, and it is all the more wonderful because we have
awaited it with increasing impatience, compelled to watch one country
after another overtaking us on the road when we had so nearly reached our
goal. But now, we have acquired our rightful status and I feel sure that
history will show that the building of our nation proceeded at the wisest
pace: It has been thorough, and Nigeria now stands well built upon firm
foundations.
Today�s
ceremony marks the culmination of a process which began 15 years ago and
has now reached a happy and successful conclusion. It is with justifiable
pride that we claim the achievement of our independence to be unparalleled
in the annals of history. Each step of our constitutional advance has been
purposefully and peacefully planned with full and open consultation
between representatives of all various interests in Nigeria but in
harmonious co-operation with the administering power which has today
relinquished its authority.
At
the time when our constitutional development entered upon its final phase,
the emphasis was largely upon self-government. We, the elected
representatives of the people of Nigeria, concentrated on proving that we
were fully capable of managing our own affairs, both internally and as a
nation. However, we were not allowed the selfish luxury of focusing our
own interest on our own homes.
In
this days of rapid communications, we cannot live in isolation, apart from
the rest of the world, even if we wish to do so. All too soon, it has
become evident that for us independence implies a great deal more than
self-government. This great country, which has emerged without bitterness
or bloodshed, finds she must at once be ready to deal with grave
international issues.
This
fact has of recent months been unhappily emphasised by the startling
events which have occurred on this continent. I shall not labour the point
but it would be unrealistic not to draw attention first to the
awe-inspiring task confronting us at the very start of our nationhood.
When this day in October 1960 was chosen for our independence, it seemed
that we were destined to move with quiet dignity to our place on the world
stage. Recent events have changed the scene before recognition. So, that
we find ourselves today being tested to the utmost, we are called upon
immediately to show that our claims to a responsible government are
well-founded, and having been accepted as an independent state, we must at
once play an active part in maintaining the peace of the world and
preserving civilization. I promise you, we shall not fail for want of
determination.
And
we come to this task better equipped than many. For this, I pay tribute to
the manner in which successive British governments have gradually
transferred the burden of responsibility to our shoulders. The assistance
and unfailing encouragement which we have received from each Secretary of
State for the colonies and their intense personal interest in our
development have immeasurably lightened that burden.
All
our friends in the colonial office must today be proud of their handiwork
and in the knowledge that they have helped to lay the foundations of a
lasting friendship between our two nations. I have indeed every confidence
that, based on the happy experience of a successful partnership, our
future relations with the United Kingdom will be more cor dial than ever,
bound together, as we shall be in the Common wealth, by a common
allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, whom today we proudly acclaim
as Queen of Nigeria and Head of the Commonwealth. I open a new chapter in
the history of Nigeria, and of the Commonwealth, and indeed of the
World.
Balewa,
Nigeria�s first Prime Minister, who was killed in the January 15, 1966,
coup, delivered this speech on Saturday, October 1, 1960, after receiving
the instrument of independence from Princess Margaret.
It
would have been expected that with this noble declaration by Balewa,
Nigeria is not only going to be free but will become truly great. However,
developments from then on and up until now have cast a dark shadow over
the entity called Nigeria.
Despite
Nigeria�s freedom from foreign domination, she was far from being
independent, internally. The centrifugal forces at work were far more
overwhelming than the need to gravitate towards a collective
goal.
A
close look at the present democratic structure of the Nigerian state
reveals a situation of perpetual conflict, which if not properly handled,
could lead to another major crisis in the nearest future. This was the
basis of the Committee of National Rebirth meeting on March 27, 1951 by
politicians who saw the need to move the country forward at the peak of
colonial rule and also to avoid the obvious happenings in Nigeria today.
However,
the ruling elite seem to think otherwise. Recently, President Olusegun
Obasanjo dismissed the calls for a Sovereign Conference as "idle talk".
This is nothing but a blatant attempt to evade a full dialogue on the
issue. Such an attitude hardly becomes a democratically elected
government.
The
reasons for this apparent anomaly are not particularly obscure. The first
reason is of course the overwhelming self-interest of the ruling elite.
The Nigerian nightmare is no accident. There are people who have been and
are profiting from Nigeria's underdevelopment.
Just
like the persistent fuel scarcity and the incessant price hikes brought
the country to a standstill in June this year because of the strike action
embarked upon by Labour, it also created millionaires, as some interest
groups are deeply interested in the continuation of the status quo because
they have benefited from it. After all, the millions of dollars budgeted
for the repairs and rehabilitation of the four refineries in the country
as soon as this regime came to power in 1999 have gone down the drain.
Yet, the National Orientation Agency preaches anti-corruption slogans on
daily basis.
While
the Obasanjo regime continues to play hide and seek with constitutional
issues, hopes raised regarding the end of military rule are giving way to
frustration as the unfolding situation looks more and more like a
continuation of the policies of the past 44 years. The old tactics of
playing one ethnic group against the other is again being practised by the
regime. The ethnic banner is again being waved as a diversionary tactic to
hide the real underlying problems.
The burning issue at hand now
is the increase in the pump prices of petroleum products in September 23,
2004. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the government up to
October 11, 2004, to revert to the old prices or face an indefinite
strike. The question now is why are our leaders � the Federal Government �
adamant in listening to the voice of the masses who voted them into power?
The presidency should answer this national question.
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