Nigeria at 58:HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY NIGERIA
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY NIGERIA
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1st October, 2018
By
Ibrahim Muhammad Shamsuddin
My heartfelt wishes for the 58th Independence Day. Probably here there is hardly anyone who woke up on the mid night of 1st October, 1960 to hear Nigeria's tryst with destiny. We are born in an independent country and hence probably understand very little about insult of being governed by a foreign power. However, whenever we are away from the country we observe that non-resident Nigerians celebrating Independence Day with more vigour than people celebrate in the country itself. Probably it is the feeling of an identity as Nigerians which is behind such emotions.
The founding fathers of this nation, along with the numerous freedom fighters who gave their lives to the country, wanted this nation to be independent and happy. I therefore, ask all of you, my friends, my fellow Nigerians to pray for those who tirelessly fought in our ranks, to mark this October 1st, 1960, as an illustrious date that will be ever engraved in our hearts, a date whose meaning was proudly explained to our generation, so that we in turn might relate to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren the glorious history of our founding fathers' struggle for freedom.
History tells us that in that year, the colony of Lagos and the Southern and Northern Protectorates were amalgamated to form one country by Lord Lugard. His girlfriend, Flora Shaw, a journalist called it Nigeria. The new country thus created operated under the authority of the British Monarch through his prefect – the Governor General.
This is an occasion when our hearts are filled with conflicting emotions: we are, indeed, proud to have achieved our independence, and proud that our efforts should have contributed to this happy event. But do not mistake our pride for arrogance. It is tempered by feelings of sincere gratitude to all who have shared in the task of developing Nigeria politically, socially and economically. We are grateful to the British officers whom we have known, first as masters, and then as leaders, and finally as partners, but always as friends. And there have been countless missionaries who have laboured unceasingly in the cause of education and to whom we owe many of our medical services. We are grateful also to those who have brought modern methods of banking, commerce and of course new industries. I wish to pay tribute to all of these people and to declare our everlasting admiration of their devotion to duty.
A leader who led with the philosophy of a herdsman, a herdsman who scarified his comfort, his life, his health for his cattle.”Maitama Sule”.
Long time ago, when we have leaders whom have the qualities of leadership, when the founders of Nigeria who worked hard with sweat and blood dispassionately declared Nigeria's Independence to the world, and Nigerian Citizens, they had dreamt of a better Nigeria, a Nigeria devoid of ethnic, religious and all other sorts of violence, a country free from corruption and social ills among others will one day rise to the forefront of global excellence.
Perhaps for our fatherland to achieve such a dream considering the nature of the county today, a lot of positive changes and campaigns needed to be put in place. The changes needed aren't just for the sake of change alone as we are experiencing it today rather a change worth all sacrifice against all odds. Nigeria has become a battle field where politicians don't value human lives because lives, property and rights of the citizens had become a toy to play with. It's quite embarrassing that our so-called leaders claiming to be our heroes see the lives and property of Nigerians as a collateral to achieve their political propaganda. We are in dear need of changes, changes that will earnestly and honestly promote and preserve our norms, values and tradition, eradicate religious and ethnic violence, create enabling environment for all Nigerians.
1st October, 1960 will ever remained fresh and a historic day of celebration apart from being a symbol of unity for all Nigerians in view of the fact that we got our independence from the Colonial masters on that very day.
Thus, what are we doing as Nigerians that claim to be patriotic citizens? Claiming to be saints and the leaders are corrupt, Albert Einsten once said, "If you think politics is the game of the corrupt, you will be lead by people beneath you in all ramifications of life and thus, you have to do as they say." I think we should start something great within us, let the change begin with me and you, let the blame game be eliminated, it's high time to forget about our political differences in a matter of national interest and national development, it's time we work as Nigerians not as a Muslim or a Christian, Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba but Nigerians.
Notwithstanding, the journey to Nigeria’s independence was a rough and tough one. However, some prominent personalities traversed it till the end, shedding their sweat for what we celebrate as independence today.
Below are 7 most prominent politicians that fought for Nigeria’s independence.
1. Sir Ahmadu Bello
Sir Ahmadu Bello was born in Rabbah Sokoto and is one of the most prominent early leaders in Nigeria. He was the Sardauna of Sokoto and a leader of the Northern People’s Congress where he dominated Nigerian politics throughout the First Nigerian Republic. Sir Ahmadu Bello fought actively in the independent struggle of Nigeria, and on his return from a trip to Britain, he was nominated to represent the province of Sokoto in the regional House of Assembly. His face graces the ₦200 note and the famous Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was named after him. Aside that, Bello’s greatest legacy was the modernization and unification of the diverse people of Northern Nigeria.
2. Chief Anthony Enahoro
Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro was Nigeria’s foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists. At 21, he became the editor of Nnamdi Azikiwe’s newspaper, Southern Nigerian Defender, making him the youngest editor in Nigeria. Enahoro was the first to move the motion for Nigeria’s independence and was usually referred to as the “Father of the Nigerian State”. He was an academician and fought for the good cause of the nation until his death in late 2010.
3. Herbert Macaulay
Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus was a nationalist, politician, engineer, architect, journalist and musician and is considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigerian nationalism. Macaulay was a strong opponent of British rule in Nigeria. In 1919, he argued successfully for the chiefs whose land had been taken by the British in front of the Privy Council in London and as a result, the colonial government was forced to pay compensation to the Chiefs. Thus made the British Council to be mad at Macaulay and jailed him twice. Macaulay became very popular and on 24 June 1923, he founded the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), the first Nigerian political party. He later died in 1946 and was the face of the defunct ₦1 note.
4. Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo was a nationalist and a statesman who played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement. He is most notable as the outstanding first premier of the Western Region but was also a successful federal commissioner for finance and vice president of the Federal Executive Council in the Civil War. Beginning from the eve of independence, Awolowo led the Action Group as the Leader of the Opposition in the federal parliament and although he didn’t win the 1979 and 1983 presidential elections, he had the second highest number of votes. He is the man on round glasses that is seen on the ₦100 naira note.
5. Funmilayo Ransom Kuti
The only female on the list, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a teacher, political campaigner, women’s rights activist and traditional aristocrat. She was the mother of famous afro-beat artist, Femi Kuti and also the first woman in Nigeria to drive a car. Due to Ransome’s political activism she was described as the doyen of female rights in Nigeria, as well as “The Mother of Africa.” She was elected at the native house of Chiefs and served as an Oloye of the Yoruba people. Her activism robbed off on her three sons and even in her old age they had faced several oppositions from the Nigerian military juntas.
6. Nnamdi Azikwe
Chief Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism. Fondly referred to as Zik, Nnamdi promoted pro-African nationalist agenda while he worked as an editor for African Morning Post. He became the first Nigerian to be named to the privy council of the United stated. Following the declaration of Nigeria as a republic, Dr Nnamdi fought relentlessly for an independent but unified Nigeria. He was the first Nigerian President.
7. Tafawa Balewa
Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. He was elected in 1946, to the colony's Northern House of Assembly, and to the Legislative Assembly in 1947. As a legislator, he was a vocal advocate of the rights of northern Nigeria, and together with Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, who held the hereditary title of Sardauna of Sokoto, he founded the Northern People's Congress (NPC).
Thus, considering the sacrifices, sleepless nights, deaths among other challenges our forefathers faced to attain Independence, we shouldn't allow the selfish interests of few among us to distabilize our peace and unity, we should strive to live a life with peaceful coexistence among all Nigerians irrespective of our ethnicity, religion, race or geopolitical zones, we should live and work together as Nigerians. Thereby working together to elect leaders who are ready to do something for Nigeria and not expecting Nigeria to do something for them, a peaceful revolution should be imminent towards a better Nigeria.
#GodBlessNigeria
#GodBlessAfrica
#GodBlessNigerians
#GodBlessOurPatrioticLeaders
#GodBlessPatrioticNigerians
1st October, 2018
By
Ibrahim Muhammad Shamsuddin
My heartfelt wishes for the 58th Independence Day. Probably here there is hardly anyone who woke up on the mid night of 1st October, 1960 to hear Nigeria's tryst with destiny. We are born in an independent country and hence probably understand very little about insult of being governed by a foreign power. However, whenever we are away from the country we observe that non-resident Nigerians celebrating Independence Day with more vigour than people celebrate in the country itself. Probably it is the feeling of an identity as Nigerians which is behind such emotions.
The founding fathers of this nation, along with the numerous freedom fighters who gave their lives to the country, wanted this nation to be independent and happy. I therefore, ask all of you, my friends, my fellow Nigerians to pray for those who tirelessly fought in our ranks, to mark this October 1st, 1960, as an illustrious date that will be ever engraved in our hearts, a date whose meaning was proudly explained to our generation, so that we in turn might relate to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren the glorious history of our founding fathers' struggle for freedom.
History tells us that in that year, the colony of Lagos and the Southern and Northern Protectorates were amalgamated to form one country by Lord Lugard. His girlfriend, Flora Shaw, a journalist called it Nigeria. The new country thus created operated under the authority of the British Monarch through his prefect – the Governor General.
This is an occasion when our hearts are filled with conflicting emotions: we are, indeed, proud to have achieved our independence, and proud that our efforts should have contributed to this happy event. But do not mistake our pride for arrogance. It is tempered by feelings of sincere gratitude to all who have shared in the task of developing Nigeria politically, socially and economically. We are grateful to the British officers whom we have known, first as masters, and then as leaders, and finally as partners, but always as friends. And there have been countless missionaries who have laboured unceasingly in the cause of education and to whom we owe many of our medical services. We are grateful also to those who have brought modern methods of banking, commerce and of course new industries. I wish to pay tribute to all of these people and to declare our everlasting admiration of their devotion to duty.
A leader who led with the philosophy of a herdsman, a herdsman who scarified his comfort, his life, his health for his cattle.”Maitama Sule”.
Long time ago, when we have leaders whom have the qualities of leadership, when the founders of Nigeria who worked hard with sweat and blood dispassionately declared Nigeria's Independence to the world, and Nigerian Citizens, they had dreamt of a better Nigeria, a Nigeria devoid of ethnic, religious and all other sorts of violence, a country free from corruption and social ills among others will one day rise to the forefront of global excellence.
Perhaps for our fatherland to achieve such a dream considering the nature of the county today, a lot of positive changes and campaigns needed to be put in place. The changes needed aren't just for the sake of change alone as we are experiencing it today rather a change worth all sacrifice against all odds. Nigeria has become a battle field where politicians don't value human lives because lives, property and rights of the citizens had become a toy to play with. It's quite embarrassing that our so-called leaders claiming to be our heroes see the lives and property of Nigerians as a collateral to achieve their political propaganda. We are in dear need of changes, changes that will earnestly and honestly promote and preserve our norms, values and tradition, eradicate religious and ethnic violence, create enabling environment for all Nigerians.
1st October, 1960 will ever remained fresh and a historic day of celebration apart from being a symbol of unity for all Nigerians in view of the fact that we got our independence from the Colonial masters on that very day.
Thus, what are we doing as Nigerians that claim to be patriotic citizens? Claiming to be saints and the leaders are corrupt, Albert Einsten once said, "If you think politics is the game of the corrupt, you will be lead by people beneath you in all ramifications of life and thus, you have to do as they say." I think we should start something great within us, let the change begin with me and you, let the blame game be eliminated, it's high time to forget about our political differences in a matter of national interest and national development, it's time we work as Nigerians not as a Muslim or a Christian, Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba but Nigerians.
Notwithstanding, the journey to Nigeria’s independence was a rough and tough one. However, some prominent personalities traversed it till the end, shedding their sweat for what we celebrate as independence today.
Below are 7 most prominent politicians that fought for Nigeria’s independence.
1. Sir Ahmadu Bello
Sir Ahmadu Bello was born in Rabbah Sokoto and is one of the most prominent early leaders in Nigeria. He was the Sardauna of Sokoto and a leader of the Northern People’s Congress where he dominated Nigerian politics throughout the First Nigerian Republic. Sir Ahmadu Bello fought actively in the independent struggle of Nigeria, and on his return from a trip to Britain, he was nominated to represent the province of Sokoto in the regional House of Assembly. His face graces the ₦200 note and the famous Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was named after him. Aside that, Bello’s greatest legacy was the modernization and unification of the diverse people of Northern Nigeria.
2. Chief Anthony Enahoro
Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro was Nigeria’s foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists. At 21, he became the editor of Nnamdi Azikiwe’s newspaper, Southern Nigerian Defender, making him the youngest editor in Nigeria. Enahoro was the first to move the motion for Nigeria’s independence and was usually referred to as the “Father of the Nigerian State”. He was an academician and fought for the good cause of the nation until his death in late 2010.
3. Herbert Macaulay
Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus was a nationalist, politician, engineer, architect, journalist and musician and is considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigerian nationalism. Macaulay was a strong opponent of British rule in Nigeria. In 1919, he argued successfully for the chiefs whose land had been taken by the British in front of the Privy Council in London and as a result, the colonial government was forced to pay compensation to the Chiefs. Thus made the British Council to be mad at Macaulay and jailed him twice. Macaulay became very popular and on 24 June 1923, he founded the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), the first Nigerian political party. He later died in 1946 and was the face of the defunct ₦1 note.
4. Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo was a nationalist and a statesman who played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement. He is most notable as the outstanding first premier of the Western Region but was also a successful federal commissioner for finance and vice president of the Federal Executive Council in the Civil War. Beginning from the eve of independence, Awolowo led the Action Group as the Leader of the Opposition in the federal parliament and although he didn’t win the 1979 and 1983 presidential elections, he had the second highest number of votes. He is the man on round glasses that is seen on the ₦100 naira note.
5. Funmilayo Ransom Kuti
The only female on the list, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was a teacher, political campaigner, women’s rights activist and traditional aristocrat. She was the mother of famous afro-beat artist, Femi Kuti and also the first woman in Nigeria to drive a car. Due to Ransome’s political activism she was described as the doyen of female rights in Nigeria, as well as “The Mother of Africa.” She was elected at the native house of Chiefs and served as an Oloye of the Yoruba people. Her activism robbed off on her three sons and even in her old age they had faced several oppositions from the Nigerian military juntas.
6. Nnamdi Azikwe
Chief Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism. Fondly referred to as Zik, Nnamdi promoted pro-African nationalist agenda while he worked as an editor for African Morning Post. He became the first Nigerian to be named to the privy council of the United stated. Following the declaration of Nigeria as a republic, Dr Nnamdi fought relentlessly for an independent but unified Nigeria. He was the first Nigerian President.
7. Tafawa Balewa
Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. He was elected in 1946, to the colony's Northern House of Assembly, and to the Legislative Assembly in 1947. As a legislator, he was a vocal advocate of the rights of northern Nigeria, and together with Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, who held the hereditary title of Sardauna of Sokoto, he founded the Northern People's Congress (NPC).
Thus, considering the sacrifices, sleepless nights, deaths among other challenges our forefathers faced to attain Independence, we shouldn't allow the selfish interests of few among us to distabilize our peace and unity, we should strive to live a life with peaceful coexistence among all Nigerians irrespective of our ethnicity, religion, race or geopolitical zones, we should live and work together as Nigerians. Thereby working together to elect leaders who are ready to do something for Nigeria and not expecting Nigeria to do something for them, a peaceful revolution should be imminent towards a better Nigeria.
#GodBlessNigeria
#GodBlessAfrica
#GodBlessNigerians
#GodBlessOurPatrioticLeaders
#GodBlessPatrioticNigerians
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