TODAY is Independence Day. The first of October 1960 is a
date to which for two years every Nigerian has been eagerly looking forward. 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. It
is a unique privilege, which I shall remember forever, and it gives me strength
and courage as I dedicate my life to the service of our country.
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 fifteen 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 unparalled 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 the various interests in Nigeria
but in harmonious co-operation with the administering power which has today
relinquished its authority.
At the time our constitutional development entered upon it's
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 to be allowed the selfish luxury of focusing our own
interest on our homes. In these days of rapid communications we cannot live in
isolation apart from the rest of the world, even if we wished 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 now emerged without
bitterness or bloodshed, finds that she must at once be ready to deal with
grave international issues.
This fact has to recent months been unhappily emphasized by
the starling events which have occurred in 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 beyond recognition. So that we find ourselves
today being tested to the utmost, we were called upon immediately to show that
our claims to 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 in 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 pray 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 has 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 successful partnership, our future relations with the
United Kingdom will be more cordial than ever, bound together, as we shall be
in Commonwealth, by a common allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, whom
today we proudly acclaim as Queen of Nigeria and the Head of Commonwealth.
Time will not permit the individual mention of all those
friends, many of them Nigerians, whose selfless labour has contributed to our
independence. Some have not lived to see the fulfillment of their hopes – on
them be peace – but nevertheless they are remembered here, and the names of
buildings and streets and roads and bridges throughout the country recall to
our minds their achievements, some of them on a national scale.
Others confined, perhaps, to a small area in one division,
are more humble but of equal value in the sum total. Today, we have with us
representatives of those who have made Nigeria. Representatives of those who
have made Nigeria. Representatives of the Regional governments, of former
Central Governments, of the Missionary Societies, and of the banking and
commercial enterprises, and members, both past and present, of the public
service. We welcome you, and we rejoice that you have been able to come and
share in our celebrations. We wish that it could have been possible for all of
those whom you represent to be here today. Many, I know, will be disappointed to
be absent, but if they are listening to me now, I say to them: Thank you on
behalf of my countrymen. Thank you for your devoted service, which helped to
build up Nigeria into a nation. Today we are reaping the harvest, which you
have sowed, and the quality of the harvest is equaled only by our gratitude to
you. May God bless you all.
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 labored
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 and of commerce, and new industries. I wish to pay tribute to all of
those people and to declare our everlasting admiration of their devotion to
duty.
Any finally, I must express our gratitude to her Royal
Highness the Princess Alexandra of Kent for personally bringing to us these
symbols of our freedom, and especially for delivering the gracious message from
her Majesty, The Queen. And so, with God save our Queen, I open a new chapter
in the history of Nigeria, and of the Commonwealth, and indeed of the world.
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