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 proud 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 the
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 to be
allowed the selfish luxury of focusing our own
interest on our own 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 became 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 of recent months been unhappily
emphasised by the startling 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
are 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 civilisation. 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 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 the Commonwealth, by a
common allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, whom
today we proudly acclaim as Queen of Nigeria and Head
of the 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.
Other 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 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 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 and of
commerce, and new industries. I wish to pay tribute to
all of these people and to declare our everlasting
admiration of their devotion to duty.
And 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.