Today marks a great day for the most populous Black Nation Nigeria. Ranked the largest Economy in Africa, this country and its patriotic citizens never ceases to amaze the world.
Nigeria at 59 yrs old can proudly count her blessings, her journey to freedom after going through worse times right from the years of slavery and colonialism, Nigeria stands tall to be one of the black nations governed by black people, with majority of businesses and properties owned by its people, isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? though the remnant of European slavery and British colonialism still appears visible in the land, the nation’s journey and onward movement still continue.
On this day, precisely 59 years back, Nigeria was on a bubbly and noteworthy state of mind. It was the eve of October 1, 1960, the day that the United Kingdom had put aside to concede Nigeria independence as a sovereign state.
The political and social climate was astir. The reasons were not unrealistic given the fantasies of the establishing fathers – late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, late Sir Ahmadu Bello, and late Chief Obafemi Awolowo among others and also what the possibilities of self-lead forecasted for the developing country.
Independence parties were not restricted to the then capital city of Lagos in the Western Region. Different parts or areas of the nation additionally sorted out events to introduce independence, however, that of Lagos was the greatest. At that point, just not very many Nigerians had Television sets. In this way, to be a piece of the festivals, numerous individuals set out toward the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos and the provincial capitals. The festival at the TBS commenced with the establishment setting discourse of the main Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, in which he communicated his satisfaction and joy for the recently freed country and her kin.
“We are better prepared for the undertaking of country building” – Tafawa Balewa
Sir Tafawa Balewa stated: ”In nowadays of fast correspondences, we can’t live in confinement, aside from whatever is left of the world, regardless of whether we wished to do as such. Very soon it has turned out to be apparent that for us, independence infers significantly more than self-government. This incredible nation, which has now risen without intensity or carnage, finds that she should immediately be prepared to manage grave worldwide issues. This reality has of late months been miserably stressed by the startling events which have happened in this landmass. ”I will not overemphasize the point but rather it would be farfetched not to attract consideration initially to the dazzling errand going up against us at the plain beginning of our nationhood. When this day in October 1960 was decided for our Independence, it appeared that we were bound to move with calm nobility to our place on the world stage.
Move troupes and masquerades of different Nigerian ethnic gatherings showed their moving abilities and excited the group of onlookers with aerobatic shows. A state feast was likewise held where dignitaries from Nigeria and different nations blended, wined and moved. The voyage to October 1, 1960 Before his demise on October 9, 2013, former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar, reviewed with sentimentality, how Nigeria praised independence on October 1, 1960, and events that proclaimed the day.
He said October 1, 1960, was “another awesome day for me and individual parliamentarians who were chosen on Saturday, December 12, 1959, into the Federal House of Representatives. We were 312 from the then single-part voting public, out of which 174 were from the Northern Region, 62 from the Western Region, 73 from Eastern Region and three from Lagos, the then Federal Territory.
“On January 12, 1960, we, the chose parliamentarians held our first gathering and after two days, on January 14, 1960, we passed a movement for Nigeria’s Independence, which the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, an incredible democrat, took to London to conclude talks for actualization of first October 1960 as our Independence Day.
“Later toward the beginning of the day, the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, spoken to by her cousin, Princess Alexandra of Kent, formally gave the protected instrument to the Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.”
