The query was proposed by the President, and I’m afraid that at that second I most popular to place the cat among the many pigeons by tabling an modification to exchange the date '1956' with 'as quickly as potential'.
That is what I stated: we of the Northern Area have by no means meant, nor will we intend, to decelerate the progress of any area. Nor are we saying that those that demand self-government, even when just for their very own area, are mistaken. Removed from it.
As a result of each neighborhood can greatest assess its personal scenario. On this respect, Mr. President, the individuals of the North are the most effective judges of their very own scenario and we consider that in our current scenario we can not commit ourselves to fixing a date for the achievement of self-government. We’re totally conscious of all of the implications concerned and we need to make it abundantly clear that the destiny of the North lies within the arms of the individuals of the North.
We of the North need our type of self-government, when granted, to be such that its realization will give us no trigger for final remorse. It will be most unwise, Sir, earlier than we repair a date for the attainment of self-government for Nigeria, if we didn’t mirror on the state of affairs on this nation at the moment. It’s true that we politicians at all times get pleasure from speaking loosely in regards to the unity of Nigeria. Sixty years in the past there was no nation referred to as Nigeria.
What’s now Nigeria was made up of quite a few giant and small communities all totally different of their views and beliefs. The arrival of British and Western training has not materially modified the scenario and these many and numerous communities haven’t come collectively right into a composite unity. Sir, no matter Nigerians could say, the British individuals have carried out them an amazing service by bringing collectively all of the totally different communities of Nigeria.
The massive day got here with the introduction of the Richards Structure in 1947, when indigenous residents of the North sat facet by facet with the South for the primary time in our historical past to legislate for one Nigeria and take part within the dialogue of Nigerian issues. That was in 1947. In the meantime, sir, our comrades within the South had taken half within the dialogue of their very own affairs within the legislature as early as 1922.
Sir, the 1947 Structure was imagined to final 9 years, most definitely to present the North sufficient time to be taught. That Structure, sir, was revised after the North had solely two years of expertise and now now we have a Structure that has existed for barely a 12 months. I need to say right here, Mr. President, that motions such because the one I’m now in search of to amend are intentionally designed to destroy the comfortable inter-regional relationship that the present Structure is quickly constructing.
Whereas I notice that actions of this nature are merely an expression of opinion, I nonetheless really feel that they serve no function apart from inflicting hurt and unhealthy feeling.
I’ve my causes for saying that. For years the surface world has been led to view Northern Nigeria as a backward nation, the place all individuals are conservative to the acute and unreceptive to fashionable concepts. To corroborate my assertion, all it’s a must to do is learn the native newspapers and bear in mind the statements made by some Southern Nigerians prior to now.
Earlier than we commit ourselves and the individuals we signify in such issues, we should, I repeat, pursue the nation's mandate. As representatives of the individuals, we within the North consider that on all essential points resembling these, now we have an obligation to seek the advice of these we signify, in order that once we communicate, we all know that we’re expressing the views of the nation.
If the honorable Members of Parliament from the West and the East categorical their views on this movement unchanged, I need to say for his or her individuals right here and now, sir, that we from the North haven’t obtained such a mandate from our individuals. No honorable Member of Parliament can due to this fact criticize the Northern lawmakers for refusing to affiliate themselves with such an arbitrary movement, which units a definitive date for the achievement of nationwide self-government. We within the North are working very onerous on self-government, regardless that we’re late in assimilating Western training.
It’s our agency intention to construct our growth on a stable and lasting basis, in order that your will will probably be sustainable.
With issues within the present state in Nigeria, the Northern Area has no intention of accepting the invitation to commit suicide. Until we Nigerians can show to ourselves and to the world exterior what we would like, I don't see how individuals might be anticipated to take our calls for critically. It's common for individuals on this nation to get a gaggle of individuals sitting collectively and demanding self-government. Some even demand it instantly.
Any nation that accepts self-government should achieve this with its eyes broad open, and the issue of 1 a part of the nation imposing its will on the others doesn’t come up. I suggest this modification, which in my humble opinion is rather more applicable if the query of self-government for Nigeria is to be mentioned in any respect at this stage. I achieve this, Sir, with none concern or doubt that if the unique movement have been adopted it could mechanically be binding on all areas. Removed from it! As I stated earlier in my remarks, the first function of a personal Member's movement is to present that Member and others a chance to specific their views on a specific topic.
Quite a few motions of this nature won’t result in self-government for the non-united Nigeria. Self-government for Nigeria can solely be demanded and obtained when its that means is totally understood by all the plenty of this nation. Let all implications be dispelled and that an settlement be reached by the main residents of all three areas. That is the principle objective that now we have targeted on and we need to display to the nation that we’re able to fulfilling the heavy accountability that now we have taken on. As soon as this objective is achieved, we will probably be on the secure facet if we demand self-government.”
Thereafter, the London Convention was held to resolve Nigeria's independence.
Those that later went to the London Convention have been from the Motion Group – Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Mr IJ Dosunmu, Mr EO Eyo, Mr SO Ighodaro, Mr SG Ikoku, Mr AO Lawson, the Mr A. Rosiji and Head FRA Williams. Dr. EMI Endeley, Galega, Fon, of Bali and Mr JT Ndze of the Cameroon Nationwide Congress, Mr JN Foncha of the Cameroon Nationwide Congress, Mr PM Kale of the Cameroon Folks's Celebration have been all current.
From the Nationwide Council of Nigeria and Cameroon, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe GCFR, Alhaji AdegokeAdelabu, Mr. TOS Benson, Dr. SE Imoke, Dr. KO Mbadiwe, Mr. RA Njoku, Dr. Michael I.Okpara, Mr. DC Osadebey, Mr. Babatunde Olowofoyeku and Dr. Sanya Onabamiro. From the Northern Parts Progressive Union, Mallam Aminu Kano and Mallam Ibrahim Imam took over.
To be continued tomorrow
