Before proceeding to deal in detail with the many questions which are of interest to my country, it is better to state briefly the principles which we have accepted as the basis of our policies in international relations. Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE (December 1912 -- January 15, 1966) was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. I have said already that much of the present situation in the Congo is obscure. Once the people have chosen their representatives, it will be possible to hold discussions to find out the form of government which will be generally acceptable. It is an arduous and lengthy task to arrange elections in such a large territory, and some immediate action is required in the meantime. Its completely spam free and you can opt out any time. Yet, however artificial those boundaries were at first the countries they have created have come to regard themselves as units independent of one another. Please do not think that we are not interested in other regions, and we hope to be allowed to assist in finding solutions to them through this organization. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, (born 1912, Bauchi, Northern Nigeria—died January 1966, near Ifo, Nigeria), Nigerian politician, deputy leader of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), and the first federal prime minister (1957–66). Nigeria is a populous country. And here the United Nations can be of the greatest assistance, by providing the necessary experts to inquire and advise. Our Home Based Officers It is true that elections cannot be held overnight. I have studied various suggestions which have been put forward, and I can tell you that some of those which appear at first sight attractive are really quite impossible. The recent tragic events in Republic of the Congo must be uppermost in all our minds, and it is about that country that I wish to speak to you first. It is, therefore, our policy to leave those boundaries as they are at present, and to discourage any adjustment whatsoever. And so, as we gratefully take the place to which you have invited us, we feel an immense responsibility to the world which you represent. In his inaugural speech delivered at the plenary session at the general assembly in New York on 8th October, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa said ” Nigeria will participate actively in the work of the United Nations and uphold the principles upon which the United Nations was founded” . We can also lend professors and teaching staff from the time to give short courses and lectures, and I assure you that many qualified Nigerians are eager to take part in such work during their school and college vacations. Will the result be a confederacy or a federation? We in Nigeria appreciate the advantages which the size of our country and its population give us, but we have absolutely no aggressive intentions. On the contrary, it will follow as a natural consequence of cooperation in other fields. Those are but a few of the ways in which the Congo can be helped. Cooperation is for each man to be true to his religious belief and to reaffirm the basic principles of his particular creed. The National Assembly of the Nigeria's Statements at the UN Security Council (2010-2011 Session). It is true that elections cannot be held overnight. Edit them in the Widget section of the. I consider it essential that the United Nations should thoroughly investigate the root causes of the troubles which have arisen there, and I suggest the appointment of a fact-finding commission to look into the circumstances which caused the present crisis. Nigeria is prepared to make its experience available and to send technical experts to assist in planning and development for the future. They may seem to some of us to be far from perfect, and to some even objectionable; but if they are duly chosen by a majority, then they must be supported. Tags. But for the present, it is unrealistic to expect countries to give up their sovereignty which they have so recently acquired, and I am quite sure that it is wrong to imagine that political union could of itself bring the countries together. Balewa's father, Yakubu Dan Zala, was of Gere ethnicity, and his mother Fatima Inna was of Gere and Fulani descent. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa has been listed as a level-5 vital article in People, Politicians. Below is the speech delivered by the Nigerian Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, during the celebration of Nigeria’s independence… Read More » Advertisement. Many other questions present themselves which require answers if we are to find a solution to the present problems. I do not know how widely the provisions of the new Constitution were known in that country, or whether there is any pattern of administration going up from the village to the provincial and to the national level. The most serious problem in these cases seems to me to be that political independence is totally inadequate itself if it is not accompanied by stability and economic security, and if there is not genuine personal liberty, with freedom to express one’s views and to profess whatever faith one desires. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Mr. Prime Minister: A Selection of Speeches Made by Alhaji the Right Honourable Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, K.B.E., M.P., Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Apapa: Nigerian National Press, Ltd., 1964). Indeed, I wish that there were many more of them. So I wish to state that I think that it will be the greatest threat to peace in Africa if any country sets out to undermine the authority of the properly chosen leaders of other states with a view of imposing political union. Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE (December 1912 – 15 January 1966) was a Nigerian politician, and the first prime minister of an independent Nigeria. New York, NY. The most serious problem in these cases seems to me to be that political independence is totally inadequate itself if it is not accompanied by stability and economic security, and if there is not genuine personal liberty, with freedom to express one’s views and to profess whatever faith one desires. Spreading political propaganda or more insidious infiltration through technical assistance can virtually rob any under-developed country of its freedom. This article has been rated as Start-Class. Nigeria at 60 - What Tafawa Balewa Said in His Independence Speech. We shall never impose ourselves on any other country and shall treat every African Territory, big or small, as our equal because we honestly feel that it is only on that basis of equality that peace can be maintained in our continent. The root of the problem will lie in revenue allocation. I wish to make our position plain beyond any measure of doubt with regard to the African Continent. In order to man the higher positions it will obviously be necessary to train the Congolese. We have paid prize for unity through a bloody Civil War where about 3million Nigerians lost their lives. You can use a text widget to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. That is the reason we in Nigeria will not be found to align ourselves as a matter of routine, with any particular bloc. 0 Comments. This will entail giving additional powers to the United Nations force and to its other agencies, but only for a limited period, until new elections have been held. Humanity First | Entrepreneur | Digital Nomad | Political Evolutionist Last Saturday the country which I have the honor to represent, the Federation of Nigeria, became independent and assumed the rights and responsibilities of a sovereign State. Nigeria@60: What Tafawa Balewa said in his independence speech Nigeria became a sovereign nation on October 1, 1960. by Adejumo kabir. The Text Widget allows you to add text or HTML to your sidebar. If I think correctly, the whole purpose of this organization is to enable the different countries to work together in a friendly atmosphere to procure the peace and progress of mankind, and this cooperation is meant to link all the member nations, no matter what sort of Government each individual country enjoys within its own boundaries. I, therefore feel that if the advanced nations of the other continents are really desirous of seeing the new African States stand on their own feet and make their own particular contribution to the peace of the world and to the happiness of mankind, they should make a real effort to desist from fomenting trouble in any of the African countries. On behalf of my countrymen in Nigeria I thank you all most sincerely for accepting us as a fellow Member of this organization. 7th October, 1960. I certainly deprecate direct assistance being given by individual power to countries which are not yet able to stand on their own feet and are potentially unstable, because such aid would only give rise to suspicion and, in the end, the receiving country may find itself involved in the ideological war, a thing which, as I have already said, we in Africa must do everything in our power to prevent. ... Flashback: Tafawa Belewa’s Speech on October 1st 1960. We are committed to uphold the principles upon which the United Nations is founded. Nigeria became a sovereign nation on October 1, 1960. To this end, I propose that those African States which hold the same views as Nigeria combine with us to find places in secondary and technical schools for some hundred of Congolese boys. For instance, there can be no question of the United Nations taking on the role of administering Power or of the Republic of the Congo being regarded as United Nations Trust Territory. For this reason the Congo situation must be a matter to be dealt with primarily by African States at the political level. I am speaking frankly to you, Mr. President, because this is the first occasion on which my country has been able to speak out in the councils of the world. Economic weakness is evident in a new country open to every kind of pressure and results in other countries depriving its people of the freedom to choose a form of government which they feel suits them best. Spreading political propaganda or more insidious infiltration through technical assistance can virtually rob any under-developed country of its freedom. That is the reason we in Nigeria will not be found to align ourselves as a matter of routine, with any particular bloc. I hope that this policy will bring about an atmosphere of trust, and that if each country is given proper recognition and respect as a sovereign State, it will be possible to have effective cooperation on all matters of common concern to us. Here I would say that to my mind it is most important that none of the great powers should be represented on the fact-finding commission because, however honest their intentions, it would be inevitable that they should be regarded as having a particular interest in the problem. The General Assembly is the supreme conference in the world, and if the ideas on which it is based are really accepted, then one would expect every representative, no matter from where he comes, to feel absolutely free to express the mind of the country he represents, to feel that he is in no way restricted either by the lobbying of other representatives, or in the case of under-developed countries, by being put under an obligation through technical and financial aid. The root of the problem will lie in revenue allocation. I shall direct the complete demolition of the town for peace to reign.” An "emergency joint stakeholders meeting of Muslims and Christians representatives of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro local government areas" was held, and an agreement was reached. This will entail giving additional powers to the United Nations force and to its other agencies, but only for a limited period, until new elections have been held. Yet the truth must be told no matter what and no matter whose ox is gored. Indeed, I hate the very ideas of blocs existing at all in the United Nations. ... Balewa, Nigeria’s first prime minister, delivered this speech on October 1, 1960. Now to deal with the more general problems of Africa; problems which are bound to arise when the Powers which colonized Africa in the last century are now relinquishing their control and granting independence to their former colonies. It is, therefore, our policy to leave those boundaries as they are at present, and to discourage any adjustment whatsoever. But, nevertheless, we do intend to ally ourselves as a matter routine with any of the Power blocs. I am particularly pleased that so many important representatives could come to Nigeria on that occasion, because they will be able to inform their Governments of the genuine desire of Nigeria to have friendly relations with you all. 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