Happy Independence Nigeria

 101 years ago Lord Frederick Lugard working for the commercial and territorial interests of the Colonial authorities of Great Britain joined together (by fiat) the Northern and Southern Protectorates and called them Nigeria (meaning the peoples living around the Niger River Area). It was even said that the name was coined by Florence Shaw who was then Lord Lugard’s mistress and that both of them were "Satanists"

Following the wave of nationality consciousness that swept through Africa in the early 1900s, the agitation for self determination rose a decibel and for Nigeria, this was heightened by the appearance of Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and their peers of the gone generation on the frontline.

The heightened cacophonic noise of self determination occasioned by women riots, determined individual and communal resistance, arrests and imprisonment, e.t.c. made Her Majesty’s Government to consider granting limited self rule to the peoples of the North and South of Nigeria.

This however did not stop the agitations for independence.

With the increased agitation for independence, Her Majesty’s Government had no other choice than to allow the formation of political parties and convening of constitutional conferences which culminated in the adoption of the British Parliamentary System of Government, thus by the 1st of October 1960, the Union Jack was lowered and the Nigerian flag of green white green was hoisted and thus the Country became independent at a solemn ceremony presided over by Princess Alexandria who represented Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the 2nd – the Queen of England.

As at 1st October 1960, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe held the post of President of Nigeria (Queen’s Rep) which was more or less ceremonial while the Head of Government was the Prime Minister Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who actually called the shots.

That was 55 years ago

And on October 1st 1963, Nigeria elected to be a Republic and came to be known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

So, happy independence to Nigeria and all Nigerians.

Today we remember and salute the efforts of those men and women who toiled day and night, who suffered deprivations, who saw and tasted lack, who suffered indignities that Nigeria may become a Country and we ask God to bless their efforts

God bless Nigeria

It shall still be better

Sir, Dr. Jerry - the First Oguzie: JP

#DrJTF

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