Jonathan leads 5 former presidents to centenary celebration

Nigeria:  


     
 President Goodluck Jonathan led five former Presidents and Heads of State on Monday evening to inaugurate the nation's centenary anniversary celebration.

                                

Former military Heads of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, former Presidents Shehu Shagari and Olusegun Obasanjo also graced the occasion held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.
The anniversary will hold on Jan. 1, 2014.

The British colonial administration amalgamated the Southern and Northern Protectorates which make up the Nigerian nation on Jan. 1, 2014.




The Senate President, Sen. David Mark, his Deputy Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, his Deputy, Chief Emeka Ihedioha and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar also attended the event.

Senate President: David Mrak

State Governors, Ministers, Presidential aides, captains of Industry, members of Diplomatic Corps were present at the occasion.

Speaking at the occasion, Jonathan said that the amalgamation of 1914 was not a mistake but an act of God. He said that the amalgamation created ``a unique entity of the globe called Nigeria; a beautiful country richly blessed and which had turned out innovative people across the world.’’

The president said that beyond the endowed natural resources, ``Nigeria is blessed with unique collection of people specially created by God.’’

``The one Nigeria consciousness which has kept the nation together must be safeguarded.’’
The president said that it was a unique act of God that the country had survived a civil war and several other daunting challenges.

``The unity of Nigeria is indivisible and non-negotiable, we must remain the forward looking people that we are".
``I see a united, powerful and prosperous nation that will make the generation yet unborn very proud.``Arise, we shall and prosper we will,’’ he said.

Jonathan, Buhari, a 120 year-old man from Zungeru in Niger state who witnessed the 1914 amalgamation and two children, representing the younger generation lit the centenary torch.

In a welcome address, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen.
Anyim pius Anyim said that in line with the directive of the President, the celebration would involve all Nigerians and its sponsorship would be wholly private sector driven.

He said that he was amazed at the response of Nigeria to support the celebration and make it strong, colourful and fascinating.

Anyim said that the centenary celebration would be used to replace pessimism with optimism to make the country rise above its challenges.

He said that the celebration would generate over 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Gowon described Nigeria as ``a unique nation, a nation of diverse, strong and hard working people.’’

He said that not many nations could survive 100 years of cohesiveness in-spite of the diverse nature of the nation and several challenges Nigeria had faced.

Unveiling the centenary logo, he declared: "May the emblem symbolise a rallying point for the unity of the nation, ``May it be a reminder of our, entity, unity and oneness of the nation which in not negotiable and serve as a symbol of peace, unity and prosperity.’’

Obasanjo recalled his 2003 national broadcast where he asked ``If you cannot love Nigeria and be positive about it and make contributions to its progress, then I should ask you what sort of Nigerian are you?’’.

He tasked Nigerian to remain focused in the quest for making Nigeria a ``humane, just and progressive’’ nation.

Obasanjo after the remarks presented the centenary theme: ``One Nigeria, Great Promise’’.

Speaking in same vein, Abubakar said that Nigeria was in the league of countries like, India, China, Egypt, Ethiopia and Amenia for surviving 100 years and more of co-existence in spite of daunting challenges.

He said that the nation should use the opportunity of the centenary celebrations to lay the foundation of a new nation.

``There is every reason to celebrate in songs and dances.

``One nation, indivisible Nigeria has come to stay,’’ he said.

Abubakar thereafter presented a centenary theme song titled: ``This Land, Celebrating 100 years of Nigeria" which was subsequently performed by a theme of notable Nigerian musicians led by Onyeka Onwenu.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that Tambuwal launched the centenary web portal – ``www.nigeriacentenary.com.ng’’ while the Senate President launched the centenary lottery.


On the other hand, A human rights activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs, Bishop Mathew Kukah and former president of Botswana, Mr Festus Mogae, yesterday disagreed over the planned centenary celebrations slated for January next year.

The Federal Government is planning to mark the 100th anniversary of the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914.

The trio spoke yesterday at the 10th Daily Trust Dialogue in Abuja. While Briggs opined that there was no reason for the country to celebrate the event, Kukah and Mogae disagreed, saying there were cogent reasons for the celebration.

Briggs described the amalgamation as a forced union saying God did not put Nigeria together but that colonial masters forced Nigerians together.

She also attributed mutual distrust among various ethnic groups and structural imbalance as the creation of colonial masters and responsible for the poor state of Nigeria.

Ms Ann-Kio Briggs

However, Kukah said though Nigeria has its own challenges, it has achieved some developments. He said not all Nigerian leaders were bad and called on critics not only to look at minuses over the years. He said the most important thing was for Nigerians to seek ways to address the challenges and move on.

Bishop Mathew  Kukah

Mogae, who was the chairman of the dialogue, said Nigeria has every reason to celebrate its 100 years of existence. He said if there were no reasons to celebrate, he wouldn't have visited Nigeria.

former president of Botswana, Mr Festus Mogae

He said even though Nigeria has not achieved its full potentials, it has recorded some developments that even a blind man can see.

Word for the Day:  But to practice leadership, you need to accept that you are in the business of generating chaos, confusion, and conflict-Ronald Heifetz