Call to rededication and reconstruction

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

A Statement made at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Action Group of Nigeria held at Ikeja VIP on 18th December. 1961.

The third realism which we must face is that the difficulties of the Regional Governments arise primarily from an unusually prolonged depression in the prices of our export commodities. From lack of courage in exploiting every avenue of raising funds; and secondarily from a misguided rivalry in prestige spending. It does not appear that the Federal Government attaches much importance to our commodities. It is these commodities that give us the wherewithal to pay for our overseas purchases. Yet throughout the Economic Mission mounted by the Federal Government little attention was paid by the Mission to giving a strong fillip to the volume and prices of our export products. The Federal Government must now make an all-out plan for boosting the sales of our export crops and for getting much better prices for them. On the other hand, the Regional Governments must never again fight shy of calling upon the people to pay for the benefits they receive or clamour for.

The truth is that those who are able (and there are millions of them) are not being made to contribute enough or at all to the Government coffers in accordance with their individual ability. I shall have more to say on this point later. But it will be helpful for all of us to remember the following figures. According to reliable statistical data prepared in 1957, Nigeria only employs 5 percent of her gross national products on current public expenditure, as against 15 percent in Ceylon and 12 percent in Ghana and Tanganyika. We can only spend as much as we care or have the courage to demand from the people. But is clear from these figures, other things being equal, that our Governments are assuredly very far from getting enough financial contributions from the people.

At the same time, it must be emphasised that the capital and recurrent expenditure on the State Houses in Kaduna and Enugu could have been usefully saved, and the numbers of the Missions we have sent abroad in the outgoing year could have been fewer, and their sizes much smaller.

The fourth realism is that by injudicious political manipulations, we have (all of us without exception) succeeded, albeit unwittingly, in breeding the haves and the have-nots fast becoming more and more mutually antagonistic. Before the two classes harden, in their prejudices, beyond non-violent readjustment, we must embark on the dual operation of leveling down and leveling up.

The fifth realism we must face is that if, at this point of time, we are intent on evoking any patriotic response from the masses for the need to make adequate and additional financial contributions to the Government exchequers, those of us who have the privilege to lead the nation must not only purify ourselves in the eyes of the public but must also show be example that we too can give the lead in self-sacrifice whenever the circumstances so demand.

Having set out the realisms as I see them, I now proceed to make a number of concrete proposals in addition to those which I have already made in the course of this statement. In the course of my contribution to the debate on the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, during the last meeting of the House of Representatives, I had declared as follower.

‘The present time calls for austerity if we are to get over our financial difficulties and promote the welfare of our ‘people.

This is the keynote of the purely material aspects of my proposals. As it has been our privilege to give the lend in big spending, so it must be our honour to set a noble example in what real austerity in the face of financial crisis truly means.

It will not be proper for me to give the details of what form or forms these austerity measures should take. That is a matter for the Federal Executive Council to consider and determine. But I consider it my duty to warn that our admonition and appeal for sacrifices would sound hollow and hypocritical in the ears of the public, unless those of us who occupy a position of leadership have first of all made the highest possible sacrifices.

The Eastern Region Government is to be commended for its bold efforts in tackling its financial problem. But it has gone about it the wrong way. It abolished Infant I, pegged its UpE scheme to Infant II and Standard I and II and raised school fees in Standards III and IV from £3 10s. od. To £5. os. Od. per pupil, and in Standards V and VI from £5. os. Od. to £8 os. od. The Action Group which has criticized these regressive and crushing measures has been accused of playing politics, and of breaking faith with the agreement reached at the National Economic Council that taxation should be taken out of the arena of politics.

In the first place, the present imposition of school fees is not taxation, because it does not conform with – any of the principles of an enlightened tax system.

In the second place, the agreement referred to has not been made known to the public. At all events, the Action Group and I myself are still to be informed of the said agreement and its precise terms. In any case, I want to assure the Eastern Government that, if an agreement is reached that taxation should be taken out of the arena of politics, they will find the Action Group a very active collaborator in implementing its terms. From the time I took office in the Western Region in 1952, I have consistently advocated this very course in vain. In vain, because the NCNC which is the party in power in the East was implacably bent on playing politics with taxation, with the unsavoury consequences which now stare all of us in the face. I am not at all happy about the present state of affairs. But I am glad that whether we are Jews or Gentiles, Greeks or Barbarians, we now see quite clearly that playing politics with rates and taxes is a most dangerous game.

If the NCNC had responded to my repeated calls for unity of purpose in the matter of taxation, and if it had not had reasons to believe that its financial returns from other sources would say good perhaps the Western Region Government would not have reduced rates as substantially as it has done with a resultant heavy financial burden on the Regional exchequer. Similarly, the Eastern Region Government would not have been pressed to the wall as it now is. In the case of the East, the answer to the problem is not increases in school fees. Indeed, I do conscientiously advocate that school fees should be abolished in Primary schools in the Eastern and Northern Regions and that some other avenues should be explored for raising the funds required for meeting the expenses on Primary education. This exploration should be done by all the Governments of the Federation acting in correct and taking their respective parties into full confidence to what and what are proposed to be done. Those of us who by the Grace of God are placed in a position of leadership must be Prepared right now to grasp the nettle. If we unite in doing so, and if, in addition, we set a worthy example and a marat on pace in probity, unselfishness and self-sacrifice, the people will follow, all too readily, in our footsteps.

There is a short poem whose author I do not now remember, but which I pass on to you for its intrinsic value. It runs:

 

‘The Past is a story told; The Future may be writ in gold.’

Animated by the sage message of this poem, we should, as we enter the New Year, resolve to make 1962 a glorious epoch in Nigeria’s history.

For the year 1962, therefore:

1) We should resolve to make democracy work in Nigeria at all levels of government activities;

2) We should resolve to unite in combating, with all the constitutional resources at our disposal any attempt on the part of any Government or party in power to encroach upon and invade the liberty of the individual’

3) We should resolve to exterminate the cankerworm of bribery and corruption, and to evolve effective plans to this end;

4) We should resolve to produce a five-year development plan which will bear the stamp of the genius of Nigerian brains and patriotism, and which is designed for the speedy abolition of disease, ignorance and want, and for the introduction of a new era of abundance for all;

5) We should, in particular, resolve to close, so far as it lies in our power and is compatible with socialist ideals, the yawning gap between the haves and the have-nots;

6) We should resolve to raise the prestige of Nigeria as an economically self-reliant and political dependable nation, to whom the other countries of Africa can look for succor and merited leadership; and

7) We should resolve to rededicate ourselves for the great task ahead and to cooperate with all those of our fellow citizens who see the need and are determined to work for a radical reconstruction of our society.

If we are to succeed in carrying out these resolutions, we must have idealism as our impregnable armour. The idealist is not, as is erroneously believed by some impractical Indeed by adhering to fundamental principles, he is fully armed with unimpeachable yardsticks and criteria by means of which all practical issues are justly and equitably determined. His guiding and dominant motive in his approach to all private or public affairs is self first, self second and self last. The bane of our society is the monstrous growth in 1961 of unabashed opportunism. We must resolve to destroy the monster right now if we are to save this nation from imminent peril.

 

INDEX

Africa Unit, 1

Agricultural Development, 63

Anglo-Nigerian Defence Pact, 26

Akintola, S.L.A., 145, 213

Ashby Commission, 65

Awokoya, Hon. S.O., 142

 

Balance of Payments, 70

 

Call to Rededication and

Reconstruction, 209

Cameron, Sir Donald, 80

Charter of Freedom, 76

Creation of More States, 146

 

ECH, 62

Economic Development, 123

‘Economic Development of

Nigeria, The’, 102

Education, 158

Enahoro, Hon. Anthony, 143

 

FBI, 65

Financial Cross-roads, 46

Freedom for All, 195

Glory of a King, The, 94

Good Government, 121

 

Ideological Orientation, 184

Ighodaro, Hon. S.O., 143

I1e-Ife, 45

Independence, 151

Independent Nigeria, 9

Industrial Rule, 79

It Isn’t Life That Matters, 206

 

Lugard, Lord, 79, 80

 

Macpherson, Sir John, 145

Malan, Dr., 38

Mens Sana in Corpore Sano,164

Motion for Self-government, 164

 

Nationalisation, 58

NATO, 2, 14

NCNC, 148, 201, 219

Nigerian Shipping Company 56

NPC, 19, 148, 201, 202, 210

OAC, 8

Odebiyi, Chief J.A.O. 200

Okotie-Ebob, Cbief Festus, 75

Ondo, 45

Owo, 45

 

Philosophy for Independent

Nigeria. 9

 

Political Memoranda. 79

Politics and Religion. 117

Public Finance, 43

Public Finance. 123

 

Public Relations and Other

Matters, 129

 

Rapid Economic

Development, 51

Social Services, 121

Speech in Defence of Chief

S.L.A. Akintofa,136

Street Beggar Economy, 35

 

The Press, 166

Thomas, Chief Bode. 145

 

UK, 31

UNO, 23

 

Valedictory Summing-up, 118

Verwoenf, Dr. 2

 

Bertha M. Clay:                 LOVE’S GOWEN REIGN

Bertha M. Clay:                 A WOMAN’S TEMPTATION

Bertha M. Clay:                 BEYOND PARDON

Bertha M. Clay:                 IN LOVE’S CRUCIBLE

Bertha M. Clay:                 LOVE WORKS WONDERS

Bertha M. Clay:                 MARRIED FOR THE BEAUTY

Bertha M. Clay:                 A HEART’S BITTERNESS

Bertha M. Clay:                 ANOTHER MAN’S WIFE

Bertha M. Clay:                 TRIFLING WITH LOVE

Bertha M. Clay:                 ON WINGS OF LOVE

Bertha M. Clay:                 FORTUNATE LOVERS

Bertha M. Clay:                 SUNSHINE OF LOVE

Bertha M. Clay:                 LOVERS’ CONFLICTS

Bertha M. Clay:                 THE WOMAN WHO WON

Bertha M. Clay:                 THE SECRET LOVERS

Bertha M. Clay:                 LOVERS’ KNOTS

Bertha M. Clay.:                NOT EASILY JEALOUS

Bertha M. Clay:                 LOVE’S HIDDEN PERIL

Bertha M. Clay:                 DIVIDED LOVES

Kole Omotoso: TO BORROW A WANDERING LEAF

Bayo Adebiyi:    THE BROTHERS

Fola Oyewole:   RELUCTANT REBEL

Oladapo Yemiian              THE BEARDED STORYTELLER

Dillibe Onyeama               SEX IS A NIGGER’S GAME

Dillibe Onyeama               JUJU

Louis Johnson    NO MAN’S LAND

Thomas A. Kempi             THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

1. Von Schmid THE BASKET OF FLOWERS
2. Barclay A LIFE OF CHRIST
3. Ramsey: THE HOLY SPIRIT
4. Chapman: SHORT RV BIBLE FOR STUDENTS
5. Carey: LAST PLANE FROM ULI

Dan Wooding and Ray

Barnett:                               UGANDA HOLOCAUST

1. Nwachukwu-Agbada NO NEED TO CRY

Temple Omare Boyo:     SOMOLU BLUES

Akoli Fenuku:    A FATAL CHOICE

Sola Oloyede:    THE WAREHOUSE GANG

Sola Oloyede:    I PROFESS THIS CRIME

Mary Essex:        MY LOVE

Lilian Woodward:             FOLLY OF LOVE

Yvonne Gordon:               LESSON IN LOVE

Grace Goodwin:               LOVE IS THE KEY

Angela Gordon:                LOVE HAS MANY FACES

Vera Craig:          LOVE IN WARD TWO

 

The above books are obtainable from all reputable bookshops. For direct orders, add 30k per copy for postage and packing for up to 9 books. Orders in excess of 10 books are sent free of charge.

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CONTINUES NEXT WEEK

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