VOICE OF COURAGE: Selected speeches of Obafemi Awolowo (Vol 2)

Speech delivered by Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Federal Commissioner for Finance to the Conference of Finance Commissioners of the Federation in Kano on 23rd February, 1970.

Continued from last week

IT was the good fortune of those of us here gathered to keep the coffers and manage the finances of our great country, during the darkest and most trying period of its history. It may still being calculated – in thirty months of civil war, without in formulating the principles which will, in future, guide allocation of revenue among the Governments of the Federation.

In any case, it is the duty of every citizen of this country, who has any worthwhile opinion to offer all this vital but knotty problem. to do so with the sole desire of creating a good Nigeria which will be worthy of the sacrifices which its loyal citizens had made of late, and which will incline all erring citizens to repent their past misdoings, as well as refrain from falling into the same error in the future. It is for all these reasons that I have deliberately chosen this opportunity, which may well be the last we have before the next exercise in revenue allocation begins, to stimulate your thoughts on this very important issue.

The objectives which I have outlined to you arc vcry lofty. For Nigeria, they have to be. An underdeveloped nation which could afford to spend well over £300 million—the figures are still being calculated – in thirty months of civil war, without borrowing a penny from abroad, without buying a single item of military equipment on credit from anyone, without receiving a gift of any kind from abroad, and without being economically weakened and prostrate in the process, can do practically anything if it makes up its mind to do it, and plan well for it accordingly.

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Now, I take it that it is common knowledge that, in the long run, there are ages of ignorance, superstition, disease, squalor, and poverty which daily and everywhere in Nigeria confront us, are more tormenting and devastating than the rebellion which ended ignominiously about a month ago. It is our inescapable duty to contain and terminate these ravages, with all the resources at our disposal, and with all the skill and speed which we can jointly muster.

As long, however, as each State is left to fend for itself unaided, or half-heartedly aided, in such crucial matters as employment, education, health services, modernisation of agriculture, industrialisation, road and waterway development, and tiding over periods of need; and as long as attempts are made, at the same time, to apportion revenue strictly on the basis of population, or in vacuo without having any specified national objectives in view, so long would the evils of unemployment, etc, remain with us, engendering bitter bickering, and acrimonious wrangling on revenue allocation, and other national issues.

But I make bold to say that if we succeed in getting ourselves to agree to tic allocation of revenue to the seven objectives which we have previously noted, certain beneficial results will be bound to follow each state, regardless of individual wealth or the lack of it, would be able to fulfil the sale purpose for which it was created, which is to cater to the best interests of the people under its jurisdiction equal economic and social progress would be guaranteed to all our peoples irrespective of their State of habitation; there would be social harmony such as was never before witnessed in our land; and political stability would become the permanent lot of our beloved country.

In closing, I welcome you all to this conference; and pray that our deliberations here may he fruitful, and beneficial to our country and people.

To be continued