(2014 Independence Anniversary Address By Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola)
Dear Lagosians,
Today, the 1st of October 2014, we are once again
celebrating the anniversary of our independence from British colonial rule.
Today marks 54 (Fifty Four) years since Nigeria became an
independent sovereign nation, following the germination of a seed that had been
sown seven years earlier, when in 1953, Anthony Eromosele Enahoro introduced a
private member’s bill demanding self-government.
Governor Fashola At 54th Independence Day Parade
(pix:e247mag)
For emphasis and clarity, let me repeat that by records and
history Nigeria
We have never celebrated amalgamation day. We have only celebrated
Independence day.
When our first Prime Minister mounted the podium on the 1st
October 1960 he spoke to an independent and newly born nation. That happened 54
(Fifty Four) years ago, not 100 (One Hundred) years ago.
We can only imagine the exultant joy felt by our Prime Minister,
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa when he said in his Independence Day Speech:-
“This is a wonderful day, and it is all
the more wonderful because we have awaited it with increasing impatience,
compelled to watch one country after another overtaking us …when we had so
nearly reached our goal.”
Indeed he mirrored the views of millions of Nigerians and echoed
their thoughts.
When the British “Union Jack” flag was lowered for the last time
and the green-white-green Nigerian flag was hoisted in its stead, the crowd
went wild with jubilation, filled with high expectations of a greater tomorrow.
School children at 2014 Independence Day
Celebrations in Lagos (pix:AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Independence Day soon became easily the most significant day in
our national life, accorded a pride of place that was difficult to surpass.
Independence day became synonymous with the Governor or President
in open-top cars inspecting Guards of Honour; beautiful parades; exciting
fireworks and National Day Award ceremonies.
As a school boy, I remember struggling hard to get selected to
march for my school in the National Day Parade, the endless rehearsals, and the
keen anticipation of waiting to see if I would be picked.
There was no prize given and none was expected. It was enough that
your school had participated. Bursting with pride, we would milk our success
for weeks and months afterwards, wearing our school uniform with pride, basking
in the recognition as we went to and from school in public transportation and
displaying a sense of superiority over other less fortunate schools.
October 1st also became the day on which political batons changed,
and elected officials handed over to their successors. A day for inspiring
speeches and sober reflection on our growth as a nation.
Such was the depth of our civic pride.
Today sadly, the excitement has waned. October 1appears to have
now become a hollow ritual. The flame of national pride seems to flicker.
October 1 has regrettably become no more than just another work and school free
day.
This is not how it should be.
Dr. Stella-Ameyo-Adadevoh contracted the Ebola Virus Disease
while treating Mr. Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who brought
the disease to Nigeria. Although Dr. Adadevoh eventually died of
the disease, she is widely regarded as a heroine for effectively
stopping the diseases from spreading in Nigeria by confining Mr.
Sawyer in the hospital despite pressures to have him discharged
I know that our teeming youth and children, who now form a
sizeable proportion of our population, expect more from Nigeria
And so it is to you that I dedicate my remarks on this 54th
Independence Day.
What is the importance of a day like this? What does it mean to
you? What should it mean to you?
All over the world, Independence Day anniversaries are celebrated
with great fanfare, splendour, respect for the nation and a deep sense of
patriotism.
In some countries, festivities leading up to Independence Day
start up to three weeks earlier. Some hold Independence Day beauty pageants;
some re-enact their independence, others play the National Anthem on the dot of
midnight on all radio and TV stations. All, put country before self, at least
for that day.
We should not be any different.
As I said on Independence Day in 2007; my first Independence Day
Address as Governor-
“Irrespective of our varied political
temperaments, the occasion of our nation’s independence should serve as a
rallying point for renewing faith in her capacity for greatness and a platform
for the rededication of those of us privileged to exercise authority to the
most important responsibility of the sacred mandate bestowed on us – SERVICE TO
THE PEOPLE.”
These are the values that inspired and motivated our founding
fathers. In his historic Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa
also said:
“Words cannot adequately express my joy
and pride at being the Nigerian citizen privileged to accept from Her Royal
Highness, these Constitutional Instruments which are the symbols of Nigeria
Service to our country. Noble words indeed and the words upon
which the foundation of our nation was built.
It seems to me that there is no better time to rekindle the flame
of Nigeria
We should reflect on Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa’s words and
re-dedicate ourselves to the service of Nigeria
We ought to see October 1 as a day to rekindle our national pride.
Being young Nigerians, you may well ask, how do I serve my
country?
Let me answer by telling you about the Spirit of Lagos.
The Spirit of Lagos embodies all the values that should make us
good citizens of this wonderful country called Nigeria
Dr. Ada Igonoh also contracted ebola while treating the
"index case", Patrick Sawyer at the First Consultant
Hospital, Lagos. She survived to tell the story.
The Spirit of Lagos is the embodiment of all things good about Lagos and Nigeria
Having the Spirit of Lagos means having the understanding that we
all have a part to play in the wellbeing of our country, by doing the right
thing in every and any little way we can.
For example: by disposing of waste properly and observing basic
rules of sanitation and hygiene, by obeying traffic rules and using pedestrian
bridges, by offering a helping hand to the elderly, the young and the less
able, by being honest and acting with integrity, by being safety and security
conscious, by protecting public property because it is your own property, by
being courageous and law-abiding, and setting good examples and by being
considerate and looking out for one another - one for all and all for one.
That is the spirit of Lagos
These were some of the values that coursed through our veins in Lagos and by extension, Nigeria
Some of the changes that we need has already started happening.
And this is why one of the things I would like to do today is to publicly
acknowledge the heroic efforts of our health workers in the management of the
Ebola epidemic.
Because of their service and heroism, we were able to declare Lagos State
I have heard some stories emanating from campaign podiums with
claims of conquering Ebola.
The question we must ask is whether those who make these claims
saw Ebola?
It is women like Stella
Ameyo Adedevoh to whom such a
claim rightly belongs.
It is young Nigerians like Dr. Morris Ibeawuchi, who first made
contact with the index case patient and continued to treat him who saw and
conquered Ebola.
Lagos State Ebola Isolation Centre (pix:elotitv)
He got infected, from doing his job, got sick, survived and is
back to his job.
It is first responders from the Lagos State Ministry of Health
like Dr. Jide Idris, Dr. Yewande Adesina, Dr. Wale Ahmed, Dr. Kayode
Oguntimehin who saw Ebola.
They responded to the call from First Consultant
Hospital
The Lagos
State Infectious
Disease Hospital
Those patients vented their anger on these people when they had to
be moved to create room for the Ebola centre. I know they spat at Dr. Adesina
for doing her job.
Dr. Abdul-Salam Nasidi of the National Disease Control Centre in Abuja
Dr. David Brett-Mayor of the World Health Organization saw and
conquered Ebola. He single handedly started the Ebola isolation ward having
cleared and cleaned the room. He admitted and cared for the patients before any
Nigerian doctor joined him.
Professor S. A. Omilabu, the dedicated virologist at LUTH, saw
Ebola and conquered it. He coordinated the fault free testing for Ebola and
managed all the samples professionally.
Peter Adewuyi saw Ebola and conquered it. He led the contact
tracing team of many dedicated officers for the first 2 (two) weeks.
Mrs. Funmi Lagbokun, Mrs. Modupe Aiyedun Davies, Mrs. Basirat
Adeoye, Ms. F. O. Bamgboye, Mrs. K. O. Oshisanya, Mrs. Kazeem Abioye, Mrs.
Abiola Lasaki and Mrs. K. Adeshina all saw and conquered Ebola.
Bye Lagosians! Gov Fashola's last appearance at
Independence Day celebrations as Lagos Governor
They were the dedicated team of nurses, nursing aid, care giver,
health assistant and hygienist who commenced work voluntarily in the Ebola
containment ward without any demand other than the sense of duty.
Yemi Gbadegesin and Abdulsalam saw and conquered Ebola.
They coordinated the de-contamination, removal and burial of the
index case and other cases, and it is because of them that First Consultant can
reopen for business.
Dear Lagosians, these were the people who saw and defeated Ebola.
Let no person tell you otherwise.
These men and women, who showed courage, who risked their lives
are our true champions and heroes.
They showed the spirit of service, the spirit of Lagos
Nobody should take this credit away from them.
They are not celebrating because they know that the work is not
finished.
They are already working with our people and planning to volunteer
to go and give help in Sierra Leone
and Liberia
Their reward for hard work will be more work and they tell me that
they are ready.
You and I also know that Dr. Adaora Igonoh, Dr. Akinniyi
Fadipe, Mr. Dennis Echelonu and Mrs. Kelechi Enemuo also saw Ebola and
conquered it.
They are the survivors whose stories you have read about. Whose
anxiety we saw live, when they agreed to visit me in the office at the risk of
stigmatization.
At great personal discomfort, they stepped out and forward, to
help you and I find our feet. To re-assure us that all was well.
They saw and conquered Ebola.
Businesses like First Consultant Hospital ,
and hotels that have suffered cancellations and yet have not laid off their
staff are the heroes of our Ebola experience, and we all must rally round them
in the spirit of Lagos
Words will never be enough but bringing back those values they
represent, will. This is the spirit that used to course through our veins; the
spirit that made us the great nation that we are. And we can bring that spirit
back. By changing our thinking.
How can you serve your country? I say, take the spirit of Lagos
By making a conscious determination to changing the way we act. We
can serve our country by doing something good and positive in our homes, in our
schools and in our communities.
It doesn’t matter how little it is. Together it makes a whole. We
can serve our country by pledging in our hearts to restore, share and protect
our communities, our States and our nation.
In the weeks and months ahead, we will begin to celebrate ordinary
Nigerians doing extra-ordinary things. And on a dedicated day in the near
future we will come together to celebrate and honour our heroes, and hold them
up as shining examples. Heroes recognised and chosen by you and I for the
things they are doing for the benefit of others and the society at large
without expectation of reward.
Let the arm bands you are wearing be a constant reminder to change
your thinking. We will distribute wrist bands all over Lagos
As I have said before, I know that the temptation to focus on our
failures and lament our national deficiencies is great. I know that the temptation
to compare our achievements with our potentials and conclude that we could have
done much better is perhaps inevitable. But I say to you the Nigerian youth,
choose to take on a more positive attitude. It is a choice and that choice is
yours.
Let us see the cup as half full rather than half empty. Let us
thank God even for the mistakes of the past, from which we can learn invaluable
lessons to face the future with hope. Let us count our blessings, address our
weaknesses and harness our strengths, so that we can courageously turn
yesterday’s shortcomings into tomorrow’s successes. Let us change our thinking.
Fellow Nigerians, next October 1, I will not have this opportunity
to address you. The lot will fall on my successor. So while I have this opportunity,
let us thank God for endowing us with undying faith in our innate capacity to
fulfil our divine destiny as a people.
Let us patriotically reaffirm in our hearts that Christian or
Muslim, we are one nation under God; that North or South, we are one
indivisible nation; that PDP or APC we are all Nigerians and that what binds us
together far outweighs what little divides us.
We will yet attain those great lofty heights we sing so gustily
about in the 2nd stanza
of our National Anthem. And it will happen in my lifetime. So help us God.
(October 1, 2014, at the Police College Ground Ikeja, Lagos)
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