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 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
- Von Schmid THE BASKET OF FLOWERS
- Barclay A LIFE OF CHRIST
- Ramsey: THE HOLY SPIRIT
- Chapman: SHORT RV BIBLE FOR STUDENTS
- Carey: LAST PLANE FROM ULI
Dan Wooding and Ray
Barnett: UGANDA HOLOCAUST
- 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.
Send your order to:
Fagbamigbe Publishers,
II Methodist Church Road,
P.O. Box 14,
Akure,
Nigeria.
While every effort is made to keep prices low, it is sometimes necessary to increase prices at short notice. Fagbamigbe Publishers reserves the right to show and charge new retail prices on covers that may differ from those advertised above.
CONTINUES NEXT WEEK
READ ALSO: Tribune newspaper, a true icon of Nigerian media, pillar — Saraki
