abbah says

Today is Independence Day. The first of October 1960 is a date to which, for two years, every Nigerian has been eagerly looking forward. At last, our great day has arrived, and Nigeria is now indeed an independent, sovereign nation.The history of Nigeria is a long and chequered one, for its present boundaries were largely determined by the wars and treaties of the nineteenth century. It is not surprising, therefore, that our traditions and customs vary considerably, but we are all proudly Nigerian, and we are confident that the differences which we have will not impair our unity. In this, we are greatly helped by the tolerant spirit of our people, by the constant inter-mingling in our places of study and of work, and by the friendship that we have for one another.Ever since the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern provinces and Lagos colony, Nigeria has grown politically, economically, and socially. It has, however, been the earnest desire of the people of Nigeria to attain full independence. This aim was vigorously pursued until the British government finally accepted the demand. This is an occasion to thank God for bringing us to this day; it is also a time to remember our past leaders who worked so hard to bring us to where we are today.We are grateful to the British officers whom we have known, first as masters and then as leaders and finally as partners, but always as friends. Although our political advance has been rapid, it has, I think, been so regulated as to avoid any social upheaval or political upset. We have been encouraged by the growing understanding and tolerance between the different communities and the different regions of our country.