First Address to the
United Nations General Assembly (Abridged)
delivered 7
October 1960, UN Headquarters, New York, NY
[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text
version below transcribed directly from audio]
Last Saturday, the country which I have the honor to represent, the Federation of
Nigeria, became independent and assumed the rights and the responsibilities of a
sovereign State. Today, Nigeria has been admitted into the United Nations
Organization and
assumes still more responsibilities.
On behalf of my countrymen in Nigeria, I thank you all most sincerely for
accepting us as a fellow Member in this Organization. We are properly grateful
for this recognition and for the generous and friendly gesture made by so many
Members who sent very distinguished delegate -- delegations to join us in celebrating our
accession to independence. I am particularly pleased that so many important
representatives could come to Nigeria on that occasion, because they will be
able to inform their governments of the genuine desire which Nigeria has to have
friendly relations with you all.
**Before proceeding to deal in detail with the many questions which are of
interest to my country, it is better to state briefly the principles which we
have accepted as the basis of our policies in international relations.**
First, it
is the desire of Nigeria, as I have said already, to remain on friendly terms with
all nations and to participate actively in the work of the United Nations
Organization.
Secondly, Nigeria, a large and a populous country of over 35
millions [sic], has absolutely no territorial or ex -- or expansionist intentions.
Thirdly, we
shall not forget our old friends, and we are proud to have been accepted as a
member of the British Commonwealth. But, nevertheless, we do not intend to align
ourselves as a matter routine with any of the power blocs. We are committed to
uphold the principles upon which the United Nations Organization is founded.
Fourthly,
Nigeria hopes to work with other African States for the progress of Africa and
to assist in bringing all African territories to a state of responsible
independence.
**It is perhaps natural that I should speak about Africa first. We in Nigeria have
been fortunate in achieving our independence without bloodshed or bitterness,
and I hope that this will lend weight to the proposals which I am about to set
before you.**
The recent tragic events in the Congo Republic must be uppermost in all our
minds, and it is about that country which I wish to speak to you first. I frankly
admit, Mr. President, that there are many features of this seemingly intractable problem which
remain obscure to me. I am in some doubt as to the exact manner in which the
Constitution granting independence to that country was drawn up by the colonial
power which formerly administered the territory, and as to the degree of
consultation which there was with the Congolese peoples themselves, and at what level
that consultation was carried out. I do not know how widely the provisions of
the new Constitution were known in that country, or whether there is any pattern
of administration going up from the village to the provincial and to the
national level.
Many other questions present themselves which require to be answered if we are to find
a solution to the present problems. For instance, Mr. President, with a new
Constitution imposed from above or freely accepted by the Congolese? And what
are the human resources in the country? And what sort of government
machinery is available to execute whatever policies may be designed upon by the
Congolese Government? Nevertheless, with the information which is available to
us, we in Nigeria feel there are several important factors to be constantly
borne in mind in dealing with the problem.
The first of these is that Africa must not be allowed to become a battleground
in the ideological struggle. For this reason, the Congo situation must be a matter
to be dealt with primarily by African States at the political level. Secondly,
we believe that in dealing with the problem of creating a real political life in
the country itself, it will be necessary to start at the bottom by seeing that
local and provincial authorities are established while maintaining the
essential unity of the country.
We also believe that the Congolese people were right to appeal to the United
Nations Organization for help and advice in rebuilding their country, rather
than to turn to any individual country -- individual power. Until achieving our own independence, we
have hesitated to add our voice to the general discussion about the Congo lest
we should merely add to the confusion. But now, Mr. President, I feel that it is my duty to put
before you, and to ask for your sympathetic consideration, of the possible
solutions which have suggested themselves to us.
We warmly applauded the immediate response of the United Nations
Organization to the
Congolese disaster. The speed with which troops were sent to maintain law and
order was most commendable. But the mere sending of armed forces is not enough.
I consider it essential that the United Nations Organization should thoroughly investigate
the root causes of the troubles which have arisen there, and I suggest the
appointment of a fact-finding commission to look into the circumstances which
caused the present crisis. Without a proper and thorough analysis it is idle to
pretend that an effective remedy can be prescribed. And here I would say that to my mind it is most important that none of the great
powers should be represented on the fact-finding commission because, however
honest are their intentions, it would be inevitable that they would be regarded as
having a particular interest in the problem.
The first essential is to find a Government capable of governing, and for this
it will probably be necessary to hold new elections in the Congo Republic. When these have been held, there will be some properly authorized leaders
-- [end of video]
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