Some former leaders, including Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, were at the State House, Abuja, on Monday night to support President Goodluck Jonathan in beginning the centenary celebration slated for January 1, next year.
The amalgamation of the Southern and Northern Protectorates, which made up the Nigerian nation in 1914 by the British colonial administration, would be 100 years old on January 1, next year.
The event, which began at 8:30 pm and ended about 11 pm at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, had Pa Buhari, a 120-year-old from Zungeru in Niger State, who witnessed the 1914 amalgamation and a boy and a girl, representing the younger generation, lighting the centenary torch.
Noting that the amalgamation was not a mistake but an act of God, Jonathan said it created a unique entity of the globe called Nigeria; a beautiful country richly blessed, which has turned out innovative people across the globe.
Besides the endowed natural resources, he said Nigeria is blessed with a unique collection of people specially created by God.
According to him, the “one Nigeria” consciousness, which has kept the nation together, must be guarded.
He said it was a unique act of God that the country had survived a civil war and other challenges.
Jonathan said: “The unity of Nigeria is indivisible and non-negotiable. We must remain the forward looking people we are.
“I see a united, powerful and prosperous nation that will make the generation yet unborn very proud. Arise, we shall and prosper we will.”
Gen. Gowon described Nigeria as “a unique nation, a nation of diverse, strong and hard working people.”
According to him, not many nation could survive 100 years of cohesiveness despite the diverse nature of the nation and the challenges it has gone through.
Unveiling the centenary logo, he said: “May the emblem symbolise a rallying point for the unity of the nation.
“May it be a reminder of our entity, unity and oneness, which are not negotiable and serve as a symbol of peace, unity and prosperity.”
Chief Obasanjo recalled his 2003 national broadcast when he asked: “If you cannot love Nigeria and be positive about it and make contributions to its progress, then I should ask you what sort of Nigerian are you?”
He told Nigerians that after 100 years of staying together, they should remain focused on the quest for making Nigeria a “humane, just and progressive” nation.
After his remarks, Obasanjo presented the centenary theme: ‘One Nigeria, Great Promise’.
Gen. Abubakar noted that Nigeria, for surviving 100 years and more of co-existence despite the challenges, is in the league of countries like India, China, Egypt, Ethiopia and Amenia.
He said the nation should use the opportunity of the centenary celebrations to lay the foundation of a new nation.
Abubakar thereafter presented a centenary theme song entitled: ‘This Land, Celebrating 100 years of Nigeria’, which was subsequently performed by a team of notable Nigerian musicians led by Onyeka Onwenu.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, launched the centenary web portal. “www.nigeriacentenary.com.ng” Senate President David Mark launched the centenary lottery.
The lottery saw a State House correspondent with the Peoples Daily, Abdurahaman Abdulraheem, win an I-pad. A female guest won an I-phone.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said in line with the directive of the President, the celebration would involve all Nigerians and its sponsorship would be private sector driven.
He said he was amazed at the response of Nigerians to support the celebration and make it strong, colourful and fascinating.
Anyim said the centenary celebration would be used to replace pessimism with optimism to make the country rise above its challenges.
He disclosed that the celebration would generate over 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Other dignitaries, who attended the event, included the Deputy Senate President Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar.
Some governors, ministers, presidential aides, captains of industries and members of the diplomatic corps were also present.
With the beginning of the centenary celebration on Monday night, the Federal Government yesterday continued its programmes for the event by unveiling one of the endearing legacies of the celebration, the Abuja Centenary City, to investors.
The City, which is planned to promote international, local business and boost economic activities in Nigeria, is also to create a solid example for the future of urban development in Nigeria.
At the Investors Forum held yesterday in Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim, while presenting the models to likely investors, said: “The new smart City would be built on a stretch of 1,000 hectares in Abuja, making it the second but largest city development in history…”
According to him, the business hub would not only attract a record 500,000 visitors everyday, “by the end of its five-year development cycle, this innovative and vibrant City would have created over 50,000 construction jobs and 5,000 permanent well paying jobs.”
On the occasion, the Minister of Culture and Tourism Edem Duke said: “We must re-orientate our minds to the fact that this City would also house middle income earners, who work within the City, but the principle of this development is to reposition Nigeria as the cultural, commercial and entertainment capital of the continent.”
