Tony Enahoro's " Let My People Go" Independence Speech and Return of Regionalism -- By Eubaldus Enahoro

 

Like a prophet,  Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro, the man who first  moved the motion for Nigeria's Independence saw tomorrow when he   Stood before the House of Representatives in 1953 to move that historic motion asking the colonial administration to " Let my People Go".

 On March 31, 1953 The Federal House of Representatives was hot. Colonial officers watched from the gallery. The North said "wait". The West and East said "not yet". He was 29 years old when he demanded Nigeria's freedom and it nearly tore the country apart

When the young  Enahoro stood up with a steady voice to move  the motion ," that the House accepts as the primary political objective the attainment of self government for Nigeria in 1956" the British called it premature. Many Nigerian leaders called it risky. But to millions of Nigerians, it sounded like Moses in Pharaoh’s palace: "Let My People Go."

Enahoro’s motion did not grant independence. It was defeated 68 to 50. The North felt the South was rushing. But that was never the point. He gave Nigeria a deadline "1956." and that forced everyone to start planning and  Independence came in 1960, just 4 years after his proposed date.

 He proved age is not a barrier to nation-building. He was a former newspaper editor at 21. Courage, not title, moved that motion. He spoke for the ordinary Nigerian. The farmer in Agenebode, the trader in Benin, the clerk in Lagos. People who were tired of taxation without representation. That is why historians call him "The Father of Nigerian Nationalism."

Interestingly, Enahoro’s words in 1953 were not just about leaving Britain. They were about freedom and today, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is quietly restructuring the country with the creation of regional development commissions for all six geopolitical zones

The goal of Mr President is to accelerate infrastructural development, stimulate economic activities and improve social welfare in their respective zones under the Ministry of regional development created in October 2024 to coordinate them

The North West, South East, North Central, South West, South South and North East Development Commissions are described as economic development engines or grassroots focused commissions, a recognition that true development must begin from the grassroot

Now, it is very obvious that President Tinubu believes in fairness, equity and unity, equitable development and  inclusive governance for all Nigerians no matter where they reside, taking into consideration the importance of restructuring the country 

In 1953, Enahoro wanted political freedom. In 2026, Nigerians are asking for freedom from poverty and hunger in a country well endowed by God Almighty with vast fertile land.

Enahoro fought for self-rule. We must now fight for self-feeding. Let My People Go From Fear of the unknown 

In 1953, the fear was colonial police. In 2026, the fear is kidnappers on our roads, cultists in our schools, and bandits in our farms because a section of the nation feels uncomfortable  even though they have dominated the political scene for quite a while 

True independence means a mother in Ibadan or Abuja can sleep with both eyes closed and every child can live peacefully in any part of the nation

Let My People Go From Broken Promises. Enahoro moved his motion and stood by it even when it failed. He believed in integrity, but today, too many promises are made and forgotten after elections. As a journalist and statesman, Enahoro loved truth and hard work. 

If Enahoro was alive, he  would tell the National Assembly to make laws that would be of benefit to the less privileged in the society and bridge the gap between the rich and poor. 

He would no doubt  tell our youth: "I was 29 when I moved that motion. What motion will you move as a youth? He would advise them not to wait for the government. Start the business, start the farm, start the change."`

Enahoro would tell all of us: "Freedom is not speech making or how eloquent you are, It is responsibility. Don’t waste what the founders of the nation have laboured for."`

Unfortunately, Chief Enahoro did not live to see a perfect Nigeria which he laboured for. But the consolation is that the labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain.

The best gift we can give him is not an award or a statue in Uromi or Benin, like the one at the House of Assembly named after him in Edo state but to finish the work, especially his preference for a Parliamentary system of government which is less expensive. He would insist, "Let My people go back to their region of ethnic nationalities.

This was not only a message for the then colonial masters as he kept on advocating for true federalism before he died. Enahoro strongly believed that the military hurriedly handed down the 1999 constitution that makes over 250 ethnic groups sit on an illegal constitutional framework and previous governments disregarded the wishes of the people.

But today, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is the only President who has listened to the people with the establishment of the Regional Development Commissions.

Let us build a Nigeria where no one is in bondage to hunger,  a Nation where a 29-year-old’s idea can still change a nation.  

Let us build a Nigeria that is truly self-governing, self-feeding, and self-respecting. In 1953, Enahoro stood up and said "Let My People Go."  In 2026, the question to us is "Are we ready to let ourselves go ?