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(This is the text of a speech delivered by Francis Ginah as part of Nigeria's 41st Independence Day Celebration in Indianapolis on October 6th 2001)
Dear Fellow Nigerians, and Friends of Nigerian or Nigerians
 feel compelled to make a short speech even at the risk of repeating what the previous speakers have said. I do not expect to be more eloquent than the distinguished speakers before me, but I believe this is one time when we have to lift every voice, perhaps the more voices the more likely that you will appreciate the urgency of the message. You are very intelligent people, I know you understand the message but we want you to internalize it and act on it.
My message today is to let you know that if you are not a part of the solution you must be a part of the problem. The problem cannot be distilled to one trait, issue, resolve or lack thereof. The same is true of the solution. What that means is that the solution is to be found by us, all of us, by the process of elimination. It will be the culmination of a journey to redefine ourselves, invest in ourselves and our future by participating in and leading every true effort geared toward the common goal.
We have come here supposedly to celebrate the independence of Nigeria. In reality and I stand corrected if I am wrong, very few us Nigerians here truly appreciate and value the independence of Nigeria. The physical manifestations of independence are not real. Independence is a state of mind, projected outward by your actions, your pride in your heritage, your pride in the contributions of your fathers and mothers and your personal contributions past, present and future, to the well being of your people. You have independence in the abstract, I urge you to start working toward Nigeria’s real independence. Independence in putting the affairs of Nigeria in a reasonable order, taking your rightful place in Africa and helping to provide guidance and direction to your brother nations that desperately need your strength and leadership. A man whose house is burning cannot be chasing mice. Stop chasing the mice, they are distractions planted by your detractors.
Being in America does not absolve you of responsibility for your people. Sending money to your parents and doing things that aggrandize you or your parents’ name does nothing for Nigeria. That is a duty to your parents. And when I say your people I mean all your people. For the Nigerians, that means every Nigerian, the Cameroonian, the Sierra Leonian and so forth including the Americans and beyond. It is of no use going to Church, the Mosque or other and be suspicious of the intentions of your fellow Nigerian, right outside the church. Neither is it any use to thwart every effort to move forward instead of discussing your fears and working together to find the best possible compromise. I can tell you your fears are just that fears, you actually help to actualize them because you distrust so much. For too long you have lived off of the spoils of others, be it in America, Europe or in Africa, it is time you lay a brick or two for the foundation upon which your kids will build the future. Sure, you go to church, you go to work and you probably do an excellent job, but more is required of you. We want you to be a leader, each one of you. There are many expressions of leadership, which I will not go into today, but suffice it to say, being open minded, being less distrustful of your fellow Nigerians, challenging those that you call leaders or anyone when they make negative comments, and asking how can I help are but a few examples.
Let me finish by mentioning some of the behaviors that need to change in Indianapolis.
- Your tribal organizations in any name does not help Nigeria to the extent that you are not participating in efforts that move the whole of Nigeria forward. I characterize these efforts as generating centripetal forces that tend to pull you out of the circle. What we need are centrifugal forces that pull all of us toward a center, a strong common identity around which we all rally and move forward. None of your sub-identifications can stand on its own in place of the entity Nigeria. I am sure that you are acutely aware of the many subdivisions you have built even among yourselves.
- What you need is a true commitment to work for a better Nigeria. That will mean that you must be steadfast at all times, and be willing to confront negative behaviors even if it is in your own house. Too often some of you share in the spoils of those who spoil Nigeria. Your intellect is put on the backburner when your uncle, brother or father enjoys wealth you know he is not entitled to. I know you feel squeamish when you ride in those Pajero 4-wheelers bought with stolen money, be brave to teach your own.
- My friend Rudolf wrote recently that Nigeria is an Afghanistan. In many ways he is right. Your lack of action, your sleeping with the enemy so to speak, all contribute to the reality that we are not far from anarchy. As you know, massacres are a common modern experience in Nigeria. We must speak in unison as one to make it more difficult for the wicked to silence us. When good people do nothing evil wins. I do not call people that do nothing good people. If you continue to do nothing the day may come when you will be the victim and there will be no one to say stop. I pray we do something to avert that day. The best way to safeguard your rights is to work for the rights of others.
- Don’t call a dog a bad name and hang it. Neither should you throw the baby away with the bath water. One uniquely Nigerian trait is to call something, a group, a movement a bad name and hang it. This in reality a method for avoiding responsibility. In fact it is cowardly. A good example is the Nigerian association. If you a Nigerian, you have no excuse not to be a member to help make it what you would like it to be. The Yorubas say the Ibos control it, the Ibos say it is controlled by an elitist group, still other say they don’t know what they are doing. I say come and help it be what it should be. I can assure you that nothing but the need to help all of us move forward motivate the current group. Sure, we don’t have all the answers, we may have even made mistakes, but we are willing to learn, to listen and with your help will achieve the true happiness that allow us to Dance from Within. The American, admonition is “take what you find here and make it better” You must not fail to continually ask yourself, am I making it better. Work for the day when you can dance from within.
- My brothers and sisters, our situation is dire, do not be fooled by the trappings of personal success, or the fact that your loved ones are not destitute, when one finger brings oil, it stains the rest. Don’t tell me that you don’t have time, make time, your contributions to your people, to your society are just as important as anything else. Practice what you preach and please share your knowledge with your people. Your real knowledge is in the practice where it counts. Do not turn off your intellect when you have to deal with issues concerning your people. If anything you should open the tap fully.
- I ask that you invite others and I or ask the tough questions of yourselves to get the process started. We don’t have all the answers, but with good intentions and our collective intelligence, I know we will make progress. Progress that will give us something tangible, a small milestone to celebrate next year and energize us to say “Look out World, here comes Nigeria”.
Thank you God Bless Nigeria, God bless America.
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