Former Head of State and elder statesman, General Yakubu Gowon, has charged Nigerians to work towards evolving, in the soonest time possible, a common, indigenous language that will serve as a national language for Nigeria other than English Language.

General Gowon gave the charge in a patriot’s talk entitled: “Respect for National Symbols as Imperative for National Development” during the maiden National Symbols Day organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to honour the various symbols that represent Nigeria’s nationhood.

The elder statesman was of the view that language remained the most important national symbol for any nation and serves as a propeller of national development.

He further stated that without language, the realisation of most innovative thoughts would be impossible.

“Nigeria has not evolved a truly national language to preserve its plans and strategy for national development from the multiplicity of languages and dialects in the country. With over 250 languages and dialects in Nigeria, the best we can do is to record our achievements in English Language, which is the country’s official language. What this means is that we have to now, ever than before, accelerate the search for a national language, if we are to be competitive on the world stage,” he said.

The chairman on the occasion and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, disclosed that efforts were being made to procure and distribute massive numbers of the Nigerian flag to Nigerians across the country in preparation for the nation’s Independence Day celebration on October 1.

He said the flag should make Nigerians proud even as they must all be committed to dignifying it so as to re-ignite the love for the country.

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, who recalled the nostalgic feelings that used to be associated with Nigeria’s national symbols in the past, called for a return to the patriotic habit of proudly wearing clothes that reflect national colours.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/47758-gowon-tasks-nigerians-to-evolve-national-language

Do this people understand the mess that they have put Nigeria into?
Do they think patriotism is to 'procure and distribute massive numbers of the
Nigerian flag to Nigerians'.
When the citizens are patriotic and proud of their nation , they are the ones to procure those flag , paint all around them with national colors.
But here we see jobbers wearing customized polo n playing sycophancy .

For this ' The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, who recalled the nostalgic feelings that used to be associated with Nigeria’s national symbols in the past'
In the past , were national honours given to thieves ?
In the past , did we have strikes in our schools
In the past , did we have leaders going to a bomb site wearing bulletproof vest and hundreds of mobile police and soldiers while the youth are encouraged to go to the same place and serve 'under the rain and in the sun'

ITbomb: Do this people understand the mess that they have put Nigeria into?
Do they think patriotism is to 'procure and distribute massive numbers of the
Nigerian flag to Nigerians'.
When the citizens are patriotic and proud of their nation , they are the ones to procure those flag , paint all around them with national colors.
But here we see jobbers wearing customized polo n playing sycophancy .

Gbam---so.so on point brother,it is left for us to procure those flags and even lay our life before our country(if only we have one)

I wonder which language this man is talking about as if language is our problem.Am happy to see this man always regret his action(s) for bringing us down to this hellhole country we found ourselvies today.

How can we have a national language when we don't have a nation?
Among the three major languages we have "Igbo,Hausa and yorubas",which one are.they going pick as a national language?(let Gowon answers)

*Thank God in Biafra we have a national language 'Uto asusu igbo'*

Fakest Patriotism, the same Bigoted leaders who gave up Bakassi Peninsula without a fight now preaching for a National Language , as if English is not national enough

Mumu man, Did he respect the Nigerian symbols and language when he sold Bakassi to cameroun?

Ok now.........experts in education, kindly deliberate and come up with submission

I advocate for hindi as the National Language!

Na pidgin-english go be national language, I swear! abi u wan yoruba man come dey stat to dey speak hausa say na national language?

ifeci: Mumu man, Did he respect the Nigerian symbols and language when he sold Bakassi to cameroun?

dumbfk. Did Gowon sell Bakassi to Cameroon?

Pidgin (although it would need to be more developed) is an interesting proposition. But foisting a national language will not and cannot build nationhood or patriotism. I like to believe nairaland is just nairaland and not a true reflection of Nigerians in Nigeria. Because if it was then only a miracle will suffice in developing that national sentiment required to build a nation. I have never come across a more bigoted or disunited set of people in all my life.

Doesn't make sense. And how much is this National Orientation Agency costing the country? It sounds like a waste of funds on the surface. Or do they actually do something useful?

If Igbo is not gonna be the national language then to ye tent oh Israel. I'm not leaving English to start speaking a Nigerian language that isn't mine. I expect people like Igbo2011 to come and tell us to adopt Hausa. Tufiakwa.

Btw, i wonder why Gowon is still walking a free man.

Mr.gowon, this can never erase your genocidal record against Ndigbo, the hague awaits you.

We don't need any other national language because gowon gave us MURDER as a national language.

There is no amount of national orientation that can change Gowon’s legacy from moronic to brainy. He led the war of attrition against fellow Nigerians who just wanted a simplest thing in human nature-to be different. Gowon also lost his tongue trying to speak English language in order to curry favor from British government under Harold Wilson. The Britain\Biafra war will continue to haunt Nigeria until the day of disintegration.

I pray Gowon to shove his idiotic Nigerian national language because Igbo language awaits Ndigbo in the Republic of Igbo land.

Gowon is a criminal bastard. Igbo is my choice for igboland. Nobody would agree to get rid of his language. All languages in Nigeria should be official and actively developed in places where they are indigenous.

So, of all the challenges bewildering Nigeria, it is a National language that Gowon is worrying
about

achi4u: I wonder which language this man is talking about as if language is our problem.Am happy to see this man always regret his action(s) for bringing us down to this hellhole country we found ourselvies today.

How can we have a national language when we don't have a nation?
Among the three major languages we have "Igbo,Hausa and yorubas",which one are.they going pick as a national language?(let Gowon answers)

*Thank God in Biafra we have a national language 'Uto asusu igbo'*

My friend, think before typing cr*p.

''How can we have a national language when we don't have a nation?''

What a comment. Are nations not forged by increased homogeneity? Developing an indigenous national language is one surefire way to create bonds that help achieve national unity.

I'd suggest we go a step further and develop a new national RELIGION as well.

With those two new developments, our country would be a very different place in the next 40-50 years.

Lol.

What has gowon been smoking

afam4eva: If Igbo is not gonna be the national language then to ye tent oh Israel. I'm not leaving English to start s buildpeaking a Nigerian language that isn't mine. I expect people like Igbo2011 to come and tell us to adem Þopt Hausa. Tufiakwa.

Btw, i wonder why Gowon is still walking a free man.

Dang Afam I guesss you love your slave masters and cotHlonizers so much. It was. Due t o YOUR ancestors labour which allowed them to build wealth which helped them finance the industrial revolution. They also benefitte from colonizing your recent ancestors and taking your resources. It is like the love of the aggressor. No matter how bad they treat you in the past and present. You still want to be like them. We're their clothes. Learn their language and culture but go to europe and see how they treat you.

I rather have all of Africa speak Ibibio than English. The language doesn't matter as long as its an african language

Rossikk:

My friend, think before typing cr*p.



What a comment. Are nations not forged by increased homogeneity? Developing an indigenous national language is one surefire way to create bonds that help achieve national unity.

I'd suggest we go a step further and develop a new national RELIGION as well.

With those two new developments, our country would be a very different place in the next 40-50 years.

I guess you are the person who needs to think before typing. Nations are different from countries. Nigeria is a country that can not possibly forge into a nation by undue pressure of political homogeneity. There are many nations’ states with fundamental and cultural differences in Nigeria that can not succumb to any political changes needed to forge a nation through any form of artificial homogeneity.

Gowon must be joking,nigeria would sweep the biafra question under the carpet,but would seek to solidify a unity built on the blood of biafrans,Gowon must be smoking marijuana.

Dede1:


I guess you are the person who needs to think before typing. Nations are different from countries. Nigeria is a country that can not possibly forge into a nation by undue pressure of political homogeneity. There are many nations’ states with fundamental and cultural differences in Nigeria that can not succumb to any political changes needed to forge a nation through any form of artificial homogeneity.

My friend do you realise that China was once a country with multiple competing languages and ethnicities? In fact it still is. But their ruling elite decided they needed a common language to create a true nation and that was how Mandarin Chinese became the dominant language there. And we can all see the result today.

And China has 2 billion people, so it can be done in Nigeria once there's political will. Also we need to develop a national RELIGION. We call this social engineering. Our leaders need to develop social engineering skills. You envisage the way you want the country to look in 50 to 100 years down the line, and then you implement the measures today that would lead to that future outcome. That's what we call social engineering. Every nation needs a set of people doing that, ie planning today for the next century, or that nation is going nowhere.

I wonder which language Gowon has in mind. lol
The man is still in nirvana.