Anthony Enahoro

“But it was a big mistake. The countries that are doing well in Africa are the ones the colonialists stayed long enough. Where is the most exclusive part of Benin? Is it not the GRA where the white man lived? If we were in a good country, the GRA is supposed to be a slum by now.”

“There were two things that annoyed my father or that he regretted. One was that we got independence too early. He thought, when they were young, that the country wasn’t moving fast enough and that once we got rid of the whites, we would move faster.”

“Well, in any generation, you could still find people who are selfless and dedicated to the cause. Such people need to be given the opportunity; they need the space to show what they can do, but when the space is closed for them, then they can do nothing. I believe that the best way to immortalise a patriot and a nationalist is to make sure that what he has done is not in vain. I am very saddened by the news of his death”

“It is a great loss to the nation. If you remember, Chief Enahoro moved the motion for the independence of Nigeria in the 50s and the likes of Enahoro would be very difficult to find in Nigeria. He was a committed, dedicated and patriotic leader for the kind of politics played in his time. It may be difficult to still find the likes of Enahoro in this generation.”

“Chief Enahoro as one of the leading actors played many parts- he had a long and distinguished career in the press, politics, the civil service, Union and the pro-democracy movement. The theme of his vision and engagement seems to be ‘freedom for all’, freedom for students, freedom for workers, freedom for Nigeria, freedom for Nigerians, freedom for Africa and the black race.”

“"The question of independence for Nigeria is not controversial."”

“"We succeeded with freedom. We also succeeded, to a great extent, with modernization, but it is sad that Nigeria has had a deplorable record with democratization."”

“"Democracy is the heritage of all of us. Democracy is not a commodity... it is not open to the Prime Minister to define how far democracy shall go."”

“"We too have a dream—a dream and a vision of what Nigeria can be and what our peoples should be in the long-term. That is what idealism is about."”

“"This motion is an invitation to the Honourable Members of this House to associate the highest legislature of our land with the expressed desire of the peoples of this country for political autonomy."”

“"There are three periods in the life of a people or in the life of a country. The three periods are yesterday, today and tomorrow. Yesterday belongs to the dead and to chroniclers; today belongs to current functionaries and operatives; tomorrow belongs to visionaries and idealists."”

“We welcome every sincere effort that contributes to national solidarity and constitutional renewal.”

“It is an invitation to this House to make a declaration of objective with regard to Nigerian freedom.”

“It seeks to provide representatives from all parts of the country with an opportunity to exchange views on the most burning question of our time.”

“One of the tasks of the current generation of Nigerians is the reconciliation of idealism and realism.”

“We must not be shy to say, "We too have a dream"—a dream and a vision of what Nigeria can be and what our peoples should be in the long term.”

“Yesterday belongs to the dead and to chroniclers; today belongs to current functionaries and operatives; tomorrow belongs to visionaries and idealists, without whom you cannot build a new society.”