Green White Green By Israel Ajake

On the eve of Nigeria's Independence Day, the air was thick with anticipation and excitement. In the quiet halls of the Prime Minister's residence, Tafawa Balewa, the poised and eloquent leader, found himself grappling with a restless mind. His heart swelled with pride for his nation, but the weight of the historic moment hung heavily on his shoulders.

As the night wore on, Balewa couldn't find solace in sleep. Instead, he sat at his desk, bathed in the soft glow of a desk lamp, surrounded by stacks of papers and worn-out pens. With each stroke of his pen, he meticulously crafted the words that would echo through history. The responsibility of addressing the nation on its most significant day weighed on him, and he was determined to get it right.

Hours turned into minutes as Balewa poured his soul into the speech. His mind raced with thoughts of the struggles endured by his people, the sacrifices made for independence, and the dreams that had fueled the fight for freedom. He penned each sentence with precision, infusing his words with hope, resilience, and a deep sense of patriotism.

The room was silent except for the scratching of Balewa's pen on paper. The words flowed from his heart, capturing the essence of the Nigerian spirit. He envisioned a united nation, where diversity was celebrated and strength was drawn from differences. The speech became a beacon of inspiration, a testament to the unwavering determination of a nation on the brink of a new era.

As the first light of dawn broke through the window, Balewa finally set down his pen, his exhaustion palpable. The speech, handwritten in his elegant script, lay before him—a masterpiece that encapsulated the dreams and aspirations of an entire nation. Despite the weariness that clouded his eyes, there was a sense of accomplishment and pride in his gaze.

Balewa knew that his words would resonate far beyond the grand podium where he would deliver them. They would become a rallying cry for generations, a reminder of the resilience and unity that defined Nigeria's journey to independence. With a weary but satisfied smile, Balewa allowed himself a moment of rest, knowing that the words he had penned would shape the destiny of his beloved nation.

On the day of Nigeria's Independence, Tafawa Balewa awoke later than usual, his mind still lingering in the realms of a vivid dream. In the dream, he found himself in a surreal scenario—he was sleeping next to and sharing a kiss with the Queen of England. The dream was so vivid and peculiar that it left him in a state of bewilderment when he finally opened his eyes.

Outside his bedroom, his concerned cohorts waited, aware of the significance of the day and the pressing duties that awaited their Prime Minister. With a sense of urgency, they attempted to rouse him from his slumber, calling his name and gently shaking his shoulders. However, Balewa remained lost in the remnants of his dream, his mind entangled in the surreal images of the night.

As his advisors continued their attempts to awaken him, Balewa's dreamlike state persisted. His mind seemed to hover between the world of dreams and the reality of the historic day that had dawned upon Nigeria. It was as if the dream had cast a spell upon him, momentarily detaining him from the responsibilities that awaited him outside his chamber.

The hours ticked away, and the sun climbed higher into the sky. Worried whispers filled the air as the realization sank in that their leader was unresponsive to their pleas. In a moment of desperation, one of his aides gently touched his hand and spoke his name with a sense of urgency.

At that touch, Balewa stirred, his eyes slowly fluttering open. The dream of the Queen of England faded, replaced by the concerned faces of his advisors. As the reality of the day washed over him, he shook off the remnants of his dream and rose from his bed, a newfound determination in his eyes.

With a deep breath, Balewa gathered his composure, ready to face the challenges and celebrations of the day. The dream, strange as it was, served as a reminder of the importance of the moment—a moment when Nigeria was stepping into a new era, embracing independence with all its uncertainties and promises.

And so, with the dream lingering in the recesses of his mind, Tafawa Balewa embarked on the historic journey of Nigeria's Independence Day, his resolve unshaken, his speech prepared, and his nation looking up to him for guidance and inspiration.

Amidst the urgency and the awareness of his delayed state, Tafawa Balewa managed to hurriedly take a bath, the water refreshing him slightly and washing away the remnants of his peculiar dream. The morning sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on his face as he quickly dressed in his formal attire, all the while feeling the weight of the day's responsibilities pressing down upon him.

His aides, recognizing the preciousness of every passing minute, attempted to guide him towards his car, their voices a constant buzz in his ears. In his haste, Balewa reluctantly followed, his mind still grappling with the strange images from his dream and the pressing reality of the day.

As they led him towards the waiting car, a fleeting thought crossed his mind—he needed to freshen his breath before addressing the nation. He glanced around, searching for his toothbrush, but there was no time. Reluctantly, he abandoned the idea, a tinge of discomfort nagging at him as he climbed into the car.

Inside the vehicle, the aroma of freshly cooked food wafted from a nearby street vendor, tempting his senses. Balewa's stomach rumbled with hunger, a reminder of the breakfast he had missed due to his late awakening. He attempted to voice his desire to stop for a quick meal, but his aides, understanding the urgency of the situation, gently persuaded him to proceed without delay.

With a heavy sigh, Balewa acquiesced, his thoughts momentarily drifting back to his dream. In that moment, he felt a strange connection between his hunger and the surreal encounter with the Queen of England in his sleep. The symbolism escaped him, lost in the whirlwind of the morning's events.

As the car sped towards the venue of the Independence Day celebrations, Balewa's mind was a maelstrom of thoughts and emotions. Despite the rush, the dream, the hunger, and the unbrushed teeth, he knew that the moment he had been preparing for had arrived. With a deep breath, he steadied his resolve, ready to step out of the car and onto the grand stage, where his words would shape the destiny of a newly independent Nigeria.

In the bustling hall, filled to the brim with eager faces and a palpable sense of anticipation, Tafawa Balewa's arrival was met with a thunderous applause that echoed through the room. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and fervor as he made his way towards the podium, his steps steady despite the lingering discomfort of an empty stomach and unbrushed teeth.

As he approached the microphone, ready to deliver the speech that would echo through history, fate intervened in a peculiar manner. With an abrupt flicker, the lights in the hall went out, plunging the room into darkness. A hush fell over the crowd, their collective gasp echoing in the silent void.

Undeterred, Balewa maintained his composure, a flicker of amusement glinting in his eyes. Unfazed by the sudden blackout, he waited patiently, knowing that the moment was too significant to be marred by a mere power outage.

In the midst of the darkness, whispers of concern rippled through the crowd. But in a display of swift determination, the event organizers swiftly took action. They rushed to secure fuel for the generator, ensuring that the hall would be illuminated once more, allowing Balewa to deliver his speech.

Minutes felt like hours in the obsidian silence, broken only by the distant hum of the generator being fueled. Finally, with a sputter and a roar, the generator came to life, casting a warm, golden glow across the hall. The faces of the attendees emerged from the darkness, illuminated by the flickering light, their eyes fixed on the podium where Balewa stood, undeterred and resolute.

With the hall illuminated once more, Balewa took a deep breath, his voice strong and unwavering as he began his speech. The words flowed from him, carrying the weight of history and the dreams of a nation. Despite the hunger gnawing at his belly and the unbrushed taste in his mouth, his words resonated with power and conviction, reaching the hearts of everyone present.

In that moment, the darkness that had momentarily enveloped the hall served as a poignant metaphor. It was a reminder of the challenges faced, a testament to the resilience of the Nigerian spirit, and a symbol of the unwavering determination that shone even in the face of adversity.

And so, with an empty stomach, unbrushed teeth, and an unyielding spirit, Tafawa Balewa delivered his speech, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of the people, as they stood united under the golden glow of the generator's light, celebrating the birth of a new, independent Nigeria.

God bless NIGERIA