Chief Remi Fani-Kayode (1921-1995) was the man who successfully moved the motion for Independence on August 2, 1958.

Anthony Enahoro moved the motion in 1953 which proposed Nigeria's independence in 1956 but was rejected by Parliament and it therefore failed.

It also resulted in a walk-out by the northern parliamentarians who were of the view that Nigeria was not yet ready for independence.

The tensions and acrimony that came from all these resulted in the infamous Kano riots of 1953.

In 1957, Samuel Ladoke Akintola moved a second motion for independence in 1959 and it was passed by the Federal House but the British authorities refused to assent to it and, consequently, it failed.

In 1958, Remi Fani-Kayode moved the third motion for Nigeria’s independence in the Federal Parliament and asked that Nigeria should be given her independence on April 2, 1960.

The motion was not only passed by Parliament but it was also accepted by the British and was therefore successful.

However, in 1959, the British Colonial authorities needed a few months to put everything in place before leaving Nigeria and Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa moved a motion for a slight amendment to be made to the original 1958 motion that had been passed and approved to the effect that the date of independence should be shifted from April 2, 1960, to October 1, 1960.

Tafawa Balewa’s motion for the amendment was seconded by Chief Raymond Njoku, the Minister of Transport, and it was agreed to by the British. That is how this date (October 1, 1960) has become Nigeria's Independence Day for the past 59 years.

Let's check out some interesting facts about Fani-Kayode:

* Born December 22, 1921.

* He was called to bar in 1945.

* Appointed Queens Counsel (Q.C.) in 1960.

* He was the third and youngest Nigerian ever to be made Q.C.

* He was made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1977.

* He was the third Nigerian to be made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

* He set up the first indigenous Nigerian law firm in 1948 with Chief Frederick Rotimi Williams and Chief Bode Thomas.

* In August 1958, he successfully moved the motion for Nigeria's independence in the Federal House of Assembly.

* He died in October 1995.

* He was the father to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation. #HistoryVille #IndependenceDay #NigeriaAt60


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What will he be remembered for?

Now one of his blood want to end it

And left a son behind who helped in plundering our national wealth.

Werey wey disguise

But we aren't independent from corruption.

Nigeria would have been better off if it was still a British colony, since they became independent the country has been upside down and this man's son is disgracing the nation chasing and impregnating women

I see.. his son is very different

We were better off with our colonial masters cause na from frying pan to fire we enter for the gullible, vision less leaders wey we get so.

Nah eh! No qualms
He must be an odogwu

They fought for independence then because of their self interest not because of Nigerians interest that is why we are here where we are today.

The idea of independent was so wrong. The could have waited till 1990.
1960 was too soon.

Jafar1:
What will he be remembered for?

He died as a traitor, ask his son FFK

Wow! Surprised! We were always taught that it Enahoro who moved for Independence.

No mention of Fani Kayode. Interesting

alezzy13:
Wow! Surprised! We were always taught that it Enahoro who moved for Independence.

No mention of Fani Kayode. Interesting

Enahoro is the first to move the motion which is the most important.

Having a 2nd or 3rd person move the motion are simply a continuation of the first.

Who started a movement is usually the most recognized. Others are simply following the footstep of the first.

Good.FFK father

He tried but his efforts were/are yet to be fruitful

What exactly are we celebrating?

He died as a traitor

.

Baawaa:
They fought for independence then because of their self interest not because of Nigerians interest that is why we are here where we are today.

We never got any independence.Your masters only changed from whites to black on the Nigerian plantation under the leadership of the fulani.