We rarely talk about this guy. I think he was a great Nigerian. A nationalist. A Pan-Africanist. A travelled scholar, an ex-President, and a wily politician. I think he's right up there among the greatest Nigerians who ever lived. If he was of this era, he'd make an excellent president. A GEJ with swag.

..............................................

...............................................Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa) (1904 – 1996)

A GEJ with swag?, why GEJ, to me he was everything GEJ is not.

What did Azikiwe Achieve while in power? I am very curious

What is there to talk about in him? People still talk about Awolowo and his policies.

McWhillion:
A GEJ with swag?, why GEJ, to me he was everything GEJ is not.

You just insulted the Sage's memory.

E be like say this thread go make sense ooooo.

Zik rapuru ulo ya na ere oku we chuba nta oke,ndi ugwu we were umu igbo mere shooting target

omenka:
You just insulted the Sage's memory.

How is that, I said GEJ cannot be what ZIK was in his lifetime, how does that amount to insulting ZIK's memory? Read my statement again.

McWhillion:
How is that, I said GEJ cannot be what ZIK was in his lifetime, how does that amount to insulting ZIK's memory? Read my statement again.

Yeah, you right. Didn't see the first question mark.

On paper, Zik has everything to be an engaging, exciting, brilliant president. But if you ever get the chance, google up articles from the west african pilot (zik's newspaper). Some of the things he had to say about Yorubas ...no one would say such things out in the open today. No one in the West had any illusion that Zik was a gentleman statesman. Ojukwu didnt trust him either (yuou can google his exact words). If Zik is the least celebrated of the founding fathers today, his character has a lot to do with it.

Its funny you compare him with GEJ, because they actually both have similar traits. On the surface, you think you are getting a well seasoned president. Behind the smiling veneer is a mean calculating machine.

Id post them myself, but man, time flies these days. Still im subscribed...maybe someone will post something I havent seen before

birdman:
On paper, Zik has everything to be an engaging, exciting, brilliant president. But if you ever get the chance, google up articles from the west african pilot (zik's newspaper). Some of the things he had to say about Yorubas ...no one would say such things out in the open today.

Same could be said of other characters of the early 60s era. They were surprisingly candid and direct about ethnic differences. I once saw a 1964 interview of the late Sardauna of Sokoto (Ahmadu Bello), and he made it very clear that he was for northern interests above all else. There was no attempt by him to even create an impression of national unity. Politicians today are a lot more circumspect, or should I say 'politically correct', and always project the concept of national oneness above ethnic differences. I guess you can say we've learnt the lessons from our tumultuous history.

barcanista:
What did Azikiwe Achieve while in power? I am very curious

Well, he wasn't an executive president. Prime Minister Balewa held executive power. But what Zik contributed was quite fundamental. He helped sow the seeds of an indivisible One Nigeria, and pursued this ideal at home and abroad even as civil war raged in the late 60s. Zik believed we were more powerful, and held more promise, as a single unit than as splintered entities. In many ways, his vision is bearing out.

barcanista:
What did Azikiwe Achieve while in power? I am very curious

pls don't do that.

barcanista:
What did Azikiwe Achieve while in power? I am very curious

Can someone please answer this question. I revere the man because he was one of the founding fathers but really, one can barely find something concrete ascribed to him. And it will really be a game changer if someone can outline his achievements apart from him being the 1st president and editor of the West African Pilot.

Zik, the quintessential nationalist and Pan-Africanist.

He is in the league of the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, Leopold Sedar Senghor and Jomo Kenyatta.

Nobody in Nigeria except maybe Herbert Macaulay came any close in championship African emancipation and consciousness.

ROSSIKE:


Same could be said of other characters of the early 60s era. They were surprisingly candid and direct about ethnic differences. I once saw a 1964 interview of the late Sardauna of Sokoto (Ahmadu Bello), and he made it very clear that he was for northern interests above all else. There was no attempt by him to even create an impression of national unity. Politicians today are a lot more circumspect, or should I say 'politically correct', and always project the concept of national oneness above ethnic differences. I guess you can say we've learnt the lessons from our tumultuous history.

it was another era for sure. i definitely dont see any politician today getting anywhere with that kind of talk

birdman:



it was another era for sure. i definitely dont see any politician today getting anywhere with that kind of talk

For real... if you listen to some of those early 60s politicians' interviews etc, you can see why we eventually went to war. They glibly refer to 'Igbos' or 'Hausas' in their conversations. Whereas today it would be more like ''a certain section of the country is doing this or that...'', or ''the south east or 'south south' are saying this and that...'' etc etc. We've come a long way, politically.

barcanista:
What did Azikiwe Achieve while in power? I am very curious

?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. He was a total failure. He went all out to seek power only for self-agrandisement. He did not know the a, b, c of power. The only,thing he had upstairs was getting power and not what to do with it. Worst, he was like a wheel-barrow- no use unless pushed. Matter of fact, it is a waste of time to discuss Azikiwe.

Zik was a greedy man who got caught in his own web of deceit. All he had to do was field Awolowo as his running mate but I guess he thought he could 'control the uneducated hausa'. When you Igbos look back into your history, acknowledge the role this man played in the 'development' of your people.

Interesting views.