Early politicians of the 30s, 40s, Chiefs among them are mostly talented in writing and journalism and some owned media outfits, with which they laud and inflate their egos while simultaneously deflating d profile of those they disagree with in the political firmament.

Herbert Macaulay (A Yoruba man), the Father of Nigerian Nationalism, also a journalist was fond of calling dissenting voices 'imperialism agents' but ZIK took it to an elevated proportion, re-christened it to 'imperial stooges', 'Uncle Toms' and 'aunty Jememas', even those whose patriotism and Nationalism had never been in doubt were so named; minor disagreements and you are blacklisted. ZIK had a Newspaper outlet, 'the Pilot', a tool he creatively used to maximum advantage. The editors would daily eulogize him for d basics, and sometimes for the hitherto unknown and unheard of good things for Nigeria, nay, 'Mother Africa', Some of them acclaimed him as d 'Ghandi of Africa' and others declared that ZIK deeds had 'eleczik-ified' them.

ZIK was obviously very gifted, intelligent and clever which manifested in his works; however, he was regarded by many of his peers as the 1st consummate propagandist that Nigeria ever produced. In inflating his own ego or deflating that of his rivals, publications on the Pilot observed neither modesty nor reck. In this connection, he was in direct line of succession to Herbet Macaulay, but like all sons who are worthy of their parentage, in this respect, ZIK outdid Herbert Macaulay, for he took propaganda several notches higher with a slant of deep seated tribalism.

[b]For example, when the ban on Palm Kernel was imposed, the Pilot supported it and reported thus: "the measure by the Government is fair. Instead of reducing the whole country to poverty, only the Western provinces will be affected and they can switch over to other avenues, to make body and soul live." He held similar stance as to the agitation against the 'Cocoa Pool'.

ZIK brazenly supported a policy which clearly threatened the livelihood of the Yorubas. Were the East on the receiving end here, ZIK would have dipped pen in gall, and crafted a creatively worded opinion on the Pilot, denouncing the Cocoa Pool as an 'imperialist device or stratagem whose aim, object and purpose was to oppress, repress, depress and distress Nigerian Cocoa producers and dealers economically' and he would have replicated same for d ban on palm kernels in d West. He would have labeled it 'a gross betrayal of trust, an indelible stain, blemish and stigma on British imperialism; a vain attempt, a complete misfire and a palpable boner in the realm of divide et impera.'[/b] Pardon my poor attempt at replicating ZIK's creative writing genius, he many a time used such strong words.

ZIK took this tribalist venom to higher Plateau when he graced the front page of the Pilot, and entitled it 'Football Iliad, 1940 Edition' what many described as a shocker, a big step forward in an insidious campaign colored in Bigotry. A football match between 2 schools, Christ the King's college, Onitsha was hosted by St. Gregory's college in Lagos, in a match tagged 'Win the War'.

The CKC team from Onitsha defeated St Gregory's team by 5 goals to 4. Spectators had a good watch, even the host considered the match very entertaining, a bonding moment for teams made up of teenagers of different cultures, that afterall is the spirit of sport.

But how did ZIK report it? ZIK saw in the sporting exploits and triumph of the team from Onitsha the inherent superiority of the Ibos over the Yorubas and he went to very great pains to establish this in d careful choice of words and emphasis..

"And then to think of the great combination of d Spartan heroes who crossed her loudly Niger, journeyed through the good earth of Benin, hurried across the domains of the Oshemawe of Ondo, of the Atanla of Owo, of the Owa of Ilesha, of the Ooni of Ife, of the Alake of Abeokuta in their invasion of these islands!

Who, but heroes of mighty brawn and exceptionally developed brain would have dared to make this invasion and to succeed in carrying to their River Niger home, the Golden fleece of Inter-Collegiate Soccer Championship of d Eastern and Western Provinces?"


https://twitter.com/LegendaryJoe/status/1638066082652012545?t=kX5tAe6CJgjxafLLfDYiPQ&s=19

CONT'D

...Such was the mocking tone with which ZIK described an innocent football match with a slant of superiority complex.

But the same CKC team met the Olubadan XI, an undiluted Yoruba team in another 'Win the War' match on 24 August 1940 and were roundly defeated 3-2.

It may just be a matter of coincidence that ZIK wasn't in the mood to write at the time or perhaps he suffered what we call 'Writer's Block', because for more than 2 weeks, this headline event never got reported on the Pilot. And when the paper finally wrote on it, it was only a small item on the back page, like a mistress smuggled out of the window at the arrival of the madam of the house..and was laced with excuses,

"the CKC team was already tired; some of the players were in fact limping before the match",

and other calculated efforts to avoid giving the yoruba boys their well deserved accolade, and extreme energy was exerted in ensuring the brilliance and talent of those little yoruba boys was never acknowledged.

This was but tip of the Iceberg, ZIK would go full scale Bigotry afterwards.

Shall I Begin?

The Ibos were given inordinate publicity on the pages of the paper, which I regard as appropriate and in order, to promote one's root..but at a time when other Nationalists made concerted efforts in describing citizens of Nigeria as Nigerians or Africans and celebrated their laurels and feats as credits to Nigeria and Africa as a whole, ZIK would jettison the whole for the particular and elevate Ibo over and above every other tribe and largely over Nigeria as an entity, and in a manner that smirked Ego inspired Hate.

Typical Front Page news title in the Pilot this time were;

1. 'Ibo Young man Sail to U.K.' Sept 23, 1938. Referring to Mr. Jaja Wachukwu, who later became Speaker of Houe of Rep.

2. '14th West African Student, 10th Nigerian, 8th Ibo in U.S.A.' Jan 28, 1939. The 8th Ibo was Mr. Nwafor Orizu, later became Senator.

3. 'Ibo Medical Student Passes Exam in 1st Class Honours.' June 26, 1940. That was Dr. S.O. Eguwatu.

And some weird editorials like:

'The Ibo Are Coming' Dec 31, 1938, Wondered what ZIK meant, but the title is indicative enough of some theory of domination.

These are but very few examples of deliberate actions of ZIK in portraying the perceived supremacy of the Ibos over others, for the Pilot never beamed the light on the achievements of Nigerians of other ethnic stock...

For example, when the Ph.D. degree of London University, indeed any university for that matter, was conferred on the first Nigerian ever, such historic success was only given a small space in the paper and the title read: 'Nigerian Economist passes Ph.D. London', because that scholar was Dr. Fadipe, a Yoruba.

https://twitter.com/LegendaryJoe/status/1639515371844542466?t=rKkNJdj8CJrPBPRFw_FMOQ&s=19

Good luck

Go to Court and table your matter.

You have distorted history...Zik was the only person among Nigeria's founding fathers who fiercely opposed a clause for Nigeria's disintegration to be inserted into the the constitution if any region wants to pull out in the future.

Zik believed in the indivisibility of Nigeria more than any other founding member from other regions.

He was far worse than a bigot.. an etnic supremacist who speaks before thinking.
He gave the past and present crop of Igbos the delusion that they are superior to other tribes in Africa.
Just take a look at them now and see how low politically they have become as a people.

BOSSkesh:
Urchins will continue to wail till they die of exhaustion
The matter is in court already
Allow the court to decide!!

so after obi wins the court case which is actually impossible ,court will now give the mandate to obi abi?
You are called zombie for a reason.

shortgun:
Zik also was the only person among Nigeria's founding fathers who fiercely opposed a clause for Nigeria's disintegration to be inserted into the the constitution if any region wants to pull out in the future.

Zik believed in the indivisibility of Nigeria more than any other founding member from other regions.

He did that thinking he would be the first prime minister, but he eventually got a useless ceremonial presidential post.

raskymonojendor:

He did that thinking he would be the first prime minister, but he eventually got a useless ceremonial presidential post.

You guys always have baseless senseless theory against anything or anyone Igbo.

Here is Zik who believed in one indivisible Nigeria and Balewa with other northern leaders who opposed the independence of Nigeria as a nation comprising of the south and the North; yet you have a theory to velify ZIk and glorify others?

Do you know that the British had to offer the Northern leaders the rulership of Nigeria before they agreed to independence?

Writer606:
Good luck

Thank the op.

sekundosekundo:
Go to Court and table your matter.

You mean Obi?

shortgun:

You guys always have baseless senseless theory against anything or anyone Igbo.

Here is Zik who believed in one indivisible Nigeria and Balewa with other northern leaders who opposed the independence of Nigeria as a nation comprising of the south and the North; yet you have a theory to velify ZIk and glorify others?

Do you know that the British had to offer the Northern leaders the rulership of Nigeria before they agreed to independence?

Zik has his good part. No doubt. But Awolowo talked about his sentiments several times. This was confirmed when he didn't die in the 1966 coup. It was deliberai. Nzeogwu spared him cos he's Igbo. That'd a story for another day but that exhumed issues like this is the present state of the nation. Obi has lost. Like some people were telling the op to go to court, he should go to court too.
An Igbo leader, Iwuanyanwu just made a stupid comment few days ago. If we are saying FFK and co and idiot's, shey Iwuanyanwu too come add idiót fat for body ni?
We need healings now. It's so easy. Igbos should work with the incoming govt. They ll benefit more cos no one will want to neglect them.

Ibrahimcoomasie:


ZIK took this tribalist venom to higher Plateau when he graced the front page of the Pilot, and entitled it 'Football Iliad, 1940 Edition' what many described as a shocker, a big step forward in an insidious campaign colored in Bigotry. A football match between 2 schools, Christ the King's college, Onitsha was hosted by St. Gregory's college in Lagos, in a match tagged 'Win the War'.


[i]"And then to think of the great combination of d Spartan heroes who crossed her loudly Niger, journeyed through the good earth of Benin, hurried across the domains of the Oshemawe of Ondo, of the Atanla of Owo, of the Owa of Ilesha, of the Ooni of Ife, of the Alake of Abeokuta in their invasion of these islands!


https://twitter.com/LegendaryJoe/status/1638066082652012545?t=kX5tAe6CJgjxafLLfDYiPQ&s=19

. So, they know that Igbos live across the Niger River, but today they want to start encroaching by laying claim to places in Delta State. Igbo land does not extend even an inch into [former] Western/Mid West Region.

Nnamdi Azikiwe killed more than enough! They supposed to label him as "genocide"

How did I miss this thread. Wonderful piece of Nigerian history right here.

shortgun:
You have distorted history...Zik was the only person among Nigeria's founding fathers who fiercely opposed a clause for Nigeria's disintegration to be inserted into the the constitution if any region wants to pull out in the future.

Zik believed in the indivisibility of Nigeria more than any other founding member from other regions.

Thats common knowledge to lovers of Nigerian history.

Ironsi ensured that Nigeria regions had zero resource control while zik fought against the secession clause proposed by Awolowo. Twice!

Even Amhadu Bello supported Awolowo and wanted a secession clause.

Goodvibes007:

Thats common knowledge to lovers of Nigerian history.

Ironsi ensured that Nigeria regions had zero resource control while zik fought against the secession clause proposed by Awolowo. Twice!

Even Amhadu Bello supported Awolowo and wanted a secession clause.

You mean the lovers of lies and deceit

This is the lie the Lagos/Ibadan expressway media and their Northern cohorts have been peddling for over 50 years, that Ironsi abolished Regionalism and removed resource control

What they never knew is that there would later be internet and smart phones that would allow people access to information at finger tips to very fact from lies

Ironsi neither abolished the 4 Regions Nigeria had, nor did he touched resource control. It was Gowon that came after Ironsi and used decree 14 to abolish all 4 Regions and created 12 new states to replace them. Gowon then immediately followed this up with decree 15 that removed resource control

Gowons decree 14 and 15 are now all over the internet for all to see and read