The Zikist Movement was shocked to get reports that Indigenous People Of Biafra Founder, Prince Nnamdi Kanu spoke with levity against Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, The Great Zik Of Africa, in a recent interview with The Sun.
According to The Sun, Nnamdi Kanu made the following statement when he granted them an interview:
“People do not know that I love (former presidents Shagari and Yar’Adua more than I love (former president, Nnamdi Azikiwe) Zik. I’m saying this because when we were young and were growing up, the only notable person that built any notable infrastructure I saw with my two eyes was Shagari. The Enugu/Igweocha (that the white man named Port Harcourt) Expressway, was built by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) government of Shagari and then you can travel with joy because it was smooth and very clean.
While we agree that Nnamdi Kanu is entitled to freedom of speech as enshrined in the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights and the Nigerian Constitution, we decry his decision to mention Zik of Africa in a statement that clearly did not concern Him.
No matter what anyone thinks about Zik, he would always be remembered as the Great Unifier and a Father of Nigeria’s Independence, a man whose contributions together with those of other founding fathers like him, led to the creation of the most populous country in Africa, the most populous black nation and a multicultural nation of over 400 languages.
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s contributions to independent Nigeria are undeniable. For instance, in the area of education, he was directly responsible for the creation of Nigeria’s first indigenous university, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, through his moral standing, was able to inspire the formation of the Zikist Movement which had a huge following from across the length and breadth of Nigeria, as early as the 1940s. These include our former presidents Kola Balogun and Habib Raji Abdallah among other great Zikist veterans dead and alive. Only a truly detribalized leader like Zik could inspire such following.
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s status as a nationalist was noted even by his fierce political opponents.It is for this reason that one of his biggest opponents, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa made sure Zik got the honour of becoming the first man in history whose name would be mentioned in the constitution of a sovereign country. Therefore no one, no matter how highly placed can bring Zik down from the high pedestal on which history has placed him.
Prince Nnamdi Kanu should be properly guided.
Signed:
Prince Charles Offokaja,
President,
Zikist Movement
