Chairman of Northern Elders’
Forum, NEF, Chief Paul Unongo, yesterday, revealed how Igbos rejected the late
Nnamdi Azikiwe as presidential candidate during the 1979 elections.
Unongo spoke at a lecture
organised by Chief Charles Udeogaranya and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to mark Zik’s
post-humous 113rd birthday in Lagos.
He said, “ I will talk Nigeria on
Zik’s birthday. I remember the first time I saw Zik, when he came to Tiv land,
it was in 1946. My father obliged me and took me there. I remember, I had six
shillings and I was so moved, I donated the entire sum to his cause, as
espoused.
“His speeches influenced me so
much that I used to read his papers, particularly, The West African Pilot, more
than my school notes, and got caned regularly for reading the “subversive”
papers we were forbidden to read by our expatriate British teachers.
“Truthfully, the political
history of Nigeria is incomplete without acknowledging the towering role of Zik
in the political movements and parties in colonial and post-colonial Nigeria,
notably the Nigerian Youth Movement, Zikist Movement, National Council of
Nigeria and Cameroons and Nigeria Peoples Party, of which I had the privilege
of being its first secretary-general.
“We miss Zik today as we grapple
with the challenges of nation-building and the resurgence of the national
question. We miss Zik today, when we need national bridge builders. This great
man, Igbo-speaking, who was born in Zungeru in Northern Nigeria and made his
most profound political mark in Western Nigeria was a true Nigerian patriot,
who resided in Lagos.
“We miss Zik, the man of
intellect, the man of profound humour and creative deep thought. He was
innovative and big enough to compromise for the good of his country and people,
when the occasion called for compromise.
“He touted the philosophy of
pragmatic federalism and Nigeria did not listen. They called him names and
ended up fighting a horrendous and most destructive civil war.
“Currently, Nigeria is at it
again, embroiled in various agitations, including self-determination,
restructuring, referendum, quit notices, recall notices, resource control,
secession and federalism, among many other issues.
“Debates in Nigeria, however, for
now, have centered principally on two concepts—restructuring and federalism.”
Unongo praised Zik’s leadership
qualities, which he said convinced him to work for him.
“It was this conviction that made
me take the Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe throughout the Federal Republic of
Nigeria canvasing for votes, to make him the Executive President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria in the elections of 1979.
“To my greatest surprise and
shock, I found the greatest resistance to my presidential candidate in the Igbo
speaking area of Nigeria! The majority of Igbo people told me that no Igbo man
could become President!” He said.
The elder statesman further
challenged credible Igbos to contest presidential election
According to him, “those
agitating for restructuring, purely based on political and ethnic
considerations are averse to competition. Nigerians have competed very well in
the economic and academic spheres regardless of location. They must not be
afraid of competing in the political sphere as well.
“Let a true, committed patriotic
Nigerian Igbo person, and there are many, stand now. Let him/her lobby,
campaign and canvass the votes of Nigerians and ask Nigerians to vote him/her
as President. I believe the people of Nigeria, if convinced, will vote that
Igbo man or Igbo woman President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
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