This article by Throwback Times Nigeria entitled "Dr. Zik of Africa" is published in order to satisfy my readers who have been asking me to write article about Zik.
Dr. Zik is the architect of African Nationalism, the tallest tree in Africa and an outstanding figure in The Social Circle.
The History of Nigeria can never be complete without his name written in Capital Letters. He fought for Nigeria Indepen- dence and he always standa for the truth. He is the founder and maker of one Nigeria. As you go through the pages of this booklet you will see his important and wise speeches at different occasions, during his political day of days.
Read about his speech and the advice he gave to the Graduates of the University of Nigeria Nsukka during their Convocation Ceremony in 1965.
This advice is not only important to the graduates but also to people of all walks of life.
Rare Story About Dr. Zik:
Dr. Zik was born at Zungeru in Northern Nigeria on 16th November 1904. He is a native of Onitsha in Anambra State of Nigeria.
He had his Primary School education at the C. M. S. Central School Onitsha. He was educated at Hope Waddell Institute Calabar, Methodist Boys' High School Lagos, Storer College West Virginia (U.S.A), Howard and Lincoln Universities where he read political Science. He did Post-graduate Course at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds M.A., M sc, LL.D., Litt., etc. He is a good foot-baller, a boxer and he is also very good in running, high jumping and tennis playing etc.
He speaks almost all Nigerian languages and he is an orator.
After his University education he lectured on political science at Lincoln University from 1931 to 1934 before returning to West Africa. In 1934 he started his career in Journalism as the Editor of African Morning Post in Ghana.
He founded the West African Pilot in 1937 and became the Editor- in-Chief of the paper.
In 1944 he was the General Secretary of the banned N.C.N.C. and later became the President of the Party.
In 1948 he became a member of the legislative council and in 1952, he became a member of the then Western house of Assembly. In 1954 he was elected into the Eastern House of Assembly, and became the first Premier of the then Eastern Nigeria until he was elected into the house of Representatives in 1959.
In 1960 he was sworn in as the President of Nigeria Senate. On 16th November 1960, he was sworn in as the first indigenous Governor-General and on the same day was appointed Queen's Privy Councillor (PC) by Queen Elizabeth II of Britain and was the first Nigerian to receive such an honour. He became the President of the first Republic of Nigeria in 1963.
He belongs to many Professional and International Organizations. He was initiated into Ozo Chieftaincy title of Onitsha and became the Owelle of Onitsha. He is a Christian and is married with four Children.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe popularly known as Dr. Zik of Africa is an im- portant personality. He is famous in Nigeria, Africa and he World. He is a Political Scientist, Author, Educationist, Journalist, Orator and Linguist.
What Dr. Zik said before the Nigeria Civil War of 6th July 1967 January 1970
after recalling history and observing the events and atrocities during the 1964 federal election in Nigeria.
Dr. Zik Warned the Country and said:
Love one another in the interest and unity of Nigeria, or else what happened in Congo may be a child's play when compared to what may happen in Nigeria. - Zik.
It will be an irony of history for any group of people whether young or old to toy with the destiny of this great Country and destroy a Country which has taken us many years to build.
The Nigeria Civil War
As the Nigerian Civil War continued to claim many innocent lives and as the destruction of properties continued to increase, Dr. Zık was very sad because the future of Nigeria was by then so much in doubt.
Dr. Zik Lamented "Enough Is Enough"
1979 Presidential Election: Assassination Plot Against Dr. Zik. But He Escaped.
The N. P. P. Presidential Candidate Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe disclosed at his press conference in Enugu that a telescope rifle was fired into the room he usually occupied in Lagos by agents of his opponents who thought he was in the room at the material time.
In reply to a question, Dr. Zik said that in spite of the conspiracy and the concerted efforts of his political opponents to force him out of the presi- dential race, he was staying put.
"He said: "I am right in the thick of it. I have never given up a battle in which I am a conte der, half way".
Statement Made by Dr. Zik Against Accredited Mendacity.
Dr. Zik in action at A press conference held in the Press Club Enugu Wednesday, 18th April 1979.
My professional colleagues: I would preface my remarks today by asserting most solemnly that I am compelled to speak out of my mind with a sense of responsibility. As a former President of Africa's most Populated Country, I am presumed to be entitled to respect that is conventionally reserved for my counterparts in other parts of the civilized world, and I should be presumed to appreciate the weight that should be attached to my public pronouncements and the honour due to my person.
But then we are living in Nigeria, a third world country with all its implications. Thus, it is tragic for me to ruminate that the cause of my experience in contemporary Nigerian politics, if I should be frank and candid, is due to the fact that I am anlgbo. Thus, I do not belong to the right club or the right section of the country, or the right language group. Otherwise, why should a person of my stature, a former Head Government and a former Head of state be made an object of scorn, ridicule and outrageous disrespect not only by officially-sponsored media but by some privately owned newspapers, who violate with impunity our laws regarding the publication of false news, knowing same to be false?
It is an open secret that by any stretch of the imagination I am not and cannot be a victim of the inferiority complex. So I should be presumed to know what I am talking about. A glance at my autobiography will show that. at every stage of my life, I have literally fought every inch of the way to the top of my chosen field of endeavour. And I have remained on top in spite of man- made odds and handicaps by lilliputs and petty minds.
GET ME STRAIGHT: I do not regret that I am an Igbo; but I feel that if I were not an Igbo, the tommyrot disseminated about me in the last four months would have been checkmated by those concerned. It is a fact of history that due to a strange twist of psychological conditioning Nigerians have placed a pre premium on mediocrity and allowed some ciphers and nonentities to toy with the destiny of a great nation and thereby over-shadow their superiors.
I have been a practising journalist since 1928. In the summer of 1930 I formally studied the principles and practice of journalism at the Teachers! College Columbia University, New York.
On merit I was selected to be Editor of the Columbia University Summer Session Times. In 1931 I was elected an Overseas Member of the Institute of journalists, London.
African descent so honoured to my knowledge. Thirty years later I was elected a Fellow, perhaps the only living person of a reputable profession in Nigeria, but in furthering its practice in its ethica Therefore I am interested not only in advancing the cause of journalism as and professional context, as distinct from its occupational ramifications.
After contemplating what had happened in Nigeria since 15th January 1966, together with its repercussions on our body politic I have deemed it opportune to summon this press conference for five reason:
Firstly the role which our media play in the current electioneering reduces the reputation of the profession of journalism to its lowest nadir.
Secondly, some Government sponsored and privately controlled media have deliberately flouted the ethics of the profession contrary to the code of profes- sional conduct, solemnly adopted by Nigerians, to wit:
"That the public is entitled to the truth and that only correct information can form the basis for sound journalism and ensure the confidence of the people.
That it is the moral duty of every journalist to have respect for the truth and to publish or prepare for publication only the truth and to the best of his/her knowledge.
"That it is the duty of the journalist to publish only facts: never to suppress such facts as he/she knows; never to falsify either to suit his/her own purposes, or any other purposes"
Thirdy, certain newspapers have embarked upon a mission of pure pro- paganda to fabricate facts and peddle falsehood in order to confuse the electo- rate, on the merits and demerits of Presidential Candidates at the forthcoming election.
Fourthly, the Fedeco is being manoeuvred to be on the defensive in almost reaching to type like its 1964 counterpart, in that, "Leakages" had occured somewhere thus embarrassing this highly respected machinery for a free and fair election.
Finally, the Federal Military Government has unfortunately left the Nigerian public under an impression that it is either unable or unwilling to check the irresponsibility and apparent partiality of certain sections of the Nigeria media.
Let me Substantiate my Observation:
On 28th December 1978, the Federal Military Government, through the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, gave guidelines for the conduct of electioneering in order to avoid unethical practices and ensure fair and free elections.
Since then the situation has deteriorated. Some candidates have resorted to name calling, some have indulged in the dangerous past time of attacking personalities. Some have actually defamed their opponents, knowing that false publication is not an electoral offence contrary to the law of Nigeria before the Military take - over.
Ordinary one should not lose sleep on these irresponsible provocation. But when a parastatal, like the New Nigerian and a privately owned newspaper of many years standing, like the Nigerian Tribune assume to play the role of the Fedeco and Supreme Military Council in deciding what candidate has been cleared or disqualified, I am bound to react.
In its issue of 13th April 1979, the Nigerian Tribune published "Zik not cleared yet" The New Nigerian of 16th April 1979 emblazoned on its front page: "Zik out of Race" These lies were dished out by supposedly responsible newspapers under the nose of the Federal authorities with the aim to misinform Voters and imperil the chances of the Presidential Candidate of the NPP.
What right has a Government- Sponsored newspaper like the New Nigerian to be the mouthpiece of the Fedeco and the Supreme Military Council? This is the height of impudence of a parastatal that is run on public funds to continue to squander our money in order to advance the course of a favoured party.
The New Nigerian should reflect the federal character in totality of its make up. This newspaper belong to all Nigerians. It does not belong to a geographical section of Nigeria. Board of Directors should reflect our federal character.
Otherwise, this newspaper should be closed down, because it is a disservice to Nigeria.
It must not be forgotten that its ancestor, The Nigerian citizen, played the same ignominous role in hastening the end of the First Republic.
Not only did it incessantly attack the person of the president of Nigeria, but it allowed its column to be used to depict the Igbo people as Cannibals.
Like its ancestor, the New Nigerian has started to play a disastrous game by publishing false news and casting insinuations on my integrity as a Presidential Candidate. It has no right to do so, since it has not published any news about Fedeco or the Supreme Military Council clearing or disqualifying its favourite NPN Presidential Candidate or any other Candidate apart from Mallam Aminu Kano.
As for the Nigerian Tribune its column has been used by an eccentric to portray me as one who had evaded to pay tax and one who earns three pensions. For any responsible Nigerian to be so stupid can be understood because life is filled with all sorts of men and women. But for an old established newspaper to publish false news knowing same to be false is a direct contraven- tion of the Newspaper (Amendment) Act, 1974 which makes it an offence. The Question arises:
Has any newspaper the right to publish whether any candidate has been qualified or not, in the absence of an official statement, when it is obvious that such a publication would have some adverse or favourable effect on the electorate, depending upon the candidate concerned?
The New Nigerian in publishing its big lie claimed that its information was from "a reliable source" and inferred that I did not have "security cover" and that was proof of my "disqualification". What a Logic? What a calculated risk? What a piece of accredited mendacity?
Let me make it clear that since February 1979, as Presidential Candidate of the NPP, I have had "Security cover" throughout my tours of Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Rivers, Cross River, and Ondo States."
It is true that I had no "security cover" during my visit to Lagos state but this was due to the fact that the NPP National Chairman failed to notify the Lagos police Command of my movements, as we arranged for him to do, when I left Ondo state for a short rest at Nsukka where I have had "Static Security Guards" for about three months now.
In any case, what right has any newspaper to decide what candidate had been disqualified or cleared? Who told any newspaper that Chief Awolowo has been cleared? who told the media that Alhaji Shagari has been cleared? Ditto for Alhaji Waziri?
If the press council had been constituted, as was envisaged in the Decree promulgating it, I would have filed my complaints against these offending news- papers. As it is, my only choice is to sue those who had libelled me, in which case the issue would not be determined until months or years after the elections. That is the anomaly of our legal system.
On the other hand, if the Federal Ministry of Justice is not disposed to prosecute the newspapers concerned for contravening the Newspapers (Amendment) Act in respect of false publication, which is a statutory but not an electoral offence, then the only recourse of the citizen is to seek for a fiat to conduct a private
prosecution. What a dissipation of energy?
I find it extremely embarrassing to contest the forthcoming elections with the odds stacked against in many respects. I was not even allowed to dine in a public hotel. Officially-Sponsored newspapers and other media are being used to stultify the thinking of the electorate. No positive action appears to be taken against them.
I even understand that the NTV Enugu had been instructed to black - out news regarding the NPP. And, in spite of my being a former Head of State, NTV Lagos finds it difficult to screen my movements in any of the states I had visited, including Lagos itself.
I am obliged to wonder whether the Federal Military Government actually intends to hand over power to civilians on 1st October 1979 if so, why should the media which are Officially-Sponsored be allowed to take sides and to attack me without compunction. Why has the New Nigerian been allowed to have a soft spot for the NPN and an antagonism towards the NPP? Why was "false publication" ommitted as an electoral offence in the Electoral Decree.
As for taxation, I paid my taxes, as soon as my firm of chartered acco- untants adjusted their differences with the assessment authority. My income was based mainly on pension dividends and rent.
It had been most difficult to get the Federal Ministry of Establishments to give details of my pension so that I would know whether PAYE applies. Thus, from 1971-72 to 1978-79 my pension had been paid without my knowing whether any deductions had been made or not. In any case I decl- ared all my pension earnings without any deduction for PAYE. and paid income-tax thereon.
As I speak today, the last payment of my pension, as recorded by my bankers is October 1978 or thereabouts.
My dividend warrants show that all taxes, apart from Development Stocks had been deducted at Source from 1975-1979 and the Certificates had been handed over to the assessment authority.
My only headache has been income from rent, where my accountants had been engaged in arguing for months with assessment authority over what Capital allowances should be made for purposes of depreciation, in view of the wide spread destruction of my real property during the civil war.
As a matter of fact, I submitted my income Tax clearance Certificate to the Fedeco on 19th March 1979 together with my Income Tax receipt for 1978-79. The deadline was 31st March 1979.
But if after all these exercises, it is decided that I should be disqualified, I will take my medicine like a man, knowing that before such a serious measure is taken I would be given a fair chance to defend myself.
What riles me, is the attempt of the New Nigerian and the Nigerian Tribune 10 assume the role of the Fedeco or the Supreme Military Council to lie blatantly to the people of this Country that I had be disqualified and Chief Awo- lowo and Alhaji Shagari had been cleared, and for the Federal Military Government to allow these two Newspapers, like impostors, to flout the laws of the land with impunity.
The use of officially - Sponsored newspapers to inflame and influence public opinion was one of the causes of the Military take - over.
It is wrong for such newspapers to be partisan. They could speculate, it is true. But Professor Julian Huxley said: "To speculate without facts is to attempt to enter a house of which one has not the key, by wandering aim- lessly round and round searching the walls and now and then peeping thro- ugh the windows. Facts are the key".
When in my position as a constitutional Head of State I warned the prime Minister about the insidous activities of the Nigerian citizen in inciting Nigerians against themselves. I place on record my considered opinion in these words:
"Any newspaper owned or sponsored by any Government of the Federation should be printed and published solely in the public interest. Such a medium should not be employed to impugn the integrity of any citizen or to embarass any person resident within our territorial jurisdiction rather, it must publish accurate news without slanting it for ulterior purpose. After all, tax-payers own such a newspaper and its staff should not be prejudiced or partial because they earn their living from public funds. Unless this precept is appreciated and practised and enforced by the powers that be, then it tantamounts to an abuse of power".
As I see the whole problem raised by indiscreet exercise of freedom of expression and freedom of the press by a section of our media, the Federal Military Government, in the absence of an active press council, as a categorical imperative for the maintenance of law, order and good Govern- ment, to prosecute the New Nigerian and the Nigerian Tribune and any other owes it erring media for publishing false news and knowing same to be false.
This is an effective way of checking the growing tendency among some incorrigibles from abusing the freedom of expression.
Source: ThrowbackTimes.com.ng
