DR. ZIK SAID I'M VINDICATED
I am Satisfied over the ruling of the Federal Court of Appeal that I paid my tax for the last three years according to the Anambra Tax Law. "The Court had vindicated me"-Zik
To make a fair assessment of the Court's decision, one must consider the reasons behind the suit.
The FEDECO,, told the world that Dr. Zik did not pay his income tax at all. Chief Michael Ani's Statement gave the impression that Dr. Zik wrote to him seeking for co-operation to cover him for implied wrong doing and as a result Dr. Zik had release a photocopy of the letter he sent to Chief Ani at a televison interview.
suit.
"It was as a result of such malicious publication that Dr. Zik filed the He recalled how as a result of Chief Ani's statement certain media branded him a tax dodger.
Dr. Zik's New Idea: Idea On Alliance
The best possible alliance in the country would be one that would bring all the political parties together.
Dr. Zik said this to newsmen in Lagos after discussions with other political parties.
He also said, we have all resolved to work together because we all want peace and stability in the country.
Some Important Speeches of Dr. Zik of Africa During His Struggles for The Independence of Nigeria And The Liberation of of Africa.
Dr. Zik On Tyranny After After The Death Of Dr. Danquah Of Ghana:
"I am of the considered opinions that if Independence means the subs- titution of indigenous tyranny for alien rule, then those who struggled for the Independence of former colonial territories have not only desecrated the cause of human freedom but they have betrayed their people".
On Persecution Of Ibos:
"Besides the Jews, propably no other linquistic group has suffered so much persecution in history as the Ibos have been obliged to endure in Nigeria"
On Freedom
"Freedom from fear and freedom from want are the two basic freedoms which the citizenry anticipates from those who are privileged to rule".-ZIK
On Tribe
"From time immemorial, the tendency of human beings is to live together, very few normal human beings live in isolation from their kind. Therefore consciousness of kind leads to community living. The community thus develops into a small world with its own ethos and taboos. Each member of the community. owes it allegiance and in return the community gives security and pro- vides protection to the individual. If the word "community" is, substituted for 'tribe' then my idea of tribe would have been conveyed to this audience". ZIK.
Zik On Vice
"What we need today is a government of peace and love, free from tribal discrimination, free from treachery and perfidy, from bribery and corruption and free from all vices which sap the energy of our nation and strengthen the evil forces that encourage friend to betray his friend and brother to betray his brother. To accomplish this desirable end we must be humble and seek divine guidance by praying after Ignatius Loyala. "Teach us, good Lord to se- rve Thee as Thou deservert; to give and not to count the cost, fight and not to heal the wound, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do Thy will".
"Let it not be said of us that we struggled all these years to win Independence for our people and when we had the chance to build a heaven on earth for them we made a colosal mess of our selfish materialism, we allowed our priv- ate prejudices and partial affection to distort our interest to our motherland".
Zik On Duty Of Politicians
"I hereby admonish politicians to realise that they have no pre-emptive rights over and above the citizen who elected them to office. They must app- reciate the fact that their supreme task is to guarantee to the people of this Federal Republic FREEDOM FROM FEAR and to secure to them FREEDOM FROM WANT". ZIK
Zik On National Freedom
"To no person no matter how wealthy should we sell our soul. To no nation, no matter how powerful should we mortigage our conscience. To no group, no matter how influential should we pown our thougths. But we should always reserve to ourselves and to our posterity the right to know. To think, to hold opinion and to pursue our own way without denying or depriving others of their right to do so. That is our concept of true National Freedom." ZIK
Greatness
"Greatness can be achieved by an idiot just as immortality can be achieved by an ass. But true greatness and worth while immortality, can be achieved by a selected few". - ZIK.
An extract of a speech made by Dr. Zik in the year 1951 when he was wel- coming 34 members who where to represent the East at the centre. ZIK was prevented from going to the centre by the combined treachery of Dr. Nimbe," and Mr. Adedoyin and he ZIK did not hasitate to declare that he was BETRAYED AND NOT DEFEATED. He said:
"Personally I would like to renew my pledge to the party of my conviction- That I must continue to fight irrespective of reverses of fortunes of war until Nigeria and Cameroons are liberated from the forces of Imperialism. Why should I retreat because the enemy has won the first battle in a war that will be long and tough. Remember the second world war. Did the forces of Rome-Berlin- Tokyo axis not win that war inspite of the destruction of Pearl Harbour, the merciless Air Raids on London. The fall of Singapore and the conquest of Western Europe?
Where are the leaders that enjoyed popularity at the initial stages of the cataclysm 1939-45 yet today the names of Hitlar, Mossulini, Georin Geobbles, Hess, and all their ilk have descended to the Limbo of the forgotten idols of humanity" ZIK.
When he was accused of having some political ambition in his fight against the colonial masters by Mr. Arthur Prest in the year 1951. He concluded his answer to the 17 items of accusation with the following poem:-
"Since man to man is so unjust
I do not know which friend to trust
I have trusted many to my sorrow
Friends today enemies tomorrow" The End.
After The Assassination of John Kennedy of America on Nov. 22nd 1963 Dr. Zik Speaks and Warned African States.
President Azikiwe of Nigeria on Saturday being 23/12/63 warned Africa States to ponder seriously before deciding to trust in a Government elected by American electorate.
This he said, has become necessary because, "It is now crystal clear that certain influential sections of American public neither respect human dignity nor regard the black race as human beings who deserve to be treated, with respect, decency, and equality."
These remarks were contained in a message which the Nigerian Head of State sent to his American Counterpart, Mr. Lyndon Johnson on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. President Azikiwe expressed horror at the death of John Kennedy whom he described as a "great humanitarian who followed the traditions of the founding fathers of America in order to guarantee freedom to all American Citizens, irrespective of race, colour or creed."
Disappointed,
The Nigerian President said he was disappointed that for more than a quarter of a century, he had preached to his people to regard the U. S. A. as God's country and prayed that those who believed him would forgive him for being such a simpleton.
"The assassination of President Kennedy is also a set back for those who believe in fair play and social justice for the black race all over the world."
When he was elected three years ago, I decided not to be sceptical about his qualities, but to be optmistic that his appointment would bring about better conditions for the darker race of the world. Now, my hopes are shattered. The assassintion of President Kennedy is also a set back in the struggle for fundamental human right and the issue whether the headquarters of the United Nations should remain in the United State, should be of greater concern to African States because the slaughter of this typical American reformer shows clearly that among some Americans, there is a deep seated hatred of the black man as a human being.
"The punishment of this criminal who perpetrated this foul murder will not be sufficient to atone for his iniquity, for he has assassinated an ideal American Statesman who won the respect and affection of those of us who have fought a life time so that liberal democracy may be enthroned in our land."
In spite of the bullets, of his assassin, the spirit of freedom and respect for human dignity for which President Kennedy live and died, shall keep marching on."
President Kennedy's life, President Azikiwe said, has been sacrificed so that American Negroes may live like human beings and enjoy true citizenship and rights in their own country, but Kennedy had to pay the Supreme sacrifice just as his illustrous predecessor, Abraham Lincoln who died after emancipating the Negro Slaves, barely one hundred years ago.
"Who knows whether it would not be in the best interest of Africa, if the newly emergent African states were now to be obliged to look else- where in order to grapple with hoops of steel those who in foul or fair weather have been cons- istent in espousing social justice for the cause of the darker races of the world Dr. Azikiwe asked"
In 1965, At The University Of Nigeria Zik Advices Graduates During The Convocation Ceremony.
A Speech On "Be Whatever You Are" Graduands of The Class of 1965.
My humble duty tonight, is to offer you my congratulation and so convey to you the goodwill of the council of the University of Nigeria, on the eve of your graduation, and to wish you God's speed as you are poised to leave the campus.
For the last four years, you were lame and you had to depend upon crutches to support and sustian yourselves.
Like fledgelings, you had to be patient and bide your time in order to be strong and confident.
This is the eve of your fight from your nesting. Tomorrow will find you well on the way, flying low or flying high in the firmament of life.
Your stay in this University has given you the intellectual stimulus, the professional confidence, the social poise, and the spiritual strength which are the tools employed by man for adaptation to his environment.
The degree which your Alma mater will confer on your endeavour. will ultimately depend upon what emphasis you place on your University education.
Will you regard it as a pass-port for social climbing to enable you gain status in society?
Or, will you deem it to be a challenge to be self-reliant and original?
If you place yourself in the first category, then you will be regimented with the salaried workers and wage earners who have to depend upon others to earn an honest living.
This is not necessarily bad, since many human beings belong to this social class; but you may find youself willy- nilly in the company of mediocr- ities and nonetities who depend upon extraneous factors to succeed and not necessarily upon their own merits and honest efforts.
Courage And Wisdom
But if you have the courage and wisdom to place yourself in the second category, you will be numbered among the poineering, enterprising, and. self- employed frontiers, men and women who dare to face the future with vision; other things being equal. You should ultimately zoom your way to the top, where it is less crowded and less congested.
Both categories are open to you. Make up your mind what you want to do and do it.
The marble is available and the chisel is there.
It is for you to fashion your design for living. If, however, you are in short supply of fund and it becomes necessary for you to accumulate capital then prudently enter the first category with confide- nce and intelligent planning, but do so only as a means to an end, and do not settle down permanently to grove in the company of great majority.
When the opportunity comes, do not hesitate to take it, and do not be dilatory; summon up courage take the purge and rattle up to associate with those who use the grey matter in their brains and exercise initiative to be in position to create something from nothing.
William Channing a unitarian clergyman, once said;
"Every human being is intended to have a character of his own; to be what no other is and to do what no other can do".
Congrats!
GRADUANTS OF THE CLASS OF 1965
Congratulation on your good fortune in surviving the ordeal of examina- tion to which you have been subjected.
As you receive your diplomas tomorrow, stand erect, stick out your chests and raise your chins up, in token of your conquest over ignorance and superstition.
You have done your best and you do not need to offer any apology because you dare to scale the heights of academic success.
Therefore, go forth from this campus and take your places in the bivouac of life, full of confidence in yourselves and in the future. Continually cultivating your minds eternally grateful to your benefactors, constantly becoming charitable in your disposition and Philanthropic to mankind, and behaving always like cultured persons.
Finally, in all you do be the best of what ever you are, in the poetic words of Douglas Mauovh.
If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill, be a scrub in the valley but be the best little scrub at the side of the hill; be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a bush, be a bit of the grass. And some highway some happier make.
If you can't be a muskie, then just be a bass but the liveliest bass in the lake.
We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew. There's something for all of us here. There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do and the task we must do is near. If you can't be the sun, be a star. It isn't by size that you win or fall, be the best of what ever you are!
My fortune smile on you as you strive to be the best of whatever you are. And may your achievements redound to the glory of your alma mater in our common endeavour to restore the dignity of man. We have come to the end of of third graduation ceremonies and it is my pleasure to convey to all and sundry, the gratitude of the council of the University of Nigeria for the co-operation in making the occasion the success that it richly deserved.
What remains for me to do now is to remind our alumni of their obligations to their alma mater and then declare this convocation closed. Henceforth, every alumnus and alumna of this University belongs to the alumni association of the University of Nigeria. This is a fraternity of the University on whom had been conferred degrees honoris causa or in cursu. This obligation is pernaissive. Secon- dly every alumnus and every alumna of the University of Nigeria, during their life time, should make it a point of duty to be present with their families at every fifth convocation following their graduation in order to celebrate a class reunion.
This second obligation is mandatory and the quin quenial reunion of each graduating class of this University, should be an occasion when the children would come home to their mothers to present gifts, in cash or in kind, to nou- rish the life of their cherished alma mater. Finally, may I remind the alumni of that portion of the alma-mater pledge. My humble duty is to mention the bestoning of academic laurels is a blessing to both parties to the University, because her children will continue; to grow in stature from year to year as they play their res- pective roles in life; to the alumni because their success will glorify their alma mater.
Therefore in the name of the University of Nigeria, I hereby invite all our graduates to do two things for the University of Nigeria. The first is that when- ever possible, every alumnus and every alumna of the University of Nigeria should endeavour to be present future graduates which reads:
"We solemnly dedicate ourselves to that proud and noble purpose which our University has made its own to restore, the dignity of man In all our words and deeds, we shall seek to cherish and maintain that spirit of nation-building that the University sets forth in its philosophy and by the Grace of God, our youth may be enabled to discover themselves and to dedicate their lives a new to the building of a great nation".
The Vice-Chancellor, the Senate, the congregation, Ladies and Gentlemen, I hereby declare this convocation closed.
Source: ThrowbackTimes.com.ng
