NNAMDI AZIKIWE (ZIK) ON NIGERIA’S INDEPENDENCE
Zik never talked about a great economy, employment, education, rule of law and religion in his inaugural speech as Governor-General of Nigeria in 1960, but harped on the “dignity of man.” A hungry unemployed, uneducated, and bigoted man has no dignity in the world.
Zik’s most poignant statements were, “Government appears to be stable…,” and “People apparently satisfied…” No, these are not forcefully positive statements of elation.
The whole process was rigged and stage managed by the hypocritical British Government. It started with inflated Northern population figures and a rigged National Election to enthrone Jihadist Islamists as rulers of Nigeria. The records of British malfeasance have been sealed for 100 years in the British Archives. Its unveiling may set off another blood bath in Nigeria if there is a Nigeria at that time.
Zik went along with these shenanigans to build a sinecure for himself. As he was building the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he was also building Zik’s Flats to accommodate the students of the University. Zik’s Flats may be the largest privately owned hostel for University students in the world at that time.
A nation that wins independence without a fight, fights after independence. Notice how many times the Sarduana of Sokoto was mentioned in the video vis-a-vis the other Premiers making it obvious who wields real power in Nigeria.
The most egregious statement made by Zik in his acceptance speech as Governor-General of Nigeria was, that Nigerians were divided before Independence and united after Independence.
No, Nigerians were independent before Independence, and divided after independence.
The post-independence boxing match was a harbinger of more boxing matches to follow independence – Operation Wetie, Military Coups, Biafra-Nigeria War, Boko Haram, and Fulani Terrorist Herdsmen. Post-independence, the “Christian” British referee took the side of the Fulani Islamists from the Futa Jallon Mountains of the Senegambia as payment for their efforts in subjugating Nigeria and subverting Nigeria’s independence.
Zik, Awo, and Sarduana were so eager to share the spoils of independence that they had no vision, written or spoken, of a plan for post-independence Nigeria, to be a great nation. While their contemporary Lee Kew Yuan was building the foundations of a great Singapore, they were divvying up juicy political and economic positions amongst themselves, their scions, and sycophantic retinues.
Their handiwork is manifested in the present day realities of Nigeria – the Hunger Capital of the World – where the “dignity of man” is being beheaded daily by Boko Haram and eviscerated by Fulani Terrorist Herdsmen, borrowing from the playbook of Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and Alhaji Othman Dan Fodio.
Finally, the irony is that Nnamdi Azikiwe who fought Queen Elizabeth II for Nigeria’s Independence, ended up being the Representative of Queen Elizabeth II to Nigeria, post-independence.
What a farce?
Those interested can explore the following links:
AHMADU BELLO SOWED THE SEEDS OF HATRED OF IGBOS IN THE NORTH.