Thirteen years after the death of Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria, a new vista of discourse has commenced on how Zik’s political philosophy could help in the on-going search for a new Nigeria where equity, just and egalitarian society is the order of the day.

Delivering a convocation lecture titled Zik’s Philosophy: Lessons for National Integration and Development, at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka on November 16, 2009 (incidentally, the posthumous 105th birthday of Zik),the Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, took a critical look at the nation’s quest to achieve national integration and posited that the political ideology of the late Azikiwe will be handy in this direction.

According to Dr. Aliyu, the present leadership of the country has lessons to learn from the great Zik, who was known as a bridge builder in Nigerian politics during the first and second republics as well as great statesman and nationalist per excellence. He opined that the nation’s quest for national integration will only be successful if artificial boundaries created as result of political exigencies are jettisoned to pave way for restoration of selfless service, accommodation, dialogue and cosmopolitanism.

In a rare erudition that held his audience spell bound for two hours, Aliyu informed that when Zik returned to Nigeria in 1937 from the Gold Coast(now Ghana), a new vibrant chapter was added to the then relatively dull history of Nigeria’s nationalist movement. The advent of Zik, he said, meant a new dimension in the scope of Nigerian nationalism. Rather than limit himself and his campaign to Lagos as was then the popular practice, his approach was national and mass-based.

Aliyu argued that Azikiwe’s background considerably contributed to the emergence as the great titan of the nationalist movement. Born in Zungeru (Dunguru) on November 16, 1904 (former capital of the defunct Northern Nigeria, and indeed the historic town where Nigeria was to be born upon the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914), in present day Niger State, to parents of Eastern origin, Zik grew up appreciating the culture of the people of the North. According to the accounts of his autobiography, My Odyssey, the great Zik recounted that at birth he was named ‘Ibrahim of Zungeru’, being the name of legendary Nagwamatse, (the founder of Kontagora Emirate), who gave Lord Lugard tough time as a British colonial administrator.

During his early years in Zungeru, Aliyu continued, Zik spoke Hausa fluently and was quite at home with the people. He was later taken to Onitsha (Eastern Nigeria) by his father, where he received early education and in Lagos (South West Nigeria) as well as in Calabar (present day Cross River State). ‘’This upbringing provided the young Zik with the well rounded and balanced sociological lifestyles of the various ethnic groups in Nigeria and the challenges of the different environments. These exposures might have contributed in shaping his philosophy of tolerance of diversity, love for democracy, appreciation of the dignity of man and the total acceptance of his creator (God). These are variables that can shape and promote integrity and development in any community.’’

Aliyu believes that Zik’s world view and indeed his cosmopolitan approach to issues made him the stabilizing factor of the nation’s political landscape.
Each time elections proved inconclusive, Aliyu emphasized, political suitors went in search of Azikiwe. They did so in 1959 and 1979.The Niger helmsman recalled that no party had an overall majority in the 1959 general elections although the NPC won a single majority.It needed to go into an alliance to be able to form a working majority in the parliament.It went in search of an alliance.Zik had contested the election as the leader of the NCNC for the prime ministership and lost.

The NPC went to him and so did the Action Group led by Obafemi Awolowo.The latter said he was willing to go into an alliance that would see Zik as prime minister.Zik did not appear to have been impressed by this possibility and instead to go into alliance with the NPC.The reward was of course,public knowledge.He became the ceremonial president and members of his party,the NCNC,were appointed into the Balewa administration.

‘’Also during the 1979 elections in which Zik was the presidential candidate of the NPP,the party agreed to a coalition with the NPN which did not have a working majority in the National Assembly.The coalition brought NPP men into government, which would not have been possible if Zik,the master of compromise had not manipulated his party into the enviable status of the ‘enviable bride’.Eventhough the romance did not blossom into a society wedding,initiating the NPN/NPP accord itself was a triumph for Zik’s philosophy of compromise,’’ Gov Aliyu said.

The guest lecturer who referred to the late Zik as a source of inspiration,said Azikiwe’s political model was in tandem with the philosophy of servant-leadership, which underlying principle is the commitment to the service of the people, adding that Niger State has since abolished all discriminatory policies such as the so-called contract appointment, on account of being so-called non-indigenes.

Sharing his experience with the audience ,Gov Aliyu stated that in his effort to foster national unity and integration and to accelerate the development of Niger State in the context of a shared Vision of 3:2020, the state has made it a State policy to expunge the ‘non-indigene’ clause from its statutes. ‘’Every Nigerian therefore who considers our State worthy of settlement is a citizen of Nigeria and an indigene of Niger State. Such person(s) are thus entitled to all the rights/privileges of the natives of the State. Government is therefore deliberate in making adequate provision to cater for all Nigerian citizens, who reside in the State, pay their tax and add value to our State, as it relates to the free education, free health care, free NECO/WAEC/NABTEB fees policies of the State are concerned.’
Aliyu therefore believes that Nigeria will indeed develop politically, economically, socially, culturally and technologically, if we imbibe the patriotism and detribalized attitude of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Ndayebo is the Director General (Media Relations & Strategy),Government House, Minna.

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