By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Emeritus Professor, Mrs. Uche Azikiwe, widow of the first President of Nigeria and former Governor-General of the country, Dr. Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, has challenged those who still blame her late husband for certain things in the nation’s polity they believe are not going well to strive to do better than he did when they find themselves in the corridors of power.
This is even as Mrs. Azikiwe has also re-echoed the call for United States of Africa (USA), a vision the late Pan Africanist who promoted solidarity and unity among people of African descent, and aims to end colonialism and white supremacy in Africa during his life time.
Speaking at the13th Zik Lecture Series which took place at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state capital on Saturday, Mrs. Azikiwe revealed that her family is going through emotional trauma because of certain negative remarks by some uninformed people especially in the social media blaming the past leaders like Dr. Azikiwe for the current woes of the country.
According to her, making some uncharitable remarks about her husband despite his sacrifices and struggle to build a united and prosperous Nigeria make her and children sad even as the great politician was respected across Africa and the world.
“When we read some negative comments about Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owelle of Onitsha and the Great Zik of Africa, I and his children feel so bad. I know that those who write all these negative things, blaming him that he did not do this or that when he was in power, are children born after the Nigerian civil war. They don’t know what he did for his country and his people.
“But my advice for those who critise him or blame him for what he did not do well should strive to correct his mistakes when they get to positions of authority. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe did not claim that he was the best or knew everything. He was just an ordinary human being like us no matter the mystery surrounding him during his lifetime”.
Mrs. Azikiwe however called the unity of Africans as advocated by her late husband popularly called Zik of Africa for his stance on the liberation and emancipation of the African continent during the fight for independence from colonialism.
She said that United States of Africa as demanded by late Dr. Azikiwe will be the best for the continent, pointing out that it was her husband’s insistence that Africans must be free to manage their affairs in post-colonial era that attracted hatred of by the colonial masters and their local collaborators.
The 13th Zik Lecture Series which is an annual event put together by prominent South East leaders including Senator Ben Ndi Obi featured Ghanaian top diplomat and 1st President of the ECOWAS Commission,
Mohamed Ibn Chambas as Guest Lecturer.
In attendance are Enugu state governor Peter Mba; Deputy governor of Anambra, Gilbert Onyekachukwu Ibezim and Obi of Onitsha, Agbogidi Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe among other dignitaries.
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