Christian Rowland writing for ODOGWU MEDIA.......Chairman of Northern Elders’ Forum, NEF, Chief Paul Unongo, yesterday, revealed how Igbos rejected the late Nnamdi Azikiwe as presidential candidate during the 1979 elections.
Unongo spoke at a lecture organised by Chief Charles Udeogaranya and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to mark Zik’s post-humous 113rd birthday in Lagos.
“His speeches influenced me so much that i used to read his papers, particularly, The West African Pilot, more than my school notes, and got caned regularly for reading the “subversive” papers we were forbidden to read by our expatriate British teachers.
“Truthfully, the political history of Nigeria is incomplete without acknowledging the towering role of Zik in the political movements and parties in colonial and post-colonial Nigeria, notably the Nigerian Youth Movement, Zikist Movement, National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons and Nigeria Peoples Party, of which i had the privilege of being its first secretary-general.
“We miss Zik today as we grapple with the challenges of nation-building and the resurgence of the national question. We miss Zik today, when we need national bridge builders.
This great man, Igbo-speaking, who was born in Zungeru in Northern Nigeria and made his most profound political mark in Western Nigeria was a true Nigerian patriot, who resided in Lagos.
“He touted the philosophy of pragmatic federalism and Nigeria did not listen. They called him names and ended up fighting a horrendous and most destructive civil war.
“Currently, Nigeria is at it again, embroiled in various agitations, including self-determination, restructuring, referendum, quit notices, recall notices, resource control, secession and federalism, among many other issues.
“Debates in Nigeria, however, for now, have centered principally on two concepts—restructuring and federalism.
It was this conviction that made me take the Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria canvasing for votes, to make him the Executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the elections of 1979.
“To my greatest surprise and shock, I found the greatest resistance to my presidential candidate in the Igbo speaking area of Nigeria! The majority of Igbo people told me that no Igbo man could become President!” He said.
The elder statesman further challenged credible Igbos to contest presidential election According to him, “those agitating for restructuring, purely based on political and ethnic considerations are averse to competition.
Nigerians have competed very well in the economic and academic spheres regardless of location. They must not be afraid of competing in the political sphere as well.
“Let a true, committed patriotic Nigerian Igbo person, and there are many, stand now. Let him/her lobby, campaign and canvass the votes of Nigerians and ask Nigerians to vote him/her as President.
I believe the people of Nigeria, if convinced, will vote that Igbo man or Igbo woman President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Written And Edited Christian Rowland,
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UNONGO'S LEAK!!! REVALS HOW IGBOS REJECTED AZIKIWE AS PRESIDENT…SEE
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Friday, November 17, 2017
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