The Anambra State Government has declared Monday, November 16, 2020 as public holiday in honor of posthumous birthday of the Nigeria’s first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe.
This was contained in a statement signed by Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba, on Sunday, November 15, 2020.
Azikwe, who’s widely recognized as a foremost nationalist who fought for one Nigeria, was born on November 16, 1904 in Zungeru in today’s Niger State.
All government offices organized private organizations and open market are expected to adhere to the directive, except businesses that offer essential services.
Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, first announced the annual public holiday in January 2019 and it was first observed in November 16 of the same year.
However, Obiano has earlier called on the Federal Government to declare November 16, a national holiday in honor of the posthumous birthday of the nationalist for his significant role in the struggle for the Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
According to Adinuba, the Governor had earlier written to President Muhammadu Buhari where Obiano said, “the failure thus far to declare the birthday of the Great Zik of Africa a national holiday has become not just a national embarrassment, but also an international scandal.
“The Ghanaians observe President Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday as a national holiday. Angolans observe Dr Agostino Neto’s birthday as a national holiday, just the way Tanzanians do the birthday of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
“Interesting enough, it was the Great Zik of Africa who mentored Dr Nkrumah whom he discovered when he was editing the African Morning Post in Ghana and sent him to his alma mater in the United States, Lincoln University, the first historically black university in America, to study the humanities just like himself.”
According to the statement, Zik is an inspiration to generation of Africans and Nigerians in particular, into what is known as African nationalism today.
He referenced Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who wrote that he decided to study law in the United Kingdom after seeing Zik address the Nigerian Youth Movement in Yaba, Lagos. Awolowo had show his appreciation to Azikwe when he launched his Nigerian Tribune Newspapers on November 16, 1949, which was Zik 45th birthday.
The Commissioner added that, “Another great Nigerian whom Zik inspired into embracing pan Africanism was the late Chief MKO Abiola, who won the 1993 presidential election fair and square but was tragically denied victory. The Nigerian people are consoled by the fact that this great Zikist has officially been declared winner of the historic vote, though posthumously, and June 12 proclaimed a national holiday”.
The statement continued, “When he founded the University of Nigeria at Nsukka in 1960, he named key places on the campus after such Nigerian leaders as Chief Samuel Akintola, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Professor Eyo Ita and Sir Abubakar Tafewa Balewa, even though they were his political opponents”, Governor Obiano stated.
“At a time, most people in the world did not reckon with women, The Great Zik of Africa ensured that halls of residence at the UNN were named for Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Mrs Margaret Ekpo.
“Dr Azikiwe lived ahead of his generation. That was why he could establish the country’s first indigenous university and also the nation’s first indigenous bank when Africans were discriminated against in various endeavours.
“These institutions played critical roles in Nigeria’s rapid economic development.
“Nigeria is in dire need of transformational leaders like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the symbol of national unity and progress. All Nigerians are grateful to the memory of this great man of philosophy and action”.
