MEMORABLE QUOTE: ‘’My parents are natives of Eastern Nigeria, the arsenal of republicanism in Nigeria. Although I am Ibo, yet I speak Yoruba and I have a smattering of Hausa. I am now Premier of Eastern Nigeria, the land of my fathers, which lies five hundred miles from Lagos and almost a thousand miles from the place of my birth in Zungeru, in Northern Nigeria. Each of our three Regions is vastly different in many respects, but each has this in common: that, despite variety of languages and custom or difference in climate, all form part of one country which has existed as a political and social entity for fifty years. That is why we believe that the political union of Nigeria is destined to be perpetual and indestructible’’ – Nnamdi Azikiwe Pre-independence politics in Nigeria united politicians whose major pre-occupation was how to free Nigeria from colonial rule. Stormy petrel, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was described as a little bit ‘’irresponsible’’ on the Floor of the British Parliament as a result of the way he led pressure groups pushing for independence was highly influential in the politics of that era. The political party that Azikiwe led – The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons was predominant in the political field throughout the length and breadth of the country. The effect of this was that the Igbo became preponderant, in the West and North, and even in Ibadan. TOLERANCE: They were everywhere reaping the popularity of Zikism, and exploiting the gains of nationalism, which was imbued in Nigerians by Azikiwe’s propaganda. He was a highly skilled orator who spoke fluently Nigeria’s major languages. For instance, Dr. Ikejiani, an Igbo, Medical Doctor, based in Ibadan was made Chairman of Nigeria Railway Corporation. The Yoruba then were not bothered as their faces were covered by the spirit of nationalism as a result of which there was nothing like the federal character in the distribution of posts or appointments whatsoever. All that everybody wanted was independence and self-government. From Lagos, Mr. J.M. Johnson from Lagos in the 1950s became the Chairman of the Ibadan City Council. NIGERIA’S UNITY: In an address to the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) at its 50th-anniversary celebration at the Polo Grounds, New York City, July 19, 1959, Nnamdi Azikiwe told his audience that: ‘’My parents are natives of Eastern Nigeria, the arsenal of republicanism…
