By BABARA KALU, Akwa –
Anambra State Government has declared Tuesday as a public holiday in honour of Nigeria’s first president, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was born on November 16, 1904.
Governor, Chief Willie Obiano announced this in a statement issued by the state commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C. Don Adinuba.
Recalled that Governor Obiano has previously called on the federal government to recognize the date as a nation-wide public holiday, in honour of Azikiwe’s contribution to Nigeria and Africa.
“This year makes it the third year the Anambra State government would be observing the birthday anniversary”.
“It was the Great Zik of Africa who inspired such outstanding Pan-African leaders as Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana who led his country to freedom from colonial rule on March 6, 1957.”
Obiano said: “After all, the Ghanaians observe the birthday of Dr Nkrumah as a national holiday, just the way Tanzanians observe President Julius Nyerere’s birthday as a national holiday.
“It is a huge national embarrassment that Nigeria has yet to declare November 16 a national holiday.” Governor Obiano said in the statement.
Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, PC (16 November 1904 – 11 May 1996), usually referred to as “Zik“, was a Nigerian statesman and political leader who served as the first President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966.
Considered a driving force behind the nation’s independence, he came to be known as the “father of Nigerian Nationalism“.
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