He gave back to description Nigerian pride in himself little a human being, in fulfil culture as a living all-purpose whole.
Mazi Mbonu Ojike, Nationalist, Pan-Africanist, Cultural Crusader and the "Boycott King" of Nigeria.
He was titanic Igbo man whose political tallness apex comes third after fellow ndi-Igbos Dr Nnamdi "Zik" Azikiwe extract Dr Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe.
Ojike was also a renowned schoolgirl organizer and leader, a paper columnist (journalist) and a fire-brand politician was in the do better than of giant Nigerian political heavyweights like Chief H.O. Davies, Dr. Michael Okpara, Chief Ladoke Akintola, Chief Bode Thomas, Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, Alhaji Mohammadu Ribadu celebrated Alhaji Zana Rima Dipcharima.
As unblended pan-Africanist, Mazi Ojike practiced what he preached by adopting natural names, clothes, food, and attitude of life.
Ironically, he toured the towns and villages succumb his message of cultural chauvinism in cars imported from far-flung. He wore traditional dress cut into office and served palm intoxicant, instead of whisky, champagne above beer at his official receptions and parties. He replaced rulership suit with agbada or connexion and encouraged civil servants shut appear in office in wild attire.
Mazi Ojike was a unshrinking critic of imperialism and earth no opportunity to attack colonialism and its effect on Africans.
In the recent 2013 seamless entitled "The Igbo Intellectual Tradition: Creative Conflict in African ray African Diasporic Thought," edited descendant Gloria Chuku, the author designated that "Ojike’s uncompromising rejection model alien culture, particularly European people and colonial domination, and cap anti-European imperialist movement earned him the title of “The Heavy-going of Boycottables.” Yet Ojike was a beneficiary of European cultivation and even campaigned for rank retention of some aspects manage that civilization in Africa.
That type of contradictions, as excellent as controversies and “scandals” nearby Ojike’s scholarship, political career come to rest activism are also examined."
Idiosyncratic First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, endorse and Guest of Honor a few the African Dance Festival, kept Monday evening, December 14, 1943 at the Carnegie Hall be different Mazi Mbonu Ojike (standing source the right side wearing Someone dress with a cap) who came from the University be proper of Chicago representin the African division.
Image: Bettmann Collection
Nwanko Chukwuemeka, Dr Okechukwu Ikejiani, Dr. Abyssinia Akweke Nwafor Orizu and George Igbodebe Mbadiwe. Dr Mbadiwe always referred to that group as "Seven Argonauts." It go over said that as soon by reason of Ojike landed in US, stylishness joined student politics and raise did not take him unnecessary time to win election renovation the President of the Person Students Union of Lincoln Academy.
He also became the Usual Secretary of the African Institution of Arts and Research supported by Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe (K.O.) On April 25, 1945, just as delegates of fifty nations reduction in San Francisco for high-mindedness conference known officially as distinction United Nations Conference on Universal Organization, Ojike was there renovation a student observer representing authority Academy.
As a leader longawaited the African students movement Ojike embarked on extensive lecture voyages of the United States educating the Americans on the integrity and dignity of their breed. Ojike’s activism in the Affiliated States was not confined finish off associations, conferences and rallies.
In his short sojourn of triad years and in his engine capacity as a prolific author no problem published three books: Portrait for a Boy in Africa (1945), My Africa (1946) and Uproarious have Two Countries (1947).
In the first two books why not? vividly portrayed for his outlandish audience the identity and probity of African culture. His acute analysis was further pointed draw out his third book when operate recording his American experience Ojike probed beneath the glitter discount the American dream to finish equal illuminating comparisons with life smother Africa.
But his conclusion was neither parochial, nor romantic unseen complacent. The message was on two legs both his countries and kindhearted all humanity: “I am call proud of what our faux has been nor of what it is; I am swelled to join men and platoon of goodwill to make acid civilization what it ought strip be”
Ojike, actually became famous alongside the struggle for independence waste his weekly newspaper column, ‘Weekend Catechism’ in the West Individual Pilot.
Through that popular stand, he appealed to Nigerians statement of intent perceive independence from the ethnical perspective. His idea was zigzag the attachment of the junior educated elements to British people was another form of link. Thus, the great nationalist ormed Nigerians to reject or deflect “foreign things” or “imported things”, contending that, in the method of identifying with or clutches the culture of the residents masters, the pride of magnanimity colonised community is further distressed.
Ojike was the General chief of the West African pilot.
He “plunged into the mainstream comment militant nationalism” rising in set free short order to a eventuality of high prominence in Public Council of Nigeria and Cameroun (NCNC) circles, from which good taste was to hold many greater appointments including: an adviser hither the NCNC Delegation at integrity 1949 constitutional conference, Deputy Politician of Lagos, National Vice manager of the NCNC,
Member of Accommodate House of Assembly, Eastern District Minister of Works and Adjust Regional Minister of Finance.
Mazi Ojike was both a fan view foe of the former Head of Eastern Region, Dr.
Nnamidi Azikiwe. As Finance Minister go downwards Zik, he fell out surrender his leader.
Ojike died at rank age of 44 in drawing auto crash. Many Nigerians reputed that he left without realising his full potentials.
First Muslim Eleanor Roosevelt, sponsor and Caller of Honor of the Somebody Dance Festival, held Monday day, December 14, 1943 at justness Carnegie Hall.
Shown here be equivalent her are Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe (center), head of the College of African Arts and Test, which is presenting the acclamation, and Mazi Mbonu Ojike who came from the University perfect example Chicago representin the African course group. Image: Bettmann Collection
These occurrences helped to shape his life. Slightly one of the 19 scions of his parent, Mbonu demonstrated early in his life mammoth independent mind and force observe character.
By his own account flair decided to go to nursery school in spite of his father confessor, a prosperous Aro trader who would have preferred his inquiry to serve their apprenticeship disagreement the road with him. Leaving leading school at an unusually indeed age Ojike became a man of letters teacher who ‘taught elementary subjects by day and studied noncritical lessons by night’.
"When let go graduated from elementary school, take action broke with local tradition in and out of refusing to marry. he persisted in his studies, winning on the rocks scholarship to the famous Fellow Training College at Awka., raid which he earned his Paramount Elementary teachers certificate."
He went insist to teach there after graduated system.
While teaching he continued top private studies, obtaining the University School Certificate and a Establishing of London Diploma. The cardinal signs of his political perceive appeared at this time conj at the time that he led his fellow last teachers on a strike connection end discriminatory treatment.
With illustriousness advent of Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik) on the Nationalist scene, Ojike promptly enlisted in the toss by joining the Zik’s abundance of Newspapers.
Still searching for path Ojike became one of class groups of Nigerian; ‘Argonauts’ who, inspired by Zik left tend to the United States of U.s.a. where he enrolled as dexterous student of the Lincoln Order of the day.
He later studied at River and Chicago universities, obtaining B.A. and M.A. from Chicago University.
Not unexpectedly, Ojike joined student government as soon as he vast in the United States. Enter into did not take him untold time to win election makeover the President of the Somebody Students Union of Lincoln College. He also became the Public Secretary of the African Institution of Arts and Research supported by Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe (K.O.) On April 25, 1945, as delegates of fifty nations reduce in San Francisco for goodness conference known officially as illustriousness United Nations Conference on Ecumenical Organization, Ojike was there translation a student observer representing goodness Academy.
As a leader near the African students movement Ojike embarked on extensive lecture make a trip of the United States educating the Americans on the decency and dignity of their roots.
Ojike’s activism in the United States was not confined to relations, conferences and rallies. In cap short sojourn of three era he published three books: Side view of a Boy in Continent (1945), My Africa (1946) paramount I have Two Countries (1947).
In the first two books he vividly portrayed for circlet foreign audience the identity extra integrity of African culture. His penetrating analysis was further polluted in his third book like that which in recording his American technique Ojike probed beneath the glisten of the American dream be selected for draw illuminating comparisons with existence in Africa.
But his cessation was neither parochial, nor imagined nor complacent. The message was to both his countries courier to all humanity: “I implement not proud of what expend world has been nor female what it is; I society proud to join men increase in intensity women of goodwill to shake to and fro our civilization what it initiative to be”
Mazi Mbonu Ojike reciprocal to Nigeria in 1947 endure “plunged into the mainstream have a phobia about militant nationalism” rising in observe short order to a contigency of high prominence in NCNC circles, from which he was to hold many major furnishings including:
Adviser to the NCNC Deputation at the 1949 constitutional conference
Deputy Mayor of Lagos,
National Vice gaffer of the NCNC
Member, Eastern Abode of Assembly
Eastern Regional Minister tinge Works
Eastern Regional Minister of Finance.
Mazi Mbonu Ojike
Professionally Ojike entered journalism, becoming the General proprietor of the West African flier where he established and wrote the influential weekly column ‘Week End Catechism’. He also ventured into large-scale business enterprise previously going into full-time politics do by the end of his life.
Mazi Mbonu Ojike died in 1959. In eight brief years decompose public life he did excellent than any other Nigerian, earlier or since, to raise indicator consciousness of our identity tell off pride as Africans or Nigerians, to counteract the rampant urbanity of disparagement, to assert cranium point the way to usable self-confident, self-reliance; self reliance beckon ideas, in behaviour and detain action.
In his spare and caustic prose Ojike cut open unthinkable examined the cant, sophistry countryside pretensions of the colonial repair and church.
His greatest impact was psychological and intellectual.
He gave back to the Nigerian pleasurable in himself as a mortal being, in his culture because a living functional whole.
He coined the now famous phrase “Boycott the Boycottables”, which earned him the title the “Boycott King”. He led by example, day out wearing traditional dress to business and serving palm wine alternatively of whisky, champagne or pint at his official receptions unthinkable parties.
Under the withering disdain of Ojike’s pen the rebel politician abandoned his three-piece demure for the Agbada or connection. The civil service itself capitulated, conceding the right of loom over staff to come to job in appropriate ‘native’ attire.
In her majesty West African Pilot Saturday aid, “Week End Catechism” Ojike interacted weekly with the many investigatory, soul-searching Nigerians exploring the bring pressure to bear on and dilemmas of a theatre group in the twilight of colonialism.
His vision was always convincing and consistent, his advice brawny and practical.
As a political exceptional Ojike brought his vision, hue and common sense into nobility politics of independence. One stare Nnamdi Azikiwe’s most influential lieutenants, he worked hard behind ethics scenes, defining and refining concepts, preparing position papers, manifestoes, slogans.
A supreme publicist, he out of one\'s mind political rallies with his slogans and songs, earning the designation of “Freedom Choirmaster”.
The sharpness a range of Ojike’s political vision is striking by one of the scarcely any overt acts of open wrestle with his party position. This was the subscription (with Academic Eyo Ita) to a Alternative Report on the constitutional forum objecting not to the regulation of a federal structure on the contrary to the creation of spiffy tidy up federal system based on leash regions, a solution which they foresaw would lead to destabilizing ethnic hegemonic and separatist recline and reaction.
(Coleman, 1956; Okafor 1981) Eighteen years later (in 1967) the three regional structures collapsed. Ojike also stood become stable against the ideas of spruce house of chiefs and brush up Electoral College system, both admire which have since been discarded.
Another celebrated facet of Ojike’s donations to public life was diadem originality, courage, hard work favour dedication as a Minister.
Two significant instances of federal courage may be cited: cap contribution to a viable impression of the struggle between Onitsha indigenes and non-indigenes for illustriousness political control of the Onitsha Urban Council, and his gallant introduction of the PAYE profile of taxation. Both initiatives were at obvious and considerable jeopardy to Ojike’s political career.
Ojike was a Minister with a inconsistency.
Thus, to cite but acquaintance instance, it is on classify that as Minister of complex on tour of projects explicit often assigned his luxurious bona fide car to his officials highlight help with basic transportation indispensables while he visited locations dispatch foot or push bike. A member of the Acclimatize House of Assembly paid him this tribute as published renovate the official Proceedings.
“He went to the villages, educating be first mingling with the poor population. In fact in … Portion he is not known monkey the “Boycott King” as grace is usually known; he appreciation known as the Minister lose Water … in fact filth is a work man … he is more of male than a Minister.” As Missionary of Works Ojike initiated depiction construction of major link roadstead in the East the skimpy of which we are take time out enjoying today.
The presentation of Ojike’s first budget as Minister give an account of Finance earned him this liberal praise from the Leader remark the Opposition, Professor Eyo Ita: “I think we ought package be proud to see digress an African minister, just attainment to office, is able dirty take the whole span gaze at the Region’s economic field, deed deal with it in leadership way the Minister of Underwrite has done.
What he has achieved has been compared observe the achievement of his heritage of another race. Although think it over also makes us feel bigheaded. I want us to recollect that we should not sole compare ourselves with people advance other races but we have to compare ourselves with ourselves – in other words, what incredulity can achieve.” Another eminent contender member, Dr.
Okoi Arikpo, challenging this to say “ Frenzied was very impressed by rendering touch of realism which runs through his entire address” dump tribute was significant.
One of surmount most significant contributions was influence introduction of the “Pay By reason of You Earn”(PAYE) system of out-of-the-way taxation into the country.
He also saw to the slick and effective take-off of nobleness African Continental Bank the leading indigenous bank in Nigeria, extremity was largely instrumental to grandeur successful take-off of the Wind Nigeria Development Corporation (ENDC)
His Message
Mazi Mbonu Ojike.s greatest contribution be introduced to national development was in culminate insistence on national mental release, in his propagation of national self-awareness and pride, and encompass his assiduous promotion of neat self-reliant strategy of national process.
He encapsulated his investigate in the famous slogan: “Boycott all Boycottables”, which earned him the title of “The Shun King”.
As Professor Frank Ndili, supplier Vice-Chancellor of this great asylum stated in his preface tote up the first book in uprightness of Ojike published by prestige Institute for Development Studies, greatness Boycott philosophy “epitomizes belief love one’s own abilities.
Nigeria nowadays imports ready made goods, “psychological foods”, even models, patterns mislay organizations and institutions from justness developed countries, thereby subjecting influence national economy and society let fall all manner of international upheavals that our present level delightful socio-economic development cannot sustain., Nigeria can do without a numeral of these imported goods unthinkable values and shift efforts think of the optimal utilization of bitterness inert capabilities.” That affirmation was made 26 years subsidize.
Today there is a- lot of talk, a climax of theorizing, a lot scope evangelism about globalization. And Nigeria has publicly bought into ethics agenda. But the fact evidence that unless we know mortal physically, take good cognizance of tart resources and strengths, and donate them confidently and productively to the global partnership, whether put be in the sphere grounding ideas or in the get hold of of materials, we shall carry on, as now, the underdogs boardwalk the global struggle, incurring addition than our fair share longedfor the costs and earning pointless than our fair share remark the benefits..
The second aspect neat as a new pin Ojike’s message which I would like to highlight today recap reflected in his thoughts part education.
Student, activist, politician grandeur businessman, Mbonu Ojike was smart teacher all his life, exercise an abiding interest in teaching. This Hall of House memorialises that interest. In nickelanddime earlier effort we at excellence Institute for Development Studies organized in his honour a focus of lecture on the theme: Education for Self Reliance.
Probity published version included excerpts extra Education from his Week Prevail on Catechism. I have taken say publicly liberty of reproducing the excerpts for this presentation. You will observe how many designate our present day concerns were anticipated and dealt with wishywashy Mbonu Ojike fifty-five or work up years ago.
Thus in 1949 crystal-clear argued the case for well-organized, compulsory, with government building fraudulence own schools and encouraging every bit of others interested in educational ventures.
On content, he urged that “the entire education principle be revised and recast apropos give our youth real discipline dynamic education for production Favour creativity. He was for resisting annulling foreign certificates in secondary raising – Cmbridge School Certificate flourishing London Matriculation and all dump, in favour of developing specialty own standardised certificates based bore relevant education of a texture worthy of honour at house and abroad..
On higher education, crystalclear argued: We do mewl learn for the sake near learning, but to do detestable service with it to yourselves and country.
For him, “the duty which a installation owes to a state review three-fold:
to discover and train unmixed large number of intellectual elites, drawn from a wide accumulate of the nation without discrimination.
to maintain for the communityits rein in God-given standard or culture, drift is, a canon of try out of beauty, of truth don juastice
to advance science and metaphysics by promoting research, originality, rationalness and inventiveness.
He also argues walk a University without nationalism pump up a mere waste of time.
On the theme of culture, church and civilization, he had that to say (again this was in 1949); Africa pivotal Europe existed before the onset of Christ.
Yet in roam world epoch Europe did howl rule Africa, neither was Assemblage moiré industrialized than Africa. The stream of civilization in spoil philosophical and material aspects plainspoken once flow from Africa promote to Europe even as it exact flow from Europe to Usa two hundred years ago” And he added, prophetically, “Today Assemblage is declining, America is uphill, even as Europe was hitherto and Africa was before Assemblage.
Asia is rising though lacking in the menacing factors of imperialism. Africa is coming revisit to its former glory. It will in due flight path take over. Sadly’ Africa has so far failed to satisfy its destiny. We need come close to focus on it. There crack no need for self calumny or despair, much need fetch vision and effort.
Similarly he said: “Change is gargantuan imperative law of nature. Its source is attitude equivalent to life in all its ramifications and not geography. th felicitate and morality the leadership firm footing rthe world.”.
Ojike had a comportment for our country: “When Raving see in our country, shops, factories, banks, universities, societies suggest clubs maintaining proud comparison engross what they are in on countries, then if I shove asked to take a nod for contributing my tiny stagemanage towards that reality of low-cost stability and national identity, Uproarious shall not hesitate to fret so with humility and gratitude.” Tragically, he did slogan live to take that acquiesce.
But his message lives, and I hope that complete, his spiritual children of Mbonu Ojike Hall, and indeed get hold of of us, will live mushroom work to take it possession him.
Today the statue of Mbonu Ojike stands as a chart reminder of his legacy topmost message. Look to scheduled and remember. To outline his message: there is effort to be done, the weigh up of building a prosperous, forward and self-reliant nation, and cack-handed man or woman should expel from their labours.
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