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Anambra declares tomorrow work-free day in honour of Zik

By Lawrence Njoku, Enugu
17 November 2019   |   4:04 am
Anambra State government has declared tomorrow, a work-free day in the state in honour of first Republic President, late Owelle Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Anambra State government has declared tomorrow, a work-free day in the state in honour of first Republic President, late Owelle Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. James Eze said the declaration came on the heels of repeated appeals by Governor Willie Obiano to the Federal Government to declare a national public holiday in honour of the great Zik, as had been done for other illustrious leaders across the continent, who led their respective countries from the shackles of colonial rule to independence. 

According to him, Obiano used the opportunity of commissioning of Zik Mausoleum in January this year to appeal that Nigeria should set aside a public holiday in honour of the great Zik, just as Ghana did for Kwame Nkrumah, as Kenya did for Jomoh Kenyatta, as Tanzania did for Julius Nyerere and as Angola did for Agostinho Neto. 

He stated that the Great Zik of Africa had so much influence on nationalist struggles for independence across Africa, and played a unique role of all-inclusive politics that left no place for ethnicity and religion, all of which make the case for a national day in his honour very compelling. 

The statement reads in part: “Therefore, from this year onwards, November 18 has been set aside in Anambra State to commemorate Right Hon Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, celebrate his legacies and reflect on ideals and values that the great statesman lived and died for.

“It is expected that in blazing the trail by setting a day aside for Zik, Anambra State Government is making the case for a national holiday in honour of Zik a compelling one.

“It must be remembered that the Great Zik of Africa was one of the greatest Pan-Africanists who devoted his life and times to the struggle for the emancipation of Africa and people of African descent.”

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