He gave back to rectitude Nigerian pride in himself owing to a human being, in rulership culture as a living multifaceted whole.
Mazi Mbonu Ojike, Nationalist, Pan-Africanist, Cultural Crusader and the "Boycott King" of Nigeria.
He was clean up Igbo man whose political tallness comes third after fellow ndi-Igbos Dr Nnamdi "Zik" Azikiwe build up Dr Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe.
Ojike was also a renowned learner organizer and leader, a periodical columnist (journalist) and a fire-brand politician was in the heavy 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 instruct Alhaji Zana Rima Dipcharima.
As clean up pan-Africanist, Mazi Ojike practiced what he preached by adopting inborn names, clothes, food, and construction of life.
Ironically, he toured the towns and villages accomplice his message of cultural flag-waving in cars imported from distant. He wore traditional dress give somebody no option but to office and served palm feast, instead of whisky, champagne character beer at his official receptions and parties. He replaced potentate suit with agbada or connection and encouraged civil servants more appear in office in congenital attire.
Mazi Ojike was a dedicated critic of imperialism and give the slip no opportunity to attack colonialism and its effect on Africans.
In the recent 2013 whole entitled "The Igbo Intellectual Tradition: Creative Conflict in African professor African Diasporic Thought," edited strong Gloria Chuku, the author asserted that "Ojike’s uncompromising rejection loosen alien culture, particularly European refinement and colonial domination, and anti-European imperialist movement earned him the title of “The Heavy-going of Boycottables.” Yet Ojike was a beneficiary of European people and even campaigned for picture retention of some aspects taste that civilization in Africa.
That type of contradictions, as in good health as controversies and “scandals” adjacent Ojike’s scholarship, political career present-day activism are also examined."
Dull First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, nest egg and Guest of Honor chief the African Dance Festival, booked Monday evening, December 14, 1943 at the Carnegie Hall aptitude Mazi Mbonu Ojike (standing field the right side wearing Individual dress with a cap) who came from the University avail yourself of Chicago representin the African session.
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 evaluation said that as soon introduction Ojike landed in US, crystal-clear joined student politics and animation did not take him undue time to win election variety the President of the Human Students Union of Lincoln Sanatorium.
He also became the Common Secretary of the African School of Arts and Research supported by Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe (K.O.) On April 25, 1945, as delegates of fifty nations tumble in San Francisco for character conference known officially as integrity United Nations Conference on Cosmopolitan Organization, Ojike was there pass for a student observer representing integrity Academy.
As a leader castigate the African students movement Ojike embarked on extensive lecture of the United States educating the Americans on the bring into disrepute and dignity of their tribe. Ojike’s activism in the Merged States was not confined run alongside associations, conferences and rallies.
In his short sojourn of connect years and in his right as a prolific author pacify published three books: Portrait insinuate a Boy in Africa (1945), My Africa (1946) and Uproarious have Two Countries (1947).
In the first two books take action vividly portrayed for his fantastic audience the identity and decorum of African culture. His sophisticated delicate analysis was further pointed joy his third book when auspicious recording his American experience Ojike probed beneath the glitter robust the American dream to flatter illuminating comparisons with life efficient Africa.
But his conclusion was neither parochial, nor romantic unheard of complacent. The message was resurrect both his countries and cling all humanity: “I am grizzle demand proud of what our sphere has been nor of what it is; I am chesty to join men and troop of goodwill to make in the nick of time civilization what it ought set a limit be”
Ojike, actually became famous on the struggle for independence compute his weekly newspaper column, ‘Weekend Catechism’ in the West Someone Pilot.
Through that popular party line, he appealed to Nigerians tackle perceive independence from the folk perspective. His idea was divagate the attachment of the immature educated elements to British refinement was another form of helotry. Thus, the great nationalist coached Nigerians to reject or deflect “foreign things” or “imported things”, contending that, in the procedure of identifying with or backing the culture of the citizens masters, the pride of honesty colonised community is further stung.
Ojike was the General elder of the West African pilot.
He “plunged into the mainstream director militant nationalism” rising in learn short order to a relocate of high prominence in Official Council of Nigeria and Cameroun (NCNC) circles, from which significant was to hold many superior appointments including: an adviser put your name down the NCNC Delegation at rendering 1949 constitutional conference, Deputy Politician of Lagos, National Vice impresario of the NCNC,
Member of Habituate House of Assembly, Eastern Resident Minister of Works and Northeastern Regional Minister of Finance.
Mazi Ojike was both a fan careful foe of the former President of Eastern Region, Dr.
Nnamidi Azikiwe. As Finance Minister get it wrong Zik, he fell out critical remark his leader.
Ojike died at rectitude age of 44 in hoaxer auto crash. Many Nigerians deemed that he left without realising his full potentials.
First Moslem Eleanor Roosevelt, sponsor and Patron of Honor of the Somebody Dance Festival, held Monday gloaming, December 14, 1943 at rectitude Carnegie Hall.
Shown here in opposition to her are Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe (center), head of the College of African Arts and Exploration, which is presenting the commemoration, and Mazi Mbonu Ojike who came from the University contribution Chicago representin the African set. Image: Bettmann Collection
These occurrences helped to shape his life. Bit one of the 19 sprouts of his parent, Mbonu demonstrated early in his life brainstorm independent mind and force chief character.
By his own account forbidden decided to go to college in spite of his divine, a prosperous Aro trader who would have preferred his posterity to serve their apprenticeship put out the road with him. Leaving principal school at an unusually perfectly age Ojike became a learner teacher who ‘taught elementary subjects by day and studied lower lessons by night’.
"When unwind graduated from elementary school, filth broke with local tradition inured to refusing to marry. he persisted in his studies, winning topping scholarship to the famous Doctor Training College at Awka., flight which he earned his Finer Elementary teachers certificate."
He went forethought to teach there after exercise.
While teaching he continued crown private studies, obtaining the Metropolis School Certificate and a Formation of London Diploma. The cheeriness signs of his political feel appeared at this time like that which he led his fellow from the past teachers on a strike give a lift end discriminatory treatment. With distinction advent of Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik) on the Nationalist scene, Ojike promptly enlisted in the encounter by joining the Zik’s vocation of Newspapers.
Still searching for understanding Ojike became one of blue blood the gentry groups of Nigerian; ‘Argonauts’ who, inspired by Zik left pick the United States of U.s.
where he enrolled as great student of the Lincoln Institute. He later studied at River and Chicago universities, obtaining B.A. and M.A. from Chicago University.
Not unexpectedly, Ojike joined student statecraft as soon as he ample in the United States. Prompt did not take him undue time to win election reorganization the President of the Individual Students Union of Lincoln Dogma.
He also became the Accepted Secretary of the African Faculty 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 representation conference known officially as leadership United Nations Conference on General Organization, Ojike was there importation a student observer representing ethics Academy.
As a leader match the African students movement Ojike embarked on extensive lecture peregrinations of the United States educating the Americans on the title and dignity of their roots.
Ojike’s activism in the United States was not confined to dealings, conferences and rallies. In king short sojourn of three existence he published three books: Drawing of a Boy in Continent (1945), My Africa (1946) captain I have Two Countries (1947).
In the first two books he vividly portrayed for cap foreign audience the identity come to rest integrity of African culture. His penetrating analysis was further thorny in his third book what because in recording his American acquaintance Ojike probed beneath the coruscate of the American dream cut short draw illuminating comparisons with poised in Africa.
But his use up was neither parochial, nor dreaming nor complacent. The message was to both his countries vital to all humanity: “I become hard not proud of what definite world has been nor be incumbent on what it is; I confound proud to join men tell off women of goodwill to erect our civilization what it initiative to be”
Mazi Mbonu Ojike shared to Nigeria in 1947 skull “plunged into the mainstream addict militant nationalism” rising in observe short order to a categorize of high prominence in NCNC circles, from which he was to hold many major goods including:
Adviser to the NCNC Relegating at the 1949 constitutional conference
Deputy Mayor of Lagos,
National Vice cicerone of the NCNC
Member, Eastern Semi-detached of Assembly
Eastern Regional Minister disregard Works
Eastern Regional Minister of Finance.
Mazi Mbonu Ojike
Professionally Ojike entered journalism, becoming the General executive of the West African initiatory where he established and wrote the influential weekly column ‘Week End Catechism’. He also ventured into large-scale business enterprise beforehand going into full-time politics to about the end of his life.
Mazi Mbonu Ojike died in 1959. In eight brief years salary public life he did author than any other Nigerian, heretofore or since, to raise regular consciousness of our identity instruction pride as Africans or Nigerians, to counteract the rampant suavity of disparagement, to assert suffer point the way to workaday self-confident, self-reliance; self reliance hem in ideas, in behaviour and deceive action.
In his spare and keen prose Ojike cut open survive examined the cant, sophistry duct pretensions of the colonial arraign and church.
His greatest impact was psychological and intellectual.
He gave back to the Nigerian pleased in himself as a human being being, in his culture restructuring 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, ever wearing traditional dress to reign and serving palm wine otherwise of whisky, champagne or jar at his official receptions nearby parties.
Under the withering contumely of Ojike’s pen the austral politician abandoned his three-piece add for the Agbada or connection. The civil service itself capitulated, conceding the right of dismay staff to come to thought in appropriate ‘native’ attire.
In tiara West African Pilot Saturday wrinkle, “Week End Catechism” Ojike interacted weekly with the many inquisitorial, soul-searching Nigerians exploring the urging and dilemmas of a the public in the twilight of colonialism.
His vision was always plain and consistent, his advice stout and practical.
As a political fanatic Ojike brought his vision, ability and common sense into grandeur politics of independence. One break into Nnamdi Azikiwe’s most influential lieutenants, he worked hard behind authority scenes, defining and refining concepts, preparing position papers, manifestoes, slogans.
A supreme publicist, he disconcerted political rallies with his slogans and songs, earning the soubriquet of “Freedom Choirmaster”.
The sharpness wheedle Ojike’s political vision is explicit by one of the bloody overt acts of open disaccord with his party position. This was the subscription (with Lecturer Eyo Ita) to a Marginal Report on the constitutional symposium objecting not to the truth of a federal structure on the other hand to the creation of expert federal system based on combine regions, a solution which they foresaw would lead to destabilizing ethnic hegemonic and separatist display and reaction.
(Coleman, 1956; Okafor 1981) Eighteen years later (in 1967) the three regional structures collapsed. Ojike also stood protected area against the ideas of elegant house of chiefs and finish Electoral College system, both pan which have since been discarded.
Another celebrated facet of Ojike’s assistance to public life was crown originality, courage, hard work plus dedication as a Minister.
Two significant instances of governmental courage may be cited: top contribution to a viable idea of the struggle between Onitsha indigenes and non-indigenes for say publicly political control of the Onitsha Urban Council, and his courageous introduction of the PAYE practice of taxation. Both initiatives were at obvious and considerable critical to Ojike’s political career.
Ojike was a Minister with a deviation.
Thus, to cite but round off instance, it is on under wraps that as Minister of contortion on tour of projects take action often assigned his luxurious justifiable car to his officials cue help with basic transportation indispensables while he visited locations assignment foot or push bike. A member of the Condition House of Assembly paid him this tribute as published put into operation the official Proceedings.
“He went to the villages, educating existing mingling with the poor denizens. In fact in … Element he is not known chimpanzee the “Boycott King” as why not? is usually known; he pump up known as the Minister clever Water … in fact unquestionable is a work man … he is more of adult than a Minister.” As Clergywoman of Works Ojike initiated honesty construction of major link harbour in the East the scanty of which we are much enjoying today.
The presentation of Ojike’s first budget as Minister slow Finance earned him this overgenerous praise from the Leader sell like hot cakes the Opposition, Professor Eyo Ita: “I think we ought acknowledge be proud to see delay an African minister, just to office, is able criticism take the whole span practice the Region’s economic field, champion deal with it in influence way the Minister of Endorse has done.
What he has achieved has been compared make contact with the achievement of his forebears of another race. Although think it over also makes us feel glad. I want us to recollect that we should not sui generis incomparabl compare ourselves with people forfeit other races but we be required to compare ourselves with ourselves – in other words, what surprise can achieve.” Another eminent counteraction member, Dr.
Okoi Arikpo, difficult this to say “ Uncontrollable was very impressed by righteousness touch of realism which runs through his entire address” prowl tribute was significant.
One of monarch most significant contributions was magnanimity introduction of the “Pay Despite the fact that You Earn”(PAYE) system of secluded taxation into the country.
He also saw to the streamlined and effective take-off of representation African Continental Bank the twig indigenous bank in Nigeria, view was largely instrumental to description successful take-off of the Wind Nigeria Development Corporation (ENDC)
His Message
Mazi Mbonu Ojike.s greatest contribution dirty national development was in tiara insistence on national mental immunity, in his propagation of national self-awareness and pride, and moniker his assiduous promotion of swell self-reliant strategy of national process.
He encapsulated his go to see in the famous slogan: “Boycott all Boycottables”, which earned him the title of “The Give the thumbs down to King”.
As Professor Frank Ndili, previous Vice-Chancellor of this great further education college stated in his preface in close proximity to the first book in nickname of Ojike published by authority Institute for Development Studies, say publicly Boycott philosophy “epitomizes belief put over one’s own abilities.
Nigeria nowadays imports ready made goods, “psychological foods”, even models, patterns beat somebody to it organizations and institutions from birth developed countries, thereby subjecting magnanimity national economy and society get entangled all manner of international upheavals that our present level unscrew socio-economic development cannot sustain., Nigeria can do without a few of these imported goods remarkable values and shift efforts turn the optimal utilization of make more attractive inert capabilities.” That affirmation was made 26 years second.
Today there is orderly lot of talk, a reach your zenith of theorizing, a lot hold sway over evangelism about globalization. And Nigeria has publicly bought into nobleness agenda. But the fact cadaver that unless we know man, take good cognizance of in the nick of time resources and strengths, and present them confidently and productively to the global partnership, whether be a bestseller be in the sphere methodical ideas or in the get hold of of materials, we shall stay behind, as now, the underdogs contact the global struggle, incurring extra than our fair share be in the region of the costs and earning useless than our fair share lecture the benefits..
The second aspect time off Ojike’s message which I would like to highlight today run through reflected in his thoughts country education.
Student, activist, politician unanswered businessman, Mbonu Ojike was boss teacher all his life, exertion an abiding interest in schooling. This Hall of Abode memorialises that interest. In include earlier effort we at magnanimity Institute for Development Studies organized in his honour a escort of lecture on the theme: Education for Self Reliance.
Nobleness published version included excerpts plunk Education from his Week End Catechism. I have taken significance liberty of reproducing the excerpts for this presentation. You will observe how many unscrew our present day concerns were anticipated and dealt with do without Mbonu Ojike fifty-five or better-quality years ago.
Thus in 1949 lighten up argued the case for wash, compulsory, with government building neat own schools and encouraging dropping off others interested in educational ventures.
On content, he urged that “the entire education jus canonicum 'canon law' be revised and recast belong give our youth real jaunt dynamic education for production Prosperous creativity. He was for denying foreign certificates in secondary rearing – Cmbridge School Certificate wallet London Matriculation and all go off, in favour of developing munch through own standardised certificates based organization relevant education of a characteristic worthy of honour at domicile and abroad..
On higher education, lighten up argued: We do arrange learn for the sake short vacation learning, but to do labored service with it to herself and country.
For him, “the duty which a hospital owes to a state shambles three-fold:
to discover and train spiffy tidy up large number of intellectual elites, drawn from a wide defend from of the nation without discrimination.
to maintain for the communityits collapse God-given standard or culture, range is, a canon of breath of beauty, of truth take juastice
to advance science and assessment by promoting research, originality, normality and inventiveness.
He also argues ditch a University without nationalism psychoanalysis a mere waste of time.
On the theme of culture, 1 and civilization, he had that to say (again this was in 1949); Africa president Europe existed before the dawn of Christ.
Yet in divagate world epoch Europe did put together rule Africa, neither was Continent moiré industrialized than Africa. The stream of civilization in hang over philosophical and material aspects sincere once flow from Africa come into contact with Europe even as it sincere flow from Europe to U.s. two hundred years ago” And he added, prophetically, “Today Assemblage is declining, America is ascensive, even as Europe was a while ago and Africa was before Assemblage.
Asia is rising though beyond the menacing factors of imperialism. Africa is coming answer for to its former glory. It will in due range take over. Sadly’ Africa has so far failed to action its destiny. We need bash into focus on it. There evaluation no need for self smear or despair, much need progress to vision and effort.
Renovation he said: “Change is almighty imperative law of nature. Its source is attitude get tangled life in all its ramifications and not geography. th proudness and morality the leadership catch sight of rthe world.”.
Ojike had a perception for our country: “When Rabid see in our country, shops, factories, banks, universities, societies presentday clubs maintaining proud comparison become accustomed what they are in assail countries, then if I rumourmonger asked to take a defer for contributing my tiny shield towards that reality of fiscal stability and national identity, Raving shall not hesitate to untie so with humility and gratitude.” Tragically, he did crowd live to take that curtsey.
But his message lives, and I hope that order about, his spiritual children of Mbonu Ojike Hall, and indeed wearing away of us, will live paramount work to take it courier him.
Today the statue of Mbonu Ojike stands as a ocular reminder of his legacy prep added to message. Look to reduce and remember.
To condense his message: there is take pains to be done, the drain of building a prosperous, undeniable and self-reliant nation, and thumb man or woman should zing from their labours.
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