Nwafor Orizu
His Excellency The Right Honourable Nwafor Orizu | |
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| Acting President of Nigeria | |
| In office October/November 1965 – 15 January 1966 | |
| Preceded by | Nnamdi Azikiwe |
| Succeeded by | Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi |
| President of the Senate of Nigeria | |
| In office 1 October 1963 – 15 January 1966 | |
| Preceded by | Dennis Osadebay |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Wayas (1979) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Abyssinia Akweke Nwafor Orizu 17 July 1914 Nnewi, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Anambra State, Nigeria) |
| Died | 1999 (aged 84–85) Germany |
| Political party | National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons |
| Occupation | Politician |
Prince Akweke Abyssinia Nwafor Orizu (GCON)(
Background
Orizu was born in 1914 into the royal house of Nnewi, Anambra State, in southeast Nigeria, a son of Eze Ugbonyamba, Igwe Orizu I. Orizu went to the United States in 1939, earning a degree in government at Ohio State University and an M.A. degree at Columbia University.[3] He was an advocate of the "horizontal", broad system of American education, as opposed to the narrow "perpendicular" British system, and earned the nickname "Orizontal", a play on his name and a reference to his constant discussion of the theme. As discussed in his 1944 book, Without Bitterness, he was a passionate advocate of introducing the American system to Nigeria. He established The American Council on African Education (ACAE), which obtained numerous tuition scholarships from American sources for the benefit of African students.[4]
Around 1949, Orizu bought the Enitona High School and Enitona printing press from a supporter for only £500, which he borrowed. Another supporter sold him a luxury bus on an installment plan. He established a newspaper known as The West Africa Examiner and became the managing director, while M. C. K. Ajuluchukwu was the editor. Orizu went to Enugu to console the striking miners after the shooting of 21 miners on 18 November 1949. Possibly in reaction to a fiery speech that he made there, the British colonial authorities sentenced him to seven years in jail for allegedly misappropriating the funds of the ACAE. But later Roy Wilkins, chairman of ACAE in the US, wrote a letter to Nnamdi Azikiwe ("Zik") exonerating Dr Nwafor Orizu of any financial impropriety.[5]
British Political Incarceration
However, Orizu faced legal troubles when accusations of fraud surfaced, involving £32,000.[6]In September 1953, he was convicted by a Nigerian magistrate on seven counts of fraud and theft of funds intended for student scholarships at American universities.[7] He was later subsequently sentenced to seven years in prison.[6][8]
Political career
Orizu ran successfully for election as an independent candidate to represent Onitsha Division, and became the chief whip in the Eastern House of Assembly. Later he joined with other independent candidates to form the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC). He played a central role in helping Zik become premier of the Eastern Region, using his influence in the NCNC to persuade Professor Eyo Ita to resign as premier of the Region. Zik appointed Orizu the minister of local Government.[5]
Military coup
The President of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe left the country in late 1965 first for Europe, then on a cruise to the Caribbean. Under the law, Orizu became Acting President during his absence and had all the powers of the President.[9]
Later career
After the coup, Orizu faded from the political scene but remained active in education. Prior to the civil war, he had set up a high school in 1950, the Nigerian Secondary School, in Nnewi. He remained its proprietor until the state government took over all the schools after the defeat of Biafra. After that he continued as a teacher and an educator, publishing several books.[4] Also, between 1974 and 1975, the government of the defunct East Central State, led by Dr. Ukpabi Asika, appointed him the Chairman of the State's Teachers' Service Commission in Enugu.
Bibliography
- Without Bitterness: Western Nations in Post-war Africa. Creative Age Press. 1944.
- Insight into Nigeria: The Shehu Shagari Era. Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers). 1983. ISBN 978-167-384-2.
- Man's Unconquerable Mind: Volume 1 of Orizu Poems. Jos University Press. 1986. ISBN 978-166-043-0.
- Africa Speaks!. Horizontal Publishers. 1990. ISBN 978-2791-03-2.
- Liberty or Chains--Africa Must Be: An Authobiography [sic.] of Akweke Abyssinia Nwafor Orizu. Horizontal Publishers. 1994. ISBN 978-2094-00-5.
- The Voice of Freedom: Selected pre and post independence speeches and addresses for African independence, 1940–1984. Horizontal Publishers. 1999. ISBN 978-2952-83-4.
References
- ^ "Nwafor Orizu was President of Nigeria". Vanguard News. 27 December 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "About Nocen", Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra State.
- ^ "Education: Prince with a Purpose". Time Magazine. 1 January 1945. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ a b CHIKE MOMAH. "The Life and Times of Prince Nwafor Orizu". USAfrica The Newspaper. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ a b "DR PRINCE AKWEKE ABYSSINIA NWAFOR ORIZU". Anambra State. Retrieved 28 February 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Adedayo, Festus (3 July 2022). "Nigerian politicians and pestilence of forged, missing certificates".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ISBN 9780190494315.
- ^ Nwosu, Philip (9 May 2016). "Origins of '419' traced back to 1920s Colonial Nigeria". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "1966 Coup: The Road To Hell | Independent Newspaper Nigeria". 27 October 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ Abubakar Ibrahim (29 July 2008). "The Forgotten Interim President". Daily Trust. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
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