Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe: Our Father Is Still Alive with His Libertarian Philosophy

Abstract

The title of this paper is a derivation from Azikiwe's Igbo forename, "Nnamdi”, which means "My father is alive.” The paper examines the socio-politico-economic philosophy of one of Nigeria's most sophisticated leaders, Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik), a worthy contemporary of Obafemi Awolowo, another worthy Nigerian philosopher.  It situates Azikiwe's philosophy within the spectrum of libertarianism. It also postulates that the values that Azikiwe espoused are still "alive” in contemporary Africa. Azikiwe's ideology is that of political transmogrification for Africa. Zikism, as Azikiwe's libertarian philosophy is tagged, is aimed at the total emancipation of Africans, beginning from their total freedom from colonial rule to absolute liberty from the exploitative tendencies of native rulers after independence. With regard to this latter intendment, Azikiwe's aim was to make the young Africans guide their hard-earned independence from colonial insubordination religiously by insisting on adherence to equity, justice and fair play in governance. It is submitted that Azikiwe's guiding principles are still intact as a template for African youths to work on as emerging African leaders.