Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said the country has derailed from the vision of its founding fathers.
The Sultan stated this yesterday, at the 4th Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Award Lecture (DNAAAL), which was held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The event, with the theme: “Promoting Unity in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in Nigeria”, was held to mark the 119th posthumous birthday of Dr Azikiwe. In attendance among other dignitaries at the event was his wife, Prof. (Emeritus) Uche Azikiwe, who was the mother of the day.
Represented by the Emir of Wase, Alh. Mohammed Sambo Haruna, the Sultan said the younger generation still has much to learn and urged that there should be a conscious effort to set the country back on the path that the founding fathers intended.
He expressed confidence in the capacity of the country to achieve the dreams of Nigerians.
Director-General of the Lecture, Hon. Chineme Onyeke, said the occasion was to celebrate Dr. Azikiwe and his philosophy of one, united Nigeria.
He said the award was an occasion to honour patriotic Nigerians and non-Nigerians, living and dead, who have in one way or another helped the Nigerian nation in the area of independent attainment, development of our democracy, good governance, economic investment, human capital development, youths and women empowerment among others.
He used the opportunity to call on the Federal Government to take over the management of Onuiyi Haven, the Nsukka residence of Dr. Azikiwe, where he lived till his death, describing the state of the residence as a national embarrassment.
He also appealed for assistance to move around primary and secondary schools in the six geo-political zones to preach, impact, and inculcate in the young ones the virtues of patriotism as lived by Zik and other founding fathers
Former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, who was the keynote speaker, described the Late Azikiwe as a foremost politician, knowledgeable gentleman, renowned intellectual, freedom fighter, realist, and pragmatist whose main goal was to fight for humanity and the dignity of the black man wherever he might find himself.
