When you look at the mouth of an elder, you will wonder if it ever suckled. Such can be said of the First Republic aviation minister, Chief Mbazuliki Amaechi, who passed on on November 1, at the age of 93. Chief Amaechi died as an elder statesman, and in his later years, he was a proponent of a peaceful resolution of the challenges of nationhood. While not betraying his Igbo consciousness, he advised against the radicalism of such groups as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

But we recall that as a young man, Chief Amaechi was a trade unionist and belonged to the Zikist Movement, which was a radical stump of the campaigners for Nigeria’s independence. He joined the Zikist Movement as a secondary school student. Passionate about Nigeria’s independence, each member of the movement swore an oath never to get married until Nigeria gained her independence from Britain. They also swore not to plead for leniency or show any sign of regret should they be arrested and charged for demanding independence for their fatherland.

Founded as a radical political group in February 1946 by young enthusiastic Nigerian nationalists, it had as founding members Nduka Eze, Kola Balogun, Abiodun Aloba, G. Onyeagbula, M.C.K. Ajuluchukwu, M. Aina, G. Ebo, J. Inoma, and S. Aderibigbe. There were other members like Ogedengbe Macaulay (son of Sir Herbert Macaulay), Raji Abdallah, Ikenna Nzimiro (later Prof. Nzimiro), Magaret Ekpo, Zana Bukar Dipcharima, Fred Anyiam, and Osita Agwuna. Such was the gush of patriotism that Nigerians from diverse ethnic backgrounds were members of the movement.

When you look at the mouth of an elder, you will wonder if it ever suckled. Such can be said of the First Republic aviation minister, Chief Mbazuliki Amaechi, who passed on on November 1, at the age of 93. Chief Amaechi died as an elder statesman, and in his later years, he was a proponent of a peaceful resolution of the challenges of nationhood. While not betraying his Igbo consciousness, he advised against the radicalism of such groups as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

But we recall that as a young man, Chief Amaechi was a trade unionist and belonged to the Zikist Movement, which was a radical stump of the campaigners for Nigeria’s independence. He joined the Zikist Movement as a secondary school student. Passionate about Nigeria’s independence, each member of the movement swore an oath never to get married until Nigeria gained her independence from Britain. They also swore not to plead for leniency or show any sign of regret should they be arrested and charged for demanding independence for their fatherland.

Founded as a radical political group in February 1946 by young enthusiastic Nigerian nationalists, it had as founding members Nduka Eze, Kola Balogun, Abiodun Aloba, G. Onyeagbula, M.C.K. Ajuluchukwu, M. Aina, G. Ebo, J. Inoma, and S. Aderibigbe. There were other members like Ogedengbe Macaulay (son of Sir Herbert Macaulay), Raji Abdallah, Ikenna Nzimiro (later Prof. Nzimiro), Magaret Ekpo, Zana Bukar Dipcharima, Fred Anyiam, and Osita Agwuna. Such was the gush of patriotism that Nigerians from diverse ethnic backgrounds were members of the movement.

As a trade unionist Chief Amaechi organised a trade protest when 18 workers of the Nigerian Coal Corporation were killed on November 18, 1949 while they were participating in a strike for just pay, in Enugu. He was at that time the General Secretary of Armels Transport Union, Secretary of Benin Council of Labour and Assistant Secretary of Benin and Warri Districts of the Zikist Movement. He became a leading member of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC).

Chief Amaechi was elected member of the House of Representatives on the platform of NCNC in 1959. By 1962, he was appointed Minister of Aviation and Transport. He retained the position until the first military coup in Nigeria on January 15, 1966. Over the years, Chief Amaechi became a sage, and he never shied away from speaking truth to power on national issues. He would usually remind his interviewers that as a young man he was never afraid of suffering, when speaking up for the progress of Nigeria.

In his last outing, he went to plead with President Muhammadu Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB to him, promising that he would speak the language of peace to the young man, and ensure that he stopped the rhetoric of war and balkanisation of the country. Though well received by the President, his request was not acceded to until his death, earlier this week. While like many, he was frustrated by the lack of national progress and cohesion after 60 years of independence, he never resorted to tribalism as the answer to the problems.

Until his death, Chief Amaechi was the only surviving minister of the First Republic, and perhaps one of the few surviving members of the Zikist Movement. His death has robbed Nigeria of his wise counsel, and Nigerians from all walks of life are mourning his passage. He hailed from Umu Mmara kindred of Amihe Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government of Anambra State. We join other Nigerians to bid the distinguished octogenarian farewell. May his soul rest in peace.

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