Anambra declares November 16 public holiday for Azikiwe

Anambra State Government has declared November 16 public holiday to honour their first President of Nigeria, late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Governor Willie Obiano said it will be right for President Muhammadu Buhari to do the same.

The late Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, was born in Zungeru, Niger State, on November 16, 1904.

In a statement Monday in Awka, Obiano said it would be a work-free day to honour the man referred to as Zik of Africa

The statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C Don Adinuba, reads: “Tuesday, November 16, 2021, has been declared a work-free day in Anambra in honour of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first president who was born on November 16, 1904.
“This is the third consecutive year Anambra State is observing the birthday anniversary of the man who led Nigeria to independence on October 1, 1960, and is popularly known as The Great Zik of Africa because of his extraordinary Pan-African vision and commitment.
Obiano reiterated his call on the Federal Government to declare November 16 a national holiday in memory of The Great Zik of Africa.

He argued that the Ghanaians observe the birthday of Dr Nkrumah as a national holiday like Tanzanians observe President Julius Nyerere’s birthday as a national holiday.

“It is a huge national embarrassment that Nigeria has yet to declare November 16 a national holiday,” Obiano said.