Uche Azikiwe, widow of Nigeria’s first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe, has described her late husband as a selfless statesman whose decisions were guided by the pursuit of national unity.
Speaking on Tuesday during an interview on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme monitored by DAILY POST, she said her marriage to the late nationalist was destined and shaped by divine purpose.
She described Nnamdi Azikiwe—popularly known as Zik of Africa—as a leader who prioritised the collective interest of Nigerians above personal or regional considerations. According to her, he always listened attentively before making decisions and would readily sacrifice his own preferences to preserve peace.
“Zik was a selfless leader and a good listener. He loved to serve and always thought about Nigeria as a whole,” she said. “If he saw that what he wanted might create a problem for the people, he would choose the people’s interest so that there would be peace.”
Uche Azikiwe also recalled an instance from her student days, noting that her husband refused to intervene when she failed to gain admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, because of a Mathematics deficiency in her WAEC result. Instead, he insisted she wait another year—a decision she said reflected his commitment to fairness.
She added that his broader national outlook sometimes attracted criticism from people in the Southeast who believed he prioritised Nigeria over Igbo interests. However, she stressed that her late husband was driven by a vision that extended beyond ethnic lines.
“Because of his love for one Nigeria, some people from the Southeast would see him as someone thinking for Nigeria and not just the Igbo people, and that’s the last thing he would like to hear. He wanted the interest of Nigeria and Africa, not just that of the Igbos,” she said.