6 most respected elder statesmen in Nigeria
Nigeria News today & Breaking news | henry jex blog
Nigeria has been blessed with leading statesmen that have set the tune for the country’s unity and progress. These are men that set aside ethnic affinity or partisan politics to fight for the common good of the country within and outside the shore of Nigeria.
Though, there are a lot of great and exemplary statesmen that the country has been blessed with, but the focus of this discourse will be limited six of the most respected statesmen from each of the geo-political zone that make up Nigeria.
Here is the list of the statesmen, Professor Wole Soyinka – southwest; Edwin Clark – southsouth; Emeka Anyaoku – south east; Yakubu Gowon – northcentral ; Maitama Sule – northwest and TY Danjuma northeast.
1. Wole Soyinka
Professor Wole Soyinka as one of Nigeria elder statesmen
The Nobel Laureate has continued to be a very strong voice for democracy and the accountability of leaders to the electorates. The Nigerian respected playwright and poet has continued to contribute his quota to the deepening of good government and democratic culture over many decades and he seems ever ready to continue to contribute to the growth of the Nigeria society.
Soyinka is loved in every part of the country and played a very active role in Nigeria’s fight for self-government.
The playwright through his work and speeches criticized successive military administration. In the heat of the late General Sani Abacha reign, he went on self-exile as his life was being threatened by the regime of Abacha and the dictator later on passed a death sentence on him in absentia.
He has over the years, positioned himself as one who is above board and have earned the respect of not only Nigerians, but also the international community.
2. Edwin Clark
Chief Edwin Clark
Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark is a very prominent Ijaw leader and former federal commissioner of information. He played pivotal role in calming the hostility during the restive period in Niger Delta.
If not for his and others intervention, the case of Niger Delta could be similar to what the country is currently experiencing with the dreaded Boko Haram sect that had ravaged the northeast zone of the country.
Clark role in the region’s peaceful agitation for resource control has placed him in a higher pedestal among his peers and earned him the respect of the people of the region and beyond.
He is seen by other statesmen as the voice and conscience of the Ijaw people. He was one of the leading voices in the call for true federalism where composite unit of the federation control its natural resources.
READ ALSO: Senator Murray-Bruce acquires made-in Nigeria cars (photos)
3. Emeka Anyaoku
Emeka Anyaokwu
Anyaoku became a global citizen when he was appointed the Commonwealth secretary general
July 1 1990 to March 31 2000, after his stint, he did not dabble into the murky waters of politics in Nigeria as some will do, instead he came back to play a fatherly role to all and sundry without prejudice to their political leanings.
He has also concentrated on policy advocacy, political mediation and democratic advancement not only in Nigeria, but across Africa and beyond.
4. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma
Theophilus Danjuma
Danjuma is no doubt a very controversial figure given his military background and his role in past events in Nigeria, but democracy offered him the opportunity to impact on his people. With the establishment of the intensely funded TY Danjuma Foundation, the retired general made inroads into local communities in the region offering help to the very poor and downtrodden people in the area and restored his battered image.
He has also been the political father of many young and upcoming politicians in the region, giving them advice and whipping them into line when they go astray. He is one of the respected statesmen from the northern part of the country that played key role in major decisions in the region.
READ ALSO: Senator Murray-Bruce acquires made-in Nigeria cars (photos)
5. Maitama Sule
Maitama Sule
Sule is one of the surviving founders of Nigeria, a vocal, eloquent and widely travelled Nigerian.
He is one who is known to speak his mind, no matter whose ox is gored and well respected across the region.
Maitama Sule has since positioned himself as one who is above board politically and whose interventions in complex political situations are only in the interest of Nigeria. He has been very critical of bad government over the years and will speak up against injustice.
He is one of the few detribalize Nigerians that walk and talk the unity of the entity called Nigeria.
6. Yakubu Gowon
Yakubu Gowon
General Gowon is one statesmen that don’t just speak up for the unity of Nigeria but work hard to make ensure that this country remain united.
It is safe to say his time as the leader of Nigeria, shaped his thoughts and actions today. After overseeing a civil war that almost divided the country, Gowon is one former president in Nigeria, who is highly respected by all and sundry.
He has remained apolitical, offered advice to younger leaders, added his voice to opposition against bad governance, called the government of the day to order and finally leads the powerful christain group called ‘Nigeria Prays’. This group has been going around the country praying for unity and progress. If there is one thing that had kept the country together, it will be the prayers of various religious groups in the country.
Nigeria News today & Breaking news | henry jex blog
Nigeria has been blessed with leading statesmen that have set the tune for the country’s unity and progress. These are men that set aside ethnic affinity or partisan politics to fight for the common good of the country within and outside the shore of Nigeria.
Though, there are a lot of great and exemplary statesmen that the country has been blessed with, but the focus of this discourse will be limited six of the most respected statesmen from each of the geo-political zone that make up Nigeria.
Here is the list of the statesmen, Professor Wole Soyinka – southwest; Edwin Clark – southsouth; Emeka Anyaoku – south east; Yakubu Gowon – northcentral ; Maitama Sule – northwest and TY Danjuma northeast.
1. Wole Soyinka
Professor Wole Soyinka as one of Nigeria elder statesmen
The Nobel Laureate has continued to be a very strong voice for democracy and the accountability of leaders to the electorates. The Nigerian respected playwright and poet has continued to contribute his quota to the deepening of good government and democratic culture over many decades and he seems ever ready to continue to contribute to the growth of the Nigeria society.
Soyinka is loved in every part of the country and played a very active role in Nigeria’s fight for self-government.
The playwright through his work and speeches criticized successive military administration. In the heat of the late General Sani Abacha reign, he went on self-exile as his life was being threatened by the regime of Abacha and the dictator later on passed a death sentence on him in absentia.
He has over the years, positioned himself as one who is above board and have earned the respect of not only Nigerians, but also the international community.
2. Edwin Clark
Chief Edwin Clark
Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark is a very prominent Ijaw leader and former federal commissioner of information. He played pivotal role in calming the hostility during the restive period in Niger Delta.
If not for his and others intervention, the case of Niger Delta could be similar to what the country is currently experiencing with the dreaded Boko Haram sect that had ravaged the northeast zone of the country.
Clark role in the region’s peaceful agitation for resource control has placed him in a higher pedestal among his peers and earned him the respect of the people of the region and beyond.
He is seen by other statesmen as the voice and conscience of the Ijaw people. He was one of the leading voices in the call for true federalism where composite unit of the federation control its natural resources.
READ ALSO: Senator Murray-Bruce acquires made-in Nigeria cars (photos)
3. Emeka Anyaoku
Emeka Anyaokwu
Anyaoku became a global citizen when he was appointed the Commonwealth secretary general
July 1 1990 to March 31 2000, after his stint, he did not dabble into the murky waters of politics in Nigeria as some will do, instead he came back to play a fatherly role to all and sundry without prejudice to their political leanings.
He has also concentrated on policy advocacy, political mediation and democratic advancement not only in Nigeria, but across Africa and beyond.
4. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma
Theophilus Danjuma
Danjuma is no doubt a very controversial figure given his military background and his role in past events in Nigeria, but democracy offered him the opportunity to impact on his people. With the establishment of the intensely funded TY Danjuma Foundation, the retired general made inroads into local communities in the region offering help to the very poor and downtrodden people in the area and restored his battered image.
He has also been the political father of many young and upcoming politicians in the region, giving them advice and whipping them into line when they go astray. He is one of the respected statesmen from the northern part of the country that played key role in major decisions in the region.
READ ALSO: Senator Murray-Bruce acquires made-in Nigeria cars (photos)
5. Maitama Sule
Maitama Sule
Sule is one of the surviving founders of Nigeria, a vocal, eloquent and widely travelled Nigerian.
He is one who is known to speak his mind, no matter whose ox is gored and well respected across the region.
Maitama Sule has since positioned himself as one who is above board politically and whose interventions in complex political situations are only in the interest of Nigeria. He has been very critical of bad government over the years and will speak up against injustice.
He is one of the few detribalize Nigerians that walk and talk the unity of the entity called Nigeria.
6. Yakubu Gowon
Yakubu Gowon
General Gowon is one statesmen that don’t just speak up for the unity of Nigeria but work hard to make ensure that this country remain united.
It is safe to say his time as the leader of Nigeria, shaped his thoughts and actions today. After overseeing a civil war that almost divided the country, Gowon is one former president in Nigeria, who is highly respected by all and sundry.
He has remained apolitical, offered advice to younger leaders, added his voice to opposition against bad governance, called the government of the day to order and finally leads the powerful christain group called ‘Nigeria Prays’. This group has been going around the country praying for unity and progress. If there is one thing that had kept the country together, it will be the prayers of various religious groups in the country.
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