Nnamdi Azikiwe’s Zikism

Over time, Zik abandoned these ideas and began instead to espouse free trade, self-reliance, constitutionalism and moral rearmament. Zik, it appears, might have realized that it would be better to agitate for freedom within the framework of the colonial system, rather than advocate for its tearing down. What led to his gradual change of ideological position from left to right? And what were the implications of this change on his political trajectory?

1945 was the year World War Two ended and the year of the watershed General Strike, the first of its proportions in Nigeria. The strike mainstreamed the adoption of ideological movements anchored on political freedom, social equality and economic security. It was around this time that Zik effectively built a name around socialism within a short time with the publication of his two books in 1943 and the founding of the NCNC (National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon) in 1944. Even when he abandoned the belief system, he had already created expectations in the minds and hearts of millions of followers who had come to see in him a potential radical socialist leader who could lead them in a confrontation with the colonial powers. Zik gradually shifted away from core Marxism as his socialist beliefs did not accommodate ideas of proletarian struggle and the inevitable march to communism. His followers were known as the Zikist Movement.

Formed within the NCNC, the Zikist Movement represented the party’s radical youth base Zik inspired. Its founding members included Kola Balogun (first president), C.K. Ajuluchukwu (first secretary-general), Raji Abdallah (second president), and K.O Mbadiwe (a prominent member). The movement was exasperated by what they considered the slow pace of Nigeria’s political advancement. Their ideological system was Zikism. Though a leftist ideology, Zikism was confined to the local colonial realities of Nigeria at the time and countering them. In this sense, Zikism was distinct from conventional leftist ideologies like socialism which saw the struggle for liberation from an international lens. Zikism was also militant, which is where Zik drew the line in his association with it...