Nigerian Finds His Obituaries Premature
The first president of Nigeria said Saturday that reports of his death were exaggerated.
Nnamdi Azikiwe, 84, a veteran journalist as well as a poet, scholar and politician, told reporters, “I feel ashamed to belong to a profession that could make that kind of blunder.”
The News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying that although he was still ill after an operation, that was no reason to announce his death.
Nigerian television, radio and newspapers were in disarray after mourning the death of the West African country’s elder statesman only to have his family say he was still alive.
State television solemnly announced Azikiwe’s death in its main evening news Friday. It followed its report with an elaborate obituary in praise of “Zik of Africa,” a towering figure of African nationalism.
Family and friends bombarded the media with denials, but too late to save Saturday’s newspapers from adding to the confusion.
“Africa loses a colossus. Zik of Africa is dead,” said the New Nigerian. The Vanguard settled for a baffling “Zik is not dead?”
They carried long life histories of Azikiwe, who will be 85 on Nov. 16.
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