West African Pilot
Encyclopedia
The West African Pilot was a newspaper launched in Nigeria
by Nnamdi Azikiwe
("Zik") in 1937, dedicated to fighting
for independence from British colonial rule.
The paper's lively mix of radical politics and gossip, plus a woman's page, was highly popular.
The newspaper played a key role in the spread of racial consciousness and nationalistic ideas in the interior of Nigeria.
Its motto was "Show the light and the people will follow the way".
Azikiwe personally edited the West African Pilot from 1937 to 1947.
The West African Pilot evolved into a chain of newspapers with different names in different cities, owned by "Zik's Press Limited".
Titles included the Eastern Nigerian Guardian launched in 1940 in Port Harcourt, the Nigerian Spokesman in Onitsha (1943) and the Southern Defender in Warri.
In 1945, Zik's group bought Mohammed Ali's Comet, four years later converting it into a daily newspaper and then transferring it to Kano, where it was the first daily in the north.
The Northern Advocate was also launched in 1949, in Jos.
On 8 July 1945 the government banned the West African Pilot and the Daily Comet for misrepresenting facts about the general strike. This did not silence Azikiwe, who continued to print articles and editiorials on the strike in his Port Harcourt Guardian.
Another issue is that while the newspaper made much of the achievements of Ibo people, it was largely silent or negative on prominent Yorubas
.
By mid-1948 tensions between Ibos and Yorubas were high, with an intemperate war of words being fought between the West African Pilot and the Daily Service. The Pilot said: "Henceforth, the cry must be one of battle against Egbe Omo Oduduwa
, its leaders at home and abroad, up hill and down dale in the streets of Nigeria and in the residences of its advocates... It is the enemy of Nigeria; it must be crushed to the earth... There is no going back, until the Frascist Organization of Sir Adeyemo
has been dismembered".
In the 1940s Anthony Enahoro
was an associate editor of the paper.
Abdul Karim Disu
became an associate editor in 1955.
was Prime Minister.
By the 1960s, although the paper was circulated throughout the country it was particularly strong in the east.
In 1963 the major political parties proposed a "Preventative Detention Act", which would have allowed indefinite detention without trial. The West African Pilot led the outcry against this suggestion, which was dropped. However, the next year the Newspaper Amendment Act was passed, allowing punishment for reporting events that the authorities considered false.
When Nigeria became a republic in 1963, Azikiwe was the first President.
Azikiwe was removed from power in the military coup of 15 January 1966.
During the Nigerian Civil War
(1967–1970), Azikiwe was spokesman for the secessionist state of Biafra.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
by Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
("Zik") in 1937, dedicated to fighting
for independence from British colonial rule.
Foundation and growth
When the paper was launched it immediately stole circulation from established papers such as the Nigerian Daily Times.The paper's lively mix of radical politics and gossip, plus a woman's page, was highly popular.
The newspaper played a key role in the spread of racial consciousness and nationalistic ideas in the interior of Nigeria.
Its motto was "Show the light and the people will follow the way".
Azikiwe personally edited the West African Pilot from 1937 to 1947.
The West African Pilot evolved into a chain of newspapers with different names in different cities, owned by "Zik's Press Limited".
Titles included the Eastern Nigerian Guardian launched in 1940 in Port Harcourt, the Nigerian Spokesman in Onitsha (1943) and the Southern Defender in Warri.
In 1945, Zik's group bought Mohammed Ali's Comet, four years later converting it into a daily newspaper and then transferring it to Kano, where it was the first daily in the north.
The Northern Advocate was also launched in 1949, in Jos.
On 8 July 1945 the government banned the West African Pilot and the Daily Comet for misrepresenting facts about the general strike. This did not silence Azikiwe, who continued to print articles and editiorials on the strike in his Port Harcourt Guardian.
Ethnic tensions
Azikiwe was criticized for using his newspaper to suppress opposition to his views, since anyone who spoke out risked being labelled an "Uncle Tom" or "imperialist stooge", and having his reputation destroyed.Another issue is that while the newspaper made much of the achievements of Ibo people, it was largely silent or negative on prominent Yorubas
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
.
By mid-1948 tensions between Ibos and Yorubas were high, with an intemperate war of words being fought between the West African Pilot and the Daily Service. The Pilot said: "Henceforth, the cry must be one of battle against Egbe Omo Oduduwa
Egbe Omo Oduduwa
Egbé Ọmọ Odùduwà, was a Nigerian political organization established in 1945, when Chief Obafemi Awolowo along with Dr. Oni Akerele, Chief Akintola Williams, Professor Saburi Biobaku, Chief Abiodun Akinrele, Chief Ayo Rosiji and others, met in London....
, its leaders at home and abroad, up hill and down dale in the streets of Nigeria and in the residences of its advocates... It is the enemy of Nigeria; it must be crushed to the earth... There is no going back, until the Frascist Organization of Sir Adeyemo
Adeyemo Alakija
Adeyemo Alakija, KBE was a Nigerian lawyer, politician and businessman. He was a newspaper entrepreneur who co-founded the Daily Times of Nigeria. He was also a member of the governor's executive council, the legislative council of Nigeria and was president of the Nigerian Youth Movement.He was...
has been dismembered".
In the 1940s Anthony Enahoro
Anthony Enahoro
Chief Anthony Enahoro, was Nigeria’s foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists. He was born the eldest of twelve children in Uromi in the present Edo State of Nigeria. His Esan parents were Anastasius Okotako Enahoro and Fidelia Inibokun née Ogbidi Okojie...
was an associate editor of the paper.
Abdul Karim Disu
Abdul Karim Disu
Abdul Karim Disu was a Nigerian journalist and the first Nigerian to earn a post-graduate degree in journalism when he attended Columbia University in 1944...
became an associate editor in 1955.
Post independence
On 16 November 1960, Azikiwe became the Governor General of the newly independent Nigeria, while Abubakar Tafawa BalewaAbubakar Tafawa Balewa
Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, KBE was a Nigerian politician, and the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria. Originally a trained teacher, he became a vocal leader for Northern interest as one of the few educated Nigerians of his time...
was Prime Minister.
By the 1960s, although the paper was circulated throughout the country it was particularly strong in the east.
In 1963 the major political parties proposed a "Preventative Detention Act", which would have allowed indefinite detention without trial. The West African Pilot led the outcry against this suggestion, which was dropped. However, the next year the Newspaper Amendment Act was passed, allowing punishment for reporting events that the authorities considered false.
When Nigeria became a republic in 1963, Azikiwe was the first President.
Azikiwe was removed from power in the military coup of 15 January 1966.
During the Nigerian Civil War
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
(1967–1970), Azikiwe was spokesman for the secessionist state of Biafra.