11/11/2024
Jaja Anucha Wachuku was a Royal Prince of Ngwaland, a Pan-Africanist, statesman, lawyer, politician, diplomat and humanitarian.
He was the first Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives as well as Nigeria’s first Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and also Nigeria’s first Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Aviation.
He saved Nelson Mandela and other South African freedom fighters from the death penalty during apartheid in 1963/1964.
At a time when the United States government had already listed Nelson Mandela as a terrorist, Wachuku, who was “widely respected” as Foreign Affairs Minister of Nigeria intervened and helped save Nelson Mandela and others from the death penalty at the 1963–64 Rivonia Trial.
In his 1962 diary, from Lagos: Nigeria, Nelson Mandela wrote: “Friday 18 May 1962: 1pm: OR and I meet Mr. Jaja Wachuku and his staff and have a profitable discussion. Saturday 19 May 1962: We have lunch with Jaja Wachuku.”
Wachuku commanded much attention, respect and authority.
As Aviation minister, he initiated training programmes for Nigeria’s first crop of Flight and Ground Officers. The Aviation Training Centre, Zaria was established during his tenure.
His library was described as the biggest one man library in West Africa by regional and national media. Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa used to call Wachuku the most “Bookish Minister”.
He was also a Founding Member of the Movement for the creation of Imo State, and leader, until his death, of the Movement for the creation of Abia State.
He was the first to refer to Lagos as a “no-man’s land” in 1947, provoking a national controversy.
He had so many honors, most notably, the chieftaincy title, “Ugo Ngwa” (Eagle and Pride of Ngwa People).
Second Slide: He became very famous after he reacted to a racist comment by pretending to be sleeping during the UN meeting in 1960’s.
He died on the 7th of November 1996.
May he continue to rest
