Minister of Aviation in the First Republic, Mbazulike Amaechi is dead. The nonagenarian who was also known as The Boy Is Good, born 16 June 1929, passed on in the early hours of November 1, 2022.
He was a vibrant trade unionist for many years and held full-time offices in the unions from 1949 to 1955. As a trade unionist, Amaechi demonstrated extreme boldness and spirit of sacrifice.
In 1959, Mbazulike Amechi was elected member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC, and was appointed Minister of Aviation and Transport in 1962. He remained a minister until the first military coup on January 15, 1966.
He was among the few Nigerian involved in the Zikist Movement. After the ban of the movement, he became the Secretary General of NCNC Youth, a youth wing of NCNC.
Until his death, Chief Amechi, who hailed from Amihe village in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was a Nationalist and the only surviving member of the Zikist Movement.
The statement released by his family reads: “With total deference to the will of the Almighty God, the Ume Amechi, Ezeana Ihinede families and the Umu Mmara kindred of Amihe Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State announce the peaceful transition of our illustrious son, father and grandfather, Chief Mbazulike Amechi (Dara Akunwafor), Nationalist and First Republic Minister of Aviation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who transitioned peacefully in the early hours of today November 1, 2022.
“We thank God for the fulfilled life that he lived, the lives that he touched and his service to God and Country. We respectfully ask that you keep us in your prayers”
Chief Amechi’ last major public outing was his leading the delegation of some Igbo leaders who visited President Buhari in Aso Rock to plead for the release of the detained IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.