Mazi Samuel Goomsu Ikoku was a Nigerian trade unionist and politician.
17 Facts About SG Ikoku
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SG Ikoku later began a relationship with the Action Group that span majority of the First Republic.
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SG Ikoku sometimes spoke on national issues with a sense of candor, this style led to him being called a controversial figure by former Science and Technology Minister, Sam Momah.
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SG Ikoku graduated from Achimota College and later studied at University College, Southampton.
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SG Ikoku began writing articles in Azikiwe's West African Pilot criticizing the Legislative Council, in which his father was a nominated member, arguing against the council as an imposed government and aligning with Azikiwe's ideas about immediate independence.
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SG Ikoku returned to Nigeria in 1949 and joined the civil service, during this time, he took up advisory roles with trade unions in the country.
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SG Ikoku left government work in 1951, to dedicate his time to work for the Nigerian Federation of Labour which was seeking affiliation with the World Federation of Trade Unions.
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SG Ikoku joined a group of young socialist to form a short lived political organization, the United Working People's Party, independent of prominent individuals.
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SG Ikoku was a member of the Action Group's socialist faction.
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In Ghana, SG Ikoku organized a branch of the party and worked as a lecturer at Nkrumah's Ideological Institute and as an editor for the Spark magazine, published in Ghana.
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SG Ikoku was briefly detained after his return from Ghana but was later appointed commissioner for Economic Development and later Health in the East Central State.
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SG Ikoku broke ranks with former Action Group members and joined Aminu Kano's People's Redemption Party during the Second Republic.
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SG Ikoku was appointed Secretary-General of the party, which believed in the emancipation of the talakawa.
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SG Ikoku was Aminu Kano's running mate in 1979 presidential election which was won by Shehu Shagari.
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However, beginning during the twilight of the republic, SG Ikoku began to shift away from his socialist ideas.
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SG Ikoku left PRP and became an adviser to Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria.
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SG Ikoku spoke of elongating the role of the military in Nigeria's political affairs during the administration of Ibrahim Babangida and later served as deputy chairman of the Transition Implementation Committee during Sani Abacha's regime.