Renowned politician, Dr Ezekiel Izuogu, is dead. He died in the early hours of today in Abuja.
Izuogu, an engineer turned active progressive politician, was one of the prime movers of the social democratic party in the third republic
Dr Ezekiel Izuogu, an Electrical Engineer and lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, came into public limelight in 1997 when he designed and developed the Izuogu Z-600, the first African indigenous manufactured car which was described by the BBC as ‘the African dream machine.
The Social Democratic Party of Nigeria, commonly known as the SDP, was established as a center-left political organization. It was created by former President Ibrahim Babangida via a democracy project meant to form two detribalized political parties one slightly to the left and one to the right. During the Nigerian Third Republic it was seen as a moderate party attractive to young radical intellectuals and socialists. In its manifesto, it called for concerted efforts to improve welfare and fight for social justice.
After 13 prospective parties were banned by the administration of Ibrahim Babangida in 1989, some of the associations decided to re-align. The People’s Front of Nigeria, People’s Solidarity Party, and the Nigerian Labor Party emerged to form the core constituency of the new SDP. The leadership was mostly dominated by Northern Nigerians. Babagana Kingibe was elected party chairman in 1990 over his rival Mohammed Arzika.
Despite the dominance of Northern Nigerians, the party’s strength lay in the Yoruba people in the states of Imo and Anambra. The party won 57% of Senate seats and 53% of House of Representatives seats in the 1992 National Assembly election. The party was primarily financed by the Federal Government and a individuals such as Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Francis Nzeribe and M.K.O. Abiola.