Rising prevented

"Were it not for the timely intervention of MRA," he says, "there would be Mau Mau in Nigeria today." Zik knows, because seven years ago 23,000 secretly armed men awaited his word to rise and end forever the rule of the white man in Nigeria. But the word never came. Instead of going to Moscow as he had planned, Zik wont to Caux. In the unity being lived there by hundreds of people from many lands and varied races and classes, Zik saw a pattern for a free and united Nigeria.

He cancelled his journey to Moscow. He returned to Nigeria. He made peace with his political opponents and began to forge a force of men and women who would put the unity and welfare of their country before their own self-interest.

The President of the Nigerian students was one of many who rose to stand with Zik. Three years ago, during demonstrations opposing the Queen's Coronation, John Amata had torn down the flag. But this February, Amata took a leading role in the MRA all-African play "Freedom" which opened in Lagos during the Queen's visit, after a triumphant tour of the capitals of Europe.

The radical change in men like Azikiwe and Amata was what the "Eastern Sentinel" had in mind when it stated in an editorial during the Royal visit, "Many of our leaders from all parts of Nigeria, owe much to Caux, for the influence of MRA since 1949 has been greater than anyone can assess.