Who is the greatest Nigerian ever?

Once a Nigerian is told to mention who his or her greatest Nigerian is, the name that usually pops up is one of the three founding fathers: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, former Premier of Eastern Nigeria and first President of Nigeria; Sir Ahmadu Bello, former Premier of Northern Nigeria; and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former Premier of Western Nigeria. These three men were seen as the three pillars that held Nigeria together. They achieved a lot, especially for their regions, and have remained evergreen in the minds of many Nigerians. Because of the achievements they recorded in their regions, they are seen as demi-gods by their people, and almost worshipped. It is seen as sacrilegious to say any negative thing about them, no matter how true such a statement is.

However, some believe that their action and inaction contributed a lot in sowing the seed of ethnic and religious discord that has continued to work against the unity of Nigeria. This is because the regional type of politics in existence then led them to focus more on their respective regions to the detriment of other regions. The downside of that is that even though they are venerated in their respective regions, they are either hated passionately outside their regions or treated with indifference. That makes it impossible for me to accept any of them as the greatest Nigerian ever.

Another figure that comes to mind is Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who led the Republic of Biafra, which seceded from Nigeria in 1967. Among the Igbo, many rank Ojukwu higher than Azikiwe because he is seen as a man who stood for them against annihilation from Nigeria and restored their dignity, not withstanding that they lost that war. Anybody who says anything against him is seen as also making sacrilegious statements.

Then, there are the two literary icons: Prof Chinua Achebe and Prof. Wole Soyinka. Achebe is Nigeria’s and Africa’s highest-selling author. His novel, Things Fall Apart, changed the global perception of Africa as a land of savages and culture-less people. Soyinka is Africa’s first winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. He has brought international acclaim for Nigeria through his books. He has also fought against military dictatorship, mis-governance and corruption.  Both of them are top contenders for that position, but for me there is still a man that ranks above them.

Could it be MKO Abiola, Ibrahim Babangida, Olusegun Obasanjo or not listed in the right up?
Who would you vote the greatest Nigerian that ever lived with reasons please?