By Innocent Samuel, News/Comments, September 10, 2022
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex social cultural group of the Ibo extraction has advised the Federal government to bluntly reject the call to name the University of Nigeria Nsukka after Queen Elizabeth, noting however, that such idea could be good if Aso Rock in Abuja or other parts of the North can be named, not Nsukka.
This came as a former presidential aspirant of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Adamu Garba propangates such idea of calling President Muhammadu Buhari led government to re-name UNN after Queen Elizabeth who died at 96 on Wednesday, as a way of immortalizing her. Ohanaeze Ndigbo therefore demanded an unreserved apology to be tender to Ndigbo for such unguided remark.
Meanwhile, Chidi Ibeh-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, wondered why such remark could come from Garba, stressing that, Nigeria needs more important things to deal with, and not what will bring ethic conflict and crisis: The press statement reads:
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has cautioned the Federal Government against renaming the foremost and most prestigious University, the University of Nigeria Nsukka after the late British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
“The University has bequeathed a legacy in south-eastern Nigeria and it’s worthwhile for the former APC presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba to know that the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State, was renamed after the late British monarch, and is known as Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Umuahia, yet Nigerians have yet to see the late Queen Elizabeth’s legacies in northern Nigeria. It’s appropriate for the North to have a fair share of the Queen’s legacy.
“If the Federal Government and the Presidency wish to immortalise late Queen Elizabeth II, it should look at the role of the Queen in granting Nigeria political freedom and independence on October 1, 1960. And the most appropriate place to show gratitude to Great Britain should be at Aso Rock”.
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