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Tag: Nnamdi Azikiwe

  • Tinubu is a ‘destiny changer’, says group

    A Non-Governmental Organisation, Centre for Reform Education Initiative (CREI), has congratulated the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as he clocks 67 years.

    The former Lagos governor was born on March 29, 1952.

    Executive director of CREI, Hon. Chinwe Ugwu, who gave the congratulatory message in a statement described Tinubu as a “destiny changer”, who has impacted on the lives of not a few individuals and change the course of Nigeria’s democracy.

    “I want to heartily congratulate the national leader of the APC, the only Jagaban, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, a destiny changer; a philanthropist per excellence, a servant leader and father of the fatherless”

    Ugwu extolled the democratic credentials of Tinubu noting that he has “deepened democracy and contributed to the institution of good governance and development of countless individuals in the country.

    “We cannot forget in a hurry how you teamed up with other patriots in the aftermath of June 12 presidential annulments to ensure that the military was sent packing from the political scene. We salute your courage and resilience in restoring democratic governance in the nation in 1999”

    She revealed that Tinubu was the initiator and executor of the change agenda that ushered in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2015 adding that his resilience, popularity and political sagacity and ingenuity played an indelible role in the triumph of the APC in the just concluded general elections.

    “As a thorough bred democrat and astute political engineer, he laid a solid foundation for the development of Lagos into what it is today. He has being able to chart a progressive course for the south west, which is now extended to the national levels.

    “Today, Lagos is the reference point of accelerated development courtesy of the foundation laid by Asiwaju. It is axiomatic that Lagos is one of the few states that can survive on its own. Credit must go to this great Nigerian, who created the enabling environment and initiated policies that sustained Lagos.

    The executive director said: “we, at CREI wish to profoundly felicitate with the Jagaban, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu as he clocks 67 years. He is an asset to Nigeria and will remain an indefatigable factor in the nation’s political firmament “.

    She said the APC leader has in his 67 years on earth transformed into a legendary figure and attain the status of our foremost nationalists such as the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sir Ahmadu Bello.

    “There is no doubt that Asiwaju Tinubu has warmed himself into the hearts of majority of Nigerians and his name is now etched in the hall of fame of great nationalists and patriots of our land.”

    Ugwu said CREI acknowledged the leadership recruitment style of Tinubu, which is anchored on competence, hard work and credibility. “We must appreciate Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his recruitment policy on leadership, whose sole aim is to groom individuals into complete and purposeful leaders to deliver on good governance”

    She described Tinubu as “a man of peace, a man with a large heart, a detribalised Nigerian, a political colossus and an established defender of democracy”.

  • Last batch of 2018 Christian pilgrims returns

    THE Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev Tor Uja, has said that Nigeria is the only country in the world with well-structured, organized and coordinated pilgrimage programme.

    He disclosed this while receiving the last batch of pilgrims for the 2018 pilgrimage exercise at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Rev Uja said that the 2018 pilgrimage was well organized, well managed. He said that every programme for the pilgrimage by the commission was properly put in place. According to him, “We did not record any mortality, we did not record any casualty and the Commission has been able to beat down abscondment to its barest”. He added: “Last year’s pilgrimage is the best”.

    The NCPC boss further said that over the years, NCPC has used pilgrimage as a tool for the nation’s spiritual uplift and international diplomacy.

    He said last year’s pilgrimage focused on prayer for the nation.  In his words, “The pilgrims  represented Nigeria and interfacing with international people”.

    Rev Uja said that Christian pilgrimage to Israel has opened up dimensions that Nigeria needs to benefit from international activities in Israel and around the world. According to him, “let the benefits and experience that you have seen in Israel benefit yourself, your family and the nation at large”.

    The number one  pilgrim officer of Nigeria said that God has blessed the State of Israel despite the fact that they are surrounded by a lot of enemies. In his words, “God is at the heart of progress and development. If God can bless Israel, He can bless Nigeria despite our challenges”.

    The NCPC helmsman affirmed that God has made every pilgrim a leader and as such urges the pilgrims to live an exemplary lifestyle that would reflect that they have gone on pilgrimage. According to him, “Proof to the world that your experience on pilgrimage has lifted you from glory to glory”.

    Rev. Uja advised  the pilgrims to individually and collectively invest in Nigeria, urging them to impact the world and replicate the things they have learnt from Israel in Nigeria and make Nigeria a better place.

  • How I nearly lost my baby to a suspected child trafficker — Nursing mother

    The joy of a 22-year-old Happiness Mmadu, knew no bounds when she was delivered of a set of twins at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State on January 25, 2019 . However, but for the quick intervention of nurses at the hospital, she would have lost one of the babies to a suspected child trafficker.

    It was said that Happiness had no one around her in the hospital to assist her in taking care of the twin babies.

    According to Happiness, the suspected child trafficker, Dorothy Sunday, a 35-year-old woman, had approached her in the hospital and offered to assist her with some chores since she had nobody around to assist her.

    “Dorothy was at the ward looking after my babies, while I was outside washing my clothes. I was still washing when I was told that Dorothy had put one of the babies in her handbag and was moving out.

    “I didn’t know she had such an ulterior motive when she approached me. If I had known, I wouldn’t have taken that risk,” she lamented.

    The Nation learnt that the suspected child trafficker, a native of Izzi in Ebonyi State, reportedly gained entrance into the hospital’s maternity ward around 5pm that fateful day, while the mother of the baby was away.

    One of the medical personnel in the hospital, who preferred anonymity, told our correspondent, that Dorothy came to the maternity ward penultimate Wednesday, claiming that the 22-year-old woman was her younger sister.

    He said luck, however, ran out on her when a nurse moved into the ward to dress the bed where the twins were lying, only to discover that one of the babies was no longer there.

    He stated: “The nurse raised the alarm and other nurses at the ward went after Dorothy, who was already approaching the exit gate of the hospital.

    “The nurses searched her handbag and discovered that Dorothy hid the baby inside the bag. The baby was taken from her and an angry crowd pounced on her, beat her up and stripped her.

    “She (Dorothy) was about being set on fire when policemen from the Central Police Station, Nnewi, arrived at the scene and took her away.”

    The medical personnel further revealed that the mother was invited by the police for further interrogations.

    “The police also arrested Happiness, the mother of the twins, who said she hails from the Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State,” he said.

    But speaking with our correspondent, Dorothy denied the allegation, claiming that Happiness had asked her to come and take the male baby so she can raise money to pay the N200,000 hospital bill.

    She said: “My name is Dorothy Sunday from Izzi in Ebonyi State. I am a trader at the Relief Market, Onitsha. Happiness called me and told me that she had been delivered of twins through caesarean section.

    “She (Happiness) was billed over N200,000. She told me that she wanted to sell one of the babies to raise money for the hospital bill and also to take care of herself.

    “She said her parents were not aware that she was pregnant in the first place. She also said that she had no one to help her.”

    A nurse in the hospital said Happiness was delivered of the babies on January 25, and was discharged on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.

    The nurse explained that Happiness remained in the hospital till Wednesday when the incident occurred.

    Meanwhile, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Anthony Igwuegbe, reportedly requested the police to release the nursing mother so she could take care of her twin babies, who were at the custody of the nurses.

    He, however, insisted the principal suspect, Dorothy, remained with the police pending the outcome of their investigation.

    Igwuegbe, who visited the suspects at the police station, however, doubted the claims that the mother of the twins actually conspired with the suspect to sell the babies.

    He said: “Police investigators are yet to establish whether the mother of the twins actually conspired with the suspect to sell the babies or not.

    “The mother of the twins couldn’t have been so keen to raise money for hospital bill when she was not yet ready for discharge from the hospital as was rumoured.”

    Igwuegbe said the hospital’s management had increased the number of security officers in the hospital who would be stationed in all the wards.

    He added that the hospital was holding security meetings to devise more ways of improving the security of the hospital.

    Police spokesman, Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, said the baby was recovered in good condition.

    Mohammed said: “At about 5.50 pm, police detectives attached to the Central Police Station, Nnewi, arrested one Dorothy Sunday, 35 years, from Izzi in Ebonyi State.

    “The suspect sneaked into the Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, and stole a five-day-old twin baby boy at the maternity ward of the hospital when the mother of the baby, one Happiness Mmadu, 22 years, from Uruagu, Nnewi, went to the hospital’s compound to wash her clothes.”

    Mohammed said the suspect would be charged to court after investigation.

    The PPRO also dismissed the claim that the mother of the twins was involved in the baby theft, assuring that it would leave no stone unturned in establishing the facts behind the crime.

    Reacting to the development, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation ( HURIJE), Dede Uzor Uzor, described the incident as unfortunate and regrettable.

  • Zik matters

    Two governments in the Nigerian federation recently took different but related steps to immortalize Nigeria’s founding president, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. The Anambra State government announced that November 16, Dr Azikiwe’s birthday, would henceforth be a work-free day in the state, asking the national government to make it a national holiday. The Federal Government, on the other hand, commissioned on Friday, January 25, 2019, the Zik Mausoleum which was started 23 years ago by the Sani Abacha military regime.

    Since the two events honouring Nigeria’s foremost nationalist, better known by his sobriquet of The Great Zik of Africa, some Nigerians, especially the younger generation, have been trying to find out Zik’s place under the Nigerian—nay, African— firmament.  This reaction is not quite surprising given that until now history as a subject was excluded from the high school curriculum.

    It is usual for people to attempt to explain Zik’s place in our history by referring to the positions he occupied in his days. He was Nigeria’s first indigenous governor general, Nigeria’s first Senate President and the first President of the Republic. He is, of course, the only Nigerian to have his name in the country’s Constitution. The 1963 Constitution, which made Nigeria a republic, stated that Nigeria’s president “shall be Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe”.

    But, as well known to perceptive persons, Zik’s place in Nigeria’s cosmology goes far beyond the positions he held. He gave nationalism and the independence struggle a new meaning. Zik saw himself as first and foremost a pan Africanist. Born of Igbo parentage in Zungeru, in today’s Niger State, he grew up in Calabar and Lagos, studied in the United States, settled in Ghana on his return from overseas and wrote a book entitled “Liberia in World Politics”. He spoke the three main Nigerian languages fluently, and so it is no mystery he gave all his children born in Lagos Yoruba names.

    Until Azikiwe’s return to Nigeria, the campaign for liberation was not really nationwide and wasn’t pursued with vigour. Zik formed the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroun (NCNC) and made it a national movement, the first in Nigeria’s history. The result was that Nigeria’s independence came earlier than the colonial masters had envisaged.

    Zik changed the face of Nigerian journalism even more than he altered the nationalist struggle. He established newspapers in Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Zaria, Port Harcourt and Onitsha. The papers became a very important vehicle for social mobilization. His “Inside Stuff” column in West African Pilot was a compulsory read, laced with ideas and phrases from anthropology, sociology, religion, political science, history, international relations, poetry, etc. He was a Renaissance man, with degrees in different areas. Many people wanted to be like him. Chief Obafemi Awolowo had to travel to London to study law as an adult in order to acquire knowledge and oratorical skills comparable to Zik’s. Chief Awolowo even established Tribune newspaper on Zik’s birthday as a tribute to Zik. The sage himself said so himself in 1980 in private letters to Dr Azikiwe.

    Zik’s Igbo people perhaps benefitted more from Zik. To solve the problem of a lack of university graduates in Igboland in comparison to the Yoruba, he took nine bright and ambitious young Igbo boys to the United States to study. They included Dr K. O. Mbadiwe, Dr Okwunodu Okongwu, Dr Abyssinia Nwafor Orizu, Mazi Mbonu Ojike, Professor Chukwuemeka, Prof JBC Okala and Dr Okechuchukwu Ikejiani. They were known as the Argonauts. On return to Nigeria, the Argonauts joined in the struggle for independence, and made a huge impact.

    The Argonauts, in addition, sent their relatives to the United States for tertiary education when the fashion then was to study in the United Kingdom, which was colonizing us. This became the basis of Igbo prominence in the Nigerian community in the United States to this day, unlike in the UK which is Yoruba-dominated.

    As premier of the Eastern Nigerian Region in the 1950s, Zik built the famous Nigeria Cement Company at Nkalagu in today’s Ebonyi State, and it was commissioned on January 1, 1955. He built Nigergas, Nigeria’s fist steel firm. He also established Nigersteel, Nigeria’s first steel company. He built the Eastern Nigerian Development Corporation which played a critical role in the building of the University of Nigeria at Nsukka, the country’s first indigenous full university, in 1960.

    This feat challenged the Western Nigerian government under Chief Samuel Akintola to build the University of Ife at Ile Ife in 1962. It also challenged the Northern Region under Sir Ahmadu Bello to set up Ahmadu Bello University at Zaria in 1963. The Federal Government built its own University of Lagos at Akoka in 1962.

    It is interesting that the Eastern Nigerian government was then the poorest in the country because its main revenue earner, palm produce, was not commanding high prices on the international market. The richest was the Western Region because cocoa, its major revenue source, was attracting high prices. The second wealthiest region was the North because groundnut, its primary revenue earner, was getting good prices. The annual Eastern Nigerian budget was always a fraction of Western government’s.

    Not to be forgotten is that Zik established in the 950s Nigeria’s first indigenous bank, African Continental Bank (ACB). The ACB emergence caused the Western Nigerian government to set up the National Bank of Nigeria and the Northern government to establish the Bank of the North. The ACB was instrumental to the emergence of a big entrepreneurial class in the East from the 1950s. The bank also played a critical part in the rise of the former Biafrans at the cessation of hostilities in 1970. It was granting credit facilities on far more liberal terms than other banks because it knew the erstwhile Biafrans couldn’t afford much collateral.

    And talking about the Civil War, Zik was responsible for over 70% of the diplomatic support which Biafra received. Gabon, Tanzania, Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire recognized Biafra simply because of the personal relationship between Zik and their presidents. The fifth country, Haiti, recognized Biafra because of Dr Ikejiani who was a classmate of the Haitian leader in medical school in the United States. Dr Ikejiani was, as stated earlier, a Zik product.

    When it had become clear that Biafra was no longer going to succeed, Zik travelled to Lagos where he met General Yakubu and began making heroic efforts towards a soft landing for the Biafrans. The war ended a few months later, and Biafrans were not butchered in their millions, as they feared, but rather welcomed without condition back to Nigeria.

    Because the Igbo were still afflicted psychologically by the outcome of the civil war by 1978 when the ban on politics was lifted, there were no serious presidential candidates of Igbo origin. Zik felt bad, and so decided to participate in the presidential race after resisting the urge to return to politics. It was a gesture meant to uplift Ndigbo from “psychological defeatism to psychological glorification”, as Dr Mbadiwe would put it.

    The founders of Ohaneze Ndigbo like Dr Pius Okigbo were thoughtful enough to recognise Zik’s unparalleled role in the emergence of the Igbo people in modern history. They made him the only Patron of Ohaneze, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization.

    It is, therefore, sacrilegious that the current Ohaneze officers chose to hold a meeting of its inner caucus on Friday, January 25, 2019, the very day the Nigerian nation, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, was honouring The Great Zik of Africa by commissioning the Zik Mausoleum in Onitsha, Anambra State. The so-called Ime Obi meeting of Ohaneze was meant to disrupt the ceremony and discredit Zik’s place in history. As a commentator has noted, Chief Nnia John Nwodo, whose father was a minister under Zik in the 1950s, and his cohorts decided to dance on Zik’s grave. This is an abomination of the highest order. Nwodo must cleanse the land.

     

    • Nezianya was a director of the News Agency of Nigeria.

     

     

     

  • Additional Igbo state feasible under Buhari – Obiano

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has revealed that an additional Igbo state was in the offing under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    Obiano made the disclosure when Ohaneze ndi Igbo, Lagos Branch paid him a solidarity visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Anambra state.

    He also expressed hope the federal government would set aside November 16 as a National Day for Ziks Memorial.

    The governor described Ohaneze as one united group, calling on members to remain a sociocultural, non-partisan body with the goal of pushing the Igbo agenda.

    He clarified that he was in good terms with its President General, but regretted the group’s decision to fix a meeting on a day the President was in the state to commission a Mausoleum in honor of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe who remained a world hero of Igbo extraction.

    While reaffirming his support to the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and all other party candidates, the governor reiterated his support for restructuring.

    The Ohaneze ndigbo delegation said they were in the state to show solidarity to the Obiano-led government.

    The Igbo group, led by its President, Sir Nnamdi Nwigwe, praised Obiano’s negotiating power and his Think Home philosophy, among other notable initiatives.

    He said: “We are particularly happy with your position on appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s good gestures to the people of the South East region and Anambra State in particular.

    “The completed Zik’s Mausoleum, which is a national monument, the ongoing second Niger bridge, road projects and other infrastructures lay credence to the fact that the Buhari administration has not forgotten the region.”

  • 2019: Public schools shut as Atiku campaigns in Enugu

    Public primary and secondary schools in Enugu were shut on Friday, when the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar stormed the state for the Feb. 16 presidential election campaign.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that students of the various public secondary schools were seen going home as early as 10 a.m. as a result of the campaign visit by Atiku’s train.

    One of the students, who wanted anonymity told NAN that his teacher told him and others in the class to go home because of Atiku’s visit.

    It was the same situation in other public schools visited by NAN education correspondent in Enugu town.

    The students, however, said they were not mandated to attend the campaign rally holding at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

    Meanwhile, some parents in the state have faulted the decision to send students home because of a political campaign rally.

    Read Also: Presidential campaign: Heavy security as Atiku storms Abakaliki

    Mr Francis Ogbu, said it was wrong to have suspended academic activities due to an individual’s political aspiration.

    Ogbu said that under-age students needed not to be dragged into politics.

    Mrs Uzoamaka Onukwuburi also in her comments, wondered what might have informed the closure of public schools before the usual time.

    Onukwuburi said that she could not understand why politics had degenerated to the level of suspending academic activities due to a campaign rally.

    The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze, could not be contacted on phone for comments.

  • ‘Political miscalculation could cause Igbo Presidency in 2023’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State Dozie Ikedife (Jnr) has called on residents of the southeast to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 elections.

    He asked them to be realistic enough to understand the dynamics of politics, saying any miscalculation can cause them presidency come 2023.

    Addressing newsmen ahead of President Buhari’s visit to the state on Thursday, Ikedife, a deputy governorship candidate in the 2017 election, said the visit was another opportunity to prove Buhari’s care for the Igbo.

    He insisted supporting Mr. President’s second term bid would make the Igbo stand better chance to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023.

    “There are lots of reasons why Igbo should support Buhari complete his eight years tenure, including reconstruction of major federal roads in the South East, on-going construction of 2nd Niger Bridge and just completed late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s tomb,” he said.

    Describing Igbo as a sect with native and applied intelligence, wisdom of a practical kind, the APC chieftain however regretted that some politicians in the region have refused to appreciate certain basic political permutation.

    Read Also: Presidency to Obasanjo: get well soon

    He said: “It baffles me why some politicians from the South East geo-political zone cannot understand the simple calculation that to negotiate for Igbo presidency under Buhari’s remaining four years is shorter than waiting for another eight years of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s promise which appears unrealistic.

    “We are all campaigning and by God’s grace we will return Buhari to Aso Rock to complete his eight-year tenure.

    “He has been going round the country telling Nigerians lots of things he’s done within his first tenure.

    “He has revamped the agricultural sector, the aviation industry with new more airports in place, paid pensioners their arrears, empowered the youths, other categories of the population and even resolved that school children are fed.

    “Those are landmark achievement in addition to his tireless fight against corruption.”

  • APC dismisses Kalu’s death, warns against peddling of wicked rumour

    Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State dismissed rumours of death of former Governor of Abia State and chieftain of the party in the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
    This is even as has cautioned members of opposition parties in the state to discontinue peddling of the wicked rumour that the former governor of the state and the party’s candidate for Abia North senatorial zone in 2019 is dead.
    According to the rumour, Kalu reportedly died few weeks ago in a Wiesbaden, Germany Hospital after a major surgery, and that a lookalike has been contracted to impersonate him (Kalu) for political reasons, adding that the man parading himself as Kalu is one George from Gambia.
    However, in a statement, the state publicity secretary of APC, comrade Ben Godson said it was the height of wickedness for any person or group of persons to carry fake news about the death of someone, stressing that it amounts to wishing the living, dead.
    Godson said it was a taboo in Igbo land for anybody to wish his fellow human being dead, stressing that those members of the opposition parties have taking politics too far by wishing Kalu dead.

    Read Also: Orji Kalu and the revocation of bail: Matters arising

    “What members of the opposition in the state particularly PDP are doing is playing wicked politics by wishing Kalu dead, but that will not stop the eminent defeat that is staring them in the face in Abia North senatorial zone in particularly and the state in general come 2019.
    “Political enemies are at it again; they know there is going to be a level playing ground in 2019 election and they are aware that Kalu is going to win the Abia North senatorial district seat and they think that the best way to stop him is to continuously dish out fake news, this time to wish him dead thinking by that they will stop him.
    “The other time, the rumour was that his name was not in the APC register and when that could not work out, they came with another rumour that he was screened out by his party to contest the election and that even his name was not on INEC list of those to contest the election. When all these failed, then they came with this fake news that he is dead.
    The state APC publicity scribe reminded those wishing Kalu dead to learn from history and remember what happened to those who rumoured in the ‘80s that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was dead, adding that none of them actually lived to witness when the Zik of Africa eventually died.
    “People should learn from history, when Zik of Africa was alive, some people rumoured that he was dead, but those who ignited the rumour, all died before Zik’s death and they should know that history has a way of repeating itself”.
    Godson said he spoke with Kalu on Monday night, stressing he was live and preparing to kick off his campaign.
    A close source to the former Governor who pleaded to be anonymous while corroborating Godson’s statement added that he spoke with Kalu on Tuesday morning.
    According to the source, Kalu is concerned with his senatorial campaign and on how to deliver the state to APC and also to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari wins the 2019 Presidential election.
    “We heard stories about the cloning of OUK and before we could come out of it, another one is that he was dead. These are all fabricated stories that only represent the wishes and imaginations of the rumour mongers.
    “What I can tell you is that OUK is alive and I can also tell you that he is ready to come back and begin campaign across the Abia North Senatorial District and the truth is that his opponents are already jittery”, he said.

  • Buhari hailed as Zik’s mausoleum ready, decades after

    The Muhammadu Buhari administration has recorded another giant landmark following the completion of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha, Anambra State. The project, initiated by the federal government 22 years ago, was awarded by the late Sani Abacha regime shortly after the death of the Owelle of Onitsha and the first president of Nigeria.

    The project was targeted at honouring the first Premier of Eastern Nigeria and founder of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in recognition of his immense contributions to national development and the country’s independence.

    Located at the heart of the commercial city and the country home of the late elder statesman, the mausoleum, regrettably, had suffered series of neglect and abandonment by previous administrations.

    It also underwent various reviews of the contract sum until it was taken over by the Buhari administration to see to its completion.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, had during his visit to the state in May, expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work on the project.

    The minister asked the contractor to ensure the completion of the project before the end of October, threatening to revoke the contract if the contractor failed to deliver on schedule.

    The chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe had during the minister’s visit, described as an embarrassment the delay in the completion of the project after decades. He called for the speedy completion of the mausoleum.

    The project has finally come to completion, 22 years after it was initiated. The mausoleum is ready for commissioning.

    Bouygues Construction Nigeria Limited (BNL), the firm handling the project, assured that work has been completed on the project and that it was ready for handover.

    Speaking to The Nation, the Project Manager of the firm, John Ameh, said the project was actually completed towards the end of September.

    “We met the minister’s deadline of October ending, but because the client has not taken over, we cannot just lock up the place and leave for security reasons.

    “We wrote on October 11, notifying them to come and take over the project. They are likely to visit this week,” he said.

    Ameh described the Mausoleum as a “land mark project” for the people of Southeast and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said, “it is a project that has spanned so many administrations before it was awarded to BNL in 2014 while work started in 2015.

    “This administration was courageous enough to take it to completion and should be commended.”

    Also speaking, the site engineer, Mr Paul Odigie, said the mausoleum is made up of the main building, administrative block and a residential house.

    “We took over this project in 2013 as the last contractor. We were not the first, nor the second. I believe the work started twenty years ago.

    “Actually, we’re through with the project. We’re just waiting for the commissioning which will take place any moment from now,” he said.

    The building is uniquely positioned to serve as a tourist site as the structure has a central tower.

    There is jubilation and excitement among residents and visitors alike to the commercial city of the state as the mausoleum is now wearing a new look with assorted paintings and art works waiting its formal commissioning.

    Residents, particularly indigenes of the town have continued to express appreciation to the federal government for completing the mausoleum.

    They commended President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Dr. Azikiwe who championed Nigeria’s independence and ensured the unity of the country all his life before his demise in 1996.

    A prominent indigene of Onitsha, Chinyelugo Osita Anionwu captures the ecstatic outlook and general environment of the project.

    He said, “The man Zik was a legend. That’s why he wanted a monument that will outlive him. We are happy we have a place where the remains of the first Premier of Nigeria rest. It is a hallowed place and mark of nobility.”

    Another resident, Mr Sylvester Anyigbo expressed happiness with the completion of the monument after several delays.

    “The idea of the place is to serve as a place where the younger generation will learn about personalities who worked for this country.

    “I’m happy this job is finally completed but I’ll be happier if the government is making full use of it,” he said.

    A political analyst, Okey Paul, described the project as politically motivated, saying its speedy completion may not be unconnected with the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    He however said it was important the structure became a reality after all.

    There is no gainsaying the fact that the state-of-the-art edifice, would remain one of the numerous legacies the Buhari-led administration the people of the southeast would not forget in a hurry even after the elapse of the government.

  • Yoruba Tennis Club calls for emergence of new generation leaders

    The Yoruba Tennis Club has called for the emergence of a new generation of national leaders as the 2019 general election approaches.

    It made the call in a press release signed by Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo, Chairman, Yoruba Tennis Club made available to the press on Saturday.

    The Club said the political landscape is occupied by the same old breed of politicians who had held sway in the terrain since the inception of democratic rule and that there are no obvious or visible signs that there is a deliberate effort to groom younger men and women in the next generation to take over from them.

    “As we approach the third decade of the millennium, there is  an urgent need to evolve a new generation of Nigerians as leaders at communities , local governments, States,  zones and national levels.

    It was further observed that the Nigerian youth category has been rudderless since the commencement of the civilian government in the Year 1999, suffering exclusion from responsibilities, compared to the early nationalists who had opportunities thrust at them at young ages.

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    “It is more unfortunate that the generation referred to does not even appear to be in any particular hurry to mount the saddle of national political leadership. This is against the backdrop of the emergence of the early nationalists like late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Anthony Enahoro and a host of others who rode the political landscape like colossuses in their thirties and forties.”

    The Club therefore, called for an urgent, deliberate plan to evolve a generation of educated youths within the 18 to 40 years age bracket as youth community activists who will first and foremost establish relevance in their immediate communities through voluntary and beneficial communal activities.

    “Thereafter, having gained recognition and confidence, they will eventually start to assume political roles starting from the ward level upwards.

    The club said that at its August Business Luncheon, it identified that the nation got to this point as a result of the over 32 years of military interregnum, money politics/godfatherism and collapse of active students’ unionism which would have been a veritable breeding ground for youth leaders as it was in the days of yore.

    “In this regard it was suggested that Non-Governmental organizations and Civil Society organizations that have as their central theme, the emergence of youths as Leaders should be at the fore front of galvanizing and mobilising  the youths in each community, to identify and deal with  challenges in the community and act as a pressure group and community influencers.”

    According to the communique, once the youths are mobilized as community activists in the manner prescribed, with directions from role models, they would spend less time on the prevalent youth vices of cultism, drugs, rituals and political brigandage.