Ohanaeze also asked former presidential aspirant of YPP, Adamu Garba, to tender an unreserved apology to Ndigbo for making such a suggestion
By Kehinde Okeowo
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has asked the Presidency to ignore the call by a former presidential aspirant of the Young Progressives Party, Adamu Garba, to change the name of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) to Queen Elizabeth University.
Garba, on Friday, advised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to honour Queen Elizabeth II who died on Thursday, September 8, after 70 years on the throne by renaming UNN after her.
But reacting to the suggestion, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said such a remark is capable of instigating conflict in the country.
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The group further suggested that the most appropriate place to be named after the late monarch should be Aso Rock Abuja or a prominent place in the Northern part of the country.
The 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 Southeastern Nigeria and it’s worthwhile for novices like the former APC Presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba to know that the Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Abia State was renamed after the late British monarch, and is known as Queen Elizabeth Medical Center Umuahia, yet Nigerians are 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.
Ndigbo was instrumental and played a role in hosting late Queen Elizabeth II, in 1956 when Nigeria hosted the late Queen. It has not skipped our memories about the assistance rendered by an Igbo wealthy business Mogul, Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu when Queen Elizabeth II visited Nigeria in 1956.
“The then Nigerian Government couldn’t afford a Rolls-Royce, so it approached and borrowed this Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith LWB, from Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, the father of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Igbo legendary icon.
“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 1st October 1960. And the most appropriate place to show gratitude to Great Britain should be at Aso Rock, (the Citadel of Power).
“So, we call on Federal Government to rename the Aso Rock Presidential Villa after Queen Elizabeth II. This is the best place to honour Queen Elizabeth II, not the University of Nigeria Nsukka because it’s incendiary to destroy the symbol of Nigeria’s Citadel of Learning.”
Ohanaeze went on to demand an apology from Adamu Garba to Ndigbo for making such an un-historical remark.
“We urge Adamu Garba to apologise to Ndigbo over this un-historical comment,” Ohanaeze added.
