•••Says It is The Best Way to Honour the Queen
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has rejected the call by a former Presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, to the federal government to rename the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, after the late Queen of England, Elizabeth II.
The group describing Garba’s call as a joke taken too far however, urged the government to rename Nigeria’s State House, after the late Queen rather than the UNN.
In a statement by the Secretary-General of the Ohaneze, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the Aso Rock Presidential Villa should instead be named after the Queen.
The statement, cautioned the renaming of the prestigious University, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, after the late British Monarch”, adding that the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia was already named after the late British Monarch.
“It is known as Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Umuahia, but Nigerians are yet to see the late Queen Elizabeth’s memorial in the Northern region.
“Ndigbo were instrumental and played a role in hosting the late Britain’s Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1956 when Nigeria hosted her.
“It has not skipped our memories about the assistance rendered by an Igbo wealthy business mogul, Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu.
“The then Nigerian Government couldn’t afford a Rolls-Royce, so they approached and borrowed the one belonging to Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, the father of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Igbo legendary icon.
“If the Nigerian Government and the Presidency wish to immortalize the late Britain’s Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, they should look at the role of the Queen in granting Nigeria political freedom and Independence on 1st October, 1960.
“So, the most appropriate place to show gratitude to the late Monarch should be the citadel of power.
“The Federal Government should rename the Aso Rock Presidential State House and Residence after Queen Elizabeth II.
“This is the best place to honor Queen Elizabeth II instead of destroying the symbol of Nigeria’s citadel of learning,” the statement stated.