Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has berated a former presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba over a statement seeking the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) be renamed after the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Recall that Garba had come under serious backlash after he made a post on his social media pages, wishing that UNN be renamed after the late Queen.
His tweets reads: “If I’m the President of Nigeria today, I’ll declare three days of national mourning for the death of The Queen Elizabeth II of England.
Late Queen Elizabeth II
“Immortalizing Queen Elizabeth by renaming the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in her honor would’ve been an easier deal if I were communicating with our grandparents. Fortunately, they knew her worth.”
Reacting to Garba’s comments via a statement signed by the Secretary-General of the Igbo group, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze stated that the presidential villa should be named after the queen.
The group, while cautioning the Federal Government against renaming the University of Nsukka after the deceased monarch, said the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia was already named after the late British Monarch.
He said, “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”.
The group insisted that the best way to immortalize the queen would be to consider the role she played in granting Nigeria political freedom and Independence on 1st October, 1960, hence the citadel of power which is Aso Rock be named after her.
