Garba wants UNN named after Queen Elizabeth, Igbo leaders kick

GARBA asks Buhari to rename UNN after Queen Elizabeth, Ohanaeze kicks

By Uche Alloy

Former Presidential aspirant Garba Adamu has asked the Federal Government of Nigeria to rename the foremost South Eastern University of Nigeria, UNN as Queen Elizabeth University.

But in its reaction, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide attacked Adamu Garba, the former Presidential aspirant. Ohanaeze said the British Monarch once visited Nigeria in 1956 and that it was Chief Louis Ojukwu,the father of the late Biafra leader that gave his Rolls Royce since the Nigerian Government could not afford a Rolls Royce to meet the Queen’s transportation needs while in Nigeria.

Garba had called on the Nigerian authorities to change UNN to Queen Elizabeth University to honour the late British Monarch.

In a statement by Ohanaeze, the Pan Igbp group asked Garba to urge the Presidency to rename Aso Rock Queen Elizabeth and not UNN

The Secretary-General of the Igbo group, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro in a statement obtained by Irohioodua said “renaming the foremost and most prestigious University, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, after the late British Monarch”, as a joke taken too far.

The group lamented that 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”.

“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.”