'Neglect Of Zik's Mausoleum, A National Embarrassment'

Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, has expressed concern over stalled works on Zik's Mausoleum and the five star hotel in GRA, Onitsha.

Speaking during his 13th Ofala Festival, the Obi said it was becoming a national embarrassment that the Nigerian government had not honoured late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the mausoleum project that the Federal Government started over 20 years ago had not been completed.

According to him, "We acknowledge the progress of work on the second Niger Bridge and Onitsha Shopping Mall and the preliminary work on second Niger Bridge project. However, we are concerned that work has stalled at Ziks Mausoleum and the 'five star hotel in GRA after several vicissitudes, work on the Mausoleum resumed with vigour at the start of the present tenure of President Jonathan was stopped suddenly. It is a national embarrassment that we have not duly honoured this great nationalist."

The Onitsha traditional ruler also expressed worry that globally, the past year was dominated by strife particularly in the Middle East, Ukraine and in Nigeria.

"It is very disconcerting in this 21st Century people will still opt for violence, rather than dialogue and persuasion, in resolving issues. It is even more painful that the poor and helpless, particularly women and children bear the brunt of the resultant pain and dislocation. The Boko Haranm insurgents have become very audacious. The kidnapping of the Chibok school girls has become iconic for a very sad reason, no doubt international terrorism has arrived in Nigeria and is a distinct affront to our sovereignty.

"It is therefore incumbent on all well meaning citizens, irrespective of our diversity, to rally behind Mr. President to defeat this invasion. We support the government's strategy to cooperate our neighbouring countries and the wider international community in meeting the challenge. Modern terrorism knows no boundary and therefore must be confronted on a global cooperative base strategy."

Speaking on the upcoming general election, Igwe Achebe said "already intense positioning for the national elections due early next year have started. We implore the political parties to follow the best tenets of democracy, mainly freedom of expression, robust debates on hard issues, and free, fair, peaceful, and orderly elections, as was witnessed recently during the referendum on independence for Scotland.

That is the model that we must seek to emulate. Two events in Nigeria at the national level boosted our faith in our governance, namely the recently conducted National Conference and the Ebola Virus Disease crisis."

Vanguard