• House resolves to name Anambra University after writer
Senator Chris Ngige representing Anambra Central Senatorial District yesterday counselled Ogidi community to rise and take advantage of one of their biggest assets-the name of Prof Chinua Achebe, even as he donated 2000 chairs to Ogidi Town Hall at the reception of Prof Chinua Achebe in Ogidi Town Hall.
Ngige who arrived the event after the brand new chairs tailored for the occasion has counselled Ogidi Community to realise that Achebe had done everything he could in life to project the name of Ogidi, asking ‘everyone in this hall not to mourn Achebe, but to celebrate his life.’
‘All of us are Achebe’s Children and there is no door that his name cannot open, even if it is locked with three padlocks Ngige noted adding that, ‘When he rejected Obasanjo’s award because the president was conniving with those who were burning down Anambra State, Obasanjo asked me if I knew him (Achebe), and I told him that he is my brother’
Ngige who moved a motion in the Senate supported by 108 Senators to give Achebe a State burial, spoke in an occasion in which the member representing Idemili North in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Tony Muonagor drew attention to a resolution that has been passed by the state legislature, at his instance seeking to name Anambra State University after the legendary writer.
According to Muonagor, ‘there is none more qualified than Achebe for that honour.
President, Ogidi Union , Dr Eric Obiako, challenged Ogidi Community not to stop at the level of positive exposure brought by the name of Achebe,but to rise and produces many more Achebes from their soil as ‘the future of Ogidi community depends on that’
Shortly before arriving Ogidi Town Hall to the tumultuous and cheery welcome of friends, admirers, party faithfuls and bystanders, Ngige conducted a technical inspection of on-going constructing works and dressing at Achebes country home ad greeted Achebe’s family folks.
Achebe will be interred today in Ogidi. It was not immediately clear yesterday whether the clash between Ogidi Culture and the Anglican Church tradition for interring men of Achebe’s stature had been resolved.
In Ogidi, titled men and men of high stature are interred in the night , but the Anglican church buries every corpse in the day time.
