By Ifeizu Joe
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi has described the naming of the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport after the late Literary Giant, Prof. Chinua Achebe by the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, as a most delightful and welcome development.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Obi stated that Achebe’s towering stature as a global literary pioneer and icon was deserving of such recognition.
The former Anambra governor thanked Soludo for the decision.
“The renaming of the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport to Chinua Achebe International Airport, is a most delightful and welcome development.
The late literary icon deserves all the honour that the state and the nation can bestow.
“Chinua Achebe’s towering stature as a global literary pioneer and icon is deserving of such recognition. I congratulate the Achebe Family for the bestowed honour and Kudos to the Governor of Anambra State, HE Prof. Charles Soludo, for the timely and fitting decision, which is consistent with extant best practices.
“This latest gesture is in line with the practice of the state government naming our public institutions after our heroes and outstanding citizens.
“Examples include the public arena named after the former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme Square; the Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu University, the State Library named after Prof. Kenneth Dike and the science block at CKC Onitsha named the Prof. Chike Obi Building.
“The latest gesture is also consistent with Achebe’s exhortation that we must, of necessity, tell our own stories. By telling his own story so well, Achebe also told the Anambra and Nigerian stories, hence this most befitting memorial. -PO”