Zik Mausoleum: Obiano Urges Buhari To Honour Zik With Public Holiday

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign train led by President Muhammadu Buhari and his 2019 presidential reelection Campaign Council, aka Next Level stormed the South East commercial nerve Centre of Onitsha Thursday in continuation of their series of tours and political rallies for the next month’s general election.

The team was received by a mammoth crowd of supporters, candidates and party members massive who besieged the Basillica of the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Cathedral field in Onitsha, venue for the campaign flag-off rally.

President Buhari whose helicopter touched in Onitsha shortly before noon paid a courtesy visit to the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Afred Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Achebe and his cabinet.

Welcoming the President, Obi Achebe, appealed to the Federal Government to make the Zik’s facility truly functional by appointing its governing board and recruiting the complimentary staff.

Thereafter the president and his entourage drove straight to the Inosi Onira home of the late sage and first president of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik)to commission the recently completed and much talked about Zik’s Mausoleum -his beautiful final resting place.

The nation’s leader immediately left the mausoleum for the campaign rally at the Basillica, acknowledging cheers from enthusiastic crowd that included school children who lined up the streets of Onitsha.

But while commissioning the facility, President Buhari urged Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of patriotism, nationalism and dedication in leadership which were the legacies of the late Zik.

A visibly cheerful Gov Willie Obiano pointed out that with the completion of the mausoleum, the great Zik of Africa can now rest in peace with the full honour he deserves from a country he lived, loved, served and died for.

The Governor also called on the Federal Government to further honour Zik by declaring his birthday -November 16th, a National Day holiday. He said that if granted, the day will be set aside for reflection on the life and times of the great Zik and his Pan-African struggles, thoughts and philosophies.

Obiano commended President Buhari for completing the Mausoleum after over 20 years of abandonment by successive Federal Government administration. He said the facility has become an important landmark in Eastern Nigeria and an addition to the numerous tourism sites and locations in the state.

One of the sons of the late Zik, Ambassador Emeka Azikiwe thanked Buhari for completing the project eventually, and acknowledged that it would add value to immortalize the late his late father and great nationalist.

Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, popularly called “Zik of Africa” was born on November 16th 1904, at Zungeru in the present Niger State. He grew to become one of Nigeria’s foremost Nationalists, and also made significant contributions towards the nation’s independent from Britain in 1960. He continued fighting for the unity of Nigeria till he joined his ancestors.

From Christian Chime, Onitsha