President Goodluck Jonathan said that Professor Achebe’s truthful interventions in Nigeria’s affairs will be greatly missed.
Speaking yesterday at the evening of tribute for Achebe at the International Conference centre, Abuja, the President who was represented by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said while others may have disagreed with his views, most Nigerians never doubted Achebe’s immense patriotism and sincere commitment to building a greater, more united nation that all Africans and the entire black race could be proud of.
President Jonathan said Achebe was the quintessential literary icon of superlative brilliance, merit and repute, who received the national’s highest honour on intellectual output.
Praising Achebe for his academic and literary output, Jonathan said Achebe was a social critic, and unparallelled courage, of singleness of purpose and steadfastness of conduct, adding that though “he has passed on, he lives in his numerous works which will continue to illuminate the dark confines of the distorted history of the black race.”
Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, in his remarks, noted that the way to immortalise Achebe was to imbibe those principles he believed in while former Anambra governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, said Achebe spoke truth to power.
The senator said it was when Achebe spoke against the thuggery in Anambra state during his regime that Achebe became his friend.
Former senate president Dr. Ken Nnamani described Achebe as Nigeria’s greatest ambassador who brought honour to the country. Achebe, he went on was consistent in his writing and helped to give a clear direction to the country. Former Chief Justice of the federation, Justice Alfa Belgore, in his comments, remembered his lifelong relationship with Achebe and said his principles will help Nigeria, just as he said the late literary icon spoke the truth. “Achebe never lied. He never lied,” he said.
Other personalities at the event were Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Prof. Chudi Uwazurike and former minister Dr. Jerry Agada.
>>vanguardnews
Speaking yesterday at the evening of tribute for Achebe at the International Conference centre, Abuja, the President who was represented by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said while others may have disagreed with his views, most Nigerians never doubted Achebe’s immense patriotism and sincere commitment to building a greater, more united nation that all Africans and the entire black race could be proud of.
President Jonathan said Achebe was the quintessential literary icon of superlative brilliance, merit and repute, who received the national’s highest honour on intellectual output.
Praising Achebe for his academic and literary output, Jonathan said Achebe was a social critic, and unparallelled courage, of singleness of purpose and steadfastness of conduct, adding that though “he has passed on, he lives in his numerous works which will continue to illuminate the dark confines of the distorted history of the black race.”
Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, in his remarks, noted that the way to immortalise Achebe was to imbibe those principles he believed in while former Anambra governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, said Achebe spoke truth to power.
The senator said it was when Achebe spoke against the thuggery in Anambra state during his regime that Achebe became his friend.
Former senate president Dr. Ken Nnamani described Achebe as Nigeria’s greatest ambassador who brought honour to the country. Achebe, he went on was consistent in his writing and helped to give a clear direction to the country. Former Chief Justice of the federation, Justice Alfa Belgore, in his comments, remembered his lifelong relationship with Achebe and said his principles will help Nigeria, just as he said the late literary icon spoke the truth. “Achebe never lied. He never lied,” he said.
Other personalities at the event were Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Prof. Chudi Uwazurike and former minister Dr. Jerry Agada.
>>vanguardnews
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