Vox Pop
MIXED reactions trailed the call by the Nigerian Senate that Professor Chinua Achebe, a literary icon who was buried in Ogidi, his hometown, in Ananmbra State on May 23, should be immortalised. Some Nigerians feel strongly that a federal institution should be named after the literary giant, while others believe that immortalising him would amount to a violation of the principle which he stood for. Below are what some Nigerians think on the issue.
Chukwudi Idukpo, Engineer: Achebe is an icon and stood up without hiding his disgusts for injustice and corruption in Nigeria. Therefore, government should honour him by fighting corruption, poverty and injustice in the country instead of renaming an institution after him.
George Okeke, Engineer: As an ardent fan of Chinua Achebe, I believe that if the family accepts the move to honour their father, it will a betrayal of what the man who has refused to be honoured twice stood for.
Stanley Nwalia, Teacher: Professor Chinua Achebe should be immortalised. Government should name a major street in Abuja after him as well as setting up a national monument in his honour. It should strive to promote what he stood for while he was alive.
Ikechukwu Oti, Businessman: He deserved to be honoured. Government should name an institution after Achebe as a way of immortalising the literary giant. The idea of building a school in his name is too small. He deserved something bigger if possible they should rename the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, after him.
Daniel Adibe, Banker: Achebe does not need to be immortalised for he is already immortalised. His life, work, legacy and character are engraved in stone. I believe that it would amount to a desecration of Achebe’s values and character for anything originating from the present Nigeria to bear his name.
Chukwudi Ogele, Marketer: Achebe, in my opinion is one of the most important Nigerians in the last hundred years. And he is likely to live longer than any Nigerian living or dead. Through his literature, he has placed Africa on the map indelibly. Whether we do it right or not, Achebe has already immortalised himself.
Compiled by Anayo Ezugwu
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