The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has described the renaming of the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport after the late literary icon, 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.
He said: “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.
“Achebe’s towering stature, as a global literary pioneer and icon, is deserving of such recognition. I congratulate the Achebe family for the honour and Kudos to the Governor Charles Soludo for the timely and fitting decision, which is consistent with extant best practices.”
ALSO, the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), Anambra State chapter, has also commended Soludo, saying it was the best Independence Day gift to them.
Coordinator of the group in the state, Izunna Okafor, in a statement, said that the decision to immortalise the literary giant, is extraordinary and that his group was highly pleased about the development.
He said: “The news of renaming the airport after Achebe filled our hearts with boundless joy. It is an affirmation of the value and significance of literature in our society.
“As young writers, we have consistently championed the call for the immortalisation of Achebe through our yearly programme, the ‘Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture.’
“This programme, which we initiated in 2016, serves as a platform to honour Achebe’s enduring legacy. We hold this event at the Anambra State Central E-Library, Awka, where we also unveil an international poetry/essay anthology (Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology) yearly in his honour.”
