The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has cautioned the federal government against renaming the University of Nigeria Nsukka after the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Group urged the government to rather rename the presidential villa in Abuja after the queen as the University already bequeathed a legacy in southeastern Nigeria.
In a statement through its secretary – General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group said the south-east zone already has a symbol of respect for the late monarch as seen in the Queen Elizabeth Medical Center, Umuahia, Abia state.
Isiguzoro said it is “appropriate” for the northern region to have a “fair share” of the legacies of the monarch.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has cautioned the Federal Government against renaming the foremost and most prestigious university, the University of Nigeria Nsukka after the late British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, as it has already bequeathed a legacy in southeastern Nigeria,” the statement reads.
“If the Nigerian government and the presidency wish to immortalize late Britain’s Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, they should look at the role of the Queen in granting Nigeria political freedom and Independence on 1st October 1960, so the most appropriate place to show gratitude to Great Britain Monarch should be the citadel of power.
“The federal government should rename the Aso Rock presidential state house and residence after Queen Elizabeth II.
“This is the best place to honour Queen Elizabeth II, not the University of Nigeria Nsukka, because it’s incendiary to destroy the symbol of Nigeria’s citadel of learning”, the statement added.
Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday at 96 years old.
