By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja
A former Minister of State (Defence),  Mr. Mike Onolememen, has urged the Federal Government to upgrade the Federal Technical College, Uromi, Edo State, to a Federal University of Science and Technology and name it after the late elder statesman, Chief  Anthony Enahoro.

Onolememen, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja, argued that such would be a befitting honour to Enahoro who made a lot of sacrifices to the nation.

According to him: “Beyond moving the very first motion for the independence of Nigeria in 1953, at a time many of his peers in parliament lacked the courage to challenge colonial rule, Enahoro played more strategic roles in the shaping of modern Nigeria.

“First, as the Chief Federal Negotiator and official mouth-piece of the Federal Government when he served as Federal Commissioner for Information and Labour during the Biafra crisis/Nigeria Civil War, Enahoro helped to steer the negotiations in favour of a united and indivisible Nigeria, through his unparalleled skills, oratory and diplomacy as attested to last week by no less a Nigerian than Gen. Yakubu Gowon, then Head of State at the tribute session in Benin-City, as part of his funeral activities organised by the Edo State Government.

‘’Enahoro was also referred to as the “Chief Planner and Labourer” of the very successful FESTAC ’77 spectacle in Nigeria.

“Second, Enahoro was the “Chief Protagonist”, and rallying point of the struggle against military dictatorship and the fight for democracy in Nigeria, via the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), and became the symbol of resistance to military dictatorship at great personal risk. It is note-worthy that the activities of NADECO gave birth to the Fourth Republic and the democratic government Nigerians enjoy today,” he noted.