By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—FOLLOWERS of the foremost nationalist, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, weekend, converged in Benin, for the 80th birthday celebration of their colleague and the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, and called on the Federal Government to honour Oba Akenzua II, posthumously because of the role he played during the struggle for the nation’s Independence.

While faulting the list of those honoured in the recent 50th anniversary of the nation’s Independence by President Goodluck Jonathan, they regretted that the genuine heroes who fought for the nation’s Independent were neglected in the list while those whom they described as “inconsequential” were included in the list.

They bared their minds on the accession of Chief Edebiri’s 80th birthday celebration and the launching of his book, Contemporary Nigeria Politics: Benin Kingdom in Focus.

The Chairman of the occasion and then member of the Zikist Movement, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, while addressing the crowd, narrated that “Oba Akenzua II, was the only Oba or first class chief in Nigeria who was not afraid of the colonial powers, who identified himself with the nationalists struggle and the struggle for Independence. He was the father of the Zikist Movement, he was the father of the NCNC Youth Association.

“He identified with the youths and when ever they were in trouble he will rescue them and give them money. For example, there was a time he had to travel from Benin to Onitsha to address a meeting of the NCNC Youth Association. No Oba or Emir in Nigeria then had the courage to do that because they are all scared while some of them are only interested on what they can benefit from the British. He was a typical example of his ancestors like Oba Ovaranwen, who defied the British” he stated.

Commenting on the list of awardees for the 50th anniversary of the nation’s Independence, while commending the Federal Government for the Award of the Order of the Niger (OON) conferred on him, Chief Edebiri, however described as shocking the list of those honoured at the Independence anniversary and urged the Federal Government to correct the anomalies in future.

According to him, “ not many of us were lucky enough to be alive to receive this honour. That I am alive and the award was not given to me posthumously, is the handiwork of God. I was glad after our award and some complaints against some people, the President assured that those complaints will be corrected in future as regards the credibility of awardees.But immediately they made that statement, the 50th anniversary award they made, did not reflect that promise.

“Because people who should have been mentioned were left out and some people who were inconsequential were brought into the list. So I think we should take precaution against such lapses in the future. I know many of our people who went to prison, who were killed fighting for the Independence, they were not mentioned” he said.