Rear Admiral Kanu’s book unveiled in Lagos

L-R: Managing Director/CEO Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Alex Otti; Lagos State Head of Service, Mrs. Oluseyi Josephine Williams; Celebrant, Rear Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu; his wife Mrs. Gladys; Managing Director/CEO  Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi and Chairman of the occasion, Elder (Dr.) Uma Eleazu, during a lecture and a book presentation to mark  Rear Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu 70^th birthday in Lagos on Monday.  Photo: Bankole Damilare.

ADA DIKE

Due to the love he has for his country, at 70, which is regarded as the age for retirement, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) unveiled a book which contains his thoughts on a new Nigeria.

Titled: “Nigeria: The Unfinished Business” Selected speeches of Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, the book presentation took place on Monday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

In his speech, Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Uma Eleazu, expressed gratitude for being the chairman of the occasion and spoke extensively on issues affecting Nigeria. He noted that he’s a Nigerian “because Ohafia where I come from was included as part of Nigeria by the British.”

While reviewing the 260-page book which contained about 21 selected speeches of Admiral Kanu, former Deputy Managing Director of ThisDay Newspapers, Rev. Okey Ifionu, said the book under review was in the words of the editors "an encapsulation of Admiral Kanu's thoughts on a new Nigeria and the Igbo nation; his vision and roles as a stakeholder, having at different times served as the military governor of the old Imo state and Lagos state, and more recently as the chairman of Ohan'eze Transition/Caretaker Committee."

The member of the Editorial board of The Union eulogised his speech and added that: “In speech after speech, Admiral Kanu's candour, nationalistic fervour and versatility stand out like an electric lamp in pitch darkness. The consistency and continuing relevance of his views despite the passage of time are remarkable. Some of the views he expressed decades ago remain as pertinent today as they were when he first expressed them. You may or may not agree with his thoughts on what is wrong with Nigeria and his prescriptions for fixing them but his persuasiveness is endearing,” said Ifionu.

He however stressed that: “You will certainly find some controversial but highly thoughtful and original positions by Admiral Kanu on a number of national questions. He pulls no punches and can be brutally frank on some of the issues that some would consider too prickly. Not every reader would accept his position on June 12 or the Ohan'eze crisis. His speech at the 2004 edition of the Wole Soyinka Annual Lecture, from which the title of this book is taken, is exceptionally thought-provoking. So are his submissions on the clamour for a sovereign national conference. No less imaginative are his prescriptions for a more functional federalism.”

The Vicar of Emmanuel Anglican Church, Anglican Communion, Railway Compound, Ebute Metta, Lagos, noted that restructuring Nigeria through the convocation of a sovereign national conference is one of Admiral Kanu’s concerns. He eulogised authors -Messrs Ogbonna Oleka, Ndubuisi Ofondu and Kalu Onuma for selecting the right title for the book.

He recommended the book to everyone who needs to know more about Admiral Kanu, Nigeria and the forces that shape it.

In his remarks, Kanu thanked the guests who honoured him by their presence. He thanked his colleagues in Nigerian Navy, especially, those that “are also still in this struggle for a better Nigeria, where justice and egalitarianism will hold supreme.

“I will not make too much statement today because I have a lot to do, using The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), to make this country better. As 2014, when Nigeria would attain 100 years of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates and 2015 general elections are around the corner, we are at the crossroad.

“Nigeria is just a coin with two faces. It is on its edge. One face will be peaceful through dialogue, reconciliations, talking to ourselves and telling ourselves the truth among other tools of working to live as one. The other face is non-peaceful but we pray to God we will not get there. But if by chance that we get the non-peaceful face, it will be bad, but we must get back to the other face because there is still much holding us together, except that we cannot just stay together without making the right type of progress,” he said.

The first governor Imo State and former governor of Lagos State (1977 to July 1978) called for restructuring and true federalism. He stressed the need to fashion out a nation-state that everyone should be proud off.

Nigerians from all walks of life attended the occasion and they among others included: former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Minister of Information, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Uma Eleazu, former Attorney-General of old Imo State, Chief (Barr) K.K. Ogba, former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, NADECO Chieftain and Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa.

Others were: Ejike Onyia, Chief Emma Nnadi, Dr. John Abelu, Emeka Etiaba, Guy Ikokwu, Barr Fred Agbeyegbe, Rear Admiral Ojoja, Ikechukwu Emenike, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Reginald Ihejiah, Managing Director/CEO, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Alex Otti, Mrs. Ngozi Omerua, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Hon. Oseleka Obase and Chief Ikechi Emenike.