By Okechukwu Okechukwu
The Association of Nigerian Authors, (ANA), Tuesday, commended the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, for renaming the Anambra International Airport after the celebrated literary giant, Professor Chinụa Achebe.
Soludo had early this month proclaimed that the airport built by his predecessor, Willie Obiano, would henceforth be known as Professor Chinua Achebe International Passenger and Cargo Airport, Umueri.
ANA, in a statement by its President, Camillus Ukah and General Secretary, Maik Ortserga, commended the governor's action, describing it as a message of acceptance, diversity, appreciation and an inspiration to a new generation of writers and thinkers.
"By naming the Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport after our writer hero, Chinụa Achebe, you have included him in the list of nationalists like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Aminu Kanu, Akanu Ibiam, Murtala Mohammed, who have been so honoured in the past by the Federal Government.
"This is a cause for celebration, for it adds spice and novelty to the monotony of political honours in Nigeria. Ours is a philistine society which often honours men and women of wealth and power by naming National monuments after them.
"Honouring our icon on such a grand scale is, indeed, a remarkable departure from the status quo. As an Association that was founded by Chinụa Achebe; one of Africa’s greatest gifts to the literary world, we are very proud of your administration which has also sustained the Chinụa Achebe Prize for Literature to international acclaim".
"It is needless to say that by this latest honour to the champion of social justice, a man who was blessed with a ponderous intellect, delicate personality and goodness of heart, you have consolidated a legacy that will continually speak for your foresight," it added.
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