NewStats: 3,264,196 , 8,182,933 topics. Date: Tuesday, 10 June 2025 at 06:58 AM 3y4sd

The first and second civilian Governors of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi and Senator Sam Egwu, have expressed dissatisfaction over the renaming of Ebonyi Airport from Muhammadu Buhari to Chuba Okadigbo Airport.

According to them, Okadigbo never contributed to solving the problems of the Ebonyi people.

Chief Elechi stated this during the epoch-making occasion of the celebration of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary and the 27th Anniversary of the Creation of the State.

According to Elechi, who spoke on behalf of the founding fathers, Buhari assisted them during the problems and provided security during the struggle for the creation of the state.

He, however, called on the federal government to rename the airport after the late Senator Offia Nwali, an Ebonyian and the first black man to obtain a PhD in Computer and Analytical Studies from the United States of America.

“Ebonyi people are not happy to hear our new airport being called Chuba Okadigbo Airport. Chuba Okadigbo is a great Nigerian, but he is not known in Ebonyi State, and neither will Ebonyi people say this is what he did for them.”

“When I was Secretary of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Okadigbo was vying for the Senate. We were friendly. All I is that he used to visit me at 5 Igboeze Street, Enugu, and we would sit over a bottle of brandy until the bottle was empty.”

“We didn’t talk about Ebonyi people, their problems, or their solutions. Understandably, General Muhammadu Buhari knew our problems.”

“When he was the Brigade Major in Abakaliki, he gave us the that enabled us to go to Ogoja to plead our case. He assisted us to an extent with security personnel over what we were doing to create Ebonyi State.”

“We love him, and it was proper to name the airport after him. But since he didn’t accept it, we think the airport should be named after someone else.

“That airport is less than 10 km to the primary school where Offia Nwali made his marks as a student; that airport is less than 10 km to the road and the house of Dr Offia Nwali.”

“We think it will be more appropriate to name the airport after him, and that is the request I am making on behalf of the founding fathers and the people of the Ebonyi central zone,” he said.”

On his part, Dr Sam Egwu, who condemned the renaming of Abakaliki Street in Anambra State, urged Governor Nwifuru to rename Awka Street in Abakaliki.

Meanwhile, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, the Member Representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, assured the Ex-Governors and founding fathers of sponsoring a bill with the of the National Assembly to ensure that the airport is named after the late Senator Offia Nwali.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/name-airport-after-offia-wali-ex-govs-tell-nwifuru/

After all the same Anambra people and SE people are hostile and antagonistic to the completion of an airport in their sister state.

Let it be renamed to a proper Abakaliki man and former Senator representing Abakaliki bloc in Nigeria Senate during the 2nd Republic.

A true Ebonyi founder and Leader. May His soul rest in peace.

Thank you Ex Ebonyi Governors for this suggestion to Nwifuru on Independence Day Celebration.


After all Anambra State Government named their own state airport after their son and image maker Chinua Achebe.

Let Ebonyi and Abakaliki people do the same.

At least if the antagonism from our SE brothers continue, we will still be retaining the airport name to our Founding Father of our State.

I like as the Akwa street in Abakaliki is also in consideration to be renamed after Abakaliki street was renamed in Anambra state.


Who do first no dey pain!

Ndi Abakaliki has the capacity to respond in full force!

Ebonyi people and the cry of marginalization is 5&6. They prefer the airport to named after a Fulani man rather than after an Igbo man. After people will ask why are igbos segregation against ebonyians. I wonder why the renaming of abakaliliki street still dy pain una people. Pls find one street and rename we don't care. Anything wey no be money no be us we dey follow talk

Solsix:
Ebonyi people and the cry of marginalization is 5&6. They prefer the airport to named after a Fulani man rather than after an Igbo man. After people will ask why are igbos segregation against ebonyians.

Nigeria oppresses Igbo people and Igbo people oppress Ebonyi and Abakaliki people.

Tit for tat. Do me another person do you.

Please before commenting, the source of the story is tribune newspapers. Those who know , know

Wujio:
Igbos and long term brotherly hatred

Why will our brothers be insulting our newly built international airport? Did we steal their money to build it? Did we insult their Anambra airport or Enugu airport or imo airport when it was built?

kettykin:
Please before commenting, the source of the story is tribune newspapers. Those who know , know

keep deceiving yourself. I attended this Independence Day parley as I’m a PA and I heard it from the microphone LIVE!

I’m in Abakaliki.

Ebubu:
Nigeria oppresses Igbo people and Igbo people oppress Ebonyi and Abakaliki people.

Tit for tat. Do me another person do you.

Nobody is oppressing any Ebonyi, rather they feel oppress or can you give me instance where other Igbo states have oppressed ebonyians?

Ebubu:
Nigeria oppresses Igbo people and Igbo people oppress Ebonyi and Abakaliki people.

Tit for tat. Do me another person do you.

I am not igbo but i challenge the claim that igbos oppress Ebonyi in todays day and age. Please itemize five ways current igbo crop oppresses Ebonyi in 2020-2023

Well, you can't blame them. Soludo took the cold war to a whole new dimension by classifying criminals caught in Anambra by their state of origin.


However, I don't think anybody renamed "Abakiliki Street" in Awka. E still dey very popular even now..

Airport renaming is the new thing en vogue for lazy politicians.

Build your own legacy project and name it as you like instead of this petty actions.Check my signature for free stuffs.

Solsix:
Ebonyi people and the cry of marginalization is 5&6. They prefer the airport to named after a Fulani man rather than after an Igbo man. After people will ask why are igbos segregation against ebonyians.

I thought u guys always claim there is no segregation...

Did they talk when it was named after Buhari?

Solsix:

Nobody is oppressing any Ebonyi, rather they feel oppress or can you give me instance where other Igbo states have oppressed ebonyians?

Calling a people Fulani of the South East and calling them primitive is not marginalization ?

Calling them backward and calling them Osu or slave is not marginalization ?

Not building roads and schools and hospitals in Abakaliki province during its stay under East Central Government is not marginalization ?

Abakaliki province was called dust of the nation until the state was created and named salt of the nation.

Dust of the nation was because dust were everywhere due to absolutely non-tarred road.


Guinea worm and cholera plaqued people of that region when they were under Anambra and Enugu states because of your inability to provide them basic infrastructure and you don’t call that marginalization ?

If it was Nigeria doing same to you, you’d scream Biafra or death ! But you do it to Abakaliki people ?


Renaming of Abakaliki street in Awka because it was booming, to another name is not marginalization ?


Igbo dominated markets in Lagos giving turns to Igbo people of other states minus Ebonyi, to rule as President of the market premises, is not marginalization ?

Lolz

Thank Goodness Nigeria is doing to SE people what they constantly keep doing to us.

Our God is not dead. Our oppressors are oppressed and it is a delight.

jmoore:
Did they talk when it was named after Buhari?

Go and read in the original post why they didn’t talk. There was justification as Buhar who was Military Personnel overseeing Abakaliki bloc in the early 1990s, were assisting the Founding Fathers with security es and military checkpoint right of age as they went about at night canvassing for the creation of Ebonyi State.

Buhari contributed to creation of Ebonyi state.

Wujio:
Igbos and long term brotherly hatred

Yes, Igbos and long-term brotherly hatred; no wonder the Igbos are the ones that opposed the renaming of University of Lagos that is located in Igboland after the late MKO Abiola from Ogun state that is also a state located in Igboland.

The hatred you and your types has for the Igbos will kill you lots if you do not take time.

Ebubu:


Thank Goodness Nigeria is doing to SE people what they constantly keep doing to us.

Our God is not dead. Our oppressors are oppressed and it is a delight.

SE? Ebonyi is where? Not in SE? You are confused.

Dude, go and check your DNA. You called it 'South Yeast' previously.


Igbo blood is not in you. Even Joe Igbokwe won't call southeast 'south yeast'.

Drfernandez:


Yes, Igbos and long-term brotherly hatred; no wonder the Igbos are the ones that opposed the renaming of University of Lagos that is located in Igboland after the late MKO Abiola from Ogun state that is also a state located in Igboland.

The hatred you and your types has for the Igbos will kill you lots if you do not take time.

I'm not yoruba and will mever be.


Focus on the content and save yourself the hypocrisy. Speak about Martin Elechi and Sam Egwus statement concerning the renaming of the airport and dont deflect talking thrash

Wujio:



I'm not yoruba and will mever be.


Focus on the content and save yourself the hypocrisy. Speak about Martin Elechi and Sam Egwus statement concerning the renaming of the airport and dont deflect talking thrash

Does it matter whether you are a Yoruba or not. There is nothing with the demands of the Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi. Only foolish people hate truth.

Wujio:



I am not igbo but i challenge the claim that igbos oppress Ebonyi in todays day and age. Please itemize five ways current igbo crop oppresses Ebonyi in 2020-2023

This is unnecessary.

I am a Cross Riverian and we're closer to Ebonyi people than the rest of the Igbos. I can say with confidence that Igbos hugely undermine their Ebonyi kin. They see them to be "not Igbo enough" and they've always made that abundantly obvious in their dealings. It's the prime reason David Umahi always made it a point of duty to do things differently from other Igbo governors because he always maintained that the interest of his people in Ebonyi supercedes that of Ndi-Igbo.

Una dey treat Ebonyi like adopted siblings.

BoldBrainz:


This is unnecessary.

I am a Cross Riverian and we're closer to Ebonyi people than the rest of the Igbos. I can say with confidence that Igbos hugely undermine their Ebonyi kin. They see them to be "not Igbo enough" and they've always made that abundantly obvious in their dealings. It's the prime reason David Umahi always made it a point of duty to do things differently from other Igbo governors because he always maintained that the interest of his people in Ebonyi supercedes that of Ndi-Igbo.

Una dey treat Ebonyi like adopted children.

List five ways igbos undermine Ebonyi people between 1998 and 2023. I am listening

Drfernandez:


Does it matter whether you are a Yoruba or not. There is nothing with the demands of the Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi. Only foolish people hate truth.

I wont descend to your level. If you consider youself any close to the title in front of your moniker, debate issues with superior arguement.


I only demanded such intellecutual arguement and you call me foolish and the higher mortal. Shame on you

jmoore:
Did they talk when it was named after Buhari?

They did not talk and they told you exactly why. Obviously, Ebonyi people have benefitted more from Buhari's goodwill than they have from Chuba Okadigbo.

BoldBrainz:


This is unnecessary.

I am a Cross Riverian and we're closer to Ebonyi people than the rest of the Igbos. I can say with confidence that Igbos hugely undermine their Ebonyi kin. They see them to be "not Igbo enough" and they've always made that abundantly obvious in their dealings. It's the prime reason David Umahi always made it a point of duty to do things differently from other Igbo governors because he always maintained that the interest of his people in Ebonyi supercedes that of Ndi-Igbo.

Una dey treat Ebonyi like adopted siblings.

Thank you very much my brother for saying the truth.
May God bless you.
May God bless Cross River State.
May God bless Ebonyi State.

Wujio:



List five ways igbos undermine Ebonyi people between 1998 and 2023. I am listening

Scroll back up. Someone else perfectly answered this question. It's too fine a morning for unnecessary repetitions.

BoldBrainz:


Scroll back up. Someone else perfectly answered this question. It's too fine a morning for unnecessary repetitions.

I wont. List them here between 2020 and 2023

BoldBrainz:


They did not talk and they told you exactly why. Obviously, Ebonyi people have benefitted more from Buhari's goodwill than they have from Chuba Okadigbo.

Exactly! I don’t think he read the article otherwise he’d have read how Buhari was instrumental security-wise during the sustained struggle for creation of Ebonyi state and Okadigbo did nothing!

But since Buhari in his simplicity has turned it down! Then let it be renamed into an Ebonyian name and an instrumental founding father of Ebonyi State. Senator Offia Nwali.

Wujio:



I wont descend to your level. If you consider youself any close to the title in front of your moniker, debate issues with superior arguement.


I only demanded such intellecutual arguement and you call me foolish and the higher mortal. Shame on you

Once more, only foolish people hate truth, and only a foolish person will take an offence for being called what he is. Come on, get out of my sight.

Wujio:



I wont. List them here between 2020 and 2023

Calling a people Fulani of the South East and calling them primitive is not marginalization ?

Calling them backward and calling them Osu or slave is not marginalization ?

Not building roads and schools and hospitals in Abakaliki province during its stay under East Central Government is not marginalization ?

Abakaliki province was called dust of the nation until the state was created and named salt of the nation.

Dust of the nation was because dust were everywhere due to absolutely no-tarred road.


Guinea worm and cholera plaqued people of that region when they were under Anambra and Enugu states because of your inability to provide them basic infrastructure and you don’t call that marginalization ?

If it was Nigeria doing same to you, you’d scream Biafra or death ! But you do it to Abakaliki people ?


Renaming of Abakaliki street in Awka because it was booming, to another name is not marginalization ?


Igbo dominated markets in Lagos giving turns to Igbo people of other states minus Ebonyi, to rule as President of the market premises, is not marginalization ?

Lolz

Thank Goodness Nigeria is doing to SE people what they constantly keep doing to us.

Our God is not dead. Our oppressors are oppressed and it is a delight.

Drfernandez:



Once more, only foolish people hate truth, and only a foolish person will take an offence for being called what he is. Come on, get out of my site.

I’ve replied him