Federal Government has been urged to declare public holiday over the death of world acclaimed novelist, Chinua Achebe. This call was made Saturday by the Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development.
In a statement signed by Prof. Ebere Onwudiwe, the organisation maintained that the late Ogidi , Anambra State born writer of international repute brought so much honour to the country and therefore should be honoured.
“ There should be a public holiday in honour of Professor Chinua Achebe whose integrity and courage in the service of our father land was nonpareil. The day should be named ‘Chinua Achebe Day.”
The statement reads: “Few have done more for our international image than Achebe, a great lover of this potentially great and loveable country of ours. The nation must show its gratitude to him.
“Achebe used his God-given talent to fight the good fight. He courageously defended the dignity of Africans against the assaults of some western writers and most importantly against Nigeria’s political leadership that he blamed for most of our national problems.”