President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Governor Liyel Imoke and Governor Rochas Okorocha have expressed shock over the death of Professor Chinua Achebe, describing it a major blow to the country.<\/p>\n
While President Jonathan said he is consoled by the knowledge left behind by the world-renowned writer, Atiku described him as the iroko of integrity.<\/p>\n
In a statement signed by Presidential Spokesman, Reuben Abati, President Jonathan said the works left behind by Achebe will live forever in the hearts of present and future generations throughout the world.<\/p>\n
The President believes that Prof. Achebe\u2019s frank, truthful and fearless interventions in national affairs will be greatly missed at home in Nigeria because while others may have disagreed with his views, most Nigerians never doubted his immense patriotism and sincere commitment to the building of a greater, more united and prosperous nation that all Africans and the entire black race could be proud of.<\/p>\n
He recalls that with maturity and global stature, Prof. Achebe fearlessly spoke the truth as he saw it and became, as he advanced in age, a much revered national icon and conscience of the nation who will be eternally honoured for his contributions to national discourse as well as the immense fame and glory he brought to his fatherland.<\/p>\n
Former Vice President Abubakar described the late Nigeria and Africa\u2019s literary guru, Professor Chinua Achebe, as an icon of unmatched integrity and conviction.<\/p>\n
In a tribute to the late Professor and author of the famous \u201cThings Fall Apart\u201d, the former Vice President recalled how Achebe forcefully rejected and condemned the July 2004 political crisis in Anambra State during, which thugs attempted to remove a democratically elected Governor on the orders of a godfather.<\/p>\n
Based on his convictions and principle, Atiku said the late Professor rejected a national honour conferred on him by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan administrations.<\/p>\n
According to the former Vice President, few Nigerians would have followed the courage of their conviction and reject national honours because of the fear of losing favour from those in power.<\/p>\n
On the literary front, Atiku Abubakar paid glowing tribute to late Achebe\u2019s unquantifiable contributions to African literature.<\/p>\n
He said Things Fall Apart would remain Achebe\u2019s everlasting legacy to literature.<\/p>\n
In Atiku\u2019s words, \u201cthe translation of Things Fall Apart into more than one hundred languages of the world had put not only Nigeria but also Africa on the map, thanks to Achebe\u2019s literary prowess.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former Vice President also praised the lucidity of Professor Achebe\u2019s writing style, which he said, made him one of the most readable and popular authors of the world.<\/p>\n
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ihedioha described the death of foremost literary icon and novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe, as a devastating blow to the country, saying Nigeria has lost a titan of incomparable proportion.<\/p>\n
The Deputy speaker, who expressed immense shock and sadness at the news of Achebe’s demise, said it would be a tough challenge to fill the gap left by the departed nationalist and globally recognized cultural hero.<\/p>\n
He said however that the evergreen impact of the literary icon’s works is a legacy that offers consolation to the Achebe family, Ndigbo, the nation and Africa in general.<\/p>\n
Ihedioha said: “Nigeria has lost a true national hero and a towering titan of inestimable proportion whose works, words, and lifetime continue to prick the conscience of a nation in search of fairness and equity for all and sundry.<\/p>\n
\u201cProf. Achebe lived a Spartan life that mirrored some solutions to the challenges that Nigeria encounters as a nation.<\/p>\n
“His lasting legacies however provide us with a consolation and incentive to put in our individual and collective best at all times to ensure the fulfillment of the dreams of our founding fathers and heroes past including the departed Achebe.<\/p>\n
“May his soul find eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord and my sincere condolences go to the Achebe family, the Ndigbo nation and the country in general.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has mourned the demise of renowned writer, Chinua Achebe.<\/p>\n
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita, Imoke said Achebe was not just an iconic writer but also a moral compass for Nigeria and Africa.<\/p>\n
“His literary offerings made name for Nigeria, while his moral interventions ignited and deepened national discuss on several key issues in the country.<\/p>\n
“Nigeria and Africa has lost her most iconic cultural figure! A writer of whom Nelson Mandela said that ‘in his company, the prison walls came crashing down”, Imoke said.<\/p>\n
He prayed God to grant his family, the literary community and the country as a whole the fortitude the bear the huge loss.<\/p>\n
Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha, the governor of Imo state expressed shock and astonishment the demise of a legend and literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe.<\/p>\n
Prof. Chinua Achebe’s death he said no doubt has created a wide vacuum in the literary world and it is coming at a time when his contribution is needed both nationally and globally for a sense of direction in the art of axiom assimilation.<\/p>\n
Prof. Achebe’s demise is a colossal loss to Nigeria and Igbo nation having contributed eloquently in the education sector and overall nation building through his internationally acclaimed literary works, constructive criticism and of course his uncompromising war against social malpractices across the globe.<\/p>\n
Achebe, a notable literary giant with an extra-ordinary intellectual background, was no doubt an asset to not only Nigeria,but to the international community and his death has created a vacuum in the literary world.<\/p>\n
While His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha sympathize with the members of his family and urged them to bear the loss with fortitude. Okorocha however request the federal government to immortalize his name as a great Nigerian.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Governor Liyel Imoke and Governor Rochas Okorocha have expressed shock over the death of Professor Chinua Achebe, describing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n