Group Urges Ndigbo To Celebrate Leaders

The Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA) in Abia State has urged Ndigbo to always celebrate their heroes while alive instead of eulogising them when they are dead.

In a statement signed by the state PPA Chairman, Mr Emeka Okafor, in Aba on Monday, Okafor said that it was always good to recognise somebody’s contributions for the growth of society and reward him accordingly.

He said such recognition would not only spur the person to do more, but would as well propel others into toeing the same line for the good of humanity.

The chairman described late Prof. Chinua Achebe, as a literary colossus whose works were geared toward the unity of Ndigbo and liberation of mankind.

According to him, the death of the literary giant should serve as a rallying point for Ndigbo.

“Let the death of the literary icon serve as a plank for the unity of the Ndigbo and in that way, his ideals and what he stood for while alive should not have been in vain. “Ndigbo should always learn to respect and honour their heroes while they are still alive instead of pouring encomiums on them when they are dead,’’ he said.

Okafor described Achebe’s death as a great loss not only to Ndigbo but to Nigeria and Africa as a whole.