The mausoleum is the final resting place of the former President of Nigeria, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who died in 1996, which was first awarded by the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
This is the fourth time the Federal Government is awarding the contract for the construction of the mausoleum at Zik’s Inosi Onira residence in Onitsha.

Project Co-ordinator of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Pat Odogwu, who handed over the project documents to Bouygues construction company at Onitsha, said the project was re-awarded to the company because of its competence and technical expertise.
-Guardian

By Ikechukwu Enyiagu | NNP | Sept. 3., 2012 -

Having said this, I would like to point to a few names of the so-called Igbo leaders and elders whom I remember now: All the five (5) South-East Governors (past and present), all the Tradition Rulers (appointed or inherited), all Senators (past and present), all National House of Assembly members (past and present), all State House of Assembly members (past and present), all Igbo/Biafra Ministers (past and present), all Igbo/Biafra Commissioners (past and present), all Igbo/Biafra Ambassadors (past and present), all Igbo/Biafra politicians in places of authorities, all Igbo/Biafra Human Rights activists, all Igbo/Biafra internationally acclaimed scholars, all Igbo elders (men and women), all Igbo Religious Bodies (Christianity and traditional), all Igbo “Ziks” of Nigeria, all Pro-Biafra groups, etc. I see Biafra here! One more thing I see is the death of Zikism (which true meaning and processes only amount to an extinct Igbo/Biafran race), whatever that means to other people. I see the doom of all Igbo “Ziks” of Nigeria. I see the shame of those who have always thought that their financial, gun-propelled and abominable political, traditional and religious powers are both the enslavement and the destiny of the abused, insulted, shamed, massacred, and disgraced; marginalized, denied, bound and compelled Igbo/Biafrans.

I see the Spirit of Biafra defying all injustices, all falsehood, all obstructions, all oppositions, and “all that money can buy,” to stand in the lead of the peoples’ desire for freedom, justice, peace and prosperity. I see Igbo/Biafran children/youths, who have endured the burden of the stranger so much so that they now preferred death (if destiny desires it so) than to keep drowning in unreasonable and senseless silence over the silence, wickedness, self-alone attitude, total abandonment, open insult, callousness, arrogance, pride and Godness of those who have made themselves/been declared Igbo leaders I see them  rise up even as the locust upon a green field, to devour all trees of unrighteousness and silence all voices of the enemy. Like that old wicked man, who wasted the goodwill, love and respect of his people, I see our elders, who have ignored, neglected, abandoned, suppressed, threatened, and silenced the cries of our people for Biafra, our only freedom and peace, being held down and made so helpless, hopeless and ashamed right before all – young and old alike.

I see a man like Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State (The Eastern Heartland) being swallowed by his plots which he started even in the secret and tried to cover with his philanthropic veils. I see his desire to change the God of his people and to fully manifest as an Antichrist, right in the middle of a God-fearing people, being shattered, and all his nakedness being revealed to all – enemies and friends alike. I see him and all he has ever worked for being swept away by the flood of the anger of the Spirit of Biafra and His children. I see a man like Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, the man who erected a job-creating structure States away from his people, those he declared himself humble, loving and understanding enough to lead aright; the leader who chose his business interests over the salvation of his people, and who would sell, not just his family but his kinsmen to his taskmaster; I see him rot in the burning fire ignited by the spirit of the love of money.  I see this man who is so deceitful and cunning enough to have declared himself a son to our father, late General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu; fatherless and childless. Then I see the Orjis of Abia, who have the blessed made Abia State worse than an European dustbin, and their people, beggars on the highways of Europe; I see these people being destroyed from within and by those they have stolen and killed and oppressed for. For the Elechi of Ebonyi State, who shouted that, “instead of a divided Nigeria, the Igbo should continue being killed in their numbers;” I see him as a man who enters his grave by stoning. I see a man who went home as a bat, usu na abughi anu elu ma obu anu ala. Knowledge abounds! When will men use it! I see a sick man who, like others before and with him, has been silent and has tried to silence the voice of the Spirit of Biafra, in Enugu government house. If the complacence of King Ahab over his wife who helped to bring the anger of God on the people of Israel was not enough excuse for innocence, those leaders who are silent will be silenced. I see those women who are being cheered by all nationally and internationally, who have grown proud and above their husbands and elders, who no longer understand that motherhood is the mother of all nor do they respect the Igbo/Biafra Spirit; I see them cry even for their own children. When a woman loses the child she loves so much, a greater part of her world comes to an end.

For those who speak of “Offor na Ogu,” of Obi na Offala,” or Nze na Ozor,” yet would not do what the land says, I see men who the land kills with merciless anger. For some of our leaders who are so educationally all-knowing, internationally worshipped, who have decided that Igbo/Biafra freedom would be nothing but a history in books and movies, I see men and women in fine robes who suddenly find themselves disrobed, naked, and unknown. Worse off, I see men, who have begun and given all for the cause of Igbo/Biafra freedom, but who have suddenly turned back and surrendered themselves and those who believed in them to the very enemy; I see them wander the earth like the Cains of our days and I see men despise even bringing about their death. Those who claim to be the eyes and ears of God in Igbo/Biafra yet have only succeeded in defrauding my people and making matters worse for them, they are all left alone to their shame! I see them asked to prove their sources and I see their failure trigger mass exodus.

Like Amaziah unto Amos, many would say, “you seer, leave us alone, go to other place and see!” Well, I will answer them thus:  To the men who would not want justice to reign, may justice be denied them. To those who hate the truth, let everything around them bring them messages of falsehood, deceit and death. To those who would rather that I be shut up, let everything that God has created and given freely, and all that man has made, deny you access of usage. To all the leaders who, after having seen the wickedness of Nigeria and its government on/against the remnants of Igbo/Biafrans, still looked the other way; to you may your sources of hope and joy be your sure sources of public shame and destruction. To the elders who have declared that Israel should rather remain in Egypt than leave, may your sons and daughters, whom you raised in the way of your abominations and under the foundations of your wickedness, be enslaved as men were in Egypt, and may you be unable to deliver them. To our elders (men and women) who would rather encourage their children into individual crimes instead of standing up as one voice to demand the future of their children from the hand of Pharaoh,  the Lord remind you of Moses’ mother and of Joseph’s father. And if you will not repent and stand up as one, may you be judged as Jezebel was and disgraced as Herod. To all elders in Igbo/Biafra who have worked and continue to work, in any way, against the freedom of Igbo/Biafra, and against the realization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, away from Nigeria, by their silence, selfish and callous representations, let your children deny you and your wives/husbands divorce you. Let your family, kindred and town renounce you. And let children, all over Biafraland, use your names bywords and curse-words in their songs to remind the generations to come of how abominations were removed from Igbo and Biafraland.

I see Biafra here! I see it come. I see the Spirit leading once again and I see every true Igbo/Biafran sons and daughters following right behind. The days of ignorance are gone; the days of pity are gone. The days of silence and submissive slavery are gone. The chains of silence are broken and the people long-enslaved have seen the light of freedom. Who can stop them from being free! Let heaven and earth pass away if the peace that God has promised his people through His word do not come upon us who belong to Him. Let those who have made pacts with the devil to ensnare all of us ensnare only themselves. Let those who have made pacts and agreements with the enemy, using the lives of our people, be used as the sacrifice instead because our people are forever delivered. To all leaders/elders in Igbo/Biafraland who have worked in ignorance till now, but who would want to be on the side of good history, turn around now and face the Spirit of Biafra, the spirit of peace and freedom for the Igbo, for the Biafrans, and for all those oppressed and compelled to remain silent. No! I see Biafra here. I see the Spirit of Biafra, and He is here to stay!

Head of the Department of Monuments Heritage and Sites at the National Commission for Museum and Monument, Mrs. Adama Muhammed, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.

Murtala Mohammed was killed on February 13, 1976 in an abortive coup and buried in Kano, while Nnamdi Azikwe, who was the first Nigerian President, died on May 11, 1996 and was buried in Onitsha.

The late Balewa the only prime minister of an independent Nigeria died on January 15, 1966 and was buried in Bauchi and his tomb had since become a tourist attraction.

Oloibiri is a small community in Ogbia Local Government Area in Bayelsa, Niger Delta region of Nigeria, where oil was first discovered in commercial quantity on January 15, 1956 by Shell Darcy.

Muhammed said NCMM had been working on about 24 heritage sites in the country, to make them fit to be declared national heritage sites.

She said the NCMM had succeeded in establishing 65 monuments.

“NCMM has the power to declare monuments because of their standing value in the areas in which they are found.

“We maintain the monuments and artifacts; we give licenses and permit private and local governments that want to establish museums to do so,” she said.

-Punch

•Azikiwe Photo:The Sun Publishing More Stories on This Section

‘Y ar’Adua increased our stipend and approved cars for us to be changed after every five years, but up till now, not even the old stipend, was paid to us for the past two years and the cars are yet to be given to us.’ The failure to pay stipend to widows of the country’s deceased Heads of State can be classified as a dereliction on the part of whoever is responsible. This is especially so when the promise of the said stipend and renewable car gift, was made by a presidential fiat, courtesy of the former president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

In this interview, Prof. Uche Azikiwe, widow of the first president of Nigeria and Governor-General, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owelle of Onitsha, laments the non payment of stipend as well as provision of five yearly renewable car gift approved by Yar’Adua. She alleges that they have not received a dime from the Federal Government since 2009.
Excerpts;

Recently you cried out about the delay by the Federal Government in the completion of the mausoleum to immortalize your husband
I have always said that I am a Christian and believe in God. I also believe that the Federal Government that started the project will one day complete it, because it is something that is worthy to be completed. Government is doing a lot of other things, otherwise to complete the mausoleum wouldn’t have been delayed. Any person coming to Nigeria would want to find the resting place of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. It is not a good intention for government to see it abandoned like that. From my investigation, I was also informed that almost every other year the government budgets for that mausoleum to be completed. My problem is that there is no work going on there. I hope that this time around it will not go like other years after announcing it and publishing in the newspapers and at the end, nothing will come out of it. I pray that there will be no more stories on that mausoleum as they have started.

I also pray that the minister in charge who is a woman, Ama Pepple, that there should be a change of attitude to that mausoleum. I believe a woman will do exactly what her ministry presented to government. I sincerely beg the minister to see the project completed during her tenure. Let it not be like the old stories, women are usually more dedicated when it comes to issues of this nature, I believe that Pepple will ensure the mausoleum is completed and on time.

Allowances to widows of late Presidents, heads of state
Another thing I want to say is the allowances, allowances paid spouses of deceased Presidents and Heads of State. It is saddening that in 2010 we were not paid a dime, in 2008, Yar’Adua increased our allowances to be reviewed every five years. We were all happy, the six of us including Mrs. Yar’Adua now. But since 2008 of that presidential magnanimity till now, the cars are yet to be given to us. Our allowances were not paid in 2010 before we begin to think of our cars being renewed every five years. Information reaching us was that the National Assembly trimmed down the budget of the SGF because the affairs of spouses of decreased President and Heads of State is under the office of SGF. It is incredible and unbelievable that it is only the allowance of widows of dead Heads of State of this country was affected by the National Assembly’s trimming down of the SGF’s budget.

We will apply and they will tell us there is no money, so, I hope National Assembly will rescind their decision. Let them spell out the stipend of spouses of former Heads of State. We are begging them and appealing to people who will reach them to help us to enable them pay us our stipends and also give us the cars.Yar’Adua approved. We applied, we wrote to him, few months later, he reviewed our allowances upwards with a car renewable every five years.

Medical attention overseas
We also requested for medical attention overseas, two weeks vacation abroad and a vehicle.
He graciously approved a vehicle but since 2008 till 2011 we have not been given the vehicle, 2010 allowance not paid. I am begging on behalf of five others that National Assembly should do something to change our standard of living because, it is not easy to take care of the premises and other domestic issues affecting us

-Sun

Professor Uche Azikiwe, former dean, Faculty of Education,University of Nigeria, Nsukka and widow of the late first President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, said she never imagined that Zik’s dreams for Nigeria would be unfulfilled 51 years after.

She said: “I had thought that Nigeria would have become a leading nation in the world, the giant of Africa in the real sense. There is nothing preventing Nigeria from achieving the tall dreams of the founding fathers. I believe Nigeria will achieve the dream of the founding fathers. It has all it takes in terms of manpower and natural resource to achieve greatness, but sadly, we are yet to achieve greatness. I am optimistic that Nigeria will achieve the dream of the founding fathers.”

A renowned poet, Mr. Odia Ofeimun and the country’s leading opposition party, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, agreed with Mrs Azikiwe’s view.

Ofeimun lamented that since independence in 1960, Nigeria’s story had been one of dashed dreams.

He said: “The story we have had to tell till this moment is the story of great dreams that were dashed. And, if you cast your mind back to those early years, you will understand that the British deliberately created a society that would live in division, a society that will always be against itself and our leaders could not resolve their differences enough.”

ACN, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the country had little or nothing to celebrate at 51 because she failed to realise the dream of her founding fathers.

It said that all hope was not lost, provided the leadership and the citizenry would roll up their sleeves and put their shoulders to the wheel.

Lai said: ‘’There is so much work to be done if we are to even begin the journey to where we are supposed to be as a nation after 51 years of nationhood.”

But we can only do that if we tell ourselves the truth, instead of engaging in sophistry. That truth is that in these past 51 years, we have fallen short in almost all aspects of our national life.’’

ACN said perhaps the biggest problem was the mediocrity of the country’s successive leadership, which it said had led to a lack of vision and little or no development, especially if Nigeria was placed side by side with the countries that gained independence about the same time as she did.

‘’Without a bright and brave leadership to steer the affairs of state with a rare vision, courage and selflessness, our country has failed to meet the yearnings of the citizenry in the areas of welfare and security; infrastructure, rule of law, transparent election, economic growth and overall development.

‘’Today, our country is at the very bottom of every ranking by development agencies, no thanks to our low marks in all the relevant indices. Security is almost non-existent as life has become so short and brutish for hapless citizens, in the face of unrelenting kidnapping, armed robbery, ethno-religious crisis and extra-judicial killings.

‘’Those who are lucky to escape being mowed down by armed robbers, kidnappers and sect killers are not spared a gruesome fate on the roads, which have become death traps due to years of neglect. Nothing signifies the near total collapse of our infrastructure than the parlous state of our roads nationwide,’’ the party said.

It said despite the phony statistics being reeled out by the government of the day indicating economic growth, the people have yet to experience a better life, as their dining tables are becoming leaner their pockets emptier. ‘’For a country that has earned billions of naira in oil revenue, this is nothing short of a disaster, and the only explanation could be the massive, mindless corruption that has seen a huge chunk of the national wealth siphoned off by fat cats – while successive governments have failed to tackle the corruption canker-worm!

‘’In spite of the mouthing of the rule of law by successive administrations, the rule of law has been turned to the rule of the jungle, with dire consequences for all. Worst of all, the judiciary that has being the last hope of the common man is now on the verge of being destroyed by those believe it must either serve them or serve no one!

‘’Yes, we have somehow managed to remain united even after a devastating civil war, and have always managed to pull back from the brink. But the simple test of the state of our nationhood today should be measured by the answer to the following question: Are we better off today than we were in 1960?’’ ACN said.

-Vanguard

      Your excellency, there is no doubt that you are having a great opportunity to make your mark in sands of time in leading a country which is complex with several diversity of two hundred and fifty ethnic groups, with four hundred distinct languages. The country with over one hundred and sixty population that makes her the most populous and largest democracy in Africa. With update information we lay our hands on in heaven, non out of the forty-seven countries that make up Europe and non of the all fifty-four African countries and a couple of disputed territories (Western Sahara and Somaliland), and South Sudan-the Africa’s newest “baby” officially born on July 9, 2011 can withstand what God have blessed this country in terms of abundant natural and human resources. With all these in place, Nigerians does not deserve to live in poverty, darkness, fear, stress, complexity, confusion and frustration, unemployment and underpaid. Even Denmark, which is regarded as the happiest country in the world according to the U.S. government-funded World Values Survey cannot boast one-quarter of Nigeria’s human and natural resources. It is now your responsiblity as the new leader of this crippling giant to make something happens to get her back to its feet.

      Dear President Jonathan, in order to make something happens in this Africa’s hardest job of burden of responsibilities or scopes of duties, you need to be smart, tough, organise, vision of what you want to accomplish in four years (just 1,460 days). You should have integrity driven with more talents and specialists to effect changes that the million of Nigerians are looking for. As a lucky boy that rose from assistant school prefect to senior prefect in your secondary school days, also elevated deputy Governor of Bayelsa state to the Governor, and from Vice-President to the President of Nigeria, so you are lucky as your name implies (Goodluck)  with abundant human and natural resources at your disposal to break the jinx of the past “accidental leaders”. It is now left with your ability without fear or favour to influence, motivate and provide the tools and environment to others so that they can best contribute towards the successful attainment of your goals and pledges made before the elections. You should remember the words of Prof. Chinua Achebe that the major problems of the nation “…is simply and squarely a failure of leadership…there is nothing basically wrong with the Nigeria character”

       Another person that gives vivid description of the country’s past leaders is the new INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, who actually perfomed brilliantly well in the conduct of the recently concluded general elections. He said in a lecture in Abuja that; “If the truth be told, past Nigerian leaders with few exceptions were self-serving rulers, not leaders. Some were even despots… They have generaly lacked vision, focus and selflessness and even enlighted self-interest. Many in leadership positions are unimaginably corrupt, they are greedy, they are vindictive, they are reckless and in many fundamental respects,senseless. Virtualy, whoever has access to power attempts to abuse it.” This year general elections have given bith to a new Nigeria with responsible leaders with integrity, patriotism and accountability. Leadership is about getting things done, getting results and improve performances.

     Your excellency, we do not say that you can change Nigeria in a day, but priority must be given to those needs of Nigerian citizens in order to have a successful term. Abraham Maslow’s needs pyramid explains the levels of human needs pshchological and physical that helps in long way for their survival and in pursuit of happiness. Nigerians need simple things, that is, the basic amenities to give the best quality of life. The very first issue we are appealing you and your Cabinet to find solution to before celebrating the next 51^st independence anniversay is the problem of electricity. This problems have complicate the lives of Nigerians. Electricity has a greater share on the present  problems of Nigeria. Everything on earth is interconnected with everything. If the country’s electricity is undistrupted for months, then the citizens today’s complex lifestyle will give way for necessary soci-political development and economic growth.

       Mr. President, another important issue we are much particular about is the educational sector which the past regimes have not been given necessary priority. Education is the only sector that makes a successful transition from childhood to adulthood where they will become “an impresively confident, knowledgeable, charming, resourceful, problem solver”. Education according to Chris Ormell. The editor of “Prospero” journal is “…pleasant maturation suprises..the young people who emerge should occasion such pleasant suprises, because they will actually enjoy displaying the disciplined envisioning and empathetic mental powers which today’s world so urgently needs, both in relation to things and people”. Education should be made compulsory for all school age children from primary to university level as from the 1^st of October, 2011. New law should be made to prohibit all the school age children from street hawking, loitering or begging for alms during the school hours of specific time. The only solution to poverty is functional and qualitative education. The more educated people are the less they are prone to illness and squalor.

    Your excellence, we have been witnessing widespread abuses, corruption and insecurity of lives and property of Nigerians.  The mission of Nigeria police force is “to deliver qualitative and efficient security and law enforcement services to the citizens of Nigeria” and not extort the poor citizens of hard earn money. The inefficiency of Police regarding maintaining law and order became obvious with the widespread extortion of money from motorist, riotings, kidnappings, killings, institutionalised bribery, election malpractices, frequent armed robbery, torture, harassment and loss of personal liberties and properties. All these problems can be changed if you take the bull by the horn by setting up a committee now to investigate, recommend, and implement within three months on better ways to recruit, train, motivate, renumerate and kit the police force to international standard. Then abolish all illegal road blocks or check points throughout Nigeria and that no policeman or traffic agent must extort or collect money from motorist in any way or any form as from next independence anniversary speech. Hencefort, all fines and any legal transaction of money involving them with the public must be paid to the government accredited or designated banks with appropriate receipts. The use of mobile telephones to record voice and photographs policeman will be at great advantage. Any policeman or group of policemen collecting or found with large sum of money while on duty after all said and done will be summarily dismissed.

     Dear Mr President, another area we jointly agreed for you to look into is the transportation sector. Available, accessible and effective transportation system is an improvement to the quality of life in any community regardless of size and location. Rail transportation is a colonial legacy in Nigeria which your regime have to revive and manage well. With the country’s population, the returns from effective and well managed railway transportation system can provide a free qualitative and functional education to every Nigerian children up to university level to save oil or even gas returns for other investment. Besides, your regime should embark on a National Road Safety Action Plan to be implemented over the next ten years. The aim of this safety plan should be concentrated on four “E” s: engineering, education, enforcement and emergency medical services to reduce roads accident in all our roads. Any expenditure on road safety improvement should be seen as an investment. The country’s growing population needs other new tansportation alternatives. The best ways to touch the people lives at the grass-root level in moving from one area to another is rehabilition, construction and managing of all roads. If all the seven hundred and seventy-four ( 774 ) local governments chairmen newly elected in Nigeria should embark  and maintaining a genuine roads facelift in their areas, then country will be saved to all motorists.

       Finally, President Goodluck Ebele Azikwe Jonathan, the history of great men are often backed by skills, experiences, intelligence, integrity, with the instincts- all combined together to achieve their goals. This last general election has finally put an end to “amala”, “tuwo” and “ogbono” politics in Nigeria. It is now the era of competent, reliable and patriotic politicians. Fighting of corruption have to start with you by declaring your assets, your new ministers and all elected representatives throughout the country. The only way to fight corruption is through transparency and accountability. A smaller, and more focused Cabinet has the possibility of minimizing cost, social complexity and human imperfection. There is also a need for a Sovereign National Conference to address the great issues facing Nigeria as a nation. You have to embark on wide scale  projects on agriculture, turism, oil and gas to boost employment opportunities and find a lasting solutions to Niger-Delta imbroglio. Let all Nigerians know that with love and unity among the Kanuris, the Igbos, the Gwaris, the Yorubas, the Fulanis, the Ijaws, the Hausas, the Urhobos, the Ijaws, the Nupes, the Edos, the Tivs and the Ibibos, we can build a new Nigeria of peace, unity, progress, harmony and development with which no country of the world can withstand.

God bless you and all the people of Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Your sincerely,

Adewale T Akande ( M.ed.Educ.Mgt ),( M.sc.Political Sc.) University of Ibadan.

Author, Educationist and Road Traffic Safety Consultant.

Barcelona, Spain.  Tel: 0034-600877296