In Lagos, Ogidi Union celebrates Chinua Achebe

SONS and daughters of Ogidi resident in Lagos State, under the aegis of Ogidi Union of Nigeria (OUN) at the weekend organized a service of songs in honour of one of their most illustrious sons, the literary icon Prof. Chinua Achebe, who passed on recently. At the event, which was held at W Close, FESTAC Town at the weekend, speaker after speaker eulogized Chinua Achebe whom they called “the man that put Ogidi on the world map of literature and culture”, “the Bishop who used all his novels to preach to Nigerians and the world.”. According to Rev. Kenneth Nwanonye Osita of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Igbobi, who preached at the service, “the late Chinua Achebe used his novel Things fall Apart to prophecy to Nigeria and now things have begun to fall apart in Nigeria and the people are No Longer at Ease. He said Achebe was a man who hated evil but pursued good. “His death came at God’s own time’, Osita said. He urged Nigerians and particularly, the people of Ogidi to respect Achebe and glorify God and use their God- given talent to inspire and motivate humanity just like Achebe did Also speaking, Chairman, Organizing Committee and Vice-President, OUN Lagos branch, Chief Clement Chukwuka, said the service of songs was held in Achebe’s honour as one of the founders of the organisation, “and to tell the world that the finest hero that put Ogidi Town in the world and indeed, our great Iroko tree is gone. “It is to celebrate the success story of the great legend and icon, who came, saw and conquered the world. “It is also to thank God for blessing Ogidi Town and Nigeria with the greatest gift of Achebe as a super brand,” he added

By Adeniyi Adunola and Adebisi Olonade