President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said the Federal Government and the Government of Ghana would collaborate to rebuild the St. Philip’s Central School, Ogidi, Anambra State, where the late Prof. Chinua Achebe had his primary education.

Jonathan made the promise at the church service held for Achebe at Ogidi.

However, the promise fell short of expectations from Achebe’s admirers that expected Jonathan to rename a public institution or a monument after the renowned author.

The literary icon died in Boston, United States last March 21 at the age of 82.

Jonathan, who recalled that Achebe’s first book, Things Fall Apart, written before the country’s Independence in 1960 was prophetic, said his last book, There was a Country was full of lamentations.

The President promised to lead a political and social revolution that would prompt Achebe’s grandson and namesake to write another book that would be entitled, There is a Country.

Describing Achebe as a philosopher, the President said, “He used literature, a subject he loved and knew very well, to philosophise. All of us must work hard to change this country so that Achebe’s grandson will write, There is a Country.

Jonathan also did not make pronouncements as to special projects in Achebe’s geo-political constituency as requested by the Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo.

The church service had President John Mahama of Ghana, six governors, ministers and National Assembly members in attendance.

Various speakers, including Mahama and the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on the occasion eulogised Achebe and his ingenuity as a literary legend and social crusader.

Mahama said though Achebe was a writer, “he was much more than that”, noting that the professor of Literature was active in social crusade, education and other areas of life.

“It is my greatest regret that I met Achebe at the sunset of his life,” Mahama said, and promised to honour Achebe by delivering a lecture at Achebe’s last institution, Brown’s University, Rhode Island in the US.

The Ghanaian president added that his admiration for Achebe was without comparison.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha said Achebe ranked only second to Nelson Mandela in Africa, while the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Viola Onwuliri, said the author of Things Fall Apart boosted the image of Nigeria abroad despite not being a professional diplomat.

The Anglican Archbishop of Aba, Most Rev. Ikechi Nwosu, who stood in for the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, said Achebe was a parable for Nigeria.

He said Achebe’s decision to turn down national honours twice was not an indication that he hated Nigeria, but rather a pointer to the fact that he wanted things done properly in his country.

Nwokolo thanked Jonathan for awarding contracts for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge but called for the construction of a third bridge that would link Enugu and the northern parts of the country

http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-mahama-to-build-school-in-achebes-memory/
http://www.emmanuelbabatunde.com/2013/05/jonathan-mahama-to-build-school-in.html

Wow. Even Ghana is helping to rebuild the school.

Interconnection Achebe. one love and R.I.P my guy. Safe journey to the land of the spirits

Things Fall Apart, rest In Peace Papa.[color=#990000][/color]

GEJ is working... More, more... 2015 uploading

Goodnews!

So it is only when an icon dies that GEJ would think of building/rebuilding schools. SMH

strangest: GEJ is working... More, more... 2015 uploading

Even when GEJ scratches his behind, he is working and 2015 is loading, Useless Sycophants

so?
We wil b invited wen dey wn open am?
Wetn cncern us...no add or remuv 4rm mi

Plz can dey contact me I have mouth watering jobs to give out to ladies

RIP Achebe! Africa's greatest storyteller.

What a life! A life well spent!! Done and Gone!!! The Sweet Sleep!!!! Our mouth is closed as the Iroko tree falls...Our eyes are winking at the library that has burnt down...Our feet is speaking to the great pass away...Our fingers is now learning the ways of the Hero...When tommorrow comes with her riddles; when we can no longer hear the voice of the teacher; when things fall apart and the center can no longer hold; when the ways of man becomes the ways of the ant; when we blame the kite and also blame the chicken; when people begin to gather in the moonlight because of the moon; when people now gather because of hunger; when things is no longer at ease because brother now fear brother; when the lizard can no longer praise and pride in his acrobatic skills; when the young cow now refuses to watch how the mother-cow chews the grass; when the sun begins to rise from the West and sets at the East; when the South wind begins to blow from the North; when we cross over the river to listen to the wisdom of our Hero...only for the Angel to tell us that our Hero is in his paradise with his Maker...What a life? The tree that dances yesterday dies tommorrow; the river that sings today dries tommorrow...Is is true that Chinua Achebe is no more? Is it true that the father of the pen has left his book? Is it true that the Eagle in the Iroko have left his throne? Chinua Achebe is dead? What a life! A life well spent!! Done and Gone!!! ~ By Hillary Oparaodu

Big shame to GEJ and his partner in crime. Next topic pls!

Hilaskee: What a life! A life well spent!! Done and Gone!!! The Sweet Sleep!!!! Our mouth is closed as the Iroko tree falls...Our eyes are winking at the library that has burnt down...Our feet is speaking to the great pass away...Our fingers is now learning the ways of the Hero...When tommorrow comes with her riddles; when we can no longer hear the voice of the teacher; when things fall apart and the center can no longer hold; when the ways of man becomes the ways of the ant; when we blame the kite and also blame the chicken; when people begin to gather in the moonlight because of the moon; when people now gather because of hunger; when things is no longer at ease because brother now fear brother; when the lizard can no longer praise and pride in his acrobatic skills; when the young cow now refuses to watch how the mother-cow chews the grass; when the sun begins to rise from the West and sets at the East; when the South wind begins to blow from the North; when we cross over the river to listen to the wisdom of our Hero...only for the Angel to tell us that our Hero is in his paradise with his Maker...What a life? The tree that dances yesterday dies tommorrow; the river that sings today dries tommorrow...Is is true that Chinua Achebe is no more? Is it true that the father of the pen has left his book? Is it true that the Eagle in the Iroko have left his throne? Chinua Achebe is dead? What a life! A life well spent!! Done and Gone!!! ~ By Hillary Oparaodu

kk

Idi Amin: Big shame to GEJ and his partner in crime. Next topic pls!

Idi Amin: Big shame to GEJ and his partner in crime. Next topic pls!

are you out of your mind?

And tomorrow ghanians will say they have build school in 9ja

A befitting monumental legacy to an ICON!

Idi Amin: Big shame to GEJ and his partner in crime. Next topic pls!

^^^How is it Jonathans' shame?

Rather it's a shame to all Nigerians and specifically the Anambra state gov'ts over the years that did little or nothing to renovate and equip that school as they should; this is inspite of the billions they've received in local gov't allocations over the years.

PS- a big shout out to Ghana for the help!

Achebe should be lesson to all and sundry in that he did not hold any political post but he command respect and honour morethan than the politicalthieves of our time. Jee nke Oma OzoIgbondu

Iaz93: So it is only when an icon dies that GEJ would think of building/rebuilding schools. SMH

That school is not the responsibility of FG he is just rebuilding it for Achebe sake, that school is my ama mata and also where I play football any time I am back home. Peter Obi should be ashamed that the school he neglected for seven years is only getting attention because of Achebe's death, that school is one of the oldest school in the east yet pervious governments pretend as if it doesnt exist. So kudos to FG and Ghana president for the pledge and I pray it will not be just a political promise that will be swept under the carpet.

Hilaskee: What a life! A life well spent!! Done and Gone!!! The Sweet Sleep!!!! Our mouth is closed as the Iroko tree falls...Our eyes are winking at the library that has burnt down...Our feet is speaking to the great pass away... Our fingers is now learning the ways of the Hero...When tommorrow comes with her riddles; when we can no longer hear the voice of the teacher; when things fall apart and the center can no longer hold; when the ways of man becomes the ways of the ant; when we blame the kite and also blame the chicken; when people begin to gather in the moonlight because of the moon; when people now gather because of hunger; when things is no longer at ease because brother now fear brother; when the lizard can no longer praise and pride in his acrobatic skills; when the young cow now refuses to watch how the mother-cow chews the grass; when the sun begins to rise from the West and sets at the East; when the South wind begins to blow from the North; when we cross over the river to listen to the wisdom of our Hero...only for the Angel to tell us that our Hero is in his paradise with his Maker...What a life? The tree that dances yesterday dies tommorrow; the river that sings today dries tommorrow...Is is true that Chinua Achebe is no more? Is it true that the father of the pen has left his book? Is it true that the Eagle in the Iroko have left his throne? Chinua Achebe is dead? What a life! A life well spent!! Done and Gone!!! ~ By Hillary Oparaodu

Could they be typos?

Two thumbs up!

.NET:


Could they be typos?

ur eyes sharp gan ooo

One_Naira: Wow. Even Ghana is helping to rebuild the school.Interconnection Achebe. R.I.P my guy.

what's d meaning of 'even' Ghana?explain urself kwik kwik! na bad thing Ghana do say dem want build school 4 naija pikins dem?

Please name some national monuments after the Father of Modern African literature

Op why are u misleading ppl.d two president only want to build more building and recontrust some dilapitated skul building.na wa o.ppl can lie o.thankGod i was there live

Iaz93: So it is only when an icon dies that GEJ would think of building/rebuilding schools. SMH

Its better to keep quiet than to talk and people begin to worry about your mental situation.

Must someone die before they build school

Why should emphasis be on renaming a public institution or a public monument after Achebe instead of this idea of rebuilding a school which will give the possibility of better education to thousands? This eye service approach that Nigerians promote is disturbing. Renaming a building will not change lives and destinies. A better education WILL !

How i wish gej can implement d second pledge of making his grandson write "there is a country"