Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has renamed the popular Heroes Square Stadium in the heart of Owerri, the Imo State capital, after the late Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu.

Admiral Kanu was the first Military Administrator of Old Imo State and Governor Uzodimma said that the late Naval officer’s administration impacted positively on the economy and infrastructure of Imo State.

At a brief ceremony to receive Admiral Kanu’s corpse on Wednesday at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, as part of activities to mark his Lying-in- State and Commendation Service at the Imo State Government House, Governor Uzodimma said the credit for the Owerri Master Plan goes to Admiral Kanu.

The Governor, therefore, proceeded to rename Heroes Square after the deceased officer - Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Heroes square, noting that the decision was reached after due consultation and application of the Executive Order as it applies to his office.

Governor Uzodimma said that Admiral Kanu was a prominent Igbo son who served his people, his State and the country diligently and that he was instrumental to the return of democracy which Nigeria enjoys today following his involvement and other like minds in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

He said Admiral Kanu will be sorely missed by Imo people, Ndigbo, Nigeria, the Military, particularly the Navy Community, his Civil Society associates and all those who came in contact with him.

The Governor who prayed God for the repose of Admiral Kanu’s soul also commiserated with the family for the loss and asked God to console them.

Earlier when the Military officers took delivery of Admiral Kanu’s corpse which was brought by the Nigeria Air Force Jet, the Commandant, Nigeria Naval College Finance and Logistics, Owerrinta, Navy Capt Usman Masari Bugaje had informed Governor Uzodimma that he had the instructions of his authorities to bring Admiral Kanu’s corpse to the Governor as well as for the family, to confirm that the corpse was his.

Some of the family members who confirmed Admiral Kanu’s corpse at the Airport include Ms. Simone Nnenna Abiona and Kelly Ndubuisi Kanu.

The top military officers who joined Governor Uzodimma at the Airport to receive Admiral Kanu’s corpse were the Commandant, 34 Artillery Brigage, Obinze, Brig-General S.B. Utsha, the Flag Officer commanding Central Naval Command, Yenegoa, Rear Admiral Kennedy Egbuchulem, and the Commandant, Imo State Air Force Command, Group Capt. Idowu Ayo.

Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku, the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, Chief Tony Chukwu, among others.

It was rain of eulogies at the Commendation Service at Government House Chapel, Owerri as the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Prof. Maurice Iwu, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, and Rev. Dr. Eches Divine Eches, Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria Imo State, took turns to laud the great virtues of the deceased.

“Ndubuisi Kanu is a man who represents heroes past. He is an indelible hero of Igbo extraction. He gave Imo the best of services and developed the best Master Plan for Owerri. Ndubisi Kanu is a humble, simple and a thorough bred gentleman,” Prof Njoku who represented Governor Uzodimma said and asked all to pray for the repose of his soul.

Explaining that Governor Uzodimma is determined to restore the Owerri Master Plan as conceived by Admiral Kanu, Prof. Njoku announced again that the governor has renamed the Heroes Square in Owerri after Admiral Kanu.

“It is now to be known and called Ndubuisi Kanu’s Square.”

In his funeral oration, son of the former First Lady of Imo State, Mr. Kelly Ndubuisi Kanu said their father left a huge shoe difficult for them to fill, noting that they “will try their very best and with God’s guidance not to disappoint” their late father.

He thanked Governor Uzodimma and the people of Imo Abia and Lagos States for honouring his father and for the befitting burial.

Business mogul, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu in his tribute described Admiral Kanu as “one of the greatest things that happened to Igboland.”

“He is a man of courage and valour who served old Imo State, Igboland and Nigeria in general with all his heart.

“Kanu was very intelligent, a foundation member and an elder of Imeobi of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,” Iwuanyawu explained.

Former Governor of Imo, Ikedi Ohakim, described late Admiral Kanu as an “administrator par excellence and icon, a man of pedigree who gave Imo a befitting foundation.”

To Prof. Maurice Iwu, a former INEC Chairman, “Admiral Kanu is a man of many parts who means different things to different people. The Master Plan Ndubuisi Kanu drew for Imo State is what the state is using up to today.”

The Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, Imo State Chapter, Rev. Dr. Eches Divine Eches, described him as a “rare gem who believed and trusted God in all he did.”

The Chief of Naval Staff represented by Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Yenogoa, Rear Admiral Kennedy Egbuchulem, in his message described Admiral Kanu as one of their finest who left a lot of challenges to the officers following them behind.

He pointed out that in the places Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu served “his left legacies are worthy of emulation.”

•PHOTO: L-R; Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, Flag Officer, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Kennedy Egbuchulem, Governor Hope Uzodimma, Ms Simone Nnenna Abiona, Kelly Ndubuisi Kanu, Brigade Commander, 34Fab Obinze, Brig Gen Rtd Utsaha, Airforce Commander, 211 Regiment, Owerri Group Captain Idowu AYO and others watches as the Governor addresses the people as he receives the body of late Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri

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