Remembering Ndubuisi Kanu one year after

NOT many would forget the role he played in prodemocracy activism and his fight for core values of a greater Nigeria and a devotion of his time to bridging the gap between all ethnic divides in the country.

The former Governor of Lagos and old Imo states, Rear Admiral Ndubisi Kanu, who passed on at the age of 78, after a brief illness on January 13, 2021, was again remembered yesterday for a life well spent in serving the people and uniting the nation during his life time. Kanu was a strong believer and champion of Igbo cause. He was one of the founding fathers of Ndi Igbo in Lagos, a think tank in the economic and professional circles, and was known to have donated his property as the secretariat of the body.

Yesterday, at the one year remembrance service organised by his widow, Mrs. Gladys Ndubuisi Kanu at his Idowu Martins residence in Lagos, his daughter, Samantha Kanu Robert, activist and member of the defunct National Democratic Coalition ( NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun; Alhaja Abimbola Jakande, wife of former Governor of Lagos State, Late Alhaji Lateef Jakande; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN), Lagos, Stephen Adegbite; Bishop, Lagos West, Sunday Oluyemisi Ogunlere and friends of Ndubuisi Kanu graced the occasion.

Speaking at the event, Opadokun described Kanu's death as an unpleasant loss in the history of the nation. He said the late Kanu ought to have been given national honour and state funeral because of what he meant to the nation.

"He was a distinguished patriot, a genuine statesman, nationalist, bold and courageous leader who cherished making life better for the ordinary man, in fact, because of the dedication to the pursuit of the greatest good of the majority, he was humiliated by the Abacha regime. They hunted him and they even behaved as if he was not their superior.

"Most Nigerians wouldn't know that Abacha security agents came here to search his house looking for weapons, saying that Kanu wanted to destabilise their government and when they could not get something here they escorted him to his home town in search of arms. That was a man who was a two time governor, member of the Supreme Military Council and Armed Forces Ruling Council," he said. Alhaja Abimbola Jakande said: "He was a nice, gentle and respected man. I pray that God will grant him eternal rest."

His widow, Gladys, said she will keep on missing him and his memories would always be in her heart.

"I keep missing him every minute. When I was in London last week, we had half of his clothes there and my friends advised me to take the clothes to the Red Cross. I said No. I can't even do that in the next 30 years. I want his clothes to remind me of him," she said.

She has however, in his memory, launched the Ndubuisi Kanu Foundation which she revealed would live up to his legacy by carrying out work based on what he stood for which was democracy, human rights and integrity.

Chief Opadokun: former Group Managing Director of defunct Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Alex Otti, Kanu's daughters, Samantha and Nnena Abiona and his widow, Gladys, are members of the foundation committee.