Former governors of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi and Dr. Sam Egwu, on Sunday kicked against the naming of the state airport after late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo.
Elechi and Egwu spoke on behalf of the Founding Fathers of the state during the Independence Day celebration that took place at the New Government House in Abakaliki.
Speaking earlier, Elechi said: “Ebonyi people are not happy to hear our new airport being called Chuba Okadigbo Airport. Chuba Okadigbo is a great Nigerian but he is not known in Ebonyi State neither will Ebonyi people say this is what he did for them.
“That airport is less than 10kms to the primary school where Offia-Nwali made his marks as a student, that airport is less than 10kms to the road and House of Dr. Offia-Nwali .
“We think it will be more appropriate to name the airport after him and that is the request I am making on behalf of the Founding Fathers and the people of Ebonyi Central Zone.”
On his part, Egwu said: “That airport should be named after Offia-Nwali.”
In his remarks, a member of the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, representing Ezza North and Ikwo Federal Constituency, said National Assembly members from Ebonyi State will sponsor a bill to ensure that the airport is named after Offia-Nwali.
