Abuja has set aside Saturday, October 9, for a night of tributes to honour Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Godwin Kanu, who departed on 13 January 2021, aged 77. It is a day dedicated to memories of the gallant navy chief, who embraced democracy with zeal.
Pan-Igbo Movement Initiative (PiMi), organiser of the event, said it was the least it could do “to honour a man who stood firmly for democracy at great inconvenience in the heady days that preceded civilian rule in 1999”.
“Rear Admiral was a great man who stood up to be counted whenever matters that affected Nigeria were discussed. He acquitted himself creditably in his military career, stood firm in his place discharging his duties gallantly during and after the Civil War,” PiMi Convener, Dr. Iyke Ezeugo said, as he enjoined Nigerians to join Abuja residents to honour Rear Admiral Kanu.
“He was a simple, intelligent, brave man, an outstanding nationalist who left us with an excellent example of service and leadership – speaking only when it mattered and without fear or favour. His sense of purpose and style of engagements in social, political and developmental matters distinguished him.
Born November 3, 1943, Kanu was just 31 when he was appointed to Murtala Muhammed’s Supreme Military Council. Olusegun Obasanjo, who succeeded Murtala in 1976, appointed him military Governor of Imo State (the present Abia, Imo, and parts of Ebonyi states).
He was later Governor of Lagos State. He returned to the Navy as an outstanding Chief with remarkable service medals. He also served with the United Nations Forces in Lebanon.
Kanu is credited with providing the vision, resources and platform for the town planners that prepared the development plan of the old Imo State which Gov. Sam Mbakwe executed to the letter. Kanu increased the number of local government areas in the state to 21 and also established the Imo Broadcasting Service (now Imo Broadcasting Corporation).
After his retirement, he founded RANGK Ltd, a maritime consultancy. He was also Chairman of the Ohanaeze Transition Caretaker Committee, and was Director of Fidelity Bank PLC. Kanu became a top National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain and later the Chairman of the coalition in 2013.
Kanu was married with children. He died of complications from the COVID-19 virus.
He will be buried in his native Isuikwato, Abia State, on October 15, 2021.
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