USA Africa Dialogue Series - UPDATE 05: On Pledges for Restoration of Zik's Head and Mausoleum in Onitsha; Pledge: $2,300.

  

AUGUST 19, 2010

 

 

Dear All:

 

The pledges so far are as follows, and have now reached $3,360 from 33 donors, which, at $1 to N150,  amounts to N504,000.  That is, we have reached the half-a-million naira pledge level!

 

S/N	Donor	Amount US$	Comment	Status of Pledge
1	Aluko, Mobolaji	150
2	Ojo, Valentine	50
3	Ojedokun, Olu	40	BP25
4	Nwakanma, Obi	100
5	Madu, Abraham	50
6	Kolawole, Suji	200
7	Ogundimu, Folu	100
8	Edosomwan, Charles	100
9	Igietseme, Joe	100
10	Chief Gemologist	50
11	Ekechi, Felix	50
12	Aina, Tade	100
13	Udogu, Ike	100
14	Zakari, Aisha	100
15	Raji, Taju	50
16	Kuforiji, Kayode	50
17	Anonymous	67	N10,000
18	Mensah, Edward	50
19	Gyasi, Kwabby	50
20	Onyegbula, Festus	100
21	Mustafa, Salihu	100	N15,000
22	Garba, Lawal	50
23	Olajide, Saheed	50
24	Adeniyi, Michael	100
25	Kassim, Ola	100
26	Viscount Slim	43
27	Nwosu, Okenwa	250
28	Egbo, Benedicta	100
29	Osunsan, Rotimi	100
30	Williams, Dapo	160	BP100
31	Aghadiuno, Eric	150
32	Babajide, Ibukunolu	100
33	Dawodu, Segun Toyin	100
34	Akuechiama, Jude & Ebere	200
35	Anugom, Azuoma	100
	Total So Far	3360

 

This is impressive so far, on Day 4 of Azuoma Anugom's intimation of this Restoration project.  Thanks everyone -   we have exceeded $3,000 PLEDGES, in fact reach half-a-million naira.  Hopefully by September 1, we would have REDEEMED more than $1,000, and by November 1, raised $5 - 6,000 (almost N1 million), to be REDEEMED in time for November 16, which would have been Zik's 106th birthday.  If we raise N1 million by October 1 (50th Independence Anniversary), then it could be an opportunity to highlight an appreciation for Zik's role in that event - among other things.  We might even get some matching funds from Nigeria.

 

Please be generous, all your misgivings notwithstanding.   We will provide details of name to issue check to and address very soon. Your money will be in good hands.

 

I thank you all in advance.

 

 

 

Bolaji Aluko

 

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SOME BACKGROUND

 

   

 Zik's Headless Statue in Onitsha, Anambra State; as it used to be... 

 

On Sun 08/15/10 2:14 PM , Mobolaji ALUKO alukome@gmail.com sent:

 
 
Azuoma:
 
You wrote:
 
QUOTE
 
Anyway, if all fails, I don't mind facilitating the fundraising for the repair and maintenance of this statue. If all diaspora will agree to donate towards this project then I, Azuoma Anugom, will make sure that the statue is repaird and maintained in the name of Nigerians/Igbos in Diaspora. We can set up a committee as well as a  account for this project if everybody is agreeable. What do you guys say?

 

UNQUOTE
 
That picture that The Awka Man from Guangzhou showed was taken in 2006 or so when I toured the South-East, including Okija. I did take more pictures around the very disrepaired Zik Mauseoleum.  I don't know whether that head is back on or not.  If it is not, then it is likely that all else will fail to put it back on - unless the Diaspora raises funds for the project.  Zik just does not appear to be a priority in that neighborhood.
 
Consequently, I pledge $100 to the effort to restore the Zik head at Onitsha. Count me in as a foundation member of the Zik Head & Mauseoleum Restoration Committee, Chairperson: Azuoma Anugom of Orlu.

 
And there you have it.
 
 
Bolaji Aluko

Of Ode-Ekiti, Anambra State
 
 
---------------------
 
Azuoma Anugom wrote:
 
 
Start a lawsuit against who? Repairing this headless Zik statue should be a good PR for Gov Obi. Where is Mazi Odera and Valentine Obienyem (spelling?) and ASA-USA---can you guys do something about this, since you appear to have the attention of Gov Obi?!?!  This statue is in Onitsha, Anambra State. If Nnamdi Azikiwe's family and Onitsha folks, who by the way, are well educated, highly placed---(occupy positions of power and authority) don't care; if the LGA where this statue is erected don't care abou the state of the statue----then the state government should care.  Even if some folks may have a misgiving about the real worth of Zik's contributions to ndi-Igbo, since he was said to have a wider vision ---pan Africanism , pan Nigerianism----he is still an Igbo icon and should be accorded the respect due to him. Heck, where is Dora Akunyili?  Who is in charge of Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism? Btw, why is Ohaneze interested in jumping into endorsing politicians so fast without being interested in maintaining Igbo icons?
 
Anyway, if all fails, I don't mind facilitating the fundraising for the repair and maintenance of this statue. If all diaspora will agree to donate towards this project then I, Azuoma Anugom, will make sure that the statue is repaird and maintained in the name of Nigerians/Igbos in Diaspora. We can set up a committee as well as a  account for this project if everybody is agreeable. What do you guys say?

Azuoma Anugom
~~Adaejiagamba

Life shrinks according to one's courage.  Dare to be remarkable.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Enyimba1ofAba@...
To: IgboEvents@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, Aug 15, 2010 9:14 am
Subject: Re: [IgboEvents:Live] Headless Zik? Re: [IgboWorldForum] PICTURE OF THE WEEK;ALUKO WORSHIPPING AT ZIK,S FEET IN ONITSHA

Azuoma my sister, start a law suite immediately.  This is an insult to Ndi Igbo nile.
 
Enyimba

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Azuoma Anugom <adaejiagamba1@...>
To: IgboWorldForum@yahoogroups.com; igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com; IgboEvents@yahoogroups.com; igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com; WorldIgboCongress@yahoogroups.com ; imostatecongress@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, Aug 15, 2010 10:47 am
Subject: [IgboEvents:Live] Headless Zik? Re: [IgboWorldForum] PICTURE OF THE WEEK;ALUKO WORSHIPPING AT ZIK,S FEET IN ONITSHA

But what happened to the head of the statue? Where is Gov Obi? Ohaneze NdiIgbo, ASA-USA and others? Who erected the statue? Shouldn't this statue which ought to be a national monument be fix/repaired? Was this a true representative of Zik? I mean how can we have a headless Zik statue? This is really embarrassing.

Azuoma Anugom
~~Adaejiagamba

 

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