Pascal Arogorn Ibe
The statue of a pioneer President of Nigeria , the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, has been burnt by hoodlums infiltrating
EndSARS protesters in Onitsha , Anambra State .
The statue was at Denis Memorial Grammar School Roundabout, Awka Avenue , Onitsha, known as Zik Roundabout.
While vandalising the effigy , the protesters were heard shouting , “ You put us in this mess by championing one Nigeria , ” “ You are the cause of our trouble , ” amongst other uncomplimentary remarks.
Narrating the incident, a kinsman of Azikiwe , Victor Ononye, described the incident as heresy and sacrilegious.
He said , “ The Right Hon Dr Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe , the first President of Federal Republic of Nigeria , must be expressing regrets wherever his spirit is , for attracting independence to Nigeria .
“ What happened at the DMGS Roundabout, Onitsha , which I saw with my own eyes evoked tears.
“ Miscreants, hoodlums , gutter snippers, loafers , charlatans , nitwits , nincompoops and bastards besieged the statue , hung a used tyre on his neck , poured petrol and set it on fire .
“ They decapitated his hand and went away with his title staff . That was the height of ingratitude by the bastards who are ignorant of history
“ They descended on the various items used for decoration of the site and tore them to pieces. They were few in number. Why the police, who were a stone’ s throw away to the roundabout , could not intervene was a mystery .
“ I saw two vigilante men brandishing rifles and riding on a motorcycle . They stopped and the boys hailed them and they drove off . ”
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