“Father of Nigeria”: Igbo Youth Assembly Rejects NYCN Award to Obasanjo, Selects Gowon

By Eleugu Chidi, Owerri

An Igbo socio-cultural organization, Igbo Youth Assembly Worldwide, IYA, has rejected and condemned the award given to the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obassanjo by a factional National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, led by Nihi as the Father of Nigeria.

The group made the refutal during a Press briefing held at the Grace House Hotel, Abakilike, Ebonyi State, recently.

In a Communique signed by the President General, Mazi Ifeanyi Nwaudunna and Secretary General of Igbo Youth Assembly, Comr Casmir Irekamba states that “the award given to Chief Olusegun Obassanjo by the factional National Youth Council of Nigeria as the Father of the Nation is not acceptable by the over 5million Youths of Igbo extraction.

The Igbo Youth Assembly Worldwide however regretted that a leader who could not nip in the bud the problem of Boko Haram at the insipient stage during his administration, but chose to ignore them, as he had said cannot be the Father of the Nation.

They further stressed that a leader who failed to put to rest the issues of June 12 and yet he is the highest beneficiary of the June 12 cannot be the Father of the Nation.

“A man with inordinate ambition for power, cannot be the Father of the Nation. A leader without decorum who speaks from both sides of his mouth, cannot be the Father of the Nation. But Gen. Yakubu Gowon remains the true and patriotic Father of the Nation to any sound mind”, they emphasized.

According to the Assembly, General Yakubu Gowon is a firm and ardent believer of One Nigeria and a man with modest life style who does not tolerate frivolities and criminal enrichment.

…General Yakubu Gowon in a Public Function…

“General Gowon, is an intellectual researcher with PhD from a World Class University, not on ad-hoc. He is the Boss of all the Bosses. He is the Boss of the Military Generals. The Boss of all the past Heads of States alive. A man whose Godly counsel is Golden and his program “PRAY NIGERIA” is keeping the Nation going and should be accorded reverence, not Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who truncated democracy due to his over ambition in politics hence his failed 3rd Term Agenda. Igbo Youth Assembly Worldwide rejects such accolade to him by NYCN”, they stated.