Igbo group to honour Ndubuisi Kanu, former NADECO chieftain

Pan-Igbo Movement Initiative (PiMi), a group, has set aside October 9, for a night of tributes to honour Ndubuisi Kanu, a retired rear admiral and pro-democracy advocate.

Kanu, who was a former military administrator of Lagos, died on January 13, 2021, at the age of 77.

Iyke Ezeugo, PiMi’s convener, said hosting a night of tributes is the least they 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,” Ezeugo said.

“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.”

Kanu was appointed military governor of Imo state in March 1976.

He was later transferred to become governor of Lagos in 1977, and left office in July 1978.

Upon voluntary retirement, Kanu became part of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), an advocacy group which sought the return of democracy in Nigeria.