Elder Statesman and President General Enugu State Association, Chief Elechi Onyia, SAN, has paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers of Enugu State, for their invaluable contributions, and unrelenting struggles that made the creation of the State a reality.
Onyia also lauded Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of the State for his quality leadership at this time in the life of the State.
He singled out the commitment and selfless sacrifice of notable icons like Chief Charles Abangwu, Chief C.C. Onoh, Igwe Edward Nnaji, Lady Josephine Ogakwu, Senator Isaiah Ani, Lady Elizabeth Agu, Justice Augustine Nnamani, Igwe Chris Ogakwu all of the blessed memory, as well as Col Obi Eze, Alhaji Abdulezeez Udeh, Chief John Edozie, among others.
He declared that “without the sacrifices of these illustrious sons and daughters of WAWA land, Enugu State would have been a mirage.”
Chief Onyia, who made this call while delivering his presidential address to newsmen at the Aborigine Hall, Enugu, to commemorate Enugu State at 29, disclosed that Enugu State Development Association became the successor of the WAWA State Movement as renamed by the then Military Administrator.
He said the people of the state would be celebrating an age-long dream and visions of its founding fathers, who sacrificed so much to free the WAWA people from oppression and exploitation.
He said the leadership of the Association would continue to support the government of Enugu State, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
He recalled that it had in the past made quality advice and proposals to the government of the State in the area of quality education, agricultural/industrial revolution, rural development, security, Adada State creation, restructuring of Nigeria, amongst others.
