Family members of Mbazulike Amaechi, has appealed to the Federal Government to honour him with a posthumous award.
Amaechi, former Aviation Minister, died last year but was laid to rest in February this year.
First Vice President General of Ukpor Improvement Union Prof. Frank Anaeto, told the President General of Ohanaeze worldwide Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, that the late elder statesman deserved to be honoured by the Federal Government because his numerous contributions to Nigeria.
Anaeto who spoke when the Amaechi family visited Iwuanyanwu in Owerri, Imo State to thank him for his support during the burial, noted that “If any Igbo man deserves an award from the Federal Government, it’s our late father, Mbazuluike Amaechi.
“He has contributed a lot to the peaceful coexistence of the country when he served as a minister and during his lifetime.
“It is reasonable for the Federal Government to honour him now since he was not given any award during his lifetime.”
Chief Iwuanyanwu who was Chairman of the national funeral committee for the late elder statesman, in his remark, recalled that Amaechi was one of the leading nationalists who fought for Nigeria’s independence.
He also noted the role he played for Nigeria’s unity and continued corporate existence.
The Ohanaeze Chairman assured that Amaechi’s immortalisation would be among the issues to be discussed at a scheduled meeting with President Bola Tinubu and Ohanaeze leaders.
According to him, the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), was Amaechi last wish from former President Muhammadu Buhari, and expressed confidence that the President Tinubu would not disappoint him in releasing Kanu.
“I have made the release of Kanu top of my agenda and I have been doing that even before the end of the tenure of Muhammadu Buhari.
“I will not relent; I will meet with the president on his release again soon,” Iwuanyanwu said.
A statement by the secretary of Mbazulike Amaechi national funeral committee Cyril Maduabum, said the delegation, which was led by the son of the late elder statesman, Tagbo Amaechi was to thank for Iwuanyanwu for assembling eminent Nigerians for a remarkable farewell on February 16.
