Emeka Esogbue

 Overlooking Osadebay: A Historical Slip in Nigeria's 65th Independence Tribute By Emeka Esogbue A prominent Chartered Accountant (ICAN) and Economist from Issele-Azagba, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Anonyai Augustine Ojei, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s maiden Independence Day broadcast for omitting a key figure in Nigeria’s history — Chief Dennis Chukwudebe Osadebay. In his national address on Wednesday, President Tinubu reeled out names of Nigerians he described as the nation’s founding heroes and heroines: Herbert Macaulay, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Margaret Ekpo, Dr. Michael Okpara, Aminu Kano, and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. But conspicuously missing from the roll call was Osadebay, the one-time Acting Governor-General of Nigeria. Writing on Anioma Watch, a socio-cultural platform of the Anioma people, Anonyai described the omission as a “historical slip,” though he conceded it ...