In a compelling appeal for equity and national unity, the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ebonyi State Chapter, Comrade Douglas Ochishi, has vehemently insisted that Abakaliki Street in Awka, Anambra State, be reinstated to its original location.
The sudden replacement of Abakaliki Street with “Club Road,” he argued, is an affront to the spirit of unity enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and a direct blow to the historical and social rights of Ebonyians living in Anambra.
Established by an Act of Parliament in 1964, the NYCN stands as the apex youth body in Nigeria, tasked with advocating for good governance and the collective interests of citizens.
True to this mandate, the NYCN Ebonyi State Chapter has condemned the renaming of Abakaliki Street as a subtle attempt to undermine the shared identity and contributions of Ebonyians to the state and the nation at large.
“This act of sudden upheaval and replacement is an attempt to relegate Ebonyi State as though we are not part of one indivisible Nigeria,” Ochishi declared during his recent visit to the Ebonyi Welfare Association in Awka.
"We demand that Abakaliki Street be reinstated to its rightful place, as anything less would be seen as a denial of our social rights and a deliberate attempt to erase our identity,” he stressed.
Highlighting the longstanding relationship and peaceful coexistence between Ebonyi and Anambra, Ochishi cited numerous streets in Awka and surrounding areas that proudly bear the names of sister states and towns, including Awka Street, Abagana Street, Onitsha Street, and Orifite Street. “It is only fair and just that Abakaliki Street, too, retains its rightful place in this spirit of unity,” he added.
Amidst the tension surrounding this issue, Ochishi urged the Ebonyi community in Anambra to remain law-abiding and patient, even in the face of provocation.
“Let us not lose sight of the people’s charter of needs championed by our governor, His Excellency Rt Hon Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. Pray for our state and continue to contribute to its development,” he advised.
The Chairman further encouraged Ebonyians in Anambra to always return home during voter registration and elections.
“This is the surest way to ensure that our voices and contributions are recognized and that our beloved Governor will remember the role you play in advancing the progress of Ebonyi State,” he said.
As the NYCN Ebonyi State Media Center continued to document this call for justice, the broader message resonates — Nigeria’s strength lies in its unity, and no community should be relegated or erased in the name of progress.
