Shocking: Plots to Rubbish Azikiwe, Nkrumah Legacy in America Exposed!
Africans in Diaspora Lambaste Pennsylvania University…African Union Govt Condemns US Varsity
“The building is a legacy of our great African heroes past that should not be erased out of historical memories -Nkrumah Hall”- Joseph Gargadi, Consul (Culture, Info, Pol. &Edu), Office of Consulate General of Federal Republic of Nigeria to Atlanta
*Robert Jennings, Lincoln’s president propose ‘wiping off ex-African presidents’ history
* Ghanaian Govt set to react soon…
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DALLAS
“IT’S a sacrilege, and an abomination in the African continent where dead heroes are not allowed to rest-in-peace.” By all standards and indication, the misplaced article aimed at misinforming the entire world published in Philadelphia newspaper, is a reflection of ‘hatred, xenophobic, mischief and deliberate plans of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania to ridicule the African continent and turn our heroes in Africa to villains. Seeing through the intension of the varsity’s Senate in this matter, it is clear that this is a case of ‘calling a dog a bad name, in order to hang it.’
The ‘bad-taste’ lopsided article titled “Lincoln Wrangles over fate of historic buildings” brings the Fourth Estate of the realm to public ridicule imagining the ‘untrue image, lies, painted of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s former president and Nkwameh Nkrumah, former Ghana president in the jaundiced story.’
This building-the oldest in the black university had before now been highly revered by various African-American civil right community, but Robert Jennings, Lincoln’s president threw ‘spanner to the works’ when he proposed plans to demolish and wipe off the legacies of Azikiwe and Nkrumah by ensuring the building were demolished.
They are brick buildings, some dating back to the 1800s; line the main street of the campus of Lincoln University, a school that has produced a Supreme Court justice, a leader of the Harlem Renaissance, and two presidents of African nations.
For a group of alumni, those buildings are historic emblems of the first degree-granting African American institution in the nation.
Committee on Demolition claims ‘Financial Budgetary Times’
Naija Standard observed that for the school’s administration, they claim “structures may pose a financial hardship during tough budgetary times.”
That is the core of a clash between the college administration and an alumni group formed to lobby for preservation of the buildings.
According to their mischievous plans, “The University is considering demolishing four of its buildings constructed between 1865 and 1891, according to the school’s ‘Strategic Plan Report, 2013-18,’ and its “Universal Campus Master Plan.”
The 20-member alumni group, called the Lincoln University Heritage Initiative, is proposing that a historic district be designated on the 422-acre campus. The district would be made up of 15 buildings – the four older buildings and 11 others built between 1866 and 1931.
Carol Black, a 1967 graduate and president of the alumni group’s board of directors said “We have plans for an economically viable themed historic district with restaurants, shops, and exhibits that will educate the public about the importance of Lincoln.”
Surprising…
Kimberly A. Lloyd, chair of the school’s board of trustees argues that “The school’s consideration of the buildings’ future is a product of the difficult decisions the university must make ‘about where to invest its limited financial resources. No final decision has been made. The university has initiated discussions with the National Trust for Historic Preservation about obtaining an assessment of the campus before deciding the buildings’ fate.”
That is a turnaround from just two weeks ago, when Black said she was told by Valerie Harrison, the school’s general counsel that Lincoln had decided to demolish Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall, the oldest building on campus.
As earlier stated, this crisis began at an alumni meeting last year when Jennings, Lincoln’s president, mentioned demolishing Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall to erect a new welcome center.
The hall, built in 1865, serves as the school’s security headquarters. It is named in honor of Lincoln graduates Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria after independence, and Kwameh Nkrumah, first president of Ghana.
The alumni meeting propelled the group into action. Members began gathering documents, distributing petitions, and led a tour of the university for representatives of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, which makes decisions about historic designations.
Monuments to history
In 1985, Lincoln was deemed eligible for a historic district that would include the 15 buildings, according to a 1997 letter written by Dan G. Deibler, then chief of the commission’s preservation services.
But the commission has no record of a National Register nomination for Lincoln University, Howard Pollman, a spokesman for the agency reportedly said.
Putting up lies, the committee alleged plans to re-build Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall in another article published April 21 in the Lincolnian, a school publication. Jennings refers to the new hall as a “gorgeous building” that would be ready for occupation by November 2016, the article said.
The building had been deemed so expensive to repair that the cost would exceed the price of erecting a new building.
On June 6, members of the university’s board and administration met with the alumni group that offered a 90-minute presentation on the proposed historic district, Black said.
Four days later, Black talked with Harrison, who said the demolition of Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall would go forward. On Thursday, Lloyd released the statement that the school planned to consult with the National Trust.
Africans in Diaspora Condemn US Varsity on Sacrilege
In United States, Africans from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, South Africa, Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Kenya have majorly condemn this act of wickedness by Lincoln University Heritage Initiative in further ‘rubbishing the image, legacies, ideology and honor of Africa’, if they should go ahead and carry out their threats of ‘demolishing this historic building.”
For Kemi Johnson, a Nigerian undergraduate in University of Texas, she said “Why on earth would Lincoln University be threatening to downgrade our African heroes. That is crazy on their side, if they should dare it, every day, Africans in America would keep cursing them.”
Queen Loretta Nkuga, an Undergraduate of George Washington University from Kenya is angry going by her outburst: “I keep wondering what has come over these so-called guys in Lincoln University. So they have finally decided to ‘nail’ the coffin of Africa’s foremost heroes deeper in their coffins-I strongly believe the committee has mental problems. Why can’t they go look for other buildings to destroy outside that of these African leaders.”
Nigerian Govt React
Coming from the office of Ambassador Teneilable, Consul General of Federal Republic of Nigeria to Atlanta, Joseph Gargadi, Consul (Culture, Info, Politics and Education) did not mince words by saying “The building is a legacy of our great African heroes past that should not be erased out of historical memories without any justifiable reason. In order to stop the planned demolition, I kindly request you to mobilize your members to put pressure on the University authorities.”
African Union Govt Lambaste Lincoln University
Sources in African Union (AU) told Naija Standard that plans are now in top gear by member nations of AU to openly lambast Lincoln University for their intended wickedness. His words: “This is a warning to Lincoln University on their mischief and further reminding them on the legal implications of their intention since we cannot be watching you disparage, disregard and bring into opprobrium our African heroes.”
