late Dr. Akanu Ibiam of Ebonyi State
This is Dr. Akanu Ibiam, the man who returned his knighthood to Queen Elizabeth II because of the massacre of Biafran during the civil war.
Akanu Ibiam was former governor of Old Eastern Region. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II upon her visit to Enugu in 1955. As the Biafra war raged, he subsequently renounced his knighthood to Queen Elizabeth II because of the UK’s involvement in the Biafra war.
He further renounced his European name, “Francis in protest.”
In his words: “I can’t be a Queen’s knight and watch the same Kingdom be killing my people, Biafra.
He died on July 1, 1995.
He was pivotal in the creation of Ebonyi State.
Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu was named after him.
