He hasn't been pushing that agenda, the fans have. Kaido wanting to die, =/= he will die. The fans want to connect Zoro to Ryuma, so Zoro MUST slay a dragon like Ryuma did. That's also not how Oda does things. His characters forged their own paths and build their own legends. Zoro doesn't need to be a clone of the hero of Wano, for him to be recognized in the same light. What's next, he's going to stay behind and singlehandedly hold off all the Marines and Pirates who try to enter the now opened borders of Wano, while the rest of the Straw Hats continue their journey, and fulfill their dreams? Might as well go all out on the Ryuma clone, shouldn't we, cause god forbid Zoro does something unique to his own character. It's a load of horseshit. Zoro is not Ryuma, he is Zoro, and will create his own legend, not replicate the feats of another so his name reaches the heavens.
Oda has been likening characters to those from the past and trying to draw and highlight similarities as much as possible.
Luffy is some reincarnation of Joyboy, what makes you think Oda couldn't do something similar with Zoro and Ryuuma?