The Igbo Communities in the UK would have considered it a bit below par, to host such a Mass in any place other than Westminster Cathedral, and that was why we stuck by the decision for the Mass to still carry on on 21st Jan 2012.
As we all know
1. God is the greatest being in the universe
2. Dim Ojukwu is the greatest Igbo leader
3. Westminster Cathedral is the greatest catholic building in the UK
so it makes sense for all the above superlatives to have a coming together, as it were. That is why we prayed to God(1) for the repose of Dim Ojukwu's (2) soul at Westminster Cathedral(3).
I personally am grateful to both the Archbishop of Westminster (Vincent Nichols) and Bishop of Westminster (Alan Hopes) for their support and understanding. The Fr. Ofere-led Nigerian Catholic Chaplaincy and Dr. Sister Vitalis Chigbu for their active cooperation in ensuring that the day was a success. CANUK, Nigerian Council of Elders, Good Shepherds Movement, Deputy High Commissioner of Nigeria to the UK, Ambassador Dozie Nwanna, Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield, Councillor Kate Anolue, The Igbo Cultural & Support Network (ICSN) and of course BEN TV and a myriad of those silent workers and "co-conspirators" that helped make the day A MASSIVE SUCCESS.
The Haitian representative in the United Kingdom also made time to attend the Mass and pray for the repose of Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu's soul.
When Bishop Alan Hopes made his speech, he first of all greeted the gathering in Igbo language which drew cheers from the crowd who were about 70% Igbo. He spent quite a great deal of his time commiserating with christians in Nigeria who were being persecuted and killed presently in Nigeria. The commentary below by the Thisday journalist did not do justice to all that Bishop Alan Hopes said. He also left the stage by greeting everyone in Igbo again.
I am so grateful and so proud of the way that the general populace responded to the call made by the Igbo Communities in the UK, and have still not gotten over the oneness that was shown to our efforts.
Lastly, let me thank Barrister Debe Sylvester Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Chief Okafor and Chief Vincent Egbuonu for making the trip from Nigeria for this Mass. As it happens Barrister Sylvester Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the first son of Dim Ojukwu is the most qualified person for such rites, so we are over the moon that he turned up to honour us with his presence in such a solemn occasion, as the Requiem Mass for his dad.
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fehinty
cadanre
Senegal
kebella
........yu already no that 
...heheh...if yu wanna smell what kebella is cooking........bring it up!!
zeigbo
Unikpearl
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