Fashiola calls Ojukwu: " The General's GENERAL"
*Tinubu, Fashola, Okorocha, Utomi, Chukwumerije, others seek new Nigerians
BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & CHRIS OCHAYI WHEREVER his spirit is now, the late Elder statesman and leader of the defunct Biafran Republic, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, would be nodding his head in affirmation and self-satisfaction. Reason: After four decades of vilification for allegedly waging war against his fatherland, most Nigerians now identify with the cause he fought for and want the government to revisit the issues he raised to save the country from implosion. Indeed, eminent Nigerians drawn from many parts of the country yesterday lamented that the flames of injustice, corruption, insecurity and faulty federation that led to the 30-month civil war of 1967-70 were still flickering and would unleash more damage on the polity if not extinguished through National Dialogue and restructuring of the polity.
Among those, who shared this thought yesterday were Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Prof Pat Utomi, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Chief Victor Umeh, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sunny Odogwu and Mr Paschal Dozie. See more photos of Lagos funeral for Late Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu They spoke at Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s funeral held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. This came as Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chapter of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja have concluded plans to close shops tomorrow as the Odumegwu-Ojukwu burial train hits the capital city. Veteran Presidential Candidate, Braithwaite, who chaired the event, set the ball rolling when he said it was wrong to accuse the Eze Igbo Gburugburu of waging war against his fatherland. He told the charged and enthralled audience, which included foremost politicians and captains of industry that he would not be at the ceremony if Ojukwu was not a patriot, averring that if it were today, Biafra would have succeeded. If it were now, Biafra would ‘ve survived — Braithwaite His words: “I want to correct some wrong impressions about Emeka. Some people think that Emeka declared war against his fatherland. There is nothing farther from the truth than that. He never declared war against his fatherland. He declared war against injustice, lies and corruption. And that is why I am chairman of this occasion. We will continue to declare war against corruption, lies and falsehood so that we will have a better Nigeria. “Never mind, we use this occasion to remind ourselves that at this point in time, this country is almost standing at exactly the point it was standing in 1967. And unless care is taken, let those who have ears open their ears and hear, unless care is taken, we might be fulfilling some doomed apocalyptic prediction about this country. But God forbid! We will not allow it. We will not allow this country to disintegrate. Some people have been saying there is no need to sit down and discuss our mutual interest. I can’t imagine anything more infantile and unimaginative than that. They said because we have National Assembly intact, all our interest and problems facing this country should be left in the hands of the National Assembly. I say no because the National Assembly itself is a product of a defective constitution and corruption. There must be a conference of all ethnic nationalities to discuss our interests. And nothing, no force is going to stop that. That is the heritage of Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.” Chukwumerije, who urged a turn around in the affairs of the country, said Ojukwu’s personal life mirrored the country’s history. He noted that Ojukwu’s comments in the last 30 years captured Nigeria’s growth and retrogression. Ojukwu, a thorough breed Lagos boy — Tinubu Tinubu said apart from the likes of late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello, no Nigerian had altered the history of Nigeria than Ojukwu. Describing the late Ikemba Nnewi as Omo Eko pataki (a true and great Lagosian), he said Ojukwu was a man who served with passion in nation building. Asiwaju Tinubu said though the late Ojukwu meant different things to different people, there was no doubt that he cemented his place in Nigeria’s history by a dint of hard work and sheer commitment to his beliefs. He regretted that though Ojukwu’s birth and life would have made him the quintessential Nigerian citizen, born in the North, settled in Lagos and of Igbo stock, he was a victim of a Nigerian crisis of nationhood. Utomi invokes Ojukwu’s spirit to fight injustice In his speech, Utomi said he did not come to celebrate or praise Ojukwu but to send Ojukwu’s spirit on an errand for Ndigbo and Nigerians. “Let his spirit rise and say no to injustice. Let his spirit rise and say no Nigerian should be vanquished. Let your spirit go. Go, Ndigbo say you should go,” he invoked. To Odogwu, the problems Ojukwu fought were still there and needed to be addressed. “Nigeria is still looking for direction. Inequity and social injustice he fought against are still there. I urge Nigerians and the leadership to correct structural deficiencies and social injustice,” he said, noting that without addressing them, the menace of terrorism and violent crimes would persist in the country. Dozie concurred with this view, adding that the solutions Ojukwu proffered for peaceful co-existence and unity of Nigeria were still germane. According to him, Ojukwu’s suggestions were necessary for Nigeria to attain stellar heights among the comity of nations. Relatedly, Umeh, the national chairman of Ojukwu’s party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, said Ojukwu would be happy wherever he is now because “those who disagreed with him when he was alive now agree with him in death.” His words: “Ojukwu represented equity and justice. That was the struggle he led in Nigeria. With his death, will Nigeria continue with the way it is going presently? The things he fought against are still there. Let’s tell ourselves the truth. Let’s use Ojukwu’s death to fix Nigeria — Okorocha Imo State Governor, Okorocha, urged Nigerians not to mourn but to celebrate Ojukwu because he died as a hero. He advised Nigerians to use Ojukwu’s death to address the problems plaguing the country. Averring that Ojukwu meant ‘justice and justice for all,’ Okorocha said the way Nigerians from all part of the country were mourning Ojukwu showed hope and marked the end of the civil war. On his part, Governor Obi urged Ndigbo, wherever they were in the country, to immortalise Ojukwu by being of good conduct and continuing with their chequered attribute of boosting development We must learn lessons from civil war — Fashola The host governor, Fashola, reiterated the need for Nigeria to be a peaceful, united and prosperous country where no one would be maltreated on the basis of tribe, tongue and religion by learning useful lessons from the civil war. Noting that the civil war was not about secession but about Ojukwu’s love for his people, Fashola said Ojukwu was a detribalised Nigerian who did not love Nigeria less but loved his people more. Stressing the need for a united Nigeria and praying against another civil war in the country, the governor said Ojukwu would not have been happy if Igbo people came to mourn him in Lagos yesterday did so by obtaining visa because Nigeria had disintegrated. Noting that Ojukwu’s exploits could not be forgotten in a hurry, he said the late elder statesman was one of the greatest apostles of true federalism and a Generals’ General, who fought hard for what he believed in, Fashola said Nigeria’s history would be incomplete without a glowing mention of Ojujkwu’s role. He described Odumegwu-Ojukwu as a rebel with a cause who did not necessarily pursue a secessionist agenda, but only fought for justice. He said that Nigeria would be a better place if its leaders emulated Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s leadership qualities, adding “Nigerians should use the lessons from the civil war to strengthen the unity of the country.” Adebayo, Nwachukwu pay tributes Speaking on the life and times of the ex-Biafran warlord, General Adebayo, he recalled how he convinced Ojukwu to join the Army at a ceremony in Umuahia where Ojukwu was Assistant District Officer after his return from Oxford University with a Degree, said he would miss Ojukwu because “he was a great loyal officer from the day he joined the Army.” To Nwachukwu, who recalled that Ojukwu was his commanding officer at his Battalion in Kano, said the Eze Igbo Gburugburu was an officer one could not doubt his loyalty. He said Ojukwu taught him that what made one a great soldier was not guns but the ability to convince people through knowledge and intellect to follow one into battle. Ojukwu: Igbos to close shops Saturday in Abuja Chairman of Abuja Ohanaeze, Barrister Nwabueze Callistus Obi, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja, said the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan is among expected dignitaries at the ceremony that would hold at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja. According to him, other dignitaries expected include the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as other eminent leaders and traditional rulers both of Igbo origin and other extractions in the FCT. He explained that the event in Abuja will continue with an inter-denominational service on Sunday at the 12 Apostles Catholic Church, at the Central Area Abuja, to be hosted by Rev Fr. Willy Ojukwu. The Ohaneze leader said that the remains of the late Ojukwu would lie in state on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport where people would have the opportunity to pay their last respect to the icon before the body would be flown to the South-East the same day. Roll call Other personalities at the Lagos event include Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd), Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd), Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Chris Ngige, Ambassador Segun Olusola, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Professor Anya O. Anya, Senator Azu Agboti, Chief Martin Agbaso, Professor Laz Ekwueme, Professor Joe Irukwu and Professor ABC Nwosu. There were also Rear Admiral Alison Madueke (rtd), Chief Innocent Oparadike, Chief Christopher Eze, Mrs Margaret Obi, Dr. Sylvanus Ebigwei, Mr Ben Akabueze, Dr Chudi Anyaegbu, Alhaji Jibrin Magaji, Emeka Obasi, Bisi Olatilo, Dr. Paddy Njoku and Wale Okunniyi
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