dies it is common practice to treat him or
her with kindness and with more
compassion and general understanding.
After death, hatchets are buried and
hitherto foes are seen through less hostile
prisms. The case was not different in the
case of the Emeka Ojukwu, but we also saw
something beyond mere compassion.
In death, Ojukwu was not just buried with
compassion and dignity, he was
apotheosized.
It must be said at this point that Emeka
Ojukwu was neither the first military
officer, military governor, regional leader
nor politician to die and get a national or
state funeral in Nigeria.
Many other leaders have held such posts
after him and many more have had state
funerals before him but I doubt anything
can be compared to what we saw for the
Biafran leader.
No doubt, the National Burial Committee
chaired by Justice Chukwudifu Oputa and
co-chaired by Senator Uche Chukwumerije
did a fantastic job but the Eze Igbo
Gburugburu had led a life with an end only
few can even dream of.
The glorification of the dead Emeka Ojukwu
began in Lagos where he grew up and
studied in Nigeria like me. As a big fan of
Ikemba, I was there at the Tafawa Balewa
Square with some old and new friends to
pay our last tributes to this great man and
what we met there was a rare enchanting
pan Nigerian spirit on display.
Protagonists of the occasion were not just
the expected Lagosians of Igbo origin
shouting “Igbo Kwenu” but a host of well
known Nigerians from different parts of the
federation there at the occasion as
Nigerians and feeling at home at the event.
The process of apotheosis of Ojukwu was
initiated by Dr Tunji Braithwaite, the Lagos
based legendary lawyer, politician and
childhood friend of the late Biafran leader,
who in his capacity as chairman of the
Lagos event for Ojukwu stunned most
listeners when he took the microphone and
in an unusual short speech, for Nigerian
standards, declared that his friend, Emeka,
only waged war against corruption, lies,
and injustice not against his fatherland. In
his own words he said; “let me correct the
wrong impression that Ojukwu declared
war against his fatherland, what he
declared war against was corruption, lies
and injustice.
That’s why we would continue to declare
war against lies, injustice and corruption so
that we can have a united and better
Nigeria”! His speech was received and
continuously interrupted by the thunderous
applause of the square.
The speeches that followed Dr Tunji
Braithwaite ‘s oration were by other well
known Nigerians of different national
descent and their speeches were all in line
with the chairman of the occasion’s speech.
Later during the proper funeral rites, former
military head of state and commander in
chief of the Nigerian armed forces during
the civil war, General Dr. Yakubu Gowon,
although not physically present at the
ceremony was represented and his
message amongst other things read that
“Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu
loved Nigeria so much, he merely wanted to
opt out because of the perceived injustice
meted out to his people”.
In the last weeks since he passed away,
media reports online and in print have been
full of reports and testimonies by analysts
and observers praising and repositioning
Emeka Ojuwku as not just a rebel or
defender of his people but a true patriot
and champion of justice.
As if not to be outdone by others, the
governor of Niger State and chairman of
the northern governor’s forum, Dr Muazu
Babangida Aliyu was even more direct and
went to the point of empathizing with the
late Ikemba. Aliyu who spoke at a funeral
held in honor of the late Biafran leader at
his birthplace in Zungeru, Niger State, said
Ojukwu fought for the emancipation of the
less-privileged.
He said Ojukwu was misunderstood,
positing that the former Biafran warlord
was forced by the circumstances to take up
arms and protect his people. In Aliyu own
words “He was forced to take up arm to
protect his people. If I was in his shoes I
could have done the same!”
I personally love all these but even when
we are crying or laughing, we must see
through our tears and thus we must ask
ourselves as individuals and as a people if
Ojukwu is a hero, who then is the villain? If
Ojukwu was right who was wrong then?
We need to be clear here and avoid any
kind of misunderstanding, hence we must
emphasize that the ongoing mood of
celebrating the great man is fantastic and
the logical consequence of reconciliation is
highly welcomed.
As a people however, for the sake of justice
and for the benefit of our future union we
must without prejudice ask ourselves a
rather simple but pregnant question: which
individuals or group committed the
atrocities and injustices Ojukwu spent his
life fighting? We must ask and answer the
questions: who benefitted from Ojukwu’s
battles and losses, is there a way for such
villain or villains to redeem themselves?
| Posted: at | |
TRENDING GISTS 
President Tinubu Appoints Princess Atika Ajana As Executive Director Of Projects For NCDC
PHOTOS: Young Woman Brutally Murdered By Suspected Ritualists, Priv@te Part Removed In Ogun
Lovely Video Of Singer Davido And His Wife, Chioma Vibing To His Song
Woman Slams Her Husband For Allegedly Having Unprotected S3x With Random Girls After Publicly Apologizing To Her
Actress, Laide Bakare Crowned UN Ambassador Of Peace
Actress, Uche Montana Celebrates Birthday With New Stunning Photos
VIDEO: President Tinubu Conferred With a Chieftaincy Title in Anambra State