South East states, including Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu
yesterday bade farewell to the Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu,
the late Biafran leader, who will be buried on Friday. Ojukwu's corpse left Imo
State for Abia State after a night in the state where it was laid-in-state at
the Heroes Square, New Owerri. The remains was welcomed to Abia with a
21-gunshot salute. Ojukwu's corpse decked in golden casket made a triumphant
entry into the Enyimba Sports Stadium, Aba amidst tight security at about noon.
The casket was decked in full military regalia. The mammoth
crowd that had gathered in and outside the stadium cheered endlessly the corpse
was brought in. In his speech, Governor Theodore Orji said Ojukwu would soon
have additional edifice to be named after him in addition to the existing
Ojukwu bunker, the house he built and lived during the civil war and the war
museum which domiciled the relics of the war.
Also in attendance were Governors Peter Obi of Anambra and
Rochas Okorocha of Imo states, senators, some members of the House of
Representatives, state lawmakers, top military officers, ex-soldiers of the
defunct Biafra republic and political heavy weights across the geo-political
zone. Orji said Ojukwu was a de-tribalized Nigerian who in his life time was
not only an Igbo leader but a well bred Nigerian whose greatness transcended
from the military sphere to the civilian colony in pursuit of justice, equity
and fair play. General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), in his remarks disclosed that
Ojukwu was his commanding officer in the first infantry battalion, Kano.
He described the late Ikemba as a thoroughly bred soldier
with uncommon military prowess. He added that Ojukwu was a great man, best
educated soldier who read and spoke English language in a manner that convinced
and compelled the people to follow. Governor Peter Obi, who with his wife,
Margaret, accompanied the remains of Ojukwu back from London on Monday, said he
was always overwhelmed by the type of honour Nigerians are according the
deceased both at home and elsewhere.
In explaining why the corpse of Ojukwu came to
Aba instead of Umuahia, the state capital, Senator Uche Chukwumerije said Aba
to Ojukwu is symbolically the projection of Enyimba strength, vibrancy, courage
and patriotism. Leader of the local funeral organising committee in Aba, Chief
Emma Adaelu said Ojukwu was a great man who gave his time for the tomorrow of
the present and future generation of the Igbo. He added that Ojukwu's
personality was characteristised by selflessness, courage, boldness and
unequalled love for the Igbo nation.http://nationalmirroronline.net
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