Former leader of the defunct Republic of
Biafra, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on Monday received a heroic
welcome in death, at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja.
The remains of the late
presidential candidate and National Leader of the All Peoples Grand
Alliance, which arrived the Abuja airport in the early hours of Monday
aboard British Airways, was received and honoured in a ceremony chaired
by Senate President, David Mark.
Vice President Namadi
Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan at the airport
ceremony, said the late Ikemba Nnewi deserved all the honours he had
been getting from all walks of life.
Rev. Father Willy Ojukwu and Archbishop John Onayekan, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, presided over a short church ceremony.
According to the Vice President, Ojukwu was a courageous man who fought with all his heart when his people faced pogrom.
He said Ojukwu provided fearless and principled leadership to the Igbos during the period of the civil war.
Describing Ojukwu as man of
great intellectual and interpersonal skill, Sambo said the late Ikemba
Nnewi was an advocate of a united Nigeria.
The remains of Ojukwu,
which was conveyed in a golden casket draped in the national colours by
an ambulance to the presidential wing of the airport were received by
military pallbearers from Army Headquarters.
Sambo said, “No word can
adequately describe the nature, character, legacy and lessons left
behind by this soldier and gentleman.
“In all his life he
displayed strong leadership traits. He was an epitome of service and
sacrifice, a worthy example of public accountability and good governance
and an advocate of good governance.
He added, “He stood up and
fought for what he believed in. He stood up for justice and refused to
compromise. He challenged inhumanity to man and when his kith and kin
were faced with pogrom, he stood his ground and fought.
“He displayed physical and
moral courage throughout his life with excellent intellectual and inter
personal communications skills. He was an advocate of a united Nigeria.”
The pallbearers numbering
eight were of the ranks of brigadier, colonel and lieutenant colonel. A
Burial Party mounted a guard of honour while a Guards Brigade Band
played as the body was brought in for military honours.
Governor Peter Obi of
Anambra State, Senators Uche Chukwumerije and Ben Obi accompanied the
military procession as the pallbearers received the corpse and carried
it to the centre of the ceremony.
Mark said it was proper
that he should chair the ceremony since he and the late leader received
their military pensions on the same day.
He said, “Ojukwu has
continued to draw accolades from different parts of the country. He was a
fine officer and gentleman. He was a compassionate leader. He fought
for justice all his life. He was born with silver spoon in his mouth but
ignored that spoon.
“The history of this nation
cannot be complete without highlighting the role that Ojukwu played in
the country. The best tribute we can pay to him is to be committed to
justice and education. He has shown us that one can be committed to his
ethnic group and Nigeria at the same time.”
First Lady, Dame Patience
Jonathan, described Ojukwu as a man of great intellect, adding that
Igbos were not alone in mourning him.
Keynote Speaker at the
event, former External Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, said the death
of Ojukwu marked the end of an era. He lamented that the ills the late
Biafran warlord fought against were still present in the country.
Former Governor of Anambra
State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, eulogised Ojukwu as a man of vision,
adding that till today, Nigeria had not found a better solution to the
problems that Ojukwu fought against.
Widow of the late leader,
Bianca, dressed in black and dark goggles and looking sullen, was among
family members that occupied the front row at the ceremony.
At the end of the airport ceremony, the
body was conveyed to a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, Charley 130 Hercules
(NAF 917) which had been waiting for the transmission of the body to
Owerri, the Imo State capital.
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Oh what a heroic welcome, Ezeigbo gburugburu alana na udo.Ojukwu you are great even in death.
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