FEBRUARY 24, 2012 BY SESAN OLUFOWOBI
The Lagos State Government and prominent citizens of the state gathered at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Thursday to pay their last respect to the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Major markets where Nigerians of Igbo extraction plied their trade in Ladipo, Ojuelegba, Ikeja and Ojo areas of the city were shut to honour Ojukwu, whom the traders described as a great leader.
There was a parade of colourful cultural event as men and women in traditional attires took turns to sing and dance in celebration.
Youths in t-shirts bearing the picture of the late All Progressive Grand Alliance leader danced round the TBS.
The ceremony also featured special rendition by the choral group of Prof. Laz Ekweme.
The ceremony, which was organised by the state government for Ojukwu, drew eminent personalities including Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; his Anambra State counterpart, Peter Obi; former governors of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu; Ndubuisi Kanu and Ubitu Ukiwe; former governor of Ekiti State, Adeniyi Adebayo.
Others are Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, General Adebayo Adeyinka (retd), General Ike Nwachukwu (retd), Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Kalu Idika Kalu, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Prof. Anya Anya and Chief Sunny Odogwu, amongst others.
The state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, said the late Ojukwu led his people to fight the 1967 Nigeria civil war because he loved them and not about the secession of the country.
He said, “He was in pursuit of a just and egalitarian society, rather than chaos and bloodshed. He did not love Nigeria less, he loved his people more.”
Fashola called on Nigerians to focus more on what binds them as one nation rather than on ethnic and religious leanings.
Okorocha said the spirit of Ojukwu would continue to live with the Igbo in Nigeria.
“Ojukwu is alive, not dead; he did not die under the knife, he died a hero. I will not mourn; I will rejoice because Ojukwu exited as a hero,” he said.
Obi, who chose to sing the praises of Ojukwu in his native dialect, said the Igbos would forever remember Ojukwu for giving a voice to the South-East and pushing for justice for the masses.
Braithwaite, who was described as a bosom friend of Ojukwu, said his relationship with Ojukwu dated back to when he was eight years old when they lived just a stone throw from each other in Lagos.
Braithwaite said, “Let me correct the wrong impression that Ojukwu declared war against his fatherland. That is not true; what he declared was war against corruption, lies and injustice.”
He warned those against the call for a Sovereign National Conference to desist, saying Nigerians must be allowed to sit down and discuss the way forward.
Tinubu described Ojukwu as a brave, intelligent and courageous leader who despite being born with silver spoon and having the very best of education, dumped his certificate and joined the army to fight for the people.
He said, “Ojukwu today joins the ranks of late Nnamdi Azikiwe and late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Nigerians who left their footprints on the sands of time.”
Adebayo said he lived a most fulfilled life and left behind contributions which assured him of a place in the history of Nigeria.
Nwachukwu described Ojukwu as a fine officer who created confidence in those who he came in contact with.
Utomi however invoked the spirit of Ojukwu and urged him to fight for lasting peace and justice in Nigeria.
Chukwumerije said the life and times of Ojukwu mirrored how far Nigeria had come of age.
SOURCE: The Punch, 24 February 2012. http://punchontheweb.com/
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