Odimegwu-Ojukwu was an extraordinary Nigerian -IBB
By CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, TONY EDIKE, VINCENT UJUMADU, HENRY UMORU, PETER OKUTU, PAUL ODENYI, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, said yesterday, that to preserve Odimegwu-Ojukwu’s name for the good of humanity, the Federal Government should name a great institution or a monument after him.
Babangida, who described Ojukwu as an extra-ordinary Nigerian, stresssed that with Ojukwu, he had no dull moments, adding that during his life time, he was a strong advocate of a better society and strong believer in the equitable distribution of power and political bargaining.
Babangida, in a statement by his spokesperson, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said: “At last, a great Nigerian, an extra-ordinary Nigerian, a wordsmith and great orator, a cerebral soldier and very courageous Nigerian, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, has just snapped.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu
He was a Nigerian who was driven by his convictions and pursued his goal in life believing in his convictions. He was a rare gem, a strong advocate for better society and strong believer in the equitable distribution of power and political bargaining.
“With Dim, my very senior colleague, there was no dull moment. I got really close to him during my regime and I remember vividly how we used to sit and discuss issues of nation-building and unity of our country after the civil war era.
Even at old age, Dim, still believed in the cause he fought for. He shared his sentiments about the country barely a year ago when I paid him visit at his country home to inform him of my intention to run for the last 2011 Presidential election. He was his vintage self, taking me down memory lane about the Nigerian situation.
“He could remember vividly also the role that my administration played in returning his seized property to him as well as those of several others as part of our modest contribution to healing the wounds of the civil war. He was his characteristic self, deploying anecdotes and wise sayings to underscore the import of our discourse. He was a man who felt the Igbo nation deserves more than it is getting and did give me his words that he was going to support me on the assurance that I would take a Nigerian of Igbo extraction as my running mate in the Presidential contest.
“I was going to do that before the aspiration petered out. Despite that, I still believe in the presidential aspiration of the Igbo in future elections and one thing that would gladden the mind of Dim, even in death, is to see an Igbo man becoming President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the spirit of unity and stability.
“Dim Ojukwu’s patriotism about the oneness of the country was not in doubt. He believed that given the country’s diverse socio-political and cultural configurations, the nation-states within the nation must be given room to flourish in a mutually exclusive arrangement that would further the aspiration of the country.
His understanding of the political dynamics in the country was extra-ordinary and trust him, his rendition was usually in a class of his own.”
Ojukwu’s death robs Nigeria of a veritable voice of wisdom – ACN
On its part, the ACN said Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s death had robbed Nigeria of a veritable voice of wisdom at a critical time in the country’s history.
In a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party described Chief Ojukwu as a man whose personal history was closely intertwined with that of Nigeria, hence the country’s history would be incomplete without a reference to him.
The statement said: “Chief Ojukwu’s actions in his lifetime impacted hugely on the history of Nigeria and helped shape the country’s destiny. More importantly, his endless quest for fairness and justice was reflected in his unmatched love for his people, and the sacrifices he made on their behalf.’
ACN, however, regretted that the issues that led to the Nigerian civil war, of which Ojukwu played a pivotal role, were yet to be fully resolved before his passing, saying this must have been a source of immense concern to him in his last days on earth.
He led a life of sacrifice – Nnaji
Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji, said the deceased led a heroic life of sacrifice and public service that should inspire all Nigerians. In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, the minister said that only an exceptionally committed person like Ojukwu could abandon a life of privilege into which he was born to work in solidarity with the ordinary people for accelerated national development.
He was a celebrity in death – PRONACO
PRONACO, in a special condolence message by its spokesperson, Olawale Okunniyi, said even in death Ojukwu was a celebrity. The group said it regretted that Dim Ojukwu, one of the key pillars of its movement and the Peoples’ National Conference (2005 – 2006), which he joined other patriotic icons like Enahoro and Soyinka to facilitate and even hosted in Enugu in 2006, would be no more to make his usual enigmatic inputs to the group’s current moves to bring about a new Nigeria owned by the people.
He said PRONACO would consult with other patriotic leaders during their meeting next month in Abuja on how best to immortalize Ojukwu’s inestimable contributions to the cause of the Nigerian people.
Ojukwu mirrored the trinity of Igbo character – Ajimobi
For Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s departure has robbed Igboland of one of its children, who mirrored what he called the trinity of Igbo character.
The governor who spoke in a statement by his Media Adviser, Dr Festus Adedayo explicated the trinity of Igbo character to be Akpa uche (colt of reason), Ukwu n’ije (strivings and enterprise) and Aka Ikenga (pride of attainment), stating that a good score by an Igbo man in all these three pronounced him to have attained Ntozu (accomplishment/high grade titles) which in turn brings forth “Odenigbo” (global acclaim). According to the governor, Dim Ojukwu not only attained Odenigbo but was a mirror of this trinity..
His death has created a large vacuum – APGA
Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s party, APGA, said his death had created a large vacuum which would be difficult for any party man even an Igbo man to fill.
National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr. Bernard Akoma, who spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki, said that Ojukwu’s exit had changed the complexion of the leadership not just in APGA but the entire Igbo race. Akoma feared that the party might have to undergo a difficult process before the emergence of another leader, describing the late party leader as a charismatic, patriotic and committed leader Nigerians and indeed the world may never know until the passage of several decades.
Kwara State Governor
Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, described the death of the Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as a national loss. Ahmed in a condolence message to the Ojukwu family, the deceased associates, government and people of Anambra State, said with the passage of the Ikemba, Nigeria has again lost another rare distinguished personality, whose singular contributions to the development of the country cannot be quantified.
He said: “Nigerians would indeed miss his wise counsel and disposition as Chief Ojukwu remains an erudite scholar, a fine military officer, administrator and a great politician of note, whose positive contributions to the process of reconstruction, reconciliation and rehabilitation of the Nigerian nation after the civil war would not be forgotten in a hurry”.
The governor said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, that Chief Ojukwu would continue to be remembered as a national hero, who stood firmly behind his people and worked relentlessly for the growth and development of Igboland in particular and Nigeria in general.
He stated: “The Ikemba jettisoned personal comfort to embrace pain in order to secure lasting peace for his people and Nigeria. His death has left a vacuum that may endure for a long time.”
Ahmed, however, called on the deceased children and the entire Igbo and Nigerian politicians to emulate the deceased by putting humanity at the centre of their thoughts and actions.
NSA mourns Ojukwu
On his part, National Security Adviser, NSA, Gen. Owoye A. Aziza, said the Ikemba Nnewi lived a fulfilled life and died as a great man. He noted that his service in the Nigerian military as one of the first set of elite soldiers paved the way for quick integration of elite class into the armed forces. The NSA added: “Ojukwu left an indelible mark on the political and social turf of this nation. We will miss the courageous warlord who demonstrated humility and desirability to reintegrate himself and his followers into the mainstream Nigerian polity after the unfortunate civil war experience. We lost a gem and a loud voice at a time the input and experience of veterans like him is needed most.”
Ojukwu shaped Nigeria history—Imoke
Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State said the late Ikemba Nnewi was a leader, who helped in shaping the history of Nigeria. In a statement by his Special Assistant (Media) and Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Omini Oden, the Governor said Ojukwu was one of the leading lights of his generation, who helped in shaping the course of Nigerian history through his military career, and prominent role in the events leading to the Nigerian civil war.
He, however, praised the charismatic Igbo leader for accepting the reality of one Nigeria at the end of the war, noting that Ojukwu would be remembered as a bold, charismatic, intelligent and principled leader who embraced, with deep conviction, the role forced on him by circumstances at different epochs in the annals of Nigeria.
He was an uncommon fighter – Onu
The ANPP, yesterday, described Ojukwu as a champion of the people and an uncommon fighter in the battle for good conscience. A condolence message by the party signed by its National chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said Ojukwu was known for his untiring pursuit of what he believed in especially justice and equity.
The statement said: “He was a great Nigerian who stood firmly for what he believed in and remained tireless in his pursuit for justice and equity. He was a courageous peoples champion and an uncommon fighter of battles of good conscience that elevated the spirit of human dignity far beyond the realm of self gain. His eventful life as a brilliant scholar, brave soldier, astute administrator, outstanding political leader and a priceless hero of worthy causes showed that truly he was a most remarkable man; fearless and bold in the search for a better society.”
Mimiko mourns Ojukwu
Ondo State Governor, Mimiko, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Eni Akinsola, described the death of the great Biafran leader as a big loss to Nigeria. The governor noted that the bravery displayed by the Ikemba of Nnewi during the Nigerian civil war really helped the country to address certain fundamental national issues, which united all the ethnic groups in the country many years after the incident.
His burial will be a collective decision—Obi
Governor Peter Obi last night appealed to those seeking to know the details of Ojukwu’s burial to be patient as, according to him, it will be a collective decision in consultation with various stakeholders, with his immediate family taking the lead. He said this in reaction to countless calls from people volunteering to serve in his burial committee.
Obi who came back from France via London on Saturday, but had to travel back to London the same day with Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Jnr on hearing the news of Ojukw’s death, assured that Ojukwu deserved the best in view of his selfless sacrifices and that Igbos and Nigerians of goodwill were determined to give him the best.
Sources close to the Governor said that he might arrive the country this morning morning to officially and respectfully inform Mr. President of Ojukwu’s death.
It was gathered that Ojukwu’s remains had since been deposited in a mortuary through the combined efforts of Mrs Bianca Ojukwu and Obi’s wife, Mrs Margaret Peter-Obi, whom Bianca phoned immediately Ojukwu’s condition became critical, before the Governor and others arrived London.
