By McPhilips Nwachukwu

Names and titles are very symbolic. Names and titles that are ascribed to things and individuals often times go long ways in determining the character and structure that such entities turn out to be. And so it was for late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, defector Igbo leader, General of the People’s Army and leader of Biafra.

The late Igbo son, born of Nnewi parents of Anambra State was in every sense an iconic personality , who lived for and above his time. He was as the Chinese would say, born in interesting times, having lived his life and left the stage as one of the finest and most important definitive voices of not only contemporary Nigeria, but , also post colonial Africa.

Eze Igbo Gburugburu

A man of great intellect nurtured within the fountains of some of best elitists schools in Nigeria and Europe, the man, who was born with wealth in his laps preferred to walk the pedestrian lane of lives. Yes, he lived to his own innate and humanistic callings. And it was this sacred callings that shaped the image of group leader, cultural hero and father figure that were later to propel him into salvaging mission that he undertook for his marginalized race.

And his people saw all of these. And they appreciated all of these. And they decided to crown him a king in a race that does not believe in the concept of kingship. Yes, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was crowned king as the first Eze Igbo Gburugburu. Etymologically, the word gburugburu literally means, “ over all”, which by implication means that his great Igbo brothers and sisters consensually accepted the late fire brand and oracular leader as the over all King of the Igbo.

Beside the title of Eze Igbo Gburugburu, the late first Quarter Master General of post-colonial Nigerian Army, also had in his kitty such other titles like; Dikedioranma of Igbo land and Ikemba Nnewi.

But our concern in this tribute reflection is with the traditional title of Eze Igbo Gburugburu. It is our intention to investigate other multifarious multipliers of this title and how they play out in concretizing the grand image of our Ojukwu.

To start with, Ojukwu like a character in a fictional narrative is an all round character. As his title indicates, he saw and partook from every experience of life. Born of wealth parents and of course into a family of intimidating wealth, he opted to identify with the “wretched of the earth”

He was a foot soldier and foot in the battle of liberation for his people. But as the all round character that he was, he also loved good life: he loved beautiful women and cosy and comfort life. He did not only love them, he could afford them.

It was perhaps this design of life that nature and humanity entrusted in his laps that inform the kind of activities that emerged to add colour to the grand burial rites being accorded him now on his way home.

Ojukwu was a military man per excellence as much as a civilian. He was a scholar as much as a politician, a cultural patriarch as much as a writer and multi linguist.

It is therefore not surprising at the kinds of burial rite that we are witnessing today.

At last week’s Igbo people burial reception for the late hero at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, the all round character of Ojukwu was enacted to the admiration of all. Apart from the fact that the setting for the rite of passage was symbolic to the extent that it is the same place where the British Union Jack was lowered for Nigeria’s Green White Green to take over.

By according Ojukwu this rite, was in every sense a conscious recognition of the role of Ojukwu as a significant force and an undeniable voice in contemporary Nigerian history.

But , more serious interest should be directed at the cultural side of the rites.

It was more like a carnival with the Ohafia War Dancers on stage to re- enact the heroism of a heroic son. The Ohafia was dance like Nkwa Ike in Mbaise is not a dance for the weakling. It is a performance dedicated for serious and important occasions. And in the Igbo imagination, the dance is a re-enactment of man of valour, strength, achievement. In fact it’s an eternal tribute to a warrior mind.

And as his name goes, gburugburu, the occasion was also used to re-connect and re-enact the aesthetic mind of this beautiful soul. The presence of those beautiful maidens that performed the Fulani/Hausa dance was in its own right a pointer to the fleshy side of the Igbo son, who loved beautiful things and most especially beautiful women.

It is also interesting that Ojukwu’s death has inspired some new g biographical publications that shed more light into the character of former Biafran leader. The latest of such effort was General of The People’s Army edited by Chuks Iloegbunam. The book published by Press Alliance Network Limited is a compilation of tributes, goodwill messages, interviews inspired by the death of Ikemba, and are published both in Nigerian and western press houses.

Significantly, the book also contains the famous Ahiara Declaration , the revolutionary blue print statement designed for the envisioned Biafran Republic.

Coming before this book was, Ojukwu: The Rebel I Served by the irrepressible journalist, Uche Ezechukwu who served as Ojukwu’s media assistant and speechwriter for two years following his pardon and return to Nigeria. In the book, Uche Ezechukwu brings to bear on the book his intimate knowledge of Ojukwu at close quarters. It is a candid encapsulation of a well-rounded life.