Abidjan- The Igbo Community in Abidjan on Friday honoured the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu in grand style, drawing unpredendented crowds of Nigerians and Ivorians to “Cartier Biafra” in central Cote d’ Ivoire.

Ojukwu, a former military officer  and statesman, spent 12 years in exile in Cote d’Ivoire after the civil war that took place from 1967 to 1970.

An appreciable number of people from the Nigerian and Ivorien communities attended both the church service at Eglise Catholic Jean Darc and the reception at the Sporting complex in Cartier Biafra in Treichville-Abidjan.

Former Ivorien President, Felix Houphouet-Boigny, now late, had named central part of Cote d’Ivoire “Cartier Biafra” to honour Ojukwu and the refugees who trooped into the country towards the end of the civil war.

“Unfortunately, that does not reflect the event going on here.

“Ojukwu was a Nigerian, a statesman and you can see that the Nigerian flag has been hoisted here. Why should anyone bring out the Biafran flag here?’’

Onwuchuruba said the former military leader was given a national burial and that all Nigerian must respect Ojukwu’s ideal for an integrated and just nation.

He said the Ivorien government supported the event, giving the Igbo Community the sporting complex to use for the ceremony.

The reception in honour of Ojukwu was conducted in Igbo language, with traditional rites, local Nigerian drinks, carnivals and dance troops.

Participants at the event said they closed their shops in major markets in Cote d’Ivoire to honour Ojukwu. (NAN)