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Civil war: Ojukwu defended his people

By Jide Orintunsin, Minna 3 hours 47 minutes ago

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Ojukwu

• I’ll do same if in his position, says Gov Aliyu

Niger State governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu yesterday rose in defence of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s action to take arms against the country, saying ‘’he was greatly misunderstood’’.

Defending the circumstances that forced Ojukwu to go into the 30 month civil war, Aliyu said he would have done same if he found himself in similar situation.

The Governor stated this at Zungeru in Wushishi local government area of the state during the kick-off of the funeral rites of the late Biafran leader.

"Many saw him as controversial, a war lord and a rebel whatever we might think of him, we must appreciate the issue of the time and majority of the people concluded he was forced by circumstances to take up arms against the country he loved and swore to defend.

"I Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu from my studies know that, I will take up arms to defend my people if confronted with similar circumstances that Ojukwu found himself that time,’’ Aliyu stated.

Eulogising the late Eze-Igbo-gburugburu, the governor said that despite his privileged and advantageous background, Ojukwu ‘’choose to remain very humble, disciplined and devoting his early and even later years to the struggle for the emancipation of the under-privileged.’’

On national unity, Aliyu said that Nigerians should come to terms with the reality of the difficulties and challenges of national building and not to engage in anything that will jeopardise the unity of the country at the slightest opportunity.

According to him, "We must stay here together to fight for our rights because 52 years after independence we should not be seen to be threatening the breaking up of the country at the slightest challenges".

Earlier, the Chairman of South-Eastern Governors Forum, Mr. Peter Obi said, the Igbos are ready to continue with the Nigerian project if only they will be given their dues in the country and stop being treated as second class citizen of the country.

"Nobody can drive the Igbos away from Nigeria because we are the true Nigerian that promotes national integration and developments.

"We are committed to building a better Nigeria but the only thing we demand is equality in the union that is what Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu fought for all through his life,’’ the governor maintained.

Obi who is the governor of Anambra State then enjoined Igbos living in any part of the country to continue to co-exist peacefully with their host communities, assuring that the Igbo nation will continue to promote the unity of the country.

Commending Niger State government for putting together the ‘Icho Nmadu’ funeral rite, Abia state Governor, Theodore Orji stated that burial rite in Zungeru, the birth place of the late sage was a befitting tribute to a man who rose up to the be counted when it mattered most in the history of the Igbo nationality in Nigeria.

"We salute Niger state for protecting two illustrious Igbo sons; Zik and Ojukwu especially, Dim, the man who taught us how to fight for our rights".

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/37215-civil-war-ojukwu-defended-his-people.html

Ojukwu’s burial programmes unveiled

on FEBRUARY 8, 2012 · in OJUKWU'S BURIAL

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BY CALEB AYANSINA

ABUJA – Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Wednesday, revealed that the burial rite of Eze Igbo Gburu Gburu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu will take a national outlook, featuring prominent people from all walks of life from within and outside the country.

Senator Chukwumerije, who is the Vice-Chairman of the burial committee in a briefing in Abuja, explained that due to Ojukwu’s stature, series of activities are scheduled to take place in all parts of the country and abroad.

According to him, social and political groups such as the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) as well as intellectual bodies would all be integrated into the programme and are all welcome without inhibitions.

The programme which commences formally from, Wednesday, with the mounting of billboards in all strategic places in the country, has all the states in the old Eastern Region firmly represented and playing active role in the burial.

Chukwumerije announced that youth bodies in the South East states would commence the Icho Mmadu (looking for the deceased) in every part of the zone so as to bring up the tempo of the burial to the hinterland and the nooks and crannies of the country.

He added that special prayer for Nigeria and Justice for Ndigbo and other groups in the country would be held on Sunday, while same Icho Mmadu would be held in Zungeru, where Ojukwu was born and in Abidjan, where he took refuge after the Civil war.

There would be similar programmes in Kaduna and Accra, while people in Seme, Abidjan and citizens in Diaspora would also carry out their activities on Wednesday, as well as in Nigeria in Makurdi, Benue state, Kano, Calabar, Kano, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Lagos, Aba, Owerri, Umuahia, Aba, Enugu, Awka and Nnewi at dates between February 14 and 25th.

The remains of the foremost Igbo personality would arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on February 27th, where a programme tagged Onye Ije Nnoo (welcome home) would be held, while the body would depart immediately to major towns in the South East, for further funeral ceremonies.

The final journey for the Eze Igbo Gburu Gburu would take place with a National Funeral Ceremony on 29th, with series of activities going on simultaneously in Awka and Nnewi, while the interment would take place on March 2nd in Nnewi according to the Nnewi customs and traditions.

The Senator, who said he was sitting in for Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, chairman of the committee explained that though the Federal Government is yet to make known to the committee its level of involvement in the burial, it has received assurances from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim of full participation in the burial.

The lawmaker noted that though the earlier burial programmes were disrupted by the nationwide fuel subsidy strikes, saying, “activities lined up for his burial will progressively increase in scale and intensity as the interment date draws closer”.

He also added that the programme he reeled out were the outcome of agreement reached with the family and Nnewi traditional institution.

“There will be all sorts of people coming to the south east and particularly to Enugu and Nnewi at that period. They are all welcome. We expect MASSOB, social and youth groups, masquerade groups as well as other groups and all of them are welcome. The only thing I can say is that we have contacted all arms of security in the country and security of everyone is guaranteed.

“You know Ojukwu is one of the greatest leaders produced by this country so, everyone is welcome. The funeral will be conducted with the highest level of peace and tranquillity; it will be a solemn occasion and though he will be buried in the highest tradition of Nnewi town, we don’t want to parochialize the programmes, but he will get national burial,” he explained.

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Showing 5 comments

AFOLABI ADEBAYO

Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.
Rest in perfect peace
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- 1 hour ago
Frank Ufomadu

Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu.
You dream will never die.
We promise to carry it along peacefully as you have done the violent part for us.
We promise to actualize your dream as that is the only thing we can do to make your spirit happy and rest in peace.
Udo.
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- 1 hour ago
kevin

Eze Igbo gburugburu laa nudoo,your vision for BIAFRA must be actualise to make you happy where ever you are Amen. We Ndigbo will miss you Osondu
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Dandy Daniel

rest in peace emekaojukwu
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- 1 hour ago
Peter Omelazu

Eze Igbo laa nu udoooooooooooooo.
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