Ojukwu, An Iconic National Figure – Amaechi …Jonathan, Others Mourn Ikemba

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has expressed sadness over the death of Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

In a statement on Saturday, by his spokesman, David Iyofor, Governor Amaechi described Ojukwu as an iconic national figure, a man full of courage whose contributions to the nation in spite of the Civil War cannot be over-emphasised.

“Ojukwu had strong leadership skills, a fighter with the heart of the people, and his opinions kept the nation on its feet. In politics, he was a key player and would definitely be missed by many,” Amaechi said.

Amaechi condoled with the family of the late Biafran warlord and prayed that God would grant them the strength to bear the great and irreparable loss.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan received with much sadness and “a deep feeling of great national loss” news of the passing away of Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in the United Kingdom.

A statement issued by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, in Abuja on Saturday said President Jonathan joined Chief Ojukwu’s family, the government and people of his home state, Anambra, the entire Igbo people of Nigeria and his friends, associates and followers across the country in mourning him.

The president urged them to be comforted by the knowledge that “Chief Ojukwu lived a most fulfilled life, and has in passing on, left behind a record of very notable contributions to the evolution of modern Nigeria which will assure his place in the history of the country.”

The statement said Jonathan believed that late Chief Ojukwu’s immense love for his people, justice, equity and fairness forced him into the leading role he played in the Nigerian Civil War.

He commended the departed’s commitment to reconciliation and the full reintegration of his people into a united and progressive Nigeria in the aftermath of the war.

These, qualities, he said, would ensure that he was remembered forever as one of the great personalities of his time who stood out easily as a brave, courageous, fearless, erudite and charismatic leader.

The president called on Chief Ojukwu’s family, his associates and followers to make his rites of passage a celebration of his most worthy and memorable life spent in the service of his people and of the nation.

He prayed that God would grant Chief Ojukwu’s soul eternal rest from his earthly labours.

In a related development, former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday in London expressed sadness at the death of his “friend and colleague”, Ikemba of Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

Obasanjo said: “it is with deep sadness that I received the news of the demise of my friend and colleague. “He and I were subalterns in the army at Nigeria’s independence in 1960. “In a way, his death marks the end of an era in Nigeria.

“I condole with his family and pray for the repose of his soul.”

Also reacting to the demise of Ojukwu, former military Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, described the leader of the defunct Biafra as a die-hard Nigerian who strongly believed in the nation’s potentials.

Gowon told newsmen that Ojukwu “loved Nigeria so much; he merely wanted to opt out over perceived injustice to his people.

“But we said no because we felt we can resolve our differences as one family,” Gowon said in Jos on Saturday.

He said that Ojukwu’s return to Nigeria after 13 years in exile and his bid to lead the nation by contesting the presidency several times was a testimony to his wish for a better and stronger Nigeria.

The former military leader lauded Ojukwu’s fighting spirit and ability to go all out to pursue his conviction but rejected suggestions that Ojukwu was an enemy.

He said that his death would naturally invoke memories of the Civil War but he was simply a colleague and later an opponent.

Gowon expressed happiness that Nigerians were able to reconcile their differences after the war, saying that the international community praised that ability to live together after the hostility.

Gowon said that he admired Ojukwu’s love for his people and his resolve to fight for them, adding that he was happy the war had eventually shown the need for Nigeria to be one.

The war of unity ended on January 15, 1970.

Also, some state governors and other Nigerians have paid tributes to the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, National leader of All Progressive Grand Alliance.

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi described the death as a “national tragedy of immense proportion”.

In a message conveyed by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr Onyekachi Eni, the governor said “Ojukwu was an icon of inestimable value, as his death marks the, ‘end of an era’.

In the same vein, some Nigerians in the United States have described the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, as “a very remarkable Nigerian”, who will be missed by all, especially, the Igbo. They said his name would “never be missing in the history of Nigeria.”

A Community Leader, Michael Adeniyi, said that Odimegwu- Ojukwu’s return to Nigeria after many years in exile and participation in politics brought awareness to the plight of many Nigerians.

An ex-Biafran soldier, Chief Stephen Aleke, described Odimegwu-Ojukwu as a consummate leader, who challenged the oppression of his people with all his might.

“During the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War, ‘Ikemba’ led by example, as he exhibited traits which motivated us to fight for the Igbo cause.

“It was unfortunate that he was not given the opportunity of ruling Nigeria, as he could have made a big difference in the country’s leadership, which had been stagnated by its successive leaders.”

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday said that Nigeria had lost a foremost soldier and statesman.

He recalled that Odumegwu-Ojukwu joined the Nigerian Army in 1957 with a degree from University of Oxford, England, making him the most educated Nigerian to have done so at the time.

The governor prayed for the repose of the soul of the dead and urged his family to take solace in the fact that Odumegwu-Ojukwu lived a fulfilled life and died at a ripe age.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta in statement in Asaba yesterday said that the news of Odimegwu-Ojukwu’s death was shocking.