Keep Ojukwu’s Ideals, Uwazuruike Tells Ndigbo

Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike has called on Ndigbo to brace themselves for Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu ideals following his demise in a London hospital.

Ojukwu, whose 78th birthday was celebrated early this month, led the proscribed Biafra in the Nigerian civil war from July 6, 1967 to January 12, 1970.

Uwazuruike told newsmen in a telephone conversation in Aba, Abia, on Saturday that Ojukwu had died, but the Igbo must prepare for the challenges of unity and resilience.

“He has died, Ndigbo have to brace for the challenges of unity and resilience. They should imbibe the Ojukwu spirit of welfare for the Igbo.

“The spirit of saying and thinking of what is good for the Igbo; what the Igbo should do to please Ojukwu is to see that the ideals are kept.

“More than any other thing, the Igbo should continue to ask for their rights because Ojukwu gave them the strength to ask for their rights,’’ Uwazuruike said.

Uwazuruike said that he was on line with Ojukwu’s wife in London and she told him that Ojukwu’s life was critical. “From that moment, we started communicating until 3.15 a.m. when he passed on,’’ he said. He urged the Igbos to remain calm and wait for further developments.

“I know what it is when someone’s father dies, our dear father is dead, we will live to remember him all our lives,’’ he said.

“With his death, our efforts to actualise his dreams will be redoubled because this is what I think we shall do to make him happy in the grave,’’ he added.