Reps Urge FG To Immortalise Ojukwu

The House of Representatives, has called on the Federal Government to immortalise late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu who passed on at a London hospital last Saturday at the age of 78.

“We are calling on  President Goodluck Jonathan to immortalise this gentleman, officer, courageous, successful politician and a leaders’ leader,’’ the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mohammed, said in a statement.

The House also described Ojukwu’s death as a colossal loss to the country.

The statement added: “While alive, Ojukwu displayed rare courage on principled stand on sensitive national matters.

“We in the Seventh Assembly regret his death, but we are consoled by the fact that we will continue to uphold his principle, ideals and the uncommon courage that Ojukwu lived and died for.’’

“The history of Nigeria will not be complete without a chapter solely dedicated to this great son of Nigeria and indeed Africa.’’

He stressed that Ojukwu was the first Nigerian graduate to have enlisted in the Nigerian army and added intellectual dimension to the force while in the service of his fatherland.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha said that Ojukwu played a great role in the evolution of Nigeria’s socio-political history.

“Love him or hate him; his landmark contributions in making Nigeria what she is today cannot be dimmed by his passage to the great beyond.

“We will all surely miss this bold and courageous man.’’

Rep. Uche Ekwunife (APGA, Anambra), the leader of Anambra caucus in the House said that the nation had lost a rare gem.

“We have lost the finest of Igbo extraction, a rare gem, a selfless and patriotic Nigerian.

“A nationalist whose principles are unequalled, he will be remembered for his brevity, commitment, sincerity of purpose and most importantly, his undiluted love for his people; we greatly miss him.’’

Rep. Abiodun Akinlade (ACN-Ogun) said Ojukwu made a statement in his lifetime with his leadership of the defunct Republic of Biafra.

Rep. Sarki Adar (PDP-Sokoto) said the late Ojukwu was a man of his words who stood for the cause he believed in.

From faraway United States of America, the President of World Igbo Congress, Chief Larry Udorji, described the life of Odumegwu-Ojukwu as courageous, visionary and prophetic.

“It is unfortunate that Ikemba Nnewi died,’’ Udorji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, saying that he sacrificed his personal comfort and life to the liberation of Igbos.

According to him, Ojukwu as Biafra leader ensured that Igbos were accorded respect and freedom as a people.

“He stood up to fight for the future of Igbos in the polity call Nigeria,’’ he said.

Udorji added that the things the deceased fought for several years ago were still the problem of the country.

President of a U.S.-based Nigerian socio-cultural association; Zumunta Association, Dr. Ezekiel Mancham said the death of Ojukwu was a great loss to the country.