Amaechi, Others Eulogise Ojukwu

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has paid glowing tributes to the legacies of Former Military Governor of defunct Eastern Region, Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, at a public lecture organised as part of the burial obsequies for the late Igbo leader.

Speaking at the public lecture tagged,” Eastern Region: Reminiscences” held in Port Harcourt last Friday, Governor Amaechi said Chief Ojukwu stood for justice and equity.

He remarked,” my understanding then of Ojukwu is that he was a man who could not withstand injustice, and as a student of art and history, you know that the beginning of a struggle is the presence of an attempt by a group of people to deny the rest their right of existence, and Ojukwu felt that he could lead his people out of the injustice meted on them by the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Amaechi further declared that,” what all the Ibos and all of us who belonged to the old Eastern Region then are doing now is to celebrate Ojukwu’s achievements as a governor and as a leader of his people.

According to the Rivers State Governor, though Chief Ojukwu did not win the Civil War, he charted a fresh political course for the country and his people.

On his part, Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji described Ojukwu as charismatic and eloquent, noting that the Nigerian Civil War taught Nigerians the true meaning of peace.

He expressed appreciation to the Governor and Rivers people in particular for the show of love to the late statesman and sued for cooperation between the states.

Speaking earlier as the Chairman of the occasion, former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili praised Ojukwu for his foresight and courage, pointing out that the late Military Governor, “ came in his time, saw way above his time, confronted the challenges of his time, took a stand, made decisions and backed those decisions with action in defence and protection of the future of his people”.

He called on the present crop of leaders to emulate the example shown by the late Ibo leader, while warning that some of the injustices which Ojukwu fought against were still present in the system.

The lecture witnessed tributes by various speakers and cultural displays.

Chief Ojukwu who died last year in a London hospital of stroke is expected to be interred at his home country, Nnewi in Anambra State on 2nd of March.