Obi Reaffirms Igbos’ Commitment To United Nigeria

Governor  Peter Obi of Anambra State, has restated the commitment of the Igbo people to a united Nigeria.

Obi made the remark during the burial rites of Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu at Zungeru, Niger, his birth place.

He, however, stressed that the commitment would continue to be based on equity and mutual respect of one another.

The governor pledged that the Igbos would continue to contribute towards a united Nigeria built on justice, equity and equality in line with the ideals of late Ojukwu.

He noted that the Igbos had contributed immensely to the growth and development of Nigeria.

“We produced the country’s first President, the country’s first military officer and the country’s first Vice Chancellor, among others.”

On his part, Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger, called on governors from the Eastern part of the country to contribute towards the completion of the abandoned Zik Civic Centre in Zungeru.

He told the gathering that he had been canvassing for the completion of the centre, owing to its importance to the understanding of the place of Zungeru in the history of the formation of the country.

He described late Ojukwu as a fine officer, who was forced by circumstances to take arms to protect his people, adding: “If I were in his shoe, I will have done the same thing.”

“Ojukwu was greatly misunderstood, many saw him as controversial, a warlord and a rebel; whatever we might think of him, we must appreciate the issues of the time, and majority of the people concluded he was forced by circumstance to take arms against the country he loved and swore to defend“, Aliyu said.

In his remark, Gov Theodore Orji of Abia said Ojukwu would be remembered for standing firm in demanding for ther rights of his people in the sharing of the national cake.

The ceremony included cultural dances by Igbo communities in the state and the state cultural troupe, as well as speeches on his life and times.