Adieu, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu (1933-2011)

With the death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, former Head of State of the defunct Republic of Biafra and national leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in a London hospital on November 26, 2011, it is irrefragable that one of the brightest stars in the firmament of Nigeria’s socio-political landscape has dimmed forever.

We acknowledge the fact that his demise, though coming at a most critical period of our national life, is a sad reminder that all men are mortal and would eventually be visited by this grim reaper.

However, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, as he is fondly called by his kinsmen is no more with us physically, his indelible footprints on the sands of time have made nonsense of the grueling effect of that menace called death. This reminds us of the refrain of the British Romantic Poet, John Donne: “Death be not proud!” This is more so as the eventful life of this great man, Ojukwu, reminds us again of another British writer, Samuel Johnson’s thoughtful remark that, “it is not how far a man lived but how well.” Yet, at 78, Ojukwu lived far and well! He lived a quality and historic life.

In fact, it is on record, with unambiguous clarity, that within his lifetime, he exhibited and manifested a wonderful progressive pilgrimage of sterling leadership of Igbo nation, charting the course of his beleaguered kinsmen with deft navigational capability, and ultimately altering the course of Nigerian political history in profound ways as did Dr. Nnamdi Azidiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo. And to complement his existential excellence, he lived a fulfilled life, especially in the professional and political spheres, transverse, like a magnificent colossus, the throbbing firmament of his callings.

It is on this note that he would be sorely missed, not just by the Igbos, but by all Nigerians. Thus, as the mortal remains of this great Nigerian are being interred in the land of his ancestors today, an important era has no doubt ended.

Born into a wealthy family on November 4, 1933, at Zungeru, a small, sleepy, rural town in present-day Niger State to Sir Louis Phillipe Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chukwuemeka had his early education at St. Patrick’s Primary School, CMS Grammar School and King’s College, all in Lagos, before proceeding to England where he attended Epsom College and Lincoln College, University of Oxford where he eventually bagged a Bachelors Degree in Modern History in 1956. Back home in Nigeria, he joined the Eastern Nigeria civil service as an Assistant Divisional Officer (ADO).

A man of boundless megawatts of energy, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu,  in spite of his background, believed that success comes to a man through hard work and determination. This ethos permeated his entire life and gave impetus to his meritorious service to his fatherland.

He joined the Nigerian Army in 1957 as its first graduate and rose meteorically through the ranks. He was at various times between 1958 and 1964 an Instructor at the Royal West African Frontier Training School, Ghana; Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quarter Master-General, Brigade Headquarters, Kaduna; and Commander, 5th Battalion, Kano.

However, the young Emeka came into prominence on January 17, 1966 when he was appointed the Governor of the defunct Eastern Region and subsequently, declared the State of Biafra on May 30, 1967 following months of  what clearly appeared to be ethnic cleansing of Nigerians of Igbo and Midwestern extraction by some aggrieved Northern military officers. The end result was the destruction of the basis of Nigerian unity and a 30–month fratricidal war  which Ojukwu led to resist injustice and senseless killing of his people much the same way Boko Haram is threatening the collective existence of this country.

But, by and large, history must certainly grant Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu a prime of place in the annals of this great nation. If anything, his exploits on the battle and political fields since his unconditional pardon by former President Shehu Shagari, portray him as a relentless mind constantly in search of processes aimed at engineering a just and egalitarian society on the basis of a sound socio-political superstructure capable of building a more united Nigeria that would command great respect among the comity of progressively democratic nations.

Like all great men and everyone of us, Ojukwu had his shortcomings even as he meant different things to different people. Yet, his life and travails paint a terrible picture of a nation constantly on war path with its constituents; a metaphor for Nigeria’s unfulfilled nationhood that has since brought about the incessant clamour for true federalism and national restructuring.

True, it is difficult to purge our memories of past bitter experiences, especially when indelible marks abound, but we must resolve in the spirit of love, forgiveness and reconciliation which Ojukwu stood for after the Civil War, never to replay them. For to do so may distract us from our nation-building goals.

It is in this regard that The Tide believes that Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Ikemba Nnewi, Dikedioranma Ndigbo, Eze Igbo Gburugburu, would be happier in his grave if that spirit of one Nigeria is not broken and the injustices he fought for are addressed squarely, particularly the Boko Haram killings in the North. May his soul rest in perfect peace!